Total pages in book: 98
Estimated words: 97448 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 487(@200wpm)___ 390(@250wpm)___ 325(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 97448 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 487(@200wpm)___ 390(@250wpm)___ 325(@300wpm)
And I don’t know why I find that kind of exhilarating.
It’s probably the hormones. They haven’t gone down, not in the second trimester or this final one.
I’m due to give birth to our boy in about a week, but my bump has never really grown. Kristina, whose husband is feeding her an assortment of buffets, looks well and truly pregnant with a huge belly and a curved posture.
Me? I look like I’m no further along than my fifth or sixth month.
The bump is there, but since I’m wearing a somewhat loose dress, it doesn’t show as much.
The doctor said the difference between Kristina and me could be because everyone carries differently. The good news is that both our babies are healthy and will hopefully grow up as best friends.
They’ll also be heirs to their fathers’ fortunes since Konstantin has been appointed to Kirill’s previous role in the brotherhood. My husband left that position empty after he became Pakhan, but I think he always wanted his brother there. The only reason he didn’t do it before was because he didn’t want Yulia to try and influence Konstantin or get her hands on internal information.
We’re now growing into a big family. I felt it that day when I celebrated Christmas again after nearly seven years of shunning it, but now I’m happy to have this new family.
It’s better than anything I could’ve wished for.
I have two sisters who are not related to me by blood. The quirky Karina, who’s arguing with Viktor in the corner while he ignores her. She’s been in therapy since Yulia died and has been making a lot of progress.
The other unexpected sister is Kristina. We’ve been doing this pregnancy thing together. She’s helped me tremendously, and I wouldn’t have been able to do this without her.
There’s also Anna’s support, Konstantin’s compassion, and even Viktor’s grumpy existence. Not to mention the rest of the guards, who bring me all sorts of exotic fruits and delicious desserts in case I’m craving something.
Those men were and always will be my comrades, despite Kirill’s narrowed eyes and silent threats to eliminate them.
But the most important member of my family is my husband. Sometimes, it scares me how much I love him.
How frightened I am about his well-being and protection.
If he’s ever in danger, I have no doubt that I’ll pull a Maksim and use my body as his human shield. And the best part? I know he’d do the same without hesitation, too.
We spent so much time either suspecting or being wary of one another, so this phase of mutual understanding and trust has been heaven-like.
“Excuse me,” I tell Lia and Rai, then swiftly leave the small circle.
I don’t even blame it on the hormones anymore, I just want my husband.
He says he was traumatized by the two months of thinking I was dead, but I also longed for him to the point of madness—including when I thought I hated him.
Kirill lifts his head, sensing me approaching him even when I’m still far away. His eyes blaze a bright blue color, and he leaves the people he’s with in an instant. After abandoning his glass of champagne on a table, he meets me halfway and wraps an arm around my middle.
My whole body comes alive when I’m in his embrace, and I place a hand on his shoulder, needing to feel his warmth against me.
“You should be resting, Sasha.” He strokes my hair behind my ear. It’s reaching the small of my back now, and while it’s a hassle to wash and style, I’m fine with that as long as he always touches it, whether like this or when he tugs me by it during sex.
We sway to the music while hugging one another. “I’m tired of resting.”
“Your feet were more swollen than usual this morning.”
“That’s normal. I can take it.”
“Well, I can’t. I don’t like it when you’re in pain.”
“I’m not, really.”
He raises a brow. “Yesterday, you were crying because you wanted a glass of water.”
“Yeah, well, it happens.”
“The day before yesterday, you were crying because, and I quote, ‘You aren’t fucking me properly, you fucking bastard.’”
“You were too gentle.”
I really hate how he’s become freaked out about hurting our son or me lately. A few weeks after that incident, the doctor said sex is okay, including rough, but he always takes it easy on me.
Am I wrong for wanting the version from before he found out I was pregnant?
“Looks like I’ve created a monster.” He chuckles. “In all seriousness, I really don’t want you in pain or even strained, Solnyshko.”
“I’m not. Really. The doctor also said it’s okay.” I get on my tiptoes and kiss his stubbled jaw. “You know I love it when you don’t hold back.”
He groans when I rub my belly on his growing erection.
“Sasha…”
“What?” I ask innocently.