Chapter 54
Kinsley
Dinner Out
The next morning, I woke feeling groggy, and I was startled when my phone rang. It was Alek, wanting to FaceTime. I sat up and pushed my hair back, then yawned.
“Kitten, are you okay? I held off on calling Marcel until I could talk to you. Tell me, do you need him?”
“No, I’m fine. Your mother and father were kind enough to help me through it.”
“Do you want to tell me what it was about?” he asked, his voice feather soft, and I knew it pained him to do so.
“It was a random one. I have no idea what even triggered it because it wasn’t anything to do with…with anal or fisting,” I murmured, heat hitting my face.
“Okay, that’s good. I’m glad to hear that. My father mentioned something about branding.”
“Yes, it’s rather complicated,” I offered, debating on sharing, but then decided to.
“My captors used to put on shows. Almost like a preview of what was to come. It was like a potential outcome, depending on fan ideas. I’d rather not talk about all the details, Alek.
It really hurts to know someone was hurt because of me. ”
“Will you talk to Marcel about it, then? It’ll make me feel better.”
“I will. I’ve got a reminder set to call him. I didn’t mean to upset your family with my statement. Vanya wasn’t branded, was she?” I asked, horrified by the thought.
“No, she wasn’t. I heard my mother sang to you. Is that true?”
“Yes,” I said, watching his blue eyes crinkle at the corners as he grinned. “She was super sweet. You should be thankful for her, you know. All of you should. In fact, I insist you buy her something amazing from wherever in the world you are. Speaking of that, where exactly are you?”
“Kitten, the only thing my mother wants is grandbabies. She has everything else she could possibly want.”
“I feel like I’ve heard this story before, told by a green-eyed devil.”
“Have you, now? That’s good to know. Maybe when we get back, we can start working on that. Make the story a dream come true for her,” he teased, causing my heart to constrict.
“I’m fresh out of dreams unless they come in the form of a nightmare. Best not to go there. Again, you haven’t told me where you are?”
“Paris, and if you give me and my brothers enough time, we’ll cure you of those nightmares for good.”
“Aleksandr, stop. Now, back to picking up something for your mother. I’ll bet you could find your future wife if you look hard enough. Tell her you can’t commit for another two weeks or, well, I guess it’s a week and a half now, right?”
“Not looking for a wife here, sweetness.” His voice made me shiver. “So how about it? Want to give my mother a grandbaby or three?” His voice was husky, and my pussy clenched at the thought of him between my legs.
“Not sure how that would work.”
Laughter erupted from him. “Well, you see, when a man and a woman—”
“You’re silly. I know how babies are made. It would be rather complicated, given our relationships. Who gets first dibs? Not to mention, did you forget I’m on the run, going to disappear into the unknown? Why am I even indulging you?” I said, exasperated with my running train of thoughts.
“How about we table this discussion until we get home?”
“We can table it, sweep it under the rug, whatever you like. Tell me, how beautiful are the women where you are?”
“Not as beautiful as you.”
“I don’t believe that for one minute. Remind Nik of our exclusivity contract. I won’t share his lap, not even for a dance. And tell my beloved that blondes don’t always have more fun.”
“I don’t know. I’ve had quite a few fun blondes. One in particular was so much fun. What was her name again? Andrea? Ashley?”
“Not nice. Now that you mention it, maybe I’ll give your mother a grandbaby, one with emerald-green eyes or one that resembles her baby.” I stuck my tongue out.
“That’s fine with me, kitten, as long as you give me one too. Now I’ve got to go. Sebastian is looking at me like I’ve lost my mind.”
“Because clearly, you have. Be safe, I miss you.”
“I’ll call you later.”
I hung up and flopped back down on the bed.
Rain pounded against the window, and it matched my mood.
I tried not to think about little King babies in my arms and how much I’d love that to be my reality one day.
Staying locked in my room probably wasn’t a good way to get out of the funk I was in, so I forced myself to shower and get ready for the day.
Part of today’s hesitation was I was so embarrassed by my nightmare. With it being Saturday, Christopher was home, and I wanted to avoid them for as long as possible. And for the most part, it worked, at least for the morning. I went up to the ballroom and spent the morning dancing alone.
A sad, haunting melody filled the air. My body swayed as the singer sang her heart out. I tried to match the pain of the lyrics in my movement. Shifting into more intense moves, my body swayed and twisted as if the song’s heartache were strings, and I was a mere puppet being controlled by them.
I could hear Pasha in my head. “Give me more. Dig deeper, Mischa.” And I poured my heart and soul into the dance.
Every step was a cry that I understood, every leap and twirl a message I wanted to convey.
It was a poignant duet of light and dark, and it so closely mirrored the residual feelings from last night.
The room seemed to shrink around me as I surged to my feet, hair whipping across my face with the sudden movement.
The music reached its crescendo, and I collapsed to the ground once more.
My chest heaved with the weight of the emotions churning inside me.
Suddenly, Christopher and Sophia erupted into applause, and I snapped my head up.
“Stunningly beautiful. That was very moving. Is that the number you’ll do for the audition?” Sophia asked, wiping tears from her eyes.
“No, that was just me trying to dance last night away.” I stood, and they walked over.
“Did it work?” Christopher asked hesitantly.
“I’m feeling much better, actually. About last night, I should have sai—”
“Nonsense. It’s what a mother is good at, soothing nightmares. You don’t think twice about it. It gave me a chance to sing an old lullaby, get my rusty pipes in gear. I hope one day to have a load of grandchildren running up and down these halls.”
I grabbed my water bottle and tried not to flush in embarrassment, remembering Nik’s comments about having this conversation with her.
“I’m sure your sons will give you plenty,” I murmured.
“Oh, by the way, Christopher and I are going to dinner this evening. We’d like you to come along. That’s why we’re up here bothering you. That and, well, we wanted to make sure you were okay.”
My face fell. “Oh. I’m sorry, but I’ll have to take a rain check.”
“Okay, if you’re sure?” she said, looking disappointed.
Damn. “Actually, could I call Alek and see what he says?” I asked, changing my mind.
“Sure, but I can’t imagine he would have a problem with you going to dinner,” she mused, looking concerned.
I could only imagine what she thought about her son’s perceived behavior toward me. Ignoring the urge to explain it, I pulled out my phone. I waited patiently for him to answer, and the words rushed out of my mouth the minute he did.
“Alek, can I ask a huge favor?”
“What’s up? I’m super busy right now.”
Music pumped in the background, and I wondered what he was doing. “I know, and I won’t keep you. But your parents are going to dinner tonight, and I was wondering if I could go with them?”
“Kitten, it’s not a good idea.”
“Oh, okay. You’re right,” I mumbled, looking at Sophia. Shaking my head, I sighed. I really wanted to go.
“Young lady, give me that phone,” she exclaimed, snatching it from my hand.
“Aleksandr, your father and I are taking Kinsley to dinner this evening.”
I sat there dumbfounded as she continued to argue with him, not giving in to whatever he was saying to her.
“There is a 100 percent certainty that you’ll be joining us for dinner this evening,” Christopher said while aiming an amused expression at his wife.
“I’m not so sure, Alek was pretty adamant.” I was a little terrified by this side of her.
“Uh-huh, except he’s no match for his mother.”
I laughed as she said, “Aleksandr, she’s going. Now, you stop barking at me like that. I don’t care what you and your brothers say. If you can’t give me a better reason than ‘because I said so,’ then I refuse to listen to a word you say.”
She paced, voicing her convictions. With each step, her face grew more and more animated. She shook her head and looked at Christopher in exasperation.
“I hear your words, Son, but she wants to go. You can’t keep her locked up in the house. She isn’t Rapunzel.”
She paused, then rolled her eyes at whatever he was saying. Her face grew even more animated, and I almost choked at her next words.
“Really? Really? Well, I don’t see a ring on her finger, so there’s that. I don’t care. She is not your property, no matter what you say. She’s an independent young lady who doesn’t need a father to tell her what she can and can’t do.”
A flicker of amusement danced in her eyes, almost making me laugh. I just barely managed to stifle the impulse.
“Well, tonight she can call your father Daddy if Nikolai believes that. I have never heard anything so ridiculous in my life.”
Her words had me blushing ten shades of red, a blend of surprise and disbelief swirling through me.
If she only knew how frequently I called her son Daddy, she’d die.
Across from me, Christopher’s laughter erupted, echoing through the room.
His amusement only frustrated Sophia. She raised her hand and cut through the air in a gesture for him to stop.
“You tell Nikolai that comments like that will get his name moved right up my shit list. Oh, don’t you worry, Son, you’re still number one on it. She is coming with us,” she seethed, out of breath.
“She is going to get me in trouble.” I laughed.