Chapter 7
Lily
As soon as I say yes, Ilya lifts me up and swings me around while the men I’d completely forgotten about give a few whistles and several others yell something in Russian that makes Ilya laugh.
I know we’re supposed to be keeping our relationship a secret, but I was worried about him and decided to take a walk. The last thing I’d been expecting was to see Ilya step out of an SUV covered in blood. I’d been terrified, and all I could think about was getting to him to make sure he was okay.
When Ilya puts me down, I chance a quick look at the man who’s the boss to both of us.
“Don’t worry,” Ilya says, noticing my worried look. “I’ve already talked to him.” He looks over at Vasily. “He’s given us his blessing, haven’t you, Vasya?”
Vasily smiles at me and nods his head. “I have. Ilya’s assured me that this won’t affect you helping my son.”
“It won’t,” I tell him. “I love working with Bran, and I’m happy to do it for as long as you need me.”
“It’s going to be a while,” he says with a grin. “We all need ASL lessons from you, and I have a feeling it’s going to take the adults twice as long to learn as the kids.”
I return his smile and say, “That’s usually the case. You can do it, though.”
He surprises me by signing thank you before he gives a wave and goes inside to be with his family. The others say a quick bye when Ilya picks me back up and starts walking down the path to my cabin.
“You shouldn’t be lifting me,” I tell him. “You’re hurt.”
“Just a graze,” he reminds me.
I know it’s useless to fight him, so instead I kiss his neck and say, “I was so scared when I saw the blood.” My fingers play with the back of his hair, toying with the silky strands while another shudder runs through me at the thought of him being hurt, of losing him.
“I couldn’t take it,” I finally say. “I couldn’t handle something happening to you. ”
He kisses my cheek and pats my butt. “I’ll always come home to you,” he says, but deep down I know it’s not really a promise he can make.
I also know that I can’t let that fear ruin our time together.
I’ve fallen in love with a man who happens to have a very dangerous job.
Either I accept that, or I make life miserable for both of us.
I don’t want to have that kind of marriage, so I take a breath and give his neck another kiss.
“Okay,” I say.
“Okay?” he asks.
I nod. “I’m choosing to believe you. You said you’ll always come back to me, and I’m choosing to believe that. I don’t want a marriage filled with worry and stress and the inevitable fights it will cause. I want more than that with you.”
I swear I feel his sigh of relief as he gives me another kiss. “I knew you were perfect the second I saw you.”
“I’m far from perfect, but I guess you’ll find that out soon enough.”
His grunt makes it clear he disagrees with me as he carries me past my cabin and in the direction of his house instead.
“I’m taking you home, Lily, to our home.”
An image of party animal Ilya having a grand ol’ time in this place with various women hits me hard, and I can’t let it go. It’ll haunt me forever if I don’t say anything, so I do. Before he can open the door, I say, “Maybe we could stay at my cabin instead.”
“But it’s so tiny,” he says. “You’ll love this place. You can see an amazing view of the ocean from the balcony off the second floor. I really think you’re going to love it.”
“I’m sure it’s beautiful,” I say, and then I say in a much softer voice, “I’m sure all the other women thought so too, and that’s the problem, Ilya. I don’t want to spend our life in a house that’s haunted by ghosts of women past.”
“We won’t be.” He opens the door and carries me inside, flipping the lights on before gently kicking the door shut. “No one’s been here but you.”
It takes me a second to register what he’s said because I’m too busy eyeing the gorgeous house we’ve just stepped into.
The robin’s egg blue walls and white trim give it a beachy feel, the kind of place you walk into and immediately feel calmer.
The leather couch looks comfortable instead of the too nice to sit on kind, and the kitchen is in the style that dreams are made of.
“Wow,” I say, taking in the sight of the large farmhouse sink, the white cabinets, and the large island that immediately makes me think of what he’d done to me earlier today.
“It’s a lot bigger,” he says, reading my mind. “Just think of all the things I can do to you on this one. We’ll need to christen every room, but tonight we’re starting with the bedroom.”
I smile and nip at his ear, laughing when he groans and smacks my ass. He carries me up the stairs, and when we step into a large bedroom, I momentarily stop nibbling on his neck so I can look around.
“This is beautiful,” I say, taking in the large windows that run the length of the wall that faces the ocean.
I know as soon as the sun rises, it’s going to be one hell of a view.
There’s also a set of French doors that must lead out to the deck that runs along the entire back of the house.
I catch a glimpse into the attached bath, looking just long enough to see a large soaking tub before Ilya tosses me onto the king-size bed.
I let out a surprised yelp when I bounce on the soft mattress, but it dies in my throat when Ilya quickly gets rid of his torn, bloody shirt and then starts to undo his jeans.
My eyes drink in the sight of him, and before he can completely strip down and I lose my ability to think, I take advantage of the moment and ask, “Are you sure you aren’t too hurt for this?”
His grin is downright devilish while he slowly unzips his jeans. “I will never be too hurt for this.” Tugging his jeans down, I’m momentarily sidetracked when his thick cock springs free. His deep chuckle has me bringing my eyes back to his.
“See something you like, sweetheart?” he asks with a grin.
“I do,” I whisper, watching as he stalks towards the bed and reaches out for me. Grabbing my ankles, he pulls me closer, making quick work of my clothes until we’re both naked with nothing between us.
“My beautiful fiancée,” he murmurs while dragging his fingers up my leg and then ghosting his thumb along my navel. “I promise I’ll get you a ring.”
“I don’t need a ring,” I start to say, but he leans down to nip at my hip, making me squeal when it tickles. He laughs and bites harder before kissing his way up my side.
“You’re getting a ring. You deserve everything, and I plan on giving it to you.”
He doesn’t give me a chance to argue. Instead, he latches onto my breast and gives me a hard suck while nudging my thighs wider so he can position himself between them.
His tongue flicks my nipple as his thick head presses against my slit.
Every single part of my body aches for his, and when he lets go of my breast so he can ask me if I’m sure, the yes I give is an easy one.
I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life.
“Ilya,” I whisper when he starts to press into me. His dark eyes stay locked on mine and when I say, “I love you,” he groans and thrusts in as deep as he can go, locking our bodies together for the first time.
I wrap my arms and legs around him, stunned at the size of him, at how he’s made me feel full in a way that’s almost too much.
Threading my fingers into his dark hair, I pull him closer and kiss him, letting him feel how much I love and want him.
When he starts to rock his hips, I clutch him tighter and moan my appreciation for every thick inch he’s giving me.
We lose ourselves in each other, neither one of us wanting it to end, and by the time the sky starts to lighten, I’m spent in a way I hadn’t thought possible. My voice is hoarse from yelling his name, I’m pretty sure every muscle I have is pulled, and I’m so tired I can’t even keep my eyes open.
In other words, it’s perfect.
His strong arms wrap around me as he kisses my head, whispering that he loves me, and that’s the last thing I hear before exhaustion pulls me under.
One Year Later
Lily
When Bran makes the L-shape with his hand and holds it to his heart, I have to will myself to not start crying.
My pregnancy hormones are all over the place, and seeing the little four-year-old smile up at me while using the name sign he gave me is more than enough to tip me over the edge.
With eyes that are threatening to spill over, I open my arms to Bran for a hug, smiling when he wraps his small arms around my neck and buries his little body against mine.
I look up and see Nina fighting tears, too.
Watching Bran slowly transform before our eyes into a happy, healthy toddler has been an emotional journey that’s left all of us with teary eyes at one point or another.
Talia lets out a laugh and joins our hug.
Bran puts his hand on her back, feeling the vibrations of her laugh.
He’s learning so quickly, way faster than the adults, but everyone now has a basic level of understanding with ASL.
When he wiggles out of our hug, he smiles at Talia, and asks her if she wants to play with their trains.
She easily understands the signs he’s making and nods a quick yes before racing over to the train table that’s set up in the corner of the room.
Dmitri quickly joins them, helping them with the wooden train tracks so he can make a bridge for them.
“I still can’t believe the change in him,” Nina says. She’s watching her kids with a smile on her face, and when Bran looks around the room, his eyes stop on hers.
Mom, can we have a snack?
The sound she lets out is half sob, half pure joy. She signs a quick Yes, and then turns to me while discreetly wiping away a tear. “Every time he calls me mom, I cry,” she says with a laugh. “I can’t thank you enough, Lily,” she starts to say, but I hold up my hand to stop her.
“I’ve loved every second of being here. You’ve all done the hard work of learning sign. I was just here to help guide you along.”
Nina reaches out to squeeze my hand. “You’ve done so much more than that, and you know it.”
I follow her into the kitchen to help her with the snacks while she says, “I’m so happy you married Ilya, because now that means we don’t ever have to let you go.”
Smiling, I rest my hand on my small baby bump. “And our kids will grow up together.”
She grins and grabs the peanut butter. “I’m so excited, and Ilya can’t stop bragging to anyone who will listen that he’s going to be a daddy soon.” The thought makes her laugh. “You truly knocked that man on his ass.”
As if he can sense he’s being talked about, Ilya walks into the kitchen with Vasya right behind him. Our eyes lock, and I feel the same rush of love that I always feel when I see him. He grins and walks towards me. Putting his hand on my stomach, he leans down to kiss me.
“Hey, baby, how are you feeling?” he asks.
“I’m good,” I tell him. “Just a bit tired.”
He looks worried, so I quickly add, “Just a little bit, nothing out of the ordinary.”
His thumb strokes my stomach. “Is our son jumping around in there?”
I grin at the mention of our baby boy. We’ve decided to name him Tyoma.
I wanted something Russian. It’s important to me that our son knows his family’s roots, and Ilya had been thrilled at the idea.
We both can’t wait to meet him. I’m still in my second trimester, so we still have a way to go, but we’ve already set his nursery up and are counting down the days.
Ilya wraps his arms around me while kissing the top of my head, and I lean into him, loving the way he always makes me feel so safe.
Vasya kisses his wife and then smiles as he watches the kids play. Shaking his head, he gives a soft laugh and says, “I still can’t believe Maddie’s pregnant again. Christmas is going to be a blast this year. We’re going to have kids running around everywhere.”
“It will be,” Nina agrees. “We’ll have to make one of the guys dress up like Santa again.”
Ilya grins at the thought and caresses my stomach again. Leaning closer so only I can hear, he says, “I had no idea I could be this happy.”
I turn my head and smile up at him. “Neither did I.”
He kisses me before I rest my head back against him so I can watch Bran play with his sister and brother.
I can’t wait to see our little boy joining in the fun, and with all the kids already in the Medvedev family and another two on the way, I know he’ll always be surrounded by people who love him.
It’s everything I’ve ever wanted, and when I tilt my head back, my husband smiles down at me before giving me another kiss.
I never expected to meet someone like Ilya, and I’m so glad he never gave up on us, because he was right.
He’s the most devoted man I’ve ever met, and I’ve never once doubted his loyalty to me.
I know that Tyoma and I will always come first for him, just like the two of them will always come first for me.
It’s not a perfect life. I still worry every time he leaves the property, and he’s come home bloody on more than one occasion, but in every way that matters, it’s perfect, and I wouldn’t change a single thing about it.