Chapter Twenty-Six Sarah
After making roast beef sandwiches with the remaining roast, Maksim and I sat down at the kitchen table. We were hungrier than we thought because when we dug in, we devoured the sandwiches at a rabid pace.
Although I wasn’t finished, Maksim had emptied his plate of chips and pickles, so I rose out of my chair to make him another sandwich. “You know I’m capable of d-doing that myself,” he argued.
“You’re the guest in my house, so let me be hospitable,” I argued with a smile.
He grinned. “So fucking stubborn.”
“It’s one of my best traits.”
“Is that right?”
I nodded as I swiped mayo onto a slice of bread. “I would’ve never made it this far in life if I hadn’t been stubborn.”
“I can see t-that.”
“I’d say you were pretty stubborn.”
“I’m Russian,” he mused.
I laughed. “So it’s a nationality thing?”
“Absolutely.”
With a shrug, I replied, “I guess I don’t see you as Russian much.”
“Why not?”
“It’s not like you talk with an accent or show a lot of pride for Russia.”
“I guess it’s b-because people feel so strongly against the country because of its leaders. I appreciate my heritage, b-but I wouldn’t ever want to live there.”
“You’re Russian-American, not Russian,” I noted.
“That’s a g-good way of putting it.”
I brought the plate with another sandwich along with chips and pickles over to the table.
After I sat it down, Maksim winked. “Spasibo.”
“Let me guess. You said thank you.”
“I did.”
“I do like hearing all the Russian words.”
“I’ll remember that,” he replied with a smile.
“Maybe I’ll end up speaking some Russian after all this is over.”
“As smart as you are, I could see you p-picking it up easily.” Tilting his head at me, Maksim said, “I d-don’t think I ever asked you why you became a speech pathologist.”
I swiped my mouth with my napkin. “Even though Sammy has always been high functioning, he had speech issues as a kid, so I grew up in the offices of speech pathologists. There were a lot of times that the therapists had me help work with him. Like a speech partner. Somewhere along the way I realized I enjoyed it, and I wanted to help as many kids like Sammy as I could.”
“I’m not surprised you chose such a noble p-profession.”
“You aren’t?”
“You’re a natural caregiver.”
“So are you.”
He frowned. “I am.”
“Look at how you sprang into action tonight. You could’ve just let me leave and handle all this on my own. But you didn’t.”
“Maybe I was worried you would run away.”
Shaking my head, I replied, “We’re past all that now, Maksim.”
“You think?”
“I do. And then you found Silas help and cleaners.” With a smile, I said, “You’re a caring gangster.”
A laugh burst from his lips. “If you say so.”
“Oh, I know.”
As Maksim made quick work of devouring his second sandwich, I went over to the sink to work on getting the dinner dishes washed for Mom. I’d barely put the first plate in the water when Maksim appeared at my side.
“Let me help.”
“You do dishes?”
He laughed. “Why is that so surprising?”
“It’s just you have a cook and a housekeeper. I didn’t think you got your hands dirty.” With a wink, I added, “At least not that way.”
“As a matter of fact, I d-do.”
“You’re just a Renaissance Man, aren’t you?”
“If you say so.”
“Fine. You can dry after I wash.”
With two hands, we made quick work of getting the dishes washed, dried, and put away. When I glanced at my phone, it was a little after ten. “I guess we should get some rest.”
Maksim nodded. “Just p-point me in the direction of the guest room.”
Before I could stop myself, I blurted, “You don’t want to sleep with me?”
At the erotic glint in Maksim’s eyes, heat shot straight to my core. As he closed the distance between us, he practically growled, “There’s never a t-time I wouldn’t want to sleep with you.”
I swallowed hard. “Just in bed with me or…”
When he reached out to grab me by the throat, I gasped and stumbled back into the counter. As he loomed over me, my heartbeat thrummed wildly in my chest. “You can’t imagine how much I want to fuck you in t-this moment.”
“How much?”
“You are p-playing with fire, Doctor.”
“Maybe I want to get burned,” I replied in a breathless tone.
“You like being b-bad, don’t you?”
“Only for you.”
Maksim’s gaze dropped from my eyes to my lips. When I darted my tongue out to wet them, a low groan rumbled through me. At the feel of his erection pressing against my thigh, I leaned in closer to him.
And just as quickly as the storm of desire had rolled in, Maksim jerked away from me. “Fuck,” he muttered as he jerked a hand through his hair.
After glancing back at me, he shook his head. “I’m sorry.”
At his whiplash of emotions, I couldn’t help but ask, “About what?”
“Leading you on just now.”
“I’m pretty sure I’m the one who started it,” I countered.
“We’re in your parents’ house.”
“Yes, I’m aware of that.”
“You’ve had a roller coaster of emotions t-tonight.”
“Once again, I’m aware.”
“It’s t-too damn fast.” Shaking his head, Maksim argued, “It’s t-too fast for fucking.”
“You don’t think we’re moving too fast liking each other?”
“No. We're moving t-too fast with sex.”
“Holy shit,” I murmured. At the surprise on his face from me cursing, I started laughing. I held up my hand. “I’m sorry. It’s just this is so wild.”
“It is?”
Nodding, I replied, “Never would I have pinned you for a traditionalist.”
“I’m usually not.”
“Then why with me?”
“B-Because even the b-best sex can ruin an early relationship. The last t-thing I want t-to d-do is ruin what we have.”
“Breathe, Maksim. Relax your jaw,” I instructed softly.
Instead of arguing with me about correcting his speech, he did take a breath. His jaw that had been so clenched with emotion, eased slightly. “I want to try d-dating you before I fuck you.”
“Wow,” I murmured.
He gave me the sexiest crooked grin. “We’re already in the hole when it comes t-to how we started out t-together.”
“Because one of your men kidnapped me?” I teasingly asked.
“Exactly.”
As I stared into his intense gaze, I couldn’t help shaking my head. “If there ever was a time when I wished you wouldn’t be noble, it’s now.”
“So d-do I.”
“All right. We’ll give it a go.”
Maksim’s dark eyes lit up. “Really?”
“Absolutely.”
A genuine smile lit up his face. “I’d love to kiss you, b-but I know I’d take it too far right now.”
“Me too.”
“So, you probably should show me t-to the guest room.”
At that moment, the last thing I wanted was to be separated from him. Even though I thought I needed hot sex from him, deep down I just wanted him near me. “Are you tired?”
“Not really.”
“Me either. Why don’t we just watch some TV for awhile?”
Hesitation flashed in his eyes. “Are you sure that’s a g-good idea?”
“I can sit on the couch, and you can be in the chair.”
He laughed. “I t-think that’s a great idea.”
“Good. We can go to the den since they’re cleaning up the living room.
Offering me his hand, Maksim said, “Show me the way.”