He wanted to kick his own ass when her light dimmed. He shouldn’t have brought their issues into this moment.
Cupping the back of her head, he brought her mouth to his. “Sorry. Forget I said anything. All that shit doesn’t belong in here when we’re like this. I won’t go there again. Sorry.”
She kissed him back. “My pussy rocks your world?” she asked softly.
He pulled her back by loosely grabbing a handful of her thick hair. Her eyes were twinkling with humor when they met his. Fuck, this woman was his undoing. “It knocks the fucker right off its axis,” he admitted.
Satisfaction flashed and her thighs tightened around his hips just as the thump of Lekzi’s legs coming down on her mattress came from the monitor. Her musical chatter followed, and Sacha sighed.
“Thank goodness,” she said with relief in her voice. “I was beginning to get uncomfortable.”
He got up first after she climbed off him. “I’ll get her.” He slipped on his robe and went next door to collect his hungry baby, then thoroughly enjoyed watching her mother feed her.
It wasn’t until later, after Lekzi was once more in her crib and Sacha had fallen asleep on his chest, her fragrant hair spread all over him, that Alek realized something.
He looked down at the mother of his child, his gut tightening with an excitement she’d likely punch him for. First chance he’d gotten and he’d failed to protect her. The result could change both their lives. All three of their lives, if he included his daughter, which he couldn’t help but do now.
Had he done it subconsciously? Because he wanted all that he’d missed out on? Maybe.
Though the reason didn’t really matter. All that mattered was in one night, three bone-rattling times, he’d released into his woman’s lush, fertile body without the barrier of a condom. If she wasn’t on the pill, well, there just might be consequences to pay for their negligence.
What did it say about him that he felt no remorse as he closed his eyes and drifted off into the best sleep he’d had in well over a year?
TWENTY-TWO
Just before lunch the following afternoon, Alek left Sacha and Vasily’s broadly smiling housekeeper to get reacquainted over baby food preparation. As he followed Anton out of the kitchen, he snagged Lekzi’s monitor and clicked it off, silencing her soft murmurs. He left it on a side table before entering the foyer where Gabriel, Maks, and Vincente were milling.
Two of them wore identical frowns shadowed with curiosity, proving, for once, that Maks had kept his mouth shut.
“Where are the girls?” Alek asked while exchanging a round of hand clasps and shoulder bumps. “And the kids?” He had to admit he was disappointed. He wanted to show off.
“Vasily insisted on bringing them.” Gabriel’s frown deepened as they all got out of their coats and handed them off to Anton.
Everyone was dressed casually, G in black cargos and a long-sleeve T-shirt, Maks in dark slacks and a royal blue shirt, and V in his usual jeans and a worn MMA Tee. Alek would have matched Maks, but he’d had to change his shirt earlier when Lekzi had over-eaten and decided it was his fault. He’d never been so unaffected having someone vomit on him. He’d changed and now resembled Vincente.
“Okay,” Maks said, grinning and rubbing his big mitts together. “Let’s kick some balls. I’m jelly that you get to deliver a shock like this one.” He clapped when no one moved. “Better hurry; I swear I saw a tear in Quan’s eye when I insisted he wait outside with Micha. Fucking guy probably thinks we’re gonna take them out.” He winked mischievously as he tipped his chin at the Italians.
V smirked. His long hair was pulled back into a ponytail that reached the middle of his broad back, showcasing a face not nearly as menacing as the one they’d all gotten used to seeing.
“What the fuck is going on here?” Gabriel glared at them. “You two coming out, or what? You look as if you’re about to go at it.”
Alek laughed and motioned them to follow him upstairs. “Come on.”
As they climbed, Vincente cleared his throat. “We gonna pretend that elephant with a semi-automatic isn’t in the room with us?”
“Later,” Maks snapped. A punch sounded. “Don’t fucking ruin this with that shit. It can wait a few minutes.”
Alek paused on the stairs. “What shit?”
Maks gave him a shove. “The handful I’m going to shove down the Reaper’s throat if he fucks with this moment.”
Alek’s moment. Pride glowed in his chest, and he got moving again.
“This better be good,” V growled. “Because you’re getting on my fuckin’ nerves.”