Chapter 21

Chapter Twenty-One

Chloe

I thought the first day with Ayana went perfectly. The girl is really quite adorable and spending time with her is zero hardship. Her father on the other hand? Major distraction. The man had the audacity to kiss my neck and act like he had the right to tell me what to do about my date. And then he sits on the sofa with Ayana watching Bake Off , ignoring me like nothing happened. Meanwhile, I'm sitting in a puddle of inappropriate desire wishing he trailed those lips over more of my skin. While naked. And alone. And maybe with a set of handcuffs. I don't know. I'm open to ideas.

The television show blares and the two Drugovs laugh in unison while I stew on Nikolai's hot-and-cold behavior. They chatter among themselves about the rum cakes that most of the contestants botched as the program ends. The leather chair I'm in squeaks every time I rock back and forth, a metronome that counts away the seconds of my irritation.

"Time for bed, zajushka ," Nikolai finally whispers, picking Ayana up from the couch and carrying her to her bedroom while she tries to protest, but it ends in a yawn so big she can't fight it. She smiles sleepily over his shoulder at me, and I wave goodnight.

I follow suit after a few seconds, heading for my own room where I change into a black satin pajama set with spaghetti straps that make a valiant effort at holding in my breasts. The shorts, however, don't even try to contain my ass. I don't normally wear this set, but I have a particular goal in mind. With parts jiggling in what I hope is seduction, I head back out to the kitchen to reach into the upper cabinet for a water glass. I have to go up on tiptoe as it seems Nikolai built this kitchen for his towering height, not the average height of an American.

A choking noise behind me has me grinning like a fool before I school my facial features and turn around with a glass clutched to my bosom. "Oh!" If teaching hadn't worked out, I should have gone into acting.

Nikolai's hands are clenched into fists by his side, but it's the eyebrows drawn together into a straight line over sparking blue eyes that has my heart rate climbing. "What is this?" he spits out from between clenched teeth.

I glance down at the glass sitting on my chest like my breasts made a little shelf just to hold it. "I'm getting water."

"Second rule, Chloe." That growl really is magnificent.

I bite my lip and try to remember all the rules he threw at me. "Sorry, I can't quite remember which one that was. No men in the house? Or was that no flirting?" I lift the glass off my breasts. "Because I'm not flirting. I'm just getting water."

I force my lips into a soft smile and walk over to the sink where a reverse osmosis spout has been built into the countertop. Another grumble punctures the silence in the kitchen. I ignore him and fill my glass, sure he's getting an eyeful of what doesn't fit into these short shorts. The next thing I know, my hips are pinned to the granite countertop as Nikolai's thick body crowds me in from behind. The glass clanks into the stainless steel sink as it slips from my hands.

His breath is hot against my neck once again while his hands grip my hips before sliding down to my ass cheeks and grabbing more than a handful. Every inch of my skin pebbles into goose bumps at the intimate fondling. I open my mouth to give him more of my trademark sass, but he takes that moment to grind his erection against the flesh he now holds in his hands and all the air is stolen from my lungs. He's long, thick, and so incredibly hard.

"Do you feel what you do to me?" he whispers into my ear.

I grip the counter and focus all my efforts on staying upright instead of spinning and sinking to my knees right there in the kitchen so I can get my mouth on what I know will be the best dick I've ever had the pleasure of seeing. Besides, I'm pretty sure that question is rhetorical. I'd have to be dead and buried not to feel that steel pipe behind me.

"Answer me," he growls louder, gripping me harder. Almost to the point of pain. I know I shouldn't like this manhandling, but I do. Oh, I fucking do.

"Yes," I gasp.

"This is why we have rules, Chloe. Rules to protect you."

I blink, trying to organize rational thought in a brain turned to mush. Protect me? Protect me from whom? Nikolai?

His hands pulse on my ass one more time and then he releases me and steps back with a grunt that sounds a lot like pain. He takes his heat with him and I'm suddenly so cold I'm shaking with it. I don't turn around. I can't turn around. I'm afraid if I do, I'll beg him to forget those silly rules. I've been flirting with him, teasing him, baiting him since day one. It was just some harmless fun, or so I thought. But I heard desperation in his voice just now and I've seen him with his daughter. He's a good dad. One of the great ones who deserves split custody. This isn't harmless fun any longer, and I need to remember that.

I nod, gulping loudly as I stare out the window into his dark backyard. "Understood."

"Go on that date."

Shocked, I look over my shoulder to see him back in the doorway to the kitchen, his jaw still locked tight and his eyes dancing with fire. There's no use arguing with him about the issue, that much I can see.

"Go on your date and forget about me entirely. This," he waves a hand between us. "This can't happen. Ever."

Sadness hits my chest like a thousand knives. "I don't think I can forget about you," I whisper. "Believe me, I wish I could. It would be better for you that way."

Nikolai refuses to meet my eyes now. He takes another step back and his meaning couldn't be any clearer. "I do not care about me. I want to see you happy with a good man. And that is not me."

My lips manage a sad smile. He has no idea how good of a man he truly is. "And that's precisely why I can't forget about you or that kiss we shared."

His chin drops to his chest for a moment, but he quickly inhales, straightens his spine and turns to leave. "Have a good night. I am free Sunday. Would be a good day for you to have off for your date."

And then he's gone, leaving me a shaky mess in the kitchen. I stay there until I get my lungs and limbs under control. Then I tiptoe back to my room and change into baggy sweats, vowing to myself that I won't flirt with Nikolai again. I don't know how I'll manage it when that's how all our interactions have gone, but I know I need to work on it.

I pull out my phone and text Tanner back, agreeing to dinner and suggesting Sunday night. Nothing about the date excites me, but Nikolai is right. I need to forget him and move on. My whole goal after Josh died was to bring back fun in my life. Pining after a man who's unavailable is not exactly a good time.

Nikolai is already gone the next morning when I wake up. He left a four-word note in the kitchen for Ayana, which neither of us can read because it's in Russian. Looks like Ayana's Russian lessons have already started. I take Paul out back to pee, then feed him breakfast and check the registrations for my second open house this afternoon. Just about the same number as last time, which is good news.

"Can we make rum cake?" Ayana asks, startling me as she walks into the kitchen, rubbing her sleepy eyes.

"How about breakfast first?"

She crosses her eyes and sticks her tongue out. I cross my arms across my chest and give her my best teacher look. She sighs and grumbles, "Okay fine." The teacher look works every time, what can I say?

We make pancakes together, complete with blueberry eyeballs, strawberry smiles, and whip cream for hair. After that, we get dressed, take Paul to the park and play with the neighborhood kids for an hour, and then come home to do some craft projects with whatever Nikolai has at the house. I check my watch and start to clean up the pencils, Crayons, and colored paper.

"Time to get ready for hockey lessons!" I cheer.

Ayana grimaces. My hands still. "Wait. Do you not like hockey?"

"It's not that I don't like it, I just don't know if I'll be any good. What if I suck and everyone makes fun of me?"

I shrug. "Everyone sucks their first time."

Ayana rolls her eyes like she's already a teenager. "Yeah, but not everybody has a pro hockey player for a dad."

I leave the supplies on the table and come over to crouch by her chair. "Hey. That's not the kind of league I'm running. I'm the boss. Nobody's going to make fun of you, or they'll find themselves kicked out. We support each other in my league." I grab her hands and squeeze. "Do you trust me?"

She nods instantly, blond hair flying around her shoulders. "Yeah, you got rizz, Chloe."

I frown, feeling a lot like Nikolai all of a sudden. "Huh?"

She bursts into giggles and slides off the chair. "Come on! You can't be late if you're the boss!"