Chapter 17 - Adley

Ivan was so different like this. I'd certainly not expected to hear what I did, and that well of curiosity about him had only grown with each word he spoke. It felt so odd to be sitting here with him so comfortably, considering our situation. Yet, I couldn't deny that I was drawn to Ivan in a new way.

The pull toward his bare chest was still there, of course, but a new interest in who he really was burned brighter. Getting to know him felt like uncovering missing pieces to a puzzle. It made me consider him and his past, and I was attracted to his drive to push through all that.

I waited for Ivan to respond, watching him as he looked down at the floor in his comfortable position on the floor. My hand went to the sketch pad reflexively, and I added more details to the portrait.

"That's a hell of a question, Adley." Ivan sighed, and it melted into a mirthless chuckle. "I needed to take care of my brothers. I'm the oldest, the one who's been around for just a bit longer…and what I knew about was what my father taught me. Getting out from under his influence…from under his fists…meant finding someone who'd take a chance on a kid who was ready to volunteer for grunt work."

My sketching stilled as I realized what Ivan was saying. His father had been abusive, and he'd fled with his siblings to protect them.

Holy shit. That's…not what I expected.

"Vlad was still pretty young when I knew we needed to leave. My mother…well, let's just say that she didn't survive my father, and it fucked Vlad up so damn bad."

"He doesn't speak," I offered quietly.

"No. And I wouldn't either. I needed cash to support them. I needed a place for them to stay. So, we found Sergei Vadim. I worked my way up the ranks for him. Got damn good at my job and brought my brothers along with me. It's just…how it went."

It was such a silly little shock that I nearly laughed. Of all the people and things in the entire world, the guy who had essentially bought me knew exactly what it was like to do everything for your family—for your siblings.

It was too damn funny, in that horrible way that hurt your chest behind the smile.

Looking over at Ivan, I met his eyes when he finally brought them up again. "I get it."

He cocked his head, his brows pinching together. "You get it? And how's that? Your parents are practically saints."

"Well, no. I don't get that part personally. But I understand it." I set the pencil down, now finished with the drawing. "I get what it's like to put your siblings first. To do everything to ensure they're okay and that they have everything they need."

At that, Ivan nodded slowly, rolling his eyes down to the floor before returning them to me.

"I guess you do. You've thrown yourself in bed with a stranger because you wanted what was best for them—and the shop."

The air was so thick with tension that it was like I was wearing it—sticky, heavy weights glued to every inch of my skin.

Ivan grinned, gesturing at the pad with his head. "You done?"

Turning back over my shoulder to look at it, I smiled at the portrait and nodded. "I am."

He got up onto his knees, crawling across the floor to sit in front of the picture next to me. Ivan didn't say anything at first, and I wasn't about to push. He'd already offered plenty. Still, his presence next to me felt different. I want to put my hand on his where he leaned on it. I wanted to rest my head on his shoulder so that he knew I was right there with him.

It was a knee-jerk reaction to hearing such intimate details about his life. My brain wanted me to show him I was empathetic to his situation.

I didn't know if he'd appreciate it, though. Most guys that I knew didn't enjoy looking weak or vulnerable.

So, I just relaxed into myself, not moving away as Ivan leaned toward me.

"Hmm…" He gripped his chin like he was some critical art review. "Good use of shadow. And the likeness is excellent."

I laughed. Ivan was too amusing with his pretend art snobbery. "Why, thank you."

He flipped back to the other drawing I'd done of myself, eyeing it from top to bottom like he did me.

"I think I'll hang them up in here. Give the place a little bit of artistic flare."

I was actually touched, but I raised my brows at him, chuckling through my lips. "Umm, and what about the glass walls?"

"They're not all glass. The brick one behind the bed will work."

Nodding, I just smiled gently as Ivan continued to stare at the images. "Sure."

After a beat, Ivan turned toward me with a soft grin. He reached up for my hair, tucking it behind my ear. As he did, he held onto a thin lock of blonde and smoothed his fingers down it until his knuckles ghosted across my nipple. Ivan followed the hair all the way down to where it pooled on the floor next to me.

And that was it. Just a simple touch that had my entire body brimming with a shimmering thread of desire. When I met his eyes again, Ivan leveled me with his stare—so intense and wholly focused on me.

"Dinner is happening soon. Why don't you get dressed and meet me downstairs? I'm sure my brothers are looking forward to chatting with you."

Nervous energy flared, and I swallowed down the anxiety that rose up the back of my throat.

"Should I be concerned about that?"

Ivan's familiar cocky smirk was right back in place as he stood up and retrieved his shirt from the floor. His muscles rippled as he straightened and pulled it over his head. I'd seen him shirtless quite a bit at this point, but it was still quite a sight.

"Probably. I'm sure they'll give you the fifth degree." He yanked down on the hem of his shirt, getting it to lay smooth, and then ran a hand through his hair. "After all, it's not every day that I bring home a girl intent on marrying her."

Before I could respond, Ivan took off for the door, and I was left alone in the bathroom again. I was more than a little apprehensive about dinner with his brothers, and as Ivan's words lingered in the room, I crossed my arms over myself, suddenly self-conscious.

"Wife. Right. Because that's totally normal."

I sighed before standing up and going to the closet with my discarded shirt to find something new to wear. I'd had sex with the guy yesterday, and now I was meeting his family properly. As far as timelines went, this one was definitely clipping along at top speed.

After years of nothing, it was more than a bit shocking. But here I was. I could only deal with what was in front of me, one step at a time. So, for now, I was going to focus on choosing an outfit for dinner.

And then I'd worry about not getting murdered by Ivan's brothers.