Chapter 22 #2
“And it will have made him stronger, Peaches.” She flinches, but that’s the hard fact.
Sergi’s abuse clearly hasn’t broken Nikolai yet, and I admire Nikolai for that.
He used it to fuel his anger, channelling the pain into a strength that he will use to bring his father down.
“He can take care of himself, and he’ll use that strength to take over the Bratva and keep you safe, baby. ”
“But what will be the cost, Hunt?” she asks, her voice barely above a whisper, and lead fills my stomach.
I know the cost, have experienced it firsthand, and seen in it those that I love.
I know my obsession with keeping everyone fed and safe isn’t normal.
I know that the fact I would happily kill anyone who hurts them and not lose a minute of sleep isn’t normal either, but it’s who I am, and I’m a product of my upbringing and environment just as much as Petrov is.
“Something he’ll pay willingly,” I tell her, leaning down and placing a soft kiss on her trembling lips. “How about we snuggle on the sofa and watch a film? We never did get to see 365 Days.”
She takes a shuddering inhale as I pull back, and my stomach warms to see some of her concern has been replaced with lust. That’s good, because one lesson I learned very early on was there is no point in fretting over shit that can’t be changed.
Because the universe doesn’t give a fuck and will change it anyway, whether you want it to or not.
“DON’T BLAME ME” BY TAYLOR SWIFT
IRIS
We don’t actually watch the sexy mafia film. To be honest, I have enough mafia vibes in my life right now that I don’t need anymore. Instead, I make them all watch Barbie, and the hilarious thing is not one of them complains.
Hunt keeps me on his lap the whole time, a blanket wrapped around both of us, and I find myself drifting off to sleep, his warm arms encasing me and keeping me safe as he always does.
“Time to get ready for the ball, sleeping beauty,” Roman croons in my ear, my eyelashes fluttering as I wake up from my nap, still snuggled up on Hunter, the TV on low. Warm, chocolate irises stare back at me, the look in them filling me with even more warmth. “There’s those beautiful eyes.”
My cheeks heat a little at the praise. It’s not that no one has ever told me that I’m pretty, Dad used to all the time, but it’s like these boys have made it their mission to tell me multiple times a day how beautiful I am and show me how attracted they are to me.
So sue me for it being a boost to my confidence.
“What’s the time?” I question as I stretch, the blanket falling down onto my lap.
Hunter allows me to stretch but doesn’t remove his arms from around me, and I soon settle back into them, not quite ready to leave the comfort of them yet.
A pleased purr sounds in his chest as he draws me closer, pressing a light kiss on my head.
“Seven, and I should make us some dinner before we leave,” he tells me, sighing as he hugs me close, clearly also not ready to release me. “How do chicken noodles sound?”
“Perfect,” I tell him, my stomach growling a little at the thought.
He’s up in a flash, passing me to Roman’s lap like I’m on fire.
Blinking, I look up to see an almost panicked look on his face, the whites of his eyes showing.
“Hey, Hunt?” He looks down at me, his chest heaving, so I reach up and cup his cheek with my palm.
“I’m okay, I’m not starving, just my stomach being greedy. ”
I watch as he takes in a couple of deep breaths, his eyes closing while he reins in the worry that lines his face. “Still, I should get started on dinner.”
Pressing a kiss to my lips, he pulls away and heads towards the kitchen.
“He’s alright, Princess. Just his trauma showing,” Roman assures me gently, pulling me closer to him and kissing my neck.
My eyebrows draw together, my stomach twisting as I think about what trauma leads to that kind of visceral response.
Whatever happened, I guess his upbringing was harsher than I thought.
“Now, have you thought about what you’re going to wear? ”
Taking a deep inhale, I try to push aside my concern for Hunter since he can’t help his reactions.
Willow hinted at some of the things they went through, like the fact that Hunter often had to try and provide meals because their mum was too wasted to remember.
Clearly, it’s still having an affect on him, and I guess he’s dealing with it in the way that he knows how.
“I think Willow still has some things in her wardrobe, so I was just going to look through there and see if anything would work,” I tell him, and his lips twitch.
“Oh, she definitely has some things that would work. Might send Hunter into a hissy fit, but it’ll be worth it to see you all dressed up,” he tells me, mischief glittering in his eyes. “Why don’t you go and get ready while Hunt makes the food?”
Placing a soft kiss on my lips, he encourages me to get up, and I head to my room.
I mean Willow’s room, though each day it’s starting to feel more like mine.
I go straight to the wardrobe, opening it up, and the light glints off a dress on the right.
Pulling it out, a wicked smile tugs my lips upwards, knowing that this will be perfect.
“Dinner’s ready!” Hunter shouts just as I put the finishing touches to my make-up. Smokey eyes with some silver sparkle on my lids stare back at me, my hair in soft waves and falling to brush the tops of my breasts.
I look at myself in the full-length mirror, the silver sequin dress sinfully short as it stops just below my arse.
It’s backless too, so I’m without a bra, which I know will drive Roman wild.
I frown when I look at my bare feet. I only have my boots, and Willow is so tiny, which works great for the short dress but not so great as her feet are also smaller than mine.
I should have bought some other shoes, I just forgot, but I’ll add that to my list of things to purchase next.
Pushing the fact that I’ll have to ruin the outfit with brown boots, I head out of the bedroom and towards the kitchen. As I enter, all three guys stop what they’re doing and stare at me. It feels as though the temperature in the room has soared as their hot gazes devour me.
“Absolutely fucking not,” Hunter finally growls, his hands clenching into fists at his sides. He’s dressed in dark jeans and a short-sleeved black shirt that clings to him and showcases all his gorgeous, tattooed muscles. “You need to change, you can’t wear that…scrap.”
Well, I guess Roman did say Hunt would have a hissy fit, so I channel my inner Chelsea brat and arch a brow at him.
“What’s the problem, Daddy?” His nostrils flare at the name, and it takes a lot to hold my smirk back.
“Is it the fact that it’s so short? Or that it’s backless so I can’t wear a bra?
” I turn so my back is facing them, then glance over my shoulder when three curses sound behind me.
“Fuck, Princess,” Roman hisses, licking his plush lower lip.
“Do I look pretty?” I ask coquettishly, fluttering my lashes at him.
“You look fucking stunning,” he says, stalking over to me like a predator, and I’m frozen to the spot as he approaches.
He’s dressed in black jeans, boots, and a vest that has a neon skull printed on it, the armholes ridiculously big so all his inked muscles are on display.
“I won’t have trouble watching you all night, though I may not be able to stop touching you.
” When he reaches me, he runs his finger down my exposed back, and my nipples pebble under my dress.
“That’s the fucking issue, every fucker in there will want to touch her, and I’ll have to kill them all for even thinking about it,” Hunter seethes, and I giggle, his possessiveness not scaring me in the least. It’s sweet, and so what if it’s a little violent, there’s something about the caveman attitude that’s really doing it for me.
Turning around fully, I sidestep Roman, trailing my nails down his arm as I pass.
He shivers and I grin, but my sights are set on Hunt, who almost vibrates with the rage he’s keeping in check.
When I’m standing before him, I go up on my tiptoes, placing my hand on his hard chest to steady myself as I lean in, my lips next to his ear.
His hand immediately comes to my waist, a deep rumble sounding in his chest as he makes contact with my skin.
My temperature rises at his touch, Evangeline panting for more.
“But you’ll be the only ones allowed to touch me.
They may fantasise about getting their hands on me, but they’ll know that I belong to you, that I’m yours, and they can look all they want to, but I’ll only have eyes for you,” I whisper, his breaths rasping out harshly as his body thrums with coiled energy.
“Fine,” he grits out, his other hand coming up to tangle in my hair. He uses his grip to pull me back, and the sharp sting has me gasping as heat fills my core. “But you don’t leave my side, understood?”
“Yes, Daddy,” I agree, and his pupils expand, the black swallowing the green.
Then he’s pulling me towards him and my eyes close, ready for his lips to take mine.
He bypasses them though, his hot mouth landing on my neck and sucking hard, causing my knees to almost buckle at the shot of pleasure that runs through me.
I moan as he doesn’t let up, sucking almost to the point of pain, and I know there will be a huge mark for everyone to see. He’s claiming me and I am fucking here for it.
He releases me slowly, peppering my neck with kisses that literally leave me swooning.
“Mine,” he growls before he releases me. “Now eat your dinner before it gets cold.”
“Yes, Daddy,” I repeat in a breathy whisper, because I love seeing his nostrils flare and eyes go molten every time I call him that.