Chapter Twenty-One Sarah
As I balanced the cupcake box on my lap, I tried regulating my out-of-control nerves.
In the last half hour, I’d realized the extent of danger that went along with Maksim’s power.
I couldn’t imagine having to call in a favor simply to enter a specific part of town.
But it was just an everyday occurrence to Maksim.
Not to mention being prepared for an innocent baker to pull a gun.
It felt especially jarring considering how mundane the last few days with him had been.
Despite how our paths had originally crossed, I actually enjoyed my time with Maksim.
He was such an enigma. On the one hand, he was this overwhelming man of strength of power.
But then he was incredibly kind and thoughtful.
He also had a dry sense of humor I really enjoyed.
Even though I wouldn’t admit it to him, I needed the emotional and physical break that my pseudo-captivity had brought.
My life had been moving at warped speed for far too long.
In many ways, my time with Maksim was like a vacation.
I slept in, had someone prepare all my meals, and I swam laps in the pool on my off time.
After the past few days, I tried ignoring how much I enjoyed spending time with Maksim.
And how some of that time felt like dating.
We’d piled up together in the movie room to watch The King’s Speech.
I think it did him a lot of good watching such a high profile person deal with a stuttering problem.
We also practiced his speech patterns while taking long walks on the property.
Since our night together that first night at the house, I hadn’t seen the Beast. Well, at least not physically. He made his shadowy presence known. The last three mornings I’d woken to notecards telling me to have a good day or to work Maksim hard.
The thought that he was watching me sleep infuriated me and turned me on. It was like he was constantly edging me about when he would appear. Getting myself off in the bed or shower was becoming a regular morning occurrence.
Maksim’s voice broke the silence. “Are you okay?”
“Fine.”
Motioning to my lap, he said, “If you keep g-gripping the box that t-tight, you’re going to b-break it.”
When I glanced down, I realized he was right. I quickly moved my hands off the box. I gave him a sheepish look. “Thanks. Sammy would be so ticked if I arrived with smushed cupcakes.”
He smiled. “No problem.”
When we started slowing down, I peered out the window to see Sammy’s house coming into view. As we entered the driveway, I unbuckled my seatbelt. Oleg put the SUV into park, and I started to open my door when I realized Maksim was preparing to open his. “What are you doing?”
Turning in his seat, he focused his breathing and relaxed his jaw before replying.
“Being a gentleman and seeing you to..the…door.”
What the fuck? After everything we had been through, he didn’t trust me to go to Sammy’s door without an escort? Screw that.
Narrowing my eyes, I said, “Normally, I would praise you for your speech pattern, but I really don’t want to consider how you don’t trust me.”
“What?”
“It isn’t necessary for you to come with me.”
“I…believe it is.”
“After being with me the last three days, do you honestly think I’m going to try to run from you?”
“Not out of fear or anything along t-those lines.”
Furrowing my brows, I asked, “Then what?”
“We’re really going to do this right now?”
“Yes, we are.”
“Fine. I know you’re feeling isolated from your life and your work b-being with me.”
I blinked at him in surprise. He knew me so much better than I thought. While I hadn’t voiced my frustrations of being cooped up in the mansion, I was certainly feeling that way. And it’d only been three days.
With a sigh, I replied, “You’re right that I’m feeling isolated. While the mansion is like being at a fancy hotel, it isn’t home. And while I’m still doing my usual work, I’m not used to spending all my time with one patient.”
To my shock, hurt flashed in his eyes. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know I was so d-difficult to be around.”
Although I probably shouldn’t have, I reached out and took his hand in mine. “You’re not difficult. I promise. What I meant is that it’s hard just working with one person away from my office and what I’m used to.”
“But you knew g-going in what it was going to be like,” he reasoned
“While that’s true, I didn’t fully understand it until I was locked in the moment.”
His dark eyes studied me. The intensity with which he stared at me caused my skin to prickle. Finally, he replied, “I know you won’t run.”
“You do?”
“You wouldn’t risk upsetting your b-brother by running.”
My mouth dropped wide. “Just my brother? You think Sammy would be the only reason for me staying.
“And your cat that’s b-back at my house.”
“Seriously?”
With a shrug, he replied, “I suppose so.”
“I guess you forgot about the document I signed?”
“That was an NDA about my identity, not your freedom.”
“Whatever,” I grumbled.
“You’re angry with me,” he said with somewhat astonishment.
“You’re damn right I am.”
“Because you think I have t-trust issues with you?”
Nodding, I replied, “And your overall opinion of me.”
“You know how highly I think of you.”
“Obviously you don’t if you think I would run away like a dog chasing freedom the first time the gate is opened.”
The corners of his lips quirked. “Interesting analogy.”
“I’m serious, Maksim. At the very least, doesn’t my commitment to you and your treatment mean anything to you?”
He frowned. “I didn’t think it would outweigh your chance at freedom.”
“Unbelievable,” I muttered.
“I’ve been burned in the p-past.”
“And that wasn’t by me.”
“You’re right. It’s not your fault, but that d-doesn’t mean I can’t help but t-think the worst.”
“Look, I know I’m not Bratva, but my word is my bond. I will honor my commitment to you.”
“And I appreciate that.”
“So you’ll let me go alone?” At the shake of his head, I huffed out a frustrated breath.
“You are such a beast!”
Something darkly erotic glittered in Maksim’s eyes at my comment. “Interesting choice of words,” he mused.
“How else should I describe you?”
Tilting his head, Maksim replied, “An asshole? A b-bastard? Maybe the old motherfucker.”
“I’m serious.”
“So am I.” He squeezed my hand in his. “I didn’t want to admit to you the truth, but you’re so d-damn stubborn I g-guess I’ll have to.”
“You need to remember to relax your jaw and pause,” I said after his pattern had been so destabilized.
“Seriously, Sarah?”
“I’m sorry. I can’t let a teachable moment go by.”
Maksim chuckled. “You’re impossible.”
“Just finish what you were saying.”
“Look, you know who I am and the world I belong to. You also just got a taste of what underworld life is like.”
“Yes, I did.”
“As long as you're a part of t-that world, I need t-to make sure you’re safe.”
“So this isn’t about me trying to run away?”
“No.”
I swallowed the rising panic that the reality of his words brought on. “Am I in danger?”
With a shake of his head, Maksim replied, “Not at the moment, and I intend to keep it that way.”
“You’re just being cautious.”
“Exactly.”
“While I appreciate that, how am I supposed to explain your presence to Sammy?”
He shrugged. “What do you normally classify the men you’re with?”
“I don’t.” At his inquisitive glance, I shifted in my seat. “I don’t bring men around Sammy.”
Maksim’s brows furrowed. “Why not?”
“It’s complicated.”
When Maksim continued staring curiously at me, I sighed. “In the past, some men have been freaked out about Sammy. Some held it in until they met him. Others checked out at the idea I couldn’t give them a hundred percent of me.”
“Svolochs,” he bit out. At my questioning look, he replied, “B-Bastards.”
“Yeah, they were. Sammy is my blood, my responsibility. He will always be a huge factor in my decision-making.” With a shrug, I said, “Most men can’t handle that.”
“T-Those were not men you were with. T-They were little b-boys.”
I knew how much he truly felt what he was saying since he’d lost control of his stutter. A few seconds ticked by before he got a hold of his emotions. “Real men understand familial obligations. They have a heart for those who need care among us.”
His words touched something deep within me. But instead of telling him that, I said, “That was a really great pattern of speech.”
The corners of his lips quirked. “Thank you.”
When a knock came at my window, I jumped out of my skin. Jerking my gaze to the glass, Sammy’s face peered into the tinted windows. “Oh shit.”
“We have company,” Maksim said.
Fumbling with the handle, I opened the door, causing Sammy to back up. “Hey, Mr. Sweetface.”
Without a hello, Sammy pronounced, “This isn’t your car.”
“I know. It’s my…”
Shit, shit, shit! What was I going to say? I opened my mouth to explain when a deep voice answered for me. “B-Boyfriend’s.”
While Sammy’s brows shot comically wide at the sound of Maksim’s voice, I fought the urge to slap his face. Throwing a glare over my shoulder, I corrected, “Yes, my friend who is a boy, Maksim.”
He had the audacity to wink at me before hopping out of the car. I quickly did the same. When he came around the back of the SUV, Sammy’s mouth dropped wide as his gaze trailed up Maksim’s body.
“You can call me Maks.”
“Holy forkballs, you’re huge,” Sammy remarked.
“Sammy,” I scolded.
Considering how smooth he was acting, I wouldn’t have imagined Maksim was nervous until his patterns of speech were affected. “Yeah, I’ve b-been called that b-before. Nice t-to meet you.”
Sammy’s brows furrowed at Maksim’s stutter. “You talk funny.”
I shrieked in horror. “Samual John Whitfield!”
He jerked his gaze to mine. “What? He sounds kinda like KGBeast in Batman.”
When I opened my mouth to scold him more, Maksim shook his head. “He thinks I have a Russian accent.”
Both Sammy and I blinked at him in surprise. “You know Batman?” Sammy asked.