Ultimate Vengeance (Wanted Men Book 4)(83)

“I don’t know how she can’t. I haven’t killed her. Haven’t even really given her shit.”

“You two will share a bed, right?” Maks asked bluntly, as though it wasn’t the most personal of questions.

“Of course, we will.”

“Good. When the kid’s asleep, get her mother naked. Treat her dirty. Admit to her all the nasty things you’d like to do to her. Beg her to do them to you. Crack that reserve so you two can talk candidly about what happened. Syd always spills shit after sex. Says she feels connected and it’s easier for her to open up.”

“I’m not a first-timer with this, you know. I’m just wondering if we’ll get very far with the baby. Everyone always bitches about how they get in the way.” Fuckers didn’t know how lucky they were that they had a baby to get in the way of getting their dick wet.

“Fuck off. We have two preteens with great hearing. My woman’s exhausted.” He tilted his head to the side and looked back at the house. “Were you guys ever into BDSM? You could always bind her in a way that puts her completely at your mercy,” he suggested with a shrug as he came back around. “Then punish the fuck out of her. There are many toys and methods you can use that’ll help you gain a sense of control—I think you feel you’ve lost that—but won’t cause her too much pain. Just enough that you might feel better when you finally take her. Who knows? Might help.”

Alek shook his head and ignored the tightness entering his groin area. “She likes being handled, but I’d scare the fuck out of her if I ever tied her down to whip her.”

“I’m not saying to cane the fuckin’ girl. Just, I don’t know, use a flogger or a leather paddle or some shit. If you think you might want to give it a go, I have a fully stocked cabinet at home. Text me and I’ll tuck something useful under your pillow. But make sure you get it before Sammie changes your sheets, otherwise, we’re likely to come down for breakfast one morning and find him swatting flies with a suede-tasseled crop.” Maks pulled him toward the house. “Come on. Let’s go wake up your kid.”

“I’ll pass on the entire scenario, but thanks for that very fucked-up offer. I would suggest you don’t extend it to anyone else.”

They were chuckling when they walked into the large, well-lit foyer of the house Alek had moved into when he was eleven. The sound of their humor blended with a baby’s excited gurgle, and he was suddenly tripping over himself to get to the living room.

His daughter was wide awake and in Sacha’s arms. As he neared, she turned her soft blonde head and kicked the air from his lungs. Fascination descended. He was looking into his own eyes. Amazing. First his father, then him, and now his daughter had inherited the pale-blue eyes that ran in their family. Vasily and a distant uncle were the exception with a much darker blue.

Alek wanted to go down on the floor with her and just stare at her for hours. He wanted to listen to her babble and see her wave her arms. Kick her legs. He wanted to watch her drool and fuss and get cranky. He wanted to hold her gaze and try to communicate the instant, blinding love that now bound her to his very soul.

She blinked.

He blinked.

And then she smiled.

When he saw two bottom teeth the size of a couple of grains of rice, he was done. He held his arms out and was grateful Sacha didn’t say a word but simply handed her over. With his hand cradling her fragile head and his arm holding her sturdy little body snug, he exited through the other entrance to the living room to take his daughter for her first walk. Didn’t matter that it was only to the kitchen to grab a couple of beers, with his ear being slapped and his bowtie getting yanked on, it was most profound experience of his life.



♦ ♦ ♦



Sacha’s heart overflowed with love as she stood and stared after where Alekzander had—

They were back. In all his masculine beauty, with his dark blond hair haphazardly pushed off his forehead—and staying back—his remarkably pale eyes dazzling in their purity, Alekzander brought Maksim a beer. His daughter was wrapped securely in his strong arms.

Sacha devoured the sight of the two most important people ever to enter her life. Together at last. It was a poignant moment that touched her so deeply she knew she’d remember it forever.

“Holy shit.” Rather than take the beer, Maksim scooped the baby from her father’s arms and held her out in front of him, legs dangling. “Hello, malishka. Look at the little pretties staring at me. Just like your papa.” He brought her in and appeared completely comfortable tucking her into his chest. He didn’t seem to mind when his nose was grabbed. “You’re quite the little joy-bringer, kid. Wait until your dedushka gets home. Hundred bucks says he cries.” He held his hand out.