23. Peyton
PEYTON
“This one’s yours.” Leo pushed the door open and stepped back so I could walk in first.
I eased past him, then stopped in my tracks.
The room was oversized, not as large as the playroom but bigger than my bedroom at home.
A queen sized bed was tucked into a corner, with a large dresser along the wall and a walk-in closet on my left.
The overhead light flooded the room in brilliant color, and two matching lamps with soft white shades would be perfect for sitting under and reading at night.
Someone had put a small vase of white flowers on the dresser, the soft petals releasing a jasmine scent that made my heart pitter-patter.
I didn’t even try to ignore it. It was too late for that.
“Ensuite’s through here.” Leo came in behind me and nodded toward the door on the right. “You’ll have privacy for whatever you need. No one will come in here without being invited.”
“I don’t understand.” I walked to the bathroom door and stepped through.
Leo followed. “Don’t understand what?”
“That whole thing about no one coming in here.” Now my heart pounded for a new reason. Did they not want me in their rooms anymore?
“Ah.” One corner of his mouth lifted. “You can sleep here every night if you want. This space is yours. We will not come in uninvited. We won’t hover.
This is your space to come and be alone if that is what you wish.
We can be a lot, and we do not want to make you uncomfortable with our constant presence. ”
“And if I don’t want to sleep here every night?” I’d been prepared for discomfort.
I’d been worried about how my routines would make them uncomfortable. Realizing that would not be a problem lifted a weight from my shoulders.
Leo pushed off the doorframe where he’d been leaning and walked right into my space.
He tucked a strand of hair behind my ear, his thumb tracing the edge of my jaw. “Then you come to us. The playroom is always open to you, as are our beds. You don’t need an invitation, Peyton. You never need an invitation, but you do need a space that is yours alone. This is it.”
I blinked hard, then did it again when the tears settled but made my vision blurry.
Leo scooped my hair behind my shoulders and kissed my cheek. “We’re glad you are here.”
Oh, great. I barely resisted climbing into his arms and curling up.
We’d already spent hours together eating a delicious meal in the kitchen then moving into the playroom.
I’d expected to stay there, but then Leo had insisted on showing me the rest of this floor.
Now I understood why he’d pointed out all of their rooms on our walk. “Thank you. This is perfect.”
“You’re welcome.” He smiled, a slow, delicious thing that made my stomach flutter. “Would you like to join us for the night?”
It took a minute for his words to register and my thoughts to shift. I took my time examining the massive bathroom and the bedroom beyond. “I think I’d like a night to settle in.”
“Of course.” He lowered his head to kiss my cheek again. “We’ll see you in the morning.”
Unless I changed my mind. I wouldn’t tonight, but soon, once the shock of moving in with them wore off, I might gather enough courage to slip into their beds. “Good night, Leo.”
“Good night.” He walked me to the door, then stepped into the hallway, his hands sliding into his pockets.
Even barefoot and in nothing but his slacks, he exuded raw power.
I still hadn’t gotten used to the sight of him, of any of them, but especially not as casual as they were in the penthouse.
I followed him into the hallway and stood on tiptoes to kiss him, a quick, chaste kiss that I hoped conveyed all my thanks.
He waited on me to back into the room and close the door before his footsteps faded as he walked away.
I expected to have trouble falling asleep, but I conked out as soon as my head hit the pillow and did not wake until my alarm shrilled the next morning.
I showered and rushed toward the kitchen, the smell of coffee putting wings on my feet.
Misha stood next to the counter, coffee in one hand and phone in the other, dressed for the office in his suit and perfectly tied tie.
“Morning.” I almost launched at the coffee pot, grabbing the first cup I touched from the cabinet above the machine.
“Morning.” He set his phone down and pushed an errant strand of hair off his forehead. “Did you sleep?”
“Yes, really well, actually.” I poured the coffee too fast, sloshing it over the rim and almost scalding my knuckles.
Misha grunted and moved to my side in a matter of seconds, tugging my hand beneath the kitchen faucet and running cold water over my knuckles. “No need to rush. We have plenty of time.”
“I’m just nervous.” It felt too easy to admit that to him. I pressed my lips tight to keep from admitting the rest of it.
“To be expected.” He rubbed his thumb over my knuckles, then lifted my hand to his lips and kissed my palm. “I’ll be riding to work with you today. I’m often the first one to leave the house, so do not be surprised that I’m with you more often most mornings.”
It was probably the longest stretch of words I’d heard him put together at once, and spoken in his low, richly accented voice, they did all kinds of fun things to my insides.
“I just need some coffee, then I’ll be ready to go.” I curled my fingers over his. “Thank you.”
His eyes held mine. “You’re welcome.”
Fifteen minutes later, we were on our way, Misha sitting in my passenger seat.
We’d argued over that, with him stating he was better suited to driving if something went wrong.
I’d admitted he was right but that I refused to give up my right to drive.
To my surprise, he’d consented to my demand. But the silence had begun working on me, and I couldn’t help the barrage of questions that had been building for months. Questions I’d been unable to ask. “Where did you grow up?”
He remained still in the seat, but I felt the weight of his gaze slide my way. “Russia. Same as Viktor.”
Right. I’d known that. Or heavily suspected it. Their looks and accents were undeniable. “Did you come to America together?”
In other words, how long had they known each other? Were they always friends?
I concentrated on changing lanes instead of spewing more questions before he had a chance to answer one.
“Not exactly together.” He leaned forward to peer up at the overcast sky through the windshield. “We knew each other. Grew up in the same city, but we came separately. Leo’s father was already established here. He brought us in and introduced us to Leo.”
I turned toward him a bit, then snapped back to focus on driving.
The last thing I needed was to give him another reason I shouldn’t drive.
“Leo’s father was from Russia too?” It was a ridiculous question.
Again, his looks and accent gave him away, but I worried if I didn’t engage, Misha would stop talking.
And I did not want him to stop. He had such a lyrical voice, and I rarely heard him use it.
“Yes. Mr. Petrov built the empire Leo now operates. Leo grew up between both worlds.” His voice shifted, dropping to a darker, richer tone. “He is younger than Viktor and I, but even as a boy, he understood things it takes most men years to learn.”
“And you became friends?”
“Not immediately.” He gave up a rare smile. “Trust and friendship take time, but yes, eventually, we all became friends.”
“How long have the three of you been in charge?”
“Viktor rose quickly through the ranks. You can imagine why. His brilliance is unparalleled. I was… slower to find my place. Leo’s father saw the potential in us both, and Leo took us under his wing, so to speak. Now it feels as though we have been running it together our entire lives.”
“I love that all three of you can work together so well. Most men in Leo’s position would not allow anyone to stand beside him.
” I tightened my grip on the wheel and turned toward the building.
“I understand why people think Viktor might be the leading man. Leo’s so charismatic.
It makes him great in the meetings, but Viktor has that presence.
” I flushed and rushed to explain. “You know what I mean?”
“Yes. Viktor intimidates people. Leo charms them.” He rubbed his thumb over his knuckles.
They were bruised, and when I asked last night, he’d told me he went a little too hard on the punching bag during his workout.
“Leo is not the kind of man who holds people back from their talents to protect his position or make himself feel better.” He stared straight ahead, and something in his expression flickered, putting a scowl on his lips. “Leo is too good for that.”
“Yes, he is.” Time to change the subject. “Did you leave anything behind in Russia?” He never talked about Leo and Viktor like they were family but never about the years before.
If he spoke at all, it was about the here and the now.
He shrugged, his hands tightening. “Not much. A mother who did her best. A city I was happy to leave. I wasn’t built for Russia. I was built for this.”
“You sound certain of that.” I pulled into the parking garage, spiraling up the ramp and into my preferred spot beneath the light and the camera pointed at the elevator.
Misha scanned our surroundings, head bobbing. “You chose a good spot. Do you always check for blind spots and the closest route to where you’re going?”
“When I can.” I jingled my keys and grabbed my purse. “I’m not about to be one of those statistics.”
“Which one?”
I huffed. “The one where a woman is abducted because she wasn’t paying attention. If anything happens here, it’ll be on camera.” I pointed at the elevator. “And I have several places to run.”
“Ah.” He reached for his door. “Let me do a quick sweep before you get out.”
“The elevator is right there.” I pointed out the obvious, though I didn’t bother getting out of the car. “I like hearing about your history.”
I reached over and put my hand over his where it rested on the console. His fingers turned under mine and held on. I leaned over the console, Misha meeting me halfway.
The kiss was soft at first. His hand came up to cup my jaw, and I pulled back just enough to breathe. “We’re going to be late.”
“I own a third of the company. There is no such thing as late.”
“Good point.” I grinned and kissed him again, which wasn’t easy when he splayed his hand over my ribs, hitting the ticklish spot and making me giggle.
Misha’s eyes lit with that burning heat I’d come to appreciate.