Sinful Promise (Koslov Bratva #6)

26. Danil

26

DANIL

This is turning out to be the perfect evening.

Though any night spent in the company of Emily Mullens would make for a perfect night.

I suppose I was taking a gamble when I rang up an old friend, who happens to be a silent partner for Le Petit , and asked for a table without even asking Emily on a date. But I knew she would say yes.

I’d say that as first dates go, this one is turning out to be a raving success. Though there’ve been a few times where I’ve been so distracted by how incredible she looks that I stumble over my words and forget my train of thought like a complete idiot. Or I’ve not realized that she’s asked me a question because I was too busy staring at her.

I just have to hope that Emily finds it endearing…

Under the warm candlelight, her bright green eyes almost sparkle.

It hasn’t gone unnoticed that a few other men in the vicinity of our table have made no attempt to hide their interest in her.

I can’t blame them. She is the most beautiful woman in the restaurant by far, and the fact I get to spend the evening sitting across from her is an immense privilege, and one I do not take for granted.

Emily sets down her fork and wipes at the corner of her mouth. “So, tell me. Who is your favorite brother?”

I throw my head back and laugh at her question.

So far, the conversation has mostly consisted of pretty heavy topics, but that’s my fault. I went straight in with the life plan and marriage and kids, though I’m not sorry I did.

When Emily said that marriage and kids were definitely on her radar with the right person, I thought my heart was going to explode out of my chest.

It’s very out of character for me to bring up such a topic, considering the fact that any relationship I’ve been in in the past, I’ve always broken it off before it ever got anywhere close to the serious stage. So, the fact that I was the one bringing this up and actually wanting to know her answer was a yes is a good sign. Actually, a great sign, as I can see myself with Emily by my side years from now, regardless of her role in my life, but hopefully as my wife.

And with the way I feel about my nieces and nephews, I wonder if a few little ones of our own wouldn’t be just the cherry on top.

Though, I suppose we should at least have the conversation about where this is going before we start talking about kids…

I reach for my glass of wine. “I guess my preference changes on a daily basis.”

The chef very kindly made us our own personal tasting menu and paired each sample dish with a different wine.

She smiles. “Okay. Who’s your favorite today?”

“I’d have to say Mikhail.”

“Why’s that?”

“Because he has been the least annoying. Though, the night is young. There’s still time for my answer to change.”

“I wish I had brothers.”

“You wouldn’t be saying that if you grew up with three of them. Five if you count Anton and Nikolai. And, of course, now there’s Lev.”

“It sounds like a lot of fun, growing up in a big family.”

“Well, you’re part of one now.”

“I guess.”

“Okay, if you had to pick any one of my brothers’ wives to have as a sister instead of Zara, who would you choose?”

Emily’s eyes widen.

“I can’t choose! That’s so mean.”

I shrug. “You made me choose between my brothers. I’d personally think I’d choose Bianca because she makes a killer pumpkin pie.”

Emily laughs. “You are so fickle. But you’re right, she does make an incredible pumpkin pie.”

“But I think you lucked out with Zara. She’s pretty great.”

“Yeah, she is.”

“I think she might be my favorite out of all of the wives.”

“All of the wives? You make it sound like we’re talking about a reality show.”

“Honestly, it feels that way.”

Emily leans a bit forward. “Do you ever feel left out?”

“In what way?”

Her eyes fall to her plate. “Well, you’re the only one left out of your brothers who isn’t married with kids. It must have changed the dynamic between you.”

“Is that a proposal, Emily Mullens?”

Emily’s eyes widen, and I flash her a wink.

“I’m kidding. And to answer your question, no, I don’t feel left out. I figure each of us are on our own timeline, and I’ll get to have what they have when the timing is right.”

I can’t help but notice how her gaze softens as I talk about the future.

When I picture the future, I see myself with the house in the suburbs, with the huge yard and kids running around. Summers spent playing in the pool and winter nights snuggled up in front of the fire, drinking hot chocolate.

And when I imagine the woman by my side, it’s Emily.

It’s always been Emily.

I smirk. “And in the meantime, I get to enjoy being the favorite uncle.”

Emily grins. “You think mighty highly of yourself.”

“I sneak them all candy, which makes them automatically love me the most.”

“I think that’s called bribery.”

“You can call it whatever you want, but it works. Plus, it’s the only way to one up on Mikhail because he’s convinced Leo and the twins prefer him because he lets them draw fake tattoos all over him with permanent marker.”

“I used to think Mikhail was terrifying, but it turns out he’s just a big softie.”

“I think Lucia and Vivi might have something to do with that. And I’m also one hundred percent telling him you think he’s soft.”

“Please don’t do that because it sounds like you’re referencing his dick.”

I feign shock. “Emily Mullens, are you thinking of my brother's flaccid penis right now?”

At the look of horror on Emily’s face I burst out laughing. “I’m kidding. Now, how about some dessert?”

After we finish up our desserts, I pay the check and take Emily by the hand to lead us out of the restaurant. It’s almost eleven, and the sun has long since set, but the city is far from sleeping.

I watch her as we wait for the valet to bring the car around.

I want nothing more than to take her straight back to my apartment to finish the night off, but I don’t want to be presumptuous. “What do you feel like doing?”

Emily and I might have done everything in the wrong order in terms of starting our relationship, but that doesn’t mean we have to end the night with sex.

She looks up at me with those big, green eyes. “Could we take a walk around Central Park? It’s so peaceful at nighttime.”

“That sounds like a great idea.”

I quickly hand over a handful of bills to the valet to hold onto my car for a little longer before looping Emily’s arm through mine and leading her toward of the park.

It’s only a few short blocks away, but we take our time so that we can people-watch and take in the atmosphere of the city as we walk.

As we enter the park, I shrug out of my jacket and wrap it around her shoulders.

She wraps it tighter around herself. “This smells so good.”

“Oh, yeah?”

She nods. “It smells of you.”

“Do you know what else smells like me?”

Emily nibbles on her lower lip, so I place my hand over my heart and feign shock.

“Emily Mullens, were you thinking of my bed? Because that is just disgraceful .”

She groans, rolling her eyes.

“I was hoping to be wooed before being taken to bed and here you are, jumping right to it. And on a first date, too…”

“Do I need to remind you of the fact that you literally fucked me in a restaurant bathroom yesterday ?”

“Oh, I definitely need reminding.” I wrap my arms around her waist and pull her flush against me. “Did it go something like this?”

I lean down and take her lower lip between my teeth.

Emily melts against me, and her hands move to grip my biceps as I force my tongue into her mouth.

She tastes of chocolate, and a moan builds in the back of my throat as our tongues brush against each other.

My cock instantly hardens, and I place a hand on Emily’s lower back to hold her against me so she can feel just how much I want her.

She pants as she pulls away. “We should stop. Before we add public park to the list of inappropriate places we’ve had sex.”

“I know you’re probably right, but I want you so badly right now that I’d be more than happy to go to jail.”

“I don’t think your brothers would be very pleased. I can just imagine Alexei turning up at the police station and saying, ‘This is the sort of shit Dimitri would do. I expected better from you, Danil’.” Her voice at the end goes deep and growly.

I laugh. “Was that meant to be Alexei?”

“Was it not convincing?”

“Not in the slightest.”

“Okay, how about this?” She clears her throat. “‘I’m just doing it for the vibes, Alexei. Do I need a better reason than that?’”

I burst out laughing. “I will say, you do a great Dimitri impression.”

“Who am I now?” Emily schools her face into a frown. “You and I both know that everything can be solved with a fight, so you might as well just throw the damn punch.”

I laugh. “That’s easy. Mikhail. Okay, my turn. Who am I?”

I pretend to flick my hair over my shoulder and roll my eyes.

Emily giggles. “I already know that’s Lucia.”

“No fair, you didn’t let me finish.” I playfully nudge her with my elbow. “Okay, how about this…”

I run up ahead and attempt to do a twirl mid jump, though I end up losing my footing and stumble into the edge of a bench.

“Danil!” Emily squeals before doubling over with laughter.

I rub my knee. “That shit is hard.”

“Oh, my god, I wish I videoed that so I could send it to Nina.”

“I think she would appreciate my efforts.”

“Maybe, but I would have liked to have had it for bribery purposes.” Emily has a knowing look in her eye.

“There’s no point threatening to embarrass me with my brothers. I’ve had thirty years of practice.”

Emily trails a finger down my chest. “That’s a shame…”

“I certainly don’t need to be bribed into performing sexual acts if that’s where your mind was going.”

Emily’s cheeks flood with color, and I grin down at her.

“So, I did have a plan for the second half of the evening.” I reach out to rub my thumb along her lower lip.

“Oh?” It comes out a little breathlessly.

“I was thinking…” I lean down to kiss her softly on the corner of her mouth.

The sound of her breath catching sends a rush of blood to my cock.

Another kiss to the other corner of her mouth. “…that tonight you could stay at my place, and I could finally get you naked.”

“I was hoping the same.” She arches her neck.

I run my nose along the length of her jaw before nuzzling into her neck and inhaling the sweet scent of her perfume.

“Maybe we could make use of my hot tub as well.” I kiss the sensitive skin beneath her ear.

Emily sinks her fingers into my shirt and pulls me closer. “I have a lot of ideas of what we could do.”

I lick along her neck. “Enlighten me.”

“I’d rather show you. Though, not here. I don’t particularly like the prospect of getting arrested for public indecency.”

“When has that ever stopped you?”

Emily rolls her eyes, and I can’t help but lean in to kiss her again.

Being with Emily is as easy as breathing, and she deserves to know just how much she means to me. So, I reluctantly break off the kiss and rest my forehead against hers, the sound of our heavy breathing filling the space between us.

“I've been trying not to say something for a while now…”

My heart is pounding so hard in my chest that I’m sure she can hear it.

This will be the first time I’ve ever said these three words to a woman.

Perhaps I never did before because somehow, I knew that I was waiting to say it to someone else.

“Okay…” Emily’s mouth twitches as she fights the urge to smile.

I know she knows what I’m about to say, but she’s waiting patiently for me to work up the courage.

“I lov?—”

Rustling sounds from behind me, but I’m not quick enough to react.

Emily’s eyes widen and for a split second, time seems to stop as her mouth opens in a silent scream.

“Emi—”

Pain explodes on the back of the head, and everything goes black.