Chapter Seven
Miles
I have a lot of things to do before I head home, including a visit from the jeweler with Elsa’s ring.
I’ve spent a long time deciding what it would be.
After all the years we’ve known each other, I want it to be special, but with Vegas, nothing seems to be that way.
Everything here is gaudy, extravagant, way over the top.
No matter what I see or think of, I feel like I’m just throwing my money around.
None of it shows the depth of my obsession.
This piece is it, though. I’ve worked hard on it, and it incorporates everything she likes, from her favorite flower, to her favorite books, to her love of dogs.
I close the app after a few moments and return to my business matters that require my attention. It takes more time than I expect, even leaving the jeweler waiting in my personal lobby to be received.
“My apologies,” I say.
“No, no. It is my fault for arriving too early.” The level of fear I bring is well known, and he doesn’t want to disappoint.
“Please come and show me what you’ve brought me.
” He nods and sets the suitcase on the table beside my desk.
Opening it, he lays out the cloth and then unveils the three-carat pink diamond tear-drop stone with chocolate diamonds surrounding it.
Etched inside, I inscribed a message for her, and it’s perfect. A dark prince loves his princess.
Elsa always believed in fairytales and love, wanting to marry a prince. She doesn’t see me like that, but I’ll be whatever she needs because my life doesn’t exist without her in it.
“It’s perfect, Mr. Greenberg,” I state, sending the payment through. He wipes the ring down and places it in the special box before handing it to me.
“She is one lucky woman.”
“I am the lucky one.”
“Then you are blessed, Sir.”
“That I am.” I escort him out with a handshake before closing the door. Pressing the box to my chest, I take a deep breath and send up a silent prayer that I don’t ruin this because I’m not above kidnaping a princess.
With the ring in my pocket, I prepare to leave for the day.
It’s finally time to claim the woman I am in love with.
She has revealed her hand. I know she loves me, and this time I’m not going to let her worm her way out of my grasp.
I don’t care what threat is in the way because I’ll tear anyone down that gets between us.
There is a quick knock on my office door. “Mr. Ivanov, Miss Martín just entered the hotel alone and she wasn’t happy.”
“Okay. I’m on my way.” I storm up there to hear the tail end of the conversation. So my little beauty is still quite upset by our kiss. I couldn’t believe that she hadn’t seen past my ruse with Mistress and the stupid attempts to get her in my home, to like it and want to stay.
I’ve been bold as fuck right in front of her father and older brother, but I don’t care. I’m done waiting, and she needs to understand how much she means to me.
Elsa stops me, tugging my arm outside the private elevators. “Where are we going?”
“Home.”
“Home?” she repeats with a questioning smile spreading across her flushed face.
I cup her warmed cheek. “Yes. We never talked about the living arrangements. I’m getting tired of you going back and forth.”
“Oh, are you?” She adds an audaciously raised brow to the look, and my cock loves the boldness.
“Yes, you know Mistress misses you,” I say, leading her inside and then turning to the control panel.
“What about you?”
I shrug. “She doesn’t miss me at all.”
She glares at me. “You’re an ass. I mean, do you miss me when I leave?”
“Every second that I’m not with you, Elsa.” Sliding the key into the lock, I shut down the elevator, which turns off the cameras. My hand cups her face and I say, “I’m going to kiss you, Elsa.”
“Please,” she whispers. Our lips connect, and it’s magnetic. I lean in and push her against the elevator wall, sliding my tongue along the seam of her lips until she parts them. Diving in, I taste her tongue, sliding mine against hers.
“Miles,” she whispers, panting so wonderfully.
My phone vibrates in my slacks, and I know damn well who it is without having to check it.
Her father is giving me a fucking warning to cut it out.
I have to pull away before her father switches on the cameras.
Dragging myself back, I release my hold and twist the key before pulling it from the lock.
“Later, Princess. Your dad has access to the cameras, too. I don’t need them trying to kill me before we’re married and my baby is growing inside you.”
“Baby?” she asks so softly that her voice cracks. I’m not sure if that’s a positive or negative response, so we need to have a talk before we take the bedroom talk any further.
“Yes. I know you’re probably not ready.” She presses her fingers to my lips.
“There is so much we need to talk about, but, Mr. Ivanov, this isn’t the place for the conversation.
” She lifts her gaze to the camera light above.
I nod, face forward, and take her hand in mine.
The door opens, and we exit. I lead her to my waiting vehicle.
Kyros holds the back door for us, and she slides in first. I watch her greedily as she moves her delectable body.
“Are you staring at my backside, Miles?” That saucy tone does nothing to stem the growing desire I have inside me. We’re not going to make it long before we end up in bed. It’s not what I want, even though my hunger to fuck her is there.
“Yes, I am,” I answer without an ounce of shame. I want her naked, but I should take her out first. The dog will keep us distracted, so I can behave like a damn civilized human instead of the damn animal I want to be.
She doesn’t say a word, but the look and smile that spreads to her eyes says it all.
“I hope you enjoyed the view.”
“I did, very much.” I smirk and then close the door behind us. Sitting next to her with the right to touch Elsa has never felt so good. Looking toward my driver and head of security, I say, “Kyros, take us to my home, please.”
“We’ve been in the car together before, but this feels different,” Elsa admits with a soft sigh.
“Yes, it does. I can hold you and stare at you and not feel guilty. I don’t have to sneak glances, hide my longing from you.”
“Why didn’t you just tell me? Goodness, when did you start having these feelings?”
“When you came crashing into the room, summoning your father to see the doctor. Truthfully, I noticed you before, but I thought I was imagining the attraction. Then, you landed in my arms, and nothing could change the path I was on.”
“Then why did you take the long path? That was four months ago.”
“Your dad was recovering; I wasn’t trying to send the man back into the hospital. Besides, I needed to keep you safe from the other families without the distraction of having you in my bed.”
“And now I’m safe?”
“I can’t say with one hundred percent certainty that they’ll back off, but I laid into Johnny, and maybe they saw how serious I was.”
“I believe so. We saw each other at school, and he refused to even speak to me.”
“That’s fucking good because I gave him a gentle warning to stay away.”
“Did you have to hit him in the first place?”
“Yes. He’d been warned before that day, and he hadn’t listened.”
“Oh.” She bites down on her pretty bottom lip. The vehicle comes to a stop, and my gate opens. We don’t say a word as we pull up to the front of the house. I can sense she’s nervous, and I can’t deny that I’m almost as worried as aroused. Fucking this up isn’t an option.
As much as I want to walk through the doors and carry her straight to our bedroom, we need to straighten out our relationship before I lose my head.
“Princess, let’s go inside.” I step out and take her hand, leading her inside where Carl smiles as Mistress runs out and jumps up my leg and then to Elsa as soon as she spots her.
“Look—Mommy is home where she belongs, Mistress.” I bend down and pet the little puppy, earning excited tail wags and a couple hand licks.
“Should we take her for a walk?”
“Sounds like a good idea.”
“Carl, we’ll be having the Martín family over for dinner.”
“Yes, Sir. I’ll have dinner prepared by six. I’m glad to see you’re here, Elsa.”
“Thank you, Carl.”
“Yes, thank you. We’re going to take Mistress for a walk in the garden.”
“Yes, Sir.” He leaves us and we walk to the back and Mistress follows with her tiny paws and eager tail.
Elsa runs after her and giggles so adorably.
She drops to her butt and then tucks her legs under her hips, letting the dog run to her.
They play together while I remove my suit jacket and set it on the patio chair, and then I grab some of her toys in the bin by the side of the house.
“Mistress, come here.” I squeeze the toy, and she comes running.
“She’s so fickle, isn’t she?”
“She loves her toys.”
“I think she loves you.”
“What’s not to love?” I tease.
“Let me get back to you on that,” she answers with a smirk before getting up off the ground. I swoop her up before she’s fully standing.
“What did you say, Princess?” I tickle her waist.
“Nothing. I swear.” She giggles and then Mistress comes to her defense, yelping at my feet. “Don’t worry, baby girl. Daddy’s not hurting Mommy.”
“Not yet. Mommy’s going to be yelling Daddy’s name tonight.”
“Not sooner?”
“No. As much as I want to spread you out like a meal and then fill you up so deep, I don’t want your parents to arrive before we’ve finished.”
“Oh.”
“Yes, oh.”
“How am I going to stay here without my things?”
“Since you don’t go back to school until Monday, we’ll go back tomorrow and get your clothes.”
“But there is something that’s yours.” I drop down to one knee. “Elsa, I’m in love with you, and thankfully it didn’t take me too long to realize it. I’m so grateful I didn’t realize it sooner. What I’m saying is…will you marry me?”
“I think you’re a little late…”