“Somewhere outside of the city for us to feel like we’re away from it, but close enough for me to drive in and assist Igor with operations.” Valerian takes a step back, assessing his surroundings. “Igor will stay here at the estate. Nobody else in the Bratva deserves it as much as he does.”
“What about Niko?”
“He stays here too. He’s out at the moment hounding someone about a debt.”
I nibble the corner of my lip, remembering why I left.
Valerian searches my eyes, lines appearing between his brow. “What’s the problem?”
“I walked away from you ten months ago because I couldn’t survive loving you.”
Valerian tenses his jaw, his eyes locked on mine, waiting for me to continue.
“I don’t… want anything to happen to you. Or any of us,” I say.
Valerian steps closer, lacing my free hand with his. “There will never be another Siguard.”
“No. But problems never go away. I found out you were dead and fell into a pit.” I feel the sadness return. “And you’re the only one who can drag me out.” I sniffle. “I couldn’t even soothe my own tears, let alone Hope’s when she needed me. If it wasn’t for Lila and my mom…”
Valerian squeezes my hand, his face softening, like my tears provide clarity to him. “Don’t take this the wrong way, but I’m glad you felt that way.”
“You’re glad you faked my death and left me heartbroken?”
A great calm settles on Valerian’s face. “It means you love me just as much as I have always loved you.” He works his throat, staring into the very depths of my soul with those eyes. “You showing up to my funeral means you never stopped loving me. You’ll never be able to switch that feeling off, sweetheart.” He squeezes my hand again. “You can either live the rest of your life in denial or take a leap of faith and put your trust in me.” I feel my soul shift, like Valerian is reaching out and touching it. “Nobody can give you forever. But they can give you the world, if you’re willing to open your heart to something real.”
This is the most at peace I’ve been for the past ten months. Designing fashion takes my mind off things, eases the heartache, but I wouldn’t have had the strength to take a leap of faith with my career if it wasn’t for Valerian in the first place, seeing my worth.
What’s another leap of faith when I already took a giant one this year?
I step closer, my pulse spiking. I snake my arm around his neck and bring Valerian into a kiss.
Things heat up quickly. Valerian slides his tongue into my mouth, exploring every inch of me. He entangles his tongue with mine. Shivers run up my spine with every brush. Every sensation, no matter how small, leaves my body desperate for more.
Pregnancy has heightened my senses. Spending ten months away from this man also has a part to play in how horny I am.
We’re kissing and my own wetness is leaking down my thighs. His hand is fixated on my hip. We’re both still fully clothed. I’mholding our sleeping daughter in one hand, exploring Valerian’s muscles with the other, running the hand up his chest. Every contracting muscle and undulation has my heart throbbing more erratically.
“Does Igor know how to babysit?”
“No,” grunts Valerian, dragging his lips over mine. “But Galina can give him lessons. Here.” He takes Hope from me and walks across the lobby, outside into the courtyard, where he kisses Hope on the forehead, handing her over to Galina.
A smile breaks out on her face. She looks into the lobby, the corners of her mouth lifting even further when she sees me waving.
I blow her a kiss.
Valerian puts his hand on the small of my back, guiding me to the staircase. But before I can take my first step, he swoops me up, tossing me over his shoulder and carrying me all the way to his room, which he quickly locks.
He sets me on the edge of his bed, stepping back, looking at me pensively. “How are you down there?”
“Wouldn’t you like to find out?” I part my legs, smoothing a finger over my pussy, wearing clothes I was supposed to be burying my husband in, not removing to fuck him.
“You know what I mean.” He swipes a finger over his bottom lip, glancing at my body like he wants to devour it.
The bulge in his pants makes his intentions very obvious.
“I’m fine.” I sit back onto my elbows, allowing my legs to drift. “No tearing or anything, if that was your polite way of asking.”
“Good,” Valerian says, walking over to the chest of drawers. I know exactly what he’s rifling around in there.