Ariana and I spent a week on the island, getting to know each other more in-depth before stopping in Seattle to get her clothes.
I told her I’d get Nikhil to pack up the rest of her things and bring her belongings to LA.
When we get back to LA, and I’m driving us to the place I share with Alexei, Ariana asks, “Did you pay the money to my mom’s nursing home?”
I nod. “I told you I’d take care of it.”
“Thank you.” She places her hand on my thigh. “I’ll pay you back as soon as I have access to my inheritance.”
I shake my head. “No, you won’t. We’ll invest your money.”
“And what? Let you pay for everything?”
I nod. “Yes.”
“It’s over a hundred million. Paying you back won’t make a dent in it. We can live off the rest, and there will still be enough to look after our grandchildren.”
Taking hold of her hand, I bring it to my mouth and press a kiss to her skin. “Malyshka, I’m paying for everything. Use your inheritance to start a makeup business.”
She stares at me as I pull up the driveway, and when I turn the engine off, she says, “Let me pay for everything, please. Think of it as payment for keeping my butt safe for the rest of my life.”
I let out a chuckle and press a kiss to her mouth. “It’s so cute that you think you can afford me.”
Shock flashes over her face. “What do you mean? Even with a hundred million, I still can’t afford you?” Her eyes widen. “How much does Alexei pay you?”
“Your inheritance will be able to buy my protection for a year.” I give her a smile. “You get a lifetime of protection for free because I love you.”
“Holy shit. That’s insane.”
I cup her cheek. “Leave the finances to me. Use your inheritance to do something you love.” Worry flashes over her face, and it has me asking, “What?”
“I have no idea what I love. I just did what I had to so I could pay my expenses.”
Pulling her into a hug, I press a kiss to her temple. “Don’t worry about it. You have all the time in the world to figure out what you’d like to do.” I move back and lock eyes with her. “Okay? There’s no rush.”
“Okay.”
We climb out of the car, and when we walk into the house, it’s to find Alexei waiting in the foyer with his arms crossed over his chest.
He gives Ariana a dark look, then slowly walks closer to her. “Do you have any idea how worried I was?”
“Ah… sorry,” she pulls a cute face.
Alexei opens his arm. “Come here.”
I watch as they hug, then Alexei says, “It’s good to have you back. Don’t ever give me a heart attack like that again.”
“I won’t.” Ariana pulls back and grins up at him, and patting his chest, teases him, “Who knew I could make the head of the Bratva sweat?”
Taking hold of Ariana’s hand, I pull her away from Alexei and to my side, which only makes Alexei grin at me.
“She’s moving in,” I tell him. “With me.”
“Like you even had to add the last part,” Alexei taunts me.
“How many people live in this house?” Ariana asks.
“Four. Alexei, me, Sacha, and Nikhil. And now you.”
“I’m not cooking,” she blurts out, making Alexei laugh.
“I do the cooking,” I tell her. “That way, I know no one’s going to be poisoned.” Not wanting her to worry, I place my hand on the back of her neck and say, “The left wing is ours, so you’ll have all the privacy you need while being safe.”
She gives me a happy smile which makes me feel better.
Nudging her forward, I say, “Come on, let’s get you settled, and then I’ll show you the rest of the mansion.” To Alexei, I say, “Can you get Sacha to bring in Ariana’s luggage?”
“Sure.” He watches us with a smile, then calls out to Ariana, “It’s good having you here, little one.”
I take Ariana to our suite, and heading to the walk-in closet, I begin to move my things over to the right side.
Ariana begins to help me then asks, “Do you wear any other color but white and black?”
“No, you’re all the color I need.”
“Aww…” She drops the shirt she was holding and lunges at me, slamming a hot kiss to my mouth.
ARIANA
It’s been three months since I moved in with Demitri, and it still feels surreal.
I get to fall asleep in his arms.
My life has done a total one-eighty. I’m now surrounded by people who care about me.
The other day there was a spider in the bathroom, and I screamed. Seconds later, I was staring wide-eyed at four armed men while clutching a towel around my body.
Not my proudest moment. Demitri wasn’t happy, either.
Now I can laugh about it. Demitri still growls when I bring it up.
I let out a chuckle at the memory and then get back to work. I took one of the guest rooms in our wing and converted it to an office for me.
My inheritance came through, and after thinking long and hard, I decided to help people like my mom. If I had died, there wouldn’t have been anyone to look after her. After doing some research, I found out there are many elderly people who can’t afford the care they need.
So that’s what I’m doing. I’m starting a charity for them.
Demitri’s hand falls on my shoulder, and he presses a kiss to the top of my head. “How’s work coming along?”
He pulls a chair closer and sits down next to me, glancing at my laptop’s screen.
“Baby steps,” I say as I let out a deep breath. “I’m starting in Seattle, and then I’ll slowly move onto the next city.”
Demitri nods a look of pride on his face. “That’s a good plan.” He gets up and presses another kiss to my hair. “Don’t forget our date.”
“I won’t.” I watch as my man leaves the office to get back to his own work, and then I focus on my project.
Two hours before the date, I close my laptop and go to our bedroom. Demitri said I must pack a bag for the date. We’re probably going to Seattle for the weekend.
After packing enough clothes for two days, I shower quickly and then do my makeup. I put on a dress like Demitri ordered, sans any panties, and a new pair of black heels. When I’m ready, I pull a brush through my hair again.
I’ve just set the brush down when Demitri comes up behind me, wrapping a blindfold over my eyes.
“Hey.”
“Shh…”
He helps me into a coat, and then taking hold of my hands, he pulls them behind my back and restrains me with something soft.
“What’s going on?”
“No questions,” his voice rumbles close to my ear, sending a wave of goosebumps over my skin.
Grabbing hold of me, Demitri throws me over his shoulder and stalks out of the bedroom.
I let out a burst of laughter. “What are you doing? Put me down.”
“I’m kidnapping you. Either you keep still, or I’m sedating you,” he snaps, pretending to be all badass.
“Oooh… I like where this is going,” I purr while hanging upside down. “Would’ve liked the view of your ass better than being blindfolded.”
A minute later, Demitri places me down on a seat, and then he straps me in. I hear the door close, and soon the driver’s door opens, and the car moves under Demitri’s weight, and he starts the engine.
“Do you do this often?” I ask when he drives us somewhere. Then the thought hits, and even though I can’t see him, I turn my head to him. “Please tell me I’m the only woman you’ve kidnapped.”
He lets out a chuckle. “That sounds a lot like jealousy.”
“Of course!” I snap. “The last thing I want is some woman drooling over my man and imagining all the hot ways you can take her while she’s your prisoner.”
“Malyshka, you’re the only woman who’s turned on by being kidnapped.”
“Only if the kidnapper is you,” I mumble, letting out a huff.
When we stop wherever our destination is, I’m thrown over Demitri’s shoulder again and then dropped on another seat and strapped in again.
A smile spreads over my face. “We’re going to the island?”
“You’re very talkative for a kidnapped victim,” he mutters, and then he takes a seat next to me.
“Wait, now I’m confused. If you’re not flying the plane… are we even on a plane?” Then the engines start, and I turn my head in Demitri’s direction. “Okay, we’re on a plane. Can you take off the blindfold now?”
“No.”
“Damn, you’re taking this roleplaying thing to a whole different level.”
Once we’re airborne, I hear Demitri move again, and it feels like he’s standing in front of me.
“So now that I have you all to myself,” he says, and then I feel his hands on my knees. He pushes my legs open, and when his breath hits my clit, I understand why he wanted me to wear a dress with no underwear.
“Ohh…kay,” I moan, scooting down, so he has better access.
Best flight ever.
I’m starting to feel sleepy by the time Demitri sets me down on my feet, once a-freaking-gain, and then he finally unties my hands and takes off the blindfold.
I blink a couple of times then look around me, seeing that we are on the island. Giving Demitri an annoyed look, I mutter, “Seriously? Why the blindfold and restrains?”
“I could’ve gagged you but thought that would really piss you off.” Taking hold of my shoulders, he says, “I wanted to reenact our first time.” Then he turns me to face the coffee table, and I see a Starbucks beverage and cookie.
My heart melts.
We take a seat on the couch, and when I pick up the beverage, it feels empty. Frowning, I take off the lid and then stare at the tiny box inside.
Shit. Shit. Shit.
My breathing begins to speed up, and as I take the box out of the cup, Demitri moves off the couch and onto one knee.
Oh, God.
Emotion wells in my chest as I meet his eyes.
“We both know I suck at the romance shit.”
I let out a burst of nervous laughter and shake my head. He can never suck at anything.
Demitri’s expression softens, and then he takes the box from my hand and opens it. I lower my eyes to the ring, and my hand flies up to cover my mouth as I stare at the huge princess-cut diamond.
“Ariana, I can’t promise we won’t fight, but I promise to always fight for you. I can’t promise that life won’t try to hurt you again, but I promise to protect you from every blow. I’ll kidnap you a thousand times if it means I get to keep you.”
I struggle to blink the tears back, and then Demitri says, “Malyshka, will you marry me?”
Nodding like crazy, I dart forward and throw my arms around his neck. He rises to his feet, his arms wrapping tightly around me.
“I’ll say yes a thousand times if it means I get to keep you,” I manage to reply before being overwhelmed by tears of happiness.
Demitri pulls back and then slides the diamond onto my ring finger. Then he frames my face and kisses the living hell out of me in true Demitri style.
When he breaks the kiss, I place my hand against his jaw, and looking up into his eyes, I say, “You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me. Things were rough for a while, but I would go through it all again for you. Only for you. No one else would’ve been able to keep me standing the way you did.”
Framing my face with his hands, Demitri’s eyes drift lovingly over my features. “There’s no one I love more than you.”
