“I have to go out for a bit.”
“What? Will you be back soon?”
“No. And you will not orgasm until you return safely from shopping with Gia tomorrow.”
“What?” He gave her a stern look and she clenched her hands into fists and tried to swallow her anger. “Yes, Master.”
Both men chuckled and Dimitri crouched before her. He cupped the back of her neck and brought their foreheads together. “If you mouth off to me in front of Maks I will make you suck his cock. You may, of course, safeword out, but if you keep being brat, I will give you something better to do with your tongue. Am I clear?”
“Crystal clear,” she whispered.
“You will be good?”
“I’ll be good.”
“Promise?”
“Yes, Master.” She gave him an impulsive kiss. “I only want your cock.”
He chuckled. “Charming, but will not get you out of your punishment if you continue to misbehave.”
Abruptly he stood and offered her a hand up. She took it and wrapped her arms around him, cuddling close as he hugged her back. “I love you so much. Thank you.”
“Dorogaya, I will do anything for you. Even if it drives me crazy, I do it.”
She sighed and wiped away a tear. “Thank you.”
Dimitri grumbled and glanced at his watch. “I wish I could stay, but I must leave.”
Her heart rate accelerated as she thought about the man she loved leaving the safety of their luxurious fortress. “Be safe, please.”
He caressed her face. “The way you feel? That worry for me? Is how I feel at the thought of you leaving my sight. Is not good, is it?”
“No, it’s not good.” She sighed and took a step back. “Okay. Go do your super villain stuff. Have fun storming the castle.”
Laughing, he nodded to Maks before giving her another brief kiss. “Adorable.”
She scowled at him as he left, but as soon as the door closed her shoulders slumped.
To her surprise Maks spoke up. “Your love for him is real.”
She narrowed her eyes at him. “Excuse me?”
He shrugged, his thin lips pursed. “At first, I was not sure. I have never seen Dimitri happy with a woman before. It was very odd for me to see him so openly love someone. Trust me when I say that his love for you is just as real. I know he has probably not told you this, but Dimitri and Alex saved my life. I was born and raised in a brothel owned by another Bratva. Was bad and I ran away when I was eight. When Alex found me eating garbage in an alley near one of his father’s businesses he took pity on me and saved me from a terrible fate. Together with Dimitri they made sure I got an education, that I was safe and warm. I swore then that I would give my life for either of them, and now I extend that vow to you. It is my privilege to guard you, Rya DeLuca, because you are a good woman. You have no idea how rare that is in my world. No idea of the filth that clings to those of us that do terrible things.”
That was the most she’d ever heard Maks speak at once and she stared at him for a long moment. “Thank you.”
Giving her one of his rare smiles, he inclined his head in her direction. “You are welcome.”
Toeing off her heels, she made her way to the kitchen. It was a little after lunch and she was hungry. The kitchen had a fantastic view of Moscow and she loved the almost French Country feel to the space. It was exactly what she wanted, but it felt kind of sterile. Perhaps tomorrow at the market she’d find something to bring some life to the space, maybe some baskets to put on top of the tall cabinets, or some whimsical glass work to place on the window sill over the sink. The need to put her stamp on the home filled her and she realized that she was allowing herself to put down roots.
Glancing over at Maks, she lifted her chin. “You hungry?”
His lips twitched and he nodded. “I could eat.”
“How about some grilled cheese?”
“Whatever you are making, I will eat. Especially if you bake. You bake very, very well.”
She laughed at the hungry gleam in his eyes. “Okay, I get the hint. I’ll make more of the cookies that you like.”
“The snickerdoodles?”
“Yes.” She laughed as she buttered the bread, liking how exotic everything sounded when said in a Russian accent. “Who would have thought the scariest men in the world had such sweet tooths. I make at least six dozen cookies a week but you guys go through them before they’re even cool from the oven.”
“Yes,” Maks said in a quiet voice that struck her as odd, then winked. “We cannot wait to eat you.”
She shook a piece of cheese at him. “No flirting. I know you can’t help it, you flirt with anything female, but you will not use your wiles on me, Mr. Maks. I’ve seen your trail of broken hearts.”