Page 28

CHAPTER 27

ANASTASIA

It feels so good to be finally leaving the frozen wasteland of Russia.

Even better to be nestled in the warm embrace of my burly husband as we land in Las Vegas.

I can’t contain my excitement seeing the wide tarmac and buildings come into view.

“Which one is yours?” I ask with my nose pressing against the glass.

He lowers his face next to my cheek and points at a clump of imposing towers. “That one, my office sits in the center. And they’re ‘ours’, not just mine any longer.” He sits back, dropping his palm to squeeze my thigh.

I set mine over his knuckles. It’s like a third the size of his. The pink diamond of my ring shines in the midday sun streaking into the plane.

“When do I get to meet the rest of your family? I hope they’re nicer than your dad.” I give him a broad smile.

“Cute. We’ll get settled first, then you’ll get to meet all of yours.” The muscle in his temple clenches. “Even ones you didn’t expect.”

“What does that mean? Is that this ‘mystery’ person you keep talking about?” I wish he’d just open up.

I get that he has secrets. There can’t be anyone in his position without any.

Like who that woman was he had to meet up with yesterday. He wouldn’t tell me anything about her, or why he had to see her before we left.

He has a whole past I know nothing about.

But I’ll figure it out.

He carries our bags and stuffs them into the tiny trunk of his matte black sports car.

Opening the passenger door with a flourish, he stands back and takes my hand. “Let me take you to your new home. Then I’ll introduce you to everyone. They don’t even know I’m alive yet.”

“Wait, what do you mean?” The black seat is hot as hell sitting in the sun.

But it only takes a few moments before the air conditioner blows a cold breeze over me.

I get lost trying to pay attention to the turns and roads he takes before he pulls into a long driveway leading to a huge white house.

“Welcome home, my little iskorka. There’s someone you get to meet right away.” His eyes crinkle in the corners before he helps me out. “Let’s hope he likes you. He doesn’t generally take to strangers.”

He chuckles as he punches in a code near the entrance.

A bellowing bark echoes through the house that gets louder when Mikhail pushes into the dark, cool interior.

“Hades!”

I’m not sure who’s scarier, Mikhail or the terrifying sound of a giant dog galloping closer.

A massive black head followed by a body the size of a horse rockets over the white tile and skids to a stop when it sees me.

Huge jowls pull back to show teeth that seem as long as my fingers when it hunches with a low growl.

“Enough,” Mikhail snaps.

The enormous black dog falls onto his haunches and pants, looking up at his master.

“Ana, meet Hades.” Mikhail reaches out and scratches between the short ears.

“Is he friendly?” I’m not so sure about this. His jaw looks big enough to take off one of my legs in a single bite.

“He is to me. But he won’t bite unless I give him the command. You’re safe.” Mikhail lifts our bags onto his shoulder and steps past Hades.

Who then fixes his eyes on me.

His nose flexes and he stands, inching closer hesitantly.

I am a statue. I’m not sure if I should even move.

“Are you a good puppy? You aren’t going to eat me, are you?” I flatten my palm and hold up so he can sniff me.

Hades pushes at it, leaving a cold wet smear on my knuckles when he pushes his head into my reach.

“You want petting? I can give good scratches.” My nails dig lightly through his short fur over his neck.

Then his tail starts wagging, then his body.

Before I know it, I have a nearly two hundred pound dog flipping onto his back with his tongue lolling as I scratch his chest.

“Traitor.” Mikhail laughs when he reappears. “I suppose that means you’re friends. He generally doesn’t let anyone touch him.”

“Everyone loves a good belly rub.” I smile as I stand, then chase after Mikhail, wrapping my arms around him to run my fingers over his tight abs.

“I think you’re right.” He pauses mid stride, then grasps my wrist to push my hand lower to where his cock is hardening in his pants.

I let out a shriek when he whips around and tosses me over his shoulder.

“Let me show you where the master suite is, and where I have an itch you can scratch.”