Chapter 16
Chapter Sixteen
Amy
“And where do you think you are going, looking all delicious?”
The sound of Alexei’s husky voice made me smile. Half turning while fixing one of the stud earrings he had brought me last week into my left lobe, I couldn’t help but smile at him.
Oh, how times had changed. Two months had passed since our wedding, and I honestly felt closer to him than almost any other person in the world. Sex had helped us become closer, but it was our talks before and after that had really brought us together.
He really wasn’t as bad as I had first thought. In fact, there was a protective streak in his usually cold countenance that was just as hot as the way he possessively pinned me down on the bed and had his way with me.
The memories of earlier that morning swamped me, and my smile grew wistful. I still ached between my legs. That’s how vigorous his lovemaking had been.
“Come here,” he ordered, and I knew the look in his eyes and the tone of his voice. Padding over to his side of the bed, I squealed when he caught my wrist and pulled me down fully on top of him. His warm, muscled arms instantly went around me and trapped me to the naked expanse of his chest.
“Where are you going, wife of mine?” he asked again, rubbing the tip of his nose against mine.
When I first met him, I would have never guessed that his love language was touch. He curated his image of cold indifference so well, but in reality, he was a big softie who wanted to touch me at every possible opportunity, and I was OK with that because I liked him touching me.
I would even go so far as to say I liked him a lot, maybe even—
“When you should be naked and in bed with me.” He held me a little tighter, squashing my breasts against his chest.
My thoughts scattered as he kissed me slowly and almost lazily. It was a good five minutes before he allowed me to pull away, and by that point, my lips felt swollen and bruised, and the ache between my legs had turned into something else.
I wanted him…again.
“My sister is having a checkup today. I want to be there for her, but I will be back for dinner.”
Alexei didn’t answer at all. His lips were too busy kissing a trail of fire down my throat. I moaned before I could help myself. Why did he have to be so good at that? It made me want to throw all of my other responsibilities away, strip my clothes off, and crawl back into his arms naked.
“We will find her a heart, Amy, I promise,” he said against my throat.
I wanted to believe him, and I knew he was doing everything he could. But I also knew we were rapidly running out of time.
“Hey.” He caught my cheeks between his hands and forced me to look at him. “I am going to find her a heart, and Alessia will be fine. Believe me,” he blinked slowly. “Please.”
“I do. Didn’t you have plans today as well?” I asked, changing the subject.
“Yes, but not until eleven. You know the rules.” He winked.
I couldn’t help it. I smiled. Oh, those pesky rules. I especially hated the one where we spent every morning together until ten a.m., breakfast in bed, lovemaking, and just talking. OK, maybe I didn’t hate it at all. Maybe it was my favorite time of the day.
“So, take those clothes off and—”
I cut him off with a laugh. “It’s gone eleven, Alexei.”
For a second, he looked confused, and then, throwing back, his head he laughed. “Is it really? Oh, Amy, you are so bad for business it’s unreal, and yet—” one giant hand slid over my breast. “I don’t seem to mind at all. If I had my way—” He grinned. “Well, you get what I’m saying, right?”
“Sure do. And I feel the same way, but I really do have to go, and so do you.”
Reluctantly, he let go of me. “I guess you are right. Do you want to go out tonight? Somewhere nice?”
I couldn’t help myself. I kissed him. “We can do whatever you want. I don’t really care as long as I am with you.”
His bright blue eyes shone. “I want you naked and spread out in front of me, but part of me wants to take you out and show you off. Be ready at seven thirty and wear something,” a glitter of mischief flickered to his eyes, “that you won’t mind me ripping off your body later.”
My grin spread across my face. “You got it. It’s a date.” untangling myself from his arms. I headed towards the door, only turning at the last minute to stare back at the pure perfection of him lying in our bed with a soft smile on his face.
“Are you going to see Nikolai today?”
“I’m going to try.”
“I’m going to try as well, but if I can’t—” I left the rest unsaid.
“If you can’t, he will understand. My grandfather loves you, and he knows your sister’s situation. He will understand.”
“Thanks,” I shot him one last look, filling my memory with him, “I lo—” I stuttered to a stop. Confused about the words that had just tried to slip out of my mouth.
Alexei lifted an eyebrow.
“I look forward to our date tonight,” I amended quickly and rushed out of the room before I could say anything else.
Yes, Nikolai loved me. He called me docha all the time, but did Alexei?
Because I was pretty sure I was falling in love with him.
It was already dark by the time I got home. Alessia’s doctors and specialists’ appointments had taken much longer than I had thought, and the news wasn’t good. I held her hand as the doctor explained, and I didn’t let go.
I didn’t cry either. Alessia did. Not that I could blame her. We had even less time than I had thought. Alessia was only a few years older than me, and she was going to die.
Of course, they hadn’t put it in those words, but it was pretty clear that’s what they were saying. I wanted nothing more than to scream and rage at the world, but I also knew I had to hold it together for my sister.
Right now, she needs me to be strong, stronger than I have ever been before. But that didn’t mean my heart hadn’t shattered into a million pieces. I wanted my husband. Alexei would have held me and just let me cry. He would promise to make it all better, and if anyone was capable of it, it was him.
Still, it was a new feeling to want to be held by someone, especially someone like Alexei, who on the surface was so cold.
“Mrs. Petorov?” Mrs. Cole called after me as I rushed up the stairs. I was already running late, and Alexei hated that, unless, of course, he was the one being late. “May I speak to you, please?”
“Of course.” I turned. It was still weird for me to be called that, but it didn’t matter how many times I had asked to be called Amy, none of the staff would. “I’m running a little late. Can I shower first? I smell of hospital. Or is it an emergency?”
Her lined eyes filled with sympathy. “I hope your sister is doing better,” she said softly. “And yes, it can wait a few minutes.”
I misled because if she thought I could be ready in a few minutes, she was sadly mistaken.
“If it’s important.”
“It’s just about Alexei’s birthday next week.”
I did a double-take. “It’s his birthday next week?”
Suddenly, I felt like a fool. He was my husband, and earlier I had almost told him I loved him, yet I didn’t know when his birthday was. It just went to prove how little I knew about him.
“What day?” I tried to get down the stairs so quickly, I almost slipped.
She narrowed her eyes. “Wednesday. You didn’t know?”
I made a mental note of next Wednesday’s date and forced myself to smile. “He didn’t tell me.”
“He—”
At that moment, my phone buzzed, and I pulled it out of my pocket. Alexei’s name flashed up on my screen.
I’ve found a match.
My heart skipped a beat. I read the message over and over again until the words were burned into my retinas. He had found a match for my sister, just like he had promised. My heart seemed to swell in size.
God, I loved that man so much. He had given me the best gift in the world, and I would never be able to pay him back. But I will try. Every day for the rest of my life, I would try to be the best wife he could ask for. And I would start with his birthday.
“Do you think,” I eyed the housekeeper thoughtfully, “Do we have enough time to arrange a party for him?”
She stared at me cooly for a few seconds and then nodded. “I think we can arrange something special, but I may need some help.”
“I will, I mean, of course I’ll help. Every spare minute,” I promised.
I had so many ideas. I already knew his favorite cake because he always went on about the German chocolate cake his mother used to make for his birthday, so I knew I would have to get one of them.
And an amazing gift. Something special from me to him.
My mind was going around a million miles an hour.
Mrs. Cole’s lips curled in a smile. “I’ll begin straight away, Mrs. Petrovov. You go and get ready for your date. And I’m glad the news was good.”
I looked at her in confusion.
She pointed to the phone in my hand. “Your whole face lit up. I took a wild guess that it was good news about your sister.”
“The best news.” I beamed at her.
“Good. Go and get ready now. Alexei will be home soon,” she winked.
I rushed up the stairs, almost skipping towards the bedroom. She was right, of course. He would be home soon, and I wanted to surprise him and show him exactly how grateful I was.
And I knew exactly what dress I would wear to do it, a satin backless black number I had found in the closet. It was perfect whether he wanted to go out, a smile twitched my lips, or stay in.
I took a shower and got dressed quickly with my hair curled over my shoulder and my lips glossy. And I looked good. Even I could admit that. There was color in my cheeks now that had nothing to do with the blush on my face, and my eyes sparkled with new life.
Because I was happy, and now my sister had a chance at life. I wasn’t just happy, I was ecstatic, and it was all because of Alexei.
With one last look at my reflection, I draped myself on the chair opposite the door and waited.
I wanted the first thing he saw when he came in to be me.