Page 53 of Nine Months to Bear

Then I release him. I step back as my mind races. The whole point of this sterile surrogacy arrangement had been to separateemotion from procreation—to ensure no woman could ever manipulate me the way my mother had done to my father.

Yet here I am, letting desire overrule logic. Breaking my own cardinal rule.

“Olivia isn’t my mother. I know what I’m doing.”

But even I know that sounds like bullshit.

“Do you?” Taras challenges, rubbing his throat where I pinned him. “We need a contract, Stef. Before she gets pregnant and this gets messy.”

I turn away. The memory of Olivia beneath me on my desk flashes through my mind. Her scent clung to the room for days, followed me home, threaded itself throughout my dreams. I can still taste her on my tongue, feel how she softened in my hands, surrendering to the moment. To me.

Worse, I remember the wayI’dsurrendered toher.

“It might already be messy,” I admit quietly. My father’s words echo in my memory:A Safonov man loves once, and it ruins him.

Alexei regains consciousness with a wet gurgle, providing the perfect distraction. My expression hardens as I turn back to him, forcing thoughts of Olivia aside.

Business first.

Always.

23

STEFAN

I prowl through the lobby of Aster Fertility Solutions like I own it—which, if my plans continue on schedule, I soon will.

My knuckles still throb beneath the bandages I hastily applied less than thirty minutes ago. But it’s nothing compared to what the informant is feeling. When the man refused to give me any information, I told Taras to take care of him.

So if he isn’t dead yet, he will be soon.

The receptionist glances up from her computer with a practiced smile. “Welcome to Aster Fertility Solutions. Do you have an appointment?” She’s initially professional, until her eyes meet mine—and recognition dawns.

When she realizes who I am, the transformation is immediate. Her polite smile morphs into something knowing. Almost gleeful.

“Mr. Safonov, isn’t it?” She stands and extends her hand. “I’m Camille, Olivia’s office manager, nurse, and occasional therapist.”

I take her hand, glancing around for Olivia. “A pleasure.”

“Oh, the pleasure’s all mine.” Her eyes flicker to my bandaged knuckles, then back to my face. Not much for subtlety, this one. “I’ve heard so much about you.”

It amuses me to imagine how exactly that went. What has Olivia shared about me? Did she tell her office manager about our agreement? About our little tryst in my office? Did she mention how she trembled under my hands until she shuddered, crumbled, came hard?

Before I can start asking indecent questions, there’s motion. Olivia emerges from a hallway. She freezes mid-step when she spots me. A patient file nearly slips from her fingers.

As Camille and I both watch, her face shifts from shock to fury.

“Sorry, Dr. Aster,” Camille drawls, clearly enjoying the tension. “Didn’t realize you had any appointments with Russian royalty today.”

“I don’t,” Olivia replies tightly. She marches up and grabs my arm. “Mr. Safonov was just dropping off some… investment paperwork.”

Camille’s perfectly waxed eyebrow rises as she looks at my knuckles again. “Oh yeah? What kind of ‘investing’ are you into these days, Liv?”

“Not now, Cam.” Olivia’s fingers dig deeper into my bicep as she steers me toward her office.

“Take your time,” Camille calls after us. “I’ll reschedule your next appointment… again.”

I’m here for a purpose,I remind myself. To add paternity verification to our contract. To ensure she can’t manipulate me the way Taras warned she might. To protect my interests.