Sinful Promise (Koslov Bratva #6)

25. Emily

25

EMILY

Danil is picking me up for our date in an hour, and I’m nervous.

I didn’t think I would be, considering we’ve pretty much done every other step that comes after a first date, like sex and meeting the family, but tonight is different. It feels as if we’re making our relationship official, which is terrifying. But not because I’m afraid of committing to Danil. Far from it.

It’s more because of the fact that I feel like I now have so much more to lose.

I’ve dreamed about this moment for so long. I’ve had a taste of what it’s like to be with Danil on a more intimate level, and I’m not ready to give that up.

But I have to be realistic.

Igor Ivanov still has a bright red target on my forehead, and I know Danil and his brothers are doing everything in their power to take him down.

But that does little to ease my anxiety.

If something were to happen to Danil, I don’t know how I would survive.

Zara’s perched on the edge of my bed, dressed in a pair of pink satin pajamas, as she watches me get dressed for my date. “Remind me who you’re going out with tonight?”

I’m sitting in front of the vanity table fixing my makeup and trying to ignore the butterflies that are swarming around my stomach.

“Jana, why?”

I catch Zara’s eyes in the mirror, and hers narrow.

“You seem to be going to a lot of effort for dinner with Jana.” Her eyes go to my low-cut green dress that shows a fair amount of cleavage.

“We’re going somewhere nice.” I apply some more blush to my cheeks to try and brighten up my complexion, trying to make me look less tired.

I did not get a lot of sleep last night. After the incredible sex with Danil yesterday, in a restaurant bathroom of all places, and him asking me on a date, my mind was racing all night long.

“Are you sure you’re not going out with Danil?”

Her question takes me so much by surprise that my makeup brush falls out of my hands and clatters against the glass top of the vanity.

I knew my sister wasn’t buying a word of what I was saying. She knows me too well.

When I sneak a glance at her in the mirror and see her smirking, I know the cat is out of the bag.

I was planning on telling her the truth before my date tonight, but there was never the right time.

Dimitri has been hanging around all day, and it felt wrong to tell him without Danil present, so I kept putting it off.

But I guess there’s no time like the present to come clean to your sister that you’ve been secretly hooking up with her husband's younger brother.

“Yeah.” I pick my brush back up and dip it in the blush.

“Oh, my god, I knew it!”

I spin around in my chair, pointing to the door. “Shh! You’ll wake the twins.”

Zara waves her hand. “Oh, they’ll sleep through an earthquake. Tell me everything .”

“Wait, you’re not mad?”

She frowns. “Why would I be mad?”

“Because of the whole ‘being a Koslov comes with sacrifice’ speech you give me at every family event when Danil and I always get a little drunk.”

“Well, I always thought you guys might end up hooking up, and I wanted to make sure you were being careful. But you’re almost twenty-one, Emily. You’re old enough to make your own decisions about who you date. Besides, Danil is a great guy, and I know he cares about you a lot. That’s all I can really ask for as an older sister.”

“I guess…”

Zara laughs. “Why do you look disappointed that I’m not mad?”

“Honestly, I’m just a little shocked. I’ve been mentally preparing myself for a huge fight this entire time, when it turns out it was unnecessary.”

“Well, does Dimitri know?”

I cringe, and Zara chuckles.

“I guess that answers that question.”

“I think Danil should be the one to tell him.”

Zara laughs. “Because you’re too much of a chicken.”

“Actually, I’m scared he’ll murder Danil, and I’d like to at least go on one date with him before that happens.”

Zara chuckles.

“It’s sweet how protective Dimitri is of you.”

“He plays the part of the big brother a little too well,” I mutter as I turn back around to finish up my makeup.

“So…how long has this thing been going on between you and Danil?”

“Uh…a couple of weeks? I’m not too sure.”

Zara laughs. “How can you not be sure?”

“Well, we sort of kissed and then I found out about the whole secret bodyguard thing and we weren’t speaking, and then…” My voice tapers off as I think of the night where Danil pinned me up against the elevator, and my cheeks flood with color.

“Oh, my god, whatever you’re thinking about right now, I don’t want to know.”

I try to hide my guilty expression by applying some more glittery eyeshadow to my eyelid.

“Are you happy, Emily?”

“Right now, I’m so nervous I could throw up.”

“It’s sweet that you’re nervous.”

“I can’t remember the last time I went on a first date, let alone with someone I actually like .”

Zara gets to her feet and crosses over to the vanity table. “My one piece of advice is to take things slow. Take it from the girl who got engaged before ever going on a date.”

She reaches for the curling iron and starts working on my hair.

“Your situation with Dimitri was a unique one. Besides, it worked out great for you two.”

Zara looks down at her rock of an engagement ring and smiles. If I wasn’t so happy for my sister, I would be repulsed by how loved up she and Dimitri are.

“If Danil is the right person, he won’t mind taking things slow.”

I nod, remembering he asked me that exact thing, despite the fact that taking things slow with Danil is the last thing I want to do.

We’ve already wasted so long hiding our feelings, afraid of losing one another.

What if I give him the impression that I’m unsure about my feelings toward him? Because that couldn’t be farther from the truth.

I’ve never been more certain about anything in my life than I am about the fact that I’m falling in love with Danil Koslov.

Zara helps to finish up my hair and by the time I’m dressed and applying the finishing touches to my makeup, my phone buzzes with a message from Danil letting me know that he’s downstairs.

“He’s here.” I look at Zara, whose face breaks out into a smile. “Please be nice.”

She grins. “I’m always nice!”

“What I really mean is, don’t embarrass me.”

“Sorry, no can do. It’s the job of the big sister to embarrass the little sister in front of their date .” She winks at me, and I cringe.

“Don’t make me regret telling you the truth.”

Danil is sitting on the couch, scrolling on his phone as we head down the stairs. At the sound of our footsteps, his head snaps up, and his mouth falls open as he looks at me.

I don’t think I could ever grow tired of having Danil Koslov looking at me as if I’m the center of his universe.

Though, I have no doubt that I’m giving him the exact same look.

He’s added a black jacket to his usual black attire, leaving a couple of buttons undone on his shirt to show just a slight hint of the tanned skin underneath. He looks like he’s just stepped off the Armani runway, and the fact that he’s going to be taking me to dinner is a little surreal.

I really hope tonight ends at his place so I can finally get him naked and return all of the favors he’s so kindly given to me.

Danil’s eyes flick from mine to Zara’s, and he schools his features back into a neutral expression.

He clears his throat and gets to his feet. “We better hurry if you don’t want to miss the reservation that you and Jana have.”

I can’t stop myself from laughing at him trying to act normal.

“What?” Danil frowns.

“Don’t worry, Zara knows.”

“She does?” Danil looks panicked as he glances over at Zara.

I laugh. “It’s okay, Danil. She’s happy for us.”

Danil’s shoulders visibly relax, and Zara grins.

“I wouldn’t relax too much, Danil. After all, you still have to tell Dimitri.”

“I’m leaving that one up to you.” I pat him on the arm. “So, shall we get going?”

For once, Danil lets me choose the music on the drive over to the restaurant, so of course, I make him listen to the Hamilton soundtrack. But props to him for not complaining about my singing once.

He really is the perfect man.

I have no idea where we’re going, but I’m excited. I can see Danil being the secret romantic type, and I’m sure this will end up being the first date to top all first dates.

Not that I have many to compare it to.

“Here we are.” He pulls up to the curb, and I look out the window to see the blue and white sign of Le Petit .

“Oh, my god! Are you serious right now?”

Danil chuckles as he puts the car in park and unbuckles my seatbelt for me.

“I thought you might like it.”

My cheeks start to ache from smiling as Danil climbs out of the car and walks around to open my door like a true gentleman.

He hands his keys to the valet before taking me by the hand and leading me inside the restaurant.

Le Petit is a French restaurant that opened about a year ago, and the waiting list to get a reservation is almost just as long. It’s known for its unique spin on classic French cuisine and its intimate atmosphere.

The place is lit with candles, and there’s even a piano tucked away in the corner, filling the room with music.

I look around the restaurant. “I can’t believe you managed to get us a reservation here. What did you do to get us in?”

Danil holds up his free hand. “I didn’t do anything! An investor owed me a favor, so when I called him last week, he promised to get me a table.”

“Wait, you called him last week? But you only asked me out yesterday.”

“I did.”

“And you already had the reservation?”

Danil grins, and I roll my eyes.

“What made you think I was going to say yes?”

“The look of ecstasy on your face as I made you come gave me a pretty good idea.”

I whack him on the arm. “Danil! You are so bad.”

“So are you,” he murmurs in my ear before nipping at my earlobe.

I shiver.

“Let’s face it, malishka , you were never going to say no.”

I cling to Danil’s arm as the maitre’d leads us through the restaurant toward our table.

I try not to swoon too hard when Danil pulls out my chair and subtly brushes his fingers against the back of my neck as I sit down.

How could I ever have questioned his feelings for me?

Danil takes his seat opposite me. “Have I told you how stunning you look tonight? I love that color on you.”

“Thank you.” I smooth my hands over the sage green skirt of my dress.

“I wanted to say it the moment I saw you, but it felt awkward with Zara there. Even if she does now know about us.”

“Don’t worry, she’s really supportive of us. And I know Dimitri will be too.”

Danil grimaces as he reaches for his napkin and puts it over his lap.

“I’m not so sure about that…”

Does he really believe that Dimitri won’t be happy with the idea of us dating?

I really hope he’s wrong because if Dimitri doesn’t approve, I’m not sure what will happen.

I know Danil cares a lot about what his brothers think, and I would hate the idea of him having to choose between me and them…

Before I have a chance to question him further, the waiter appears to take our drinks order and when he leaves, Danil changes the subject.

“I know you still have one more year at college, but what are you planning on doing once you graduate? I remember you mentioning going to grad school…”

I shrug as I take a sip of my wine.

“I think I’d like to, eventually, but maybe it would be a good idea to take a break for a year or two.”

“And do what?”

“Travel. Just experience life outside of education for a while.”

“I think that sounds like a great idea.”

“You do?”

He frowns. “Of course, why wouldn’t I?”

“I don’t know… I guess it’s always been drilled into me to study and work and just hustle because that’s what my parents did.”

“I get that, but this is also your life, Emily. If you want to spend the rest of it travelling, then so be it.”

I can’t help but laugh.

“I would love to, but I don’t have a limitless bank account like some people…” I grin at Danil, and he rolls his eyes.

“You know you never have to worry about money. I will always take care of you.”

“Danil… That’s an incredibly sweet gesture, but I don’t expect anything from you. If we’re going to do this, I want us to be equal.”

“Are you asking me to be your boyfriend, Emily Mullens?” Danil asks with a boyish grin.

I groan. “Oh, my god.”

He chuckles, flashing me a wink. “I’m taking that as yes. Okay, so you want to travel, but what about marriage, or kids?”

My heart skips a beat at the mention of marriage and kids.

I smile shyly as I think of a bunch of kids running around with Danil’s beautiful eyes and my blonde hair.

We really would make very cute kids.

“It’s on my radar for sure, with the right person…”

I glance up under my lashes and see Danil smiling at me.

I smile back despite having Zara’s comment from earlier about taking things slowly ringing in my head. “Shall we order some food?”

“Already done.” Danil reaches across the table. “I think you forget sometimes how well I know you, Emily Mullens.”

As I thread my fingers through Danil’s, I realize that I’m not falling in love with Danil like I thought.

I’m already there.