Page 28 of Dangerous Liaisons
“I wasn’t sure you would want me to, but I’ve got one on the back of my bike. Is that what you want, Isa? I told you before that decision is always up to you.”
“My son is here.”
His dark gaze studied hers. “Do you want me to leave?”
“I want you to stay.”
The fact she didn’t hesitate brought a smile to his face, and he stepped forward to kiss her again. “Stop putting distance between us,” he teased. “I want to be close to you.”
“Go get your bag. I’ll be in the bedroom.”
“I won’t be long.”
CHAPTER TWELVE
Despite wanting to stay in bed the next morning, Isabella forced herself to stick to her daily routine. She rose at five to work out and take a quick dip in the pool. She showered and grabbed a cup of coffee before spending an hour working in her office. Checking the monitor to make sure Mikhail was asleep, she ventured into the kitchen. He was lost in dreams while she cooked breakfast, the rich aroma of bacon and pancakes filling theroom.
“It smells great in here.”
She smiled, closing her eyes at Xavier’s hands grabbing her hips to pull her against his tall frame.
“You didn’t wake me.”
“You needed the rest.” She flipped the pancakes on the frying pan. “There’s a fresh pot of coffee ready if you want some.”
“I wouldn’t need the rest if you hadn’t kept me up so late.”
“I did no such thing!”
He grunted, kissing the side of her neck before he ventured over to the coffeepot. “I have the marks to prove it, sweetheart.”
Isabella blushed, moving the pan, and watched him move around the kitchen. It pained her how much it felt as if he belonged there, the sight of him in her home a pleasing one to witness. What once had been a home meant to be filled with memories of her family with Nikolai had long become echoing halls of emptiness.
Leaning against the marble counter, he sipped his coffee. “I’ve been thinking about what you said last night.”
“Xavier-”
“We can’t ignore this forever, Isa. I want you, and that will not change, no matter who knows about it.”
“You’re not looking at this realistically. Half of the year, I’m in Russia. I’m responsible for my family, for the Romanov empire. People answer to me, and when they cannot, I am the one that decides their fate. Can you livewith that? Can you live knowing that you’ll never come first? My son means more to me than life itself, but even he must wait in line.”
Putting family first is something I understand. I do it every damn day for the club. I went to the jail for that fucking club, so don’t stand there and act like I don’t understand what I’m asking you to do.”
“And what are you asking? All I can offer you is my body.”
He hadn’t moved, his eyes locked on her. “I don’t believe you. You said you had feelings for me, and I think they’re the same ones I do for you. Explain to me what you meant. Tell me what those feelings are, Isa.”
Her mouth went dry, heart beating in her chest.
“Mamushka?”
She jerked her attention away from Xavier to her pajama-clad son standing in the kitchen doorway with ruffled brown hair, his large brown eyes eyeing Xavier. “Hello, little one. Good morning.”
“Mamochka, on kak viking iz moikh rasskazov.”
She chuckled with a shake of her head. “Net, on moy drug i bayker, moy milyy mal'chik. Come, say hello.”
He walked toward them, and she felt great pride as he extended his hand at Xavier who towered over him like a giant. “Hello,” he spoke in perfect, practiced English. “I am Mikhail. It isnice to meet you.”