Chapter 4
Four
MIKHAIL
I shouldn’t have touched her. But my hand moved before I could stop it and landed on the small of her back. Just above the curve of her perfect fucking ass.
And fuck. She’s warm. Soft. And the second my palm makes contact, something in me cracks wide open.
Mine. The thought slams into me so hard I almost pull back.
Almost. But I don’t. Because feeling her under my hand, even through the thin fabric of her dress, is the closest I’ve ever been to her.
And now that I’ve touched her, I don’t want to stop.
Maya sucks in a breath. It’s barely audible, but I hear it. Fuck.
“This way,” I manage to croak out, my voice even rougher than usual.
Sofia’s already skipping ahead, chatting about the pool, her room and everything else she wants to show Maya. But I’m focused on our guest, on the way she’s moving under my hand. The way her body shifts, her round hips swaying as she walks.
I want to slide my hand lower, grip her, pull her against me so she can feel exactly what she does to me. But my little princess is with us, so I need to keep this shit locked tight. So, I force myself to drop my hand. And immediately regret it.
“Come on, Maya! I’ll show you everything!”
Sofia drags her through the foyer, past the living room, talking nonstop. I follow behind, watching them.
Maya’s looking around, nodding and smiling down at my niece.
God, I want her here, in my space, permanently. At ease, connecting with the people I love.
“Uncle Misha!” Sofia calls from the stairs. “Can I show Maya my room?”
“Of course, princess.”
They disappear upstairs, and I take a second to breathe, rearranging myself in my boxers. Fuck.
I head to the kitchen and grab a glass of water.
My hand’s still tingling from where I touched her.
My dick’s hard as fuck, and I have to tuck myself in my waistband and pull on my shirt to hide the bulge.
And she’s upstairs, in my house, probably oohing and ahhing at Sofia’s collection of sparkly shit.
My niece’s voice carries downstairs. “…and Uncle Misha lets me pick whatever movie I want! Even the princess ones he pretends not to like!”
Maya laughs. It’s fucking soft, sweet. And it makes me even harder…
They finally reappear at the bottom of the stairs, still holding hands, talking and giggling like best friends. Fucking cute as fuck.
I clear my throat. “I’ll show you your room.”
Maya blinks. “I get my own room?”
I raise an eyebrow, pinning her in place with one of my meanie looks, as Sofia calls them. “Where did you think you were gonna sleep?”
She shrugs. “On the couch? I don’t know.”
I shake my head. The fucking couch.
Sofia giggles. “No way. Uncle Misha has the best guest rooms!”
I don’t bother commenting. Just head down the hall, leading the way. I stop at the door next to Sofia’s room and push it open. Maya steps inside and stops dead in her tracks.
“Oh, my God.”
The room is a suite with a king-sized bed, sitting area, walk-in closet, and a private bathroom with a soaking tub and separate shower. Its windows overlooking the pool and gardens.
Sofia bounces on the bed. “Do you like it?”
Maya’s still standing in the doorway, staring. “Mikhail, this is… I can’t stay here. It’s too much.”
I want to see that same look of wonder she had when she saw the inside of my house, then this room.
Over and over again. I want to fucking spoil her.
Everywhere. All the fucking time. I want to feed her.
Cover her in fucking diamonds. Make her come so many times she’ll melt in my arms. Take care of her. Protect her. Now, today, forever.
I stare at her, arms crossed, feet planted, expression unflinching.
“Fine,” she finally huffs out with an eye roll, raising her arms before dropping them at her sides. But she’s smiling huge. And it hits me straight in the chest. Fuck, she’s pretty.
Sofia slips off the bed. “Yay! Now can we have dinner? I’m starving!”
I nod. “I’ll get on it.”
My niece giggles.
Maya asks, “Do you need help?” I frown at her .
“Are you sure? Because I can…”
This time I grunt. And I really wish I knew how to communicate all the shit I’m thinking and feeling but…
I’ve never been a talker. So Maya needs to let me take care of her.
Good thing she doesn’t look any more scared of me now than all the times she snuck around checking me out.
Because she’s just smiling, looking at me like I’m cute or some shit.
When she opens her mouth like she wants to argue, Sofia grabs her hand.
“Come on! Let’s go watch TV!”
They disappear into the living room, and I head to the kitchen.
I pull out some chicken, vegetables, and pasta, and start prepping.
And the whole time, I can hear them. Maya’s warm voice. Their combined laughter.
“So what do you want to watch?”
“Can we watch K-Pop Demon Hunters?” I hear Sofia ask shyly, like she’s worried Maya will say no.
But my girl doesn’t disappoint. “Oh, my God! I love that movie!”
I chuckle.
“Really?! My mom watches it with me, but I think she’s getting tired of it, and my dad always falls asleep.”
I smirk to myself, pussy.
“Does he?”
“Uh-huh. But he pretends he doesn’t.”
I shake my head, chopping vegetables.
When the music starts, Sofia starts singing along, completely off-key, and then Maya joins in. And she’s just as bad. I laugh, shaking my head.
I can hear Sofia bouncing on the couch, and both of them giggling when they mess up the words.
Yeah, this feels right. Fucking perfect.
I finish plating our food and call for my princess and my queen.
“Dinner’s ready.”
We sit at the breakfast nook, Sofia between us.
“It looks great, Uncle Misha!”
“Thanks, princess.”
Maya takes a bite, and her eyes close with a moan.
Fuck, baby, can’t do that when I can’t pull you in my lap and… right, Sofia. Child present.
I grunt.
Maya beams, swirling her pasta around her fork, thanking me, fucking moaning with each bite… This woman will be the fucking death of me.
Thank God, Sofia talks the entire time. About school. Her friends. Some boy named Tyler who pulled her hair at recess. Note to self: find out who Tyler’s father is.
After dinner, Maya starts gathering our plates. “Thank you again; it was delicious. I’ll do the dishes.”
I give her the look.
She shakes her head, fighting back a smile. “Mikhail, you cooked. Let me…”
I raise an eyebrow.
She huffs, “Bossy.”
I start gathering the rest of the shit on the table.
Sofia giggles. “You guys are funny.”
I’m at the sink when I feel something tugging at my jeans. I look down and find Sofia next to me. She motions for me to bend to her level, and whispers, “I like her.”
I wink. “Me too, kid.”
Straightening back, I call to both my girls, “Go finish your movie. I got this.”
They head back to the living room, and I get on with tidying.
Maya’s here. In my space. Being sweet as fuck to my niece. Making my home feel like something I didn’t know it could be. Yeah, she’s here for fucking good.