Page 86 of Scarlet Promise

Alina takes a breath. “But?—”

“Things will work out,” I say, speaking over her because I know she’s going to tell Erin not to do anything, but Erin’s on her own mission now. “They always do, and he’s going to feel like shit when he realizes he left you.”

“You don’t think he knows?” Alina asks, face pinched.

“I mean,” I say, “when he realizes the impact of doing that.”

“Demyan?” Erin laughs. “No. He’ll expect you to take me home and not even be grateful.”

I know Erin’s right about everything, including the fact that even if we’d told him on day one, he’d have lost it.

That’s the reason why Alina didn’t want him to know back when it was fake.

But that doesn’t change a thing.

We need to work out a way to move past this. For his family’s sake and for mine.

My family.

“Come and stay with us, Erin,” Alina says.

“Hell no.” I look at Alina. “You’re going back to Demyan’s with Erin.”

“But Albert?—”

“Is fine with me, or I’ll send him over with Gus. Okay?” I trace the line of her cheek.

She sighs. “Okay.”

I pay the bill when Erin finishes her wine. “Come on. I’ll get you both home before Demyan accuses me of kidnapping.”

I pullup outside the mansion, and Erin gets out, stalking off.

Alina glares ahead, and I laugh softly. “You remind me of someone when you look like that.”

She turns the glare on me. “If you say Demyan, I’ll train Albert to bite you.”

“No, you won’t.”

She melts into a smile. “I won’t. I don’t want to go inside like this is a date. It’s not his place to rule over me. I’m of age. I’m married to you?—”

“Strange as it is, I agree with his protectiveness. Not some of his reasons, but the need to keep you safe. I want my place to reflect that,malyshka.”

“I feel safe there, and you know it.”

She does, I realize.

She really does.

I draw her into my arms and kiss her, her mouth soft and sweet with the faintest hint of pineapple from her soda. I run mytongue along the seam of her mouth before deepening the kiss until we’re both lost, hot, and bothered. Shaking.

Kissing Alina just gets better every time. But I have to stop myself, because otherwise, I won’t be able to stop. Fooling around outside Demyan’s mansion isn’t exactly a turn-on.

I cup her face and pepper it with kisses, still slightly dazed this beautiful woman is mine. “I’m sorry our celebratory dinner didn’t go as planned. I promise I’ll make up for it.”

“You will?” The warm tease in her voice rocks me to my toes.

“How about this? I keep Albert tonight. Tomorrow, we have a private dinner, and you stay the night.”