Total pages in book: 35
Estimated words: 33564 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 168(@200wpm)___ 134(@250wpm)___ 112(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 33564 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 168(@200wpm)___ 134(@250wpm)___ 112(@300wpm)
“Oh my God, mom.” I groan. How the heck could I forget it?
“Well?” She puts her hands on her hips, waiting for my answer. She'll wait until I give it to her.
“Yes, I remember the rule.” I slide down in my chair a few inches. “Trust me, the man knew the rule.” I chew on my bottom lip.
“Give me the rest.” My mom puts her elbow on the island, leaning in.
“We didn’t have sex that first night. In fact, Sergei only ah—” I lick my lips, still shy about it. “He only did things to me. Then when I woke up, the man was wrapped around me. A Taletti being a cuddler. Who would have thought it?”
“Who would have thunk it?” She smiles, shaking her head. When she comes around the kitchen island towards me, her face grows serious. “You’ll be a Taletti.”
“I’d be anything if it meant Sergei and I could be together.”
My mom tucks a piece of hair behind my ear. “I know you will, sweetheart, but know the crown is heavy. Not all can hold it nor want to hold it.”
“You don’t think I could?”
“I know without a doubt you could. If you choose Sergei, you choose to hold it. Some don’t want to wear it.”
I think of all Sergei and I went through together. Me trying to flip the car and going bat shit crazy on him. Holding a knife to his neck and then a gun.
“I think I got it. If I can handle him, I can do anything with him at my side.”
“Good, because he’s here.” Her words surprise me. I’d been so wrapped up in my conversation with her that I didn’t hear the normal alert of the gate going off.
“What?” I jump up, rushing toward the front doors. They push open before I get there. Sergei stands before me, my brothers right behind him. I think I spot Vincent holding Trash, but my focus is on Sergei right now.
I don’t care that he’s covered in blood splatter. I throw myself into his arms and kiss him. He kisses me back. Right there in front of my family.
“You’re okay,” I whisper against his mouth.
“I am now.” He slowly lowers me to my feet. I don’t want to let him go yet, but he takes a small step back to reach into his jean pocket and pull out a necklace. My grandmother’s. I turn around, and he puts it on me. “I love you, princess,” he says against my ear. I turn back around to face him.
“Pretty sure I’m a queen now,” I correct him.
“You and that mouth.” He smiles, though, when he says it.
We both know he loves the trouble I get myself into with it. He’d better get used to it; he’s going to have a whole life full of it.
EPILOGUE
SERGEI
“This isn’t what we agreed on,” I chide Luna.
She shrugs and bats her lashes. “Mommy reads me three stories.”
I purse my lips. “Are you telling the truth, little one?”
She glances away, then returns her gaze to mine and gives me a confident nod. “Yes.”
I snort a laugh. She’s a little liar, but I let her get away with it. I always do. She’s too much like her mother, and she knows I’m wrapped around her pinkie finger.
“Fine. One more story, but then it’s time to sleep. All right?”
She smiles and snuggles up to my side as I open a book about a rather Bohemian cat and start to read. Trash is already sleeping at the foot of the bed, so he’s missing out, though he doesn’t seem to mind. He and Luna have been inseparable from the moment she was born.
When the story is done and Luna finally relents, she gives me a kiss on the cheek. “Daddy, you need to shave.” She frowns.
“I shaved this morning.”
“Maybe you should shave after dinner? That way it doesn’t tickle so much.”
I nuzzle against her cheek.
She giggles and shrinks away. “Daddy!”
“What? I thought you liked being tickled.” I drop a kiss on her forehead and stand.
“Will Mommy come kiss me when she gets home?” she asks as I turn out the light.
“Of course.” I cock my head to the side. “In fact, I hear the garage now. She’s here.”
She yawns. “Okay, I’ll wait up for her.” She closes her eyes.
“You do that.” I close her door gently, then hurry down the hall and to the other side of the house.
Olivia is already changing into her T-shirt when I walk in.
“I thought you were going to be out late.” I walk up behind her and pull her into my arms.
She laughs and leans against me. “We’re such lightweights. I had two glasses of wine and got so sleepy.”
I smile and kiss her crown. “I think you just missed me. That’s why you decided to come home.”
She spins and looks up at me. “Maybe a little.”