Page 22 of Cruel Russian Monster (Safin Bratva #2)

Over the past two weeks, things between Jaroslav and me had changed. I received a gorgeous bouquet of white roses and a heart-shaped pendant with one of our photos from Florida tucked inside. Every night he came home, and every night we had mind-blowing sex. I'd unofficially moved into his room.

But the truth is, I still didn’t know where I stood with him, and I was too afraid to ask.

Because whatever this was between us, it wasn’t casual. It was more. And if asking meant risking what we had now...I’d rather stay confused than lose the only man I'd ever loved.

After having breakfast this morning, then having breakfast with Jaroslav, I was feeling a bit tired, so I grabbed a book and curled up in bed with it.

I must have fallen asleep, because I woke up to the feel of Jaroslav’s lips lightly brushing mine, his thumb gently stroking my cheek.

“Hey,” I mumbled, pushing myself up to sit.

“Hey,” he said softly. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah. I came upstairs to read, but I guess I was more tired than I thought.”

His brows furrowed slightly. “Are you sure you don’t want to see a doctor? You might be coming down with something.”

“I promise you, I’m fine.” I smiled, then frowned. “Wait…why are you here? It’s still light out. Is something wrong with Katya? Alexi?”

I started to scramble out of bed, but his hands settled firmly on my shoulders, keeping me in place.

“Vera, they’re fine,” he said quickly. “I came home because I tried calling you, but couldn’t reach you. I was worried.”

I looked under the pillows but didn't find my phone.

“I probably left my phone in the kitchen. Sorry.”

“It’s fine.” He leaned in a little. “Katya’s been trying to call, too. She wants to know if you’d like to come over.”

“Hell yes,” I grinned.

Jaroslav chuckled. “I figured. Also…I was thinking. Maybe it’s time we sit down and figure out what you’d like to do. A foundation, a business, something to keep you busy and fulfilled.”

My eyes widened. “Are you serious?”

“If that’s what you want, then yes.”

I narrowed my eyes playfully. “What’s the catch?”

“Besides seeing my wife happy?” he asked with a smirk. “None.”

I threw my arms around him and kissed him deeply. He kissed me back until we were both out of breath.

“Thank you,” I whispered, pressing another kiss to his lips.

“You’re welcome. But if you keep kissing me like that…” His voice dropped low. “You won’t be leaving this house anytime soon.”

“Maybe I like having my husband home early,” I teased, brushing another kiss against his mouth.

He growled under his breath, then kissed me hard enough for my panties to get damp before he pulled back.

“Go get ready. I’ll meet you downstairs.”

He gave me one last smirk before slipping out of the room.

Twenty minutes later, we pulled up to Lev’s place.

“Are you sure he doesn’t mind me being here?” I asked. I hadn’t spoken to Lev since the night I blew up at him.

“In case you haven’t noticed, despite Lev being a ruthless faction leader, Katya has him wrapped around her finger. She wants you here, and Lev’s fine with it.”

I nodded slowly. “Do you think the three of us can sit down and talk? I’d like to apologize.”

“I’ll make it happen.” He took my hand and kissed it, sending goosebumps up my arm. “Thank you, Vera.”

“You’re welcome,” I smiled. “But if you keep holding my hand and looking at me like that, I’m gonna need to go home and change my panties.”

“Maybe you should stop wearing panties,” he said, giving me a slow once-over, “especially with dresses like that.”

“Yes, Katya! I’m coming!” I shouted suddenly, hopping out of the car. If Jaroslav continued to talk like that, I'd take him right there in the car if he'd let me.

I closed the car door, but before I could take a step, my head swam slightly. I leaned against the car door for a moment and closed my eyes. I heard Jaroslav’s door slam, and then he was in front of me.

“Vera, you okay?” He pulled me into his arms.

I looked up and smiled. “Yeah, I’m okay. But you can’t say shit like that before I go meet my sister. Now I’m hot and bothered.”

He smirked. “Fine. I’ll save those conversations for when we’re home or on our way back. Although knowing I can make you blush in public makes me feel like I’m doing something right.”

His phone rang. He checked the screen.

“It’s Lev. I have to go. When you’re ready to head back, call Tomas. He’ll come get you.”

I expected Jaroslav to hop into the car and drive away. Instead, he wrapped an arm around my waist. Once at the bottom of the stairs, he kissed me.

“Have fun, malishka.”

“Okay. See you later.”

I turned and headed up the stairs. The front door opened, and Katya stepped out.

“Vera! It's about time!” Katya grinned as she pulled me into a hug. “Hey Jaroslav, thanks for bringing her.”

He smiled. “Anytime.”

He flashed me a smile before he made his way to the car. Katya ushered me inside. I had barely stepped into the house when I heard Kira's shriek.

“Vera!”

She barreled into me and wrapped her arms around me.

“Kira, I missed you.”

We stood there for a few minutes just holding each other. Then she pulled away slightly.

“So…Jaroslav, huh? Can't blame you, though,” she grinned, and I swatted her arm playfully.

“Mariya and Ninel are also here,” Katya said. “They're in the lounge.”

Katya walked ahead while Kira and I trailed behind hand in hand.

“How were exams?” I asked Kira.

“Thankfully over! I have a few weeks till the new semester starts. I'm here to relax and not think, but drink.”

I laughed.

We stepped into the lounge, where I greeted Ninel and Mariya. Once I was settled next to Kira with a glass of wine, she grinned and said, “So, spill about Jaroslav.”

“Kira!” Katya said, “You can't just ask a woman to spill details about her husband bluntly like that. You have to ease into it, like…so, Vera, when did you and Jaroslav realize you had the hots for each other?”

I laughed along with the other women. Then Kira shot up from her seat next to me.

“Vera…is Jaroslav the man you had a crush on? The one you told us that you'd never really spoken to?”

My face went bright red.

Katya squealed. “O.M.G.! It was him! The one you admired from afar?”

“How did we not see that you've been crushing on Jaroslav!” Mariya said.

“Come on, Vera, spill it!” Ninel exclaimed.

Kira plunked herself down next to me, excitedly. Everyone leaned in, and I shook my head and chuckled.

“Katya, you have to promise that if the cameras in this room have sound that you’re going to erase it.”

“Ohhhh, this is gonna be so good!” Kira said dramatically.

We chuckled.

“Lev knows this is where we hang out. The cameras don't have sound, but I would suggest that you sit where you can't read your lips, either.”

After switching seats and Katya closed the door, I looked at them as they looked at me expectantly.

“Whatever is said in this room stays in this room.”

There was a series of nods, lips being zipped, and keys being thrown away.

“Jaroslav and I used to date three years ago.”

A chorus of “what!” echoed through the room.

Over the next thirty minutes, I told the girls about the first night Jaroslav and I met up until Yegor and Zahkar confronted him.

They sat and listened attentively, wine and snacks forgotten.

I kept most of the good things to myself because I didn’t kiss and tell, but gave them enough to know that I was always pleased in the bedroom.

When I was finished, I exhaled slowly. “And now, here we are.”

“Well, damn…” Mariya's voice trailed off.

“Mariya, Ninel…do you remember when I told you I don't think Jaroslav likes me?” Katya asked.

Mariya nodded, “And one of us said something like he's that way with everyone.”

“But it wasn't that. He knew I wasn't Vera. I kept telling Lev I wasn't you, but he insisted I was. Jaroslav knew I wasn't you from the first time he laid his eyes on me.”

“O.M.G.! Lev was going to marry Jaroslav's ex! Jaroslav didn't say a damn thing,” Ninel said.

“But, when Lev told us that he did want to marry Vera, Jaroslav also wasn't the happiest camper,” Mariya noted.

“But he was just going to let Lev marry you, Vera?” Kira asked.

I shrugged. “I guess he was.”

“It makes sense now,” Katya stated. “Why you didn't want to marry Lev, but also why Jaroslav married you to stop the war. And you said since you told him the real reason you broke things off, things have changed between the two of you?”

I nodded. “We decided to keep things casual, but now he's doing all the sweet husband things like the flowers and the gifts, and I'm now in his bed every night…”

“Not that you're complaining,” Ninel interrupted with a wink.

I grinned. “I'm not, but…”

“It has you wondering where you stand with him,” Katya finished.

I nodded.

“If Jaroslav is anything like Lev, he has realized his own mistakes in all of it, and now he's trying to make amends.”

“Jaroslav loves you,” Mariya added. “He doesn't do anything without a plan. When you showed back up in his life and he realized how close he was to losing you again, he snatched you up the only way he knew how.”

“Mariya, that can't be right.” My brows furrowed. “Jaroslav hated me a few weeks ago. Hell, for the past three years. His words and his actions aligned perfectly.”

She smiled. “But did they align with his heart? He could've found another way to end the war. Yet, he chose marriage. You made an impact on Jaroslav, one that he couldn't erase. One that, if he lost you again, he knew he'd regret it for the rest of his life.”

“But, Vera?” Ninel asked, her tilted. “How do you feel about all of this? About what he did by forcing you to marry him? Based on how you speak about him and how you stood up to him in front of Lev, you still have feelings for him.”