Total pages in book: 37
Estimated words: 34381 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 172(@200wpm)___ 138(@250wpm)___ 115(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 34381 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 172(@200wpm)___ 138(@250wpm)___ 115(@300wpm)
I planned to keep him dependent on me for the rest of his life because—again—I was a selfish fucking prick, especially when it came to Maksim fucking Arsenyev.
My phone buzzed on the nightstand. Sighing, I reached over and grabbed it, then unlocked it to read Rico’s message.
Rico:
My office in thirty minutes.
I grunted, sent back a thumbs up, then set my phone back down. Gently, I shook Maksim, and he groaned before slowly peeling one eye open to squint at me. “What?” he mumbled. After sharing a whole pack of cookies and drinking two glasses of milk each, we’d fallen asleep watching some zombie movie. I had no doubt he still wanted to sleep, but I wanted him with me when I spoke to Rico. Maksim needed to be informed on everything that was going on.
“We need to get up, get dressed, and head to Rico’s office,” I told him. “Come on, sleepy head.”
He moaned and dropped his head back to my chest. “I don’t want to get up.”
I snorted a laugh. “Too bad, so sad, mouse. Up. Or I’ll redden your ass, and it won’t be a pleasant experience,” I warned him.
He tipped his head back to peer at me through slitted eyes once more. “Sure about that?”
I arched a brow at him. “You want to find out and see if you can comfortably sit for the next few days?” I was all for playful spanking, but I was also one for punishments. And if he didn’t do as I needed him to and he wanted to be a brat, I was all for paddling his ass. And making it hurt.
I didn’t mind brats. But every brat knew there were consequences to their actions.
He stared at me for a moment, then shook his head before pushing himself into a sitting position. “No,” he finally mumbled. “Where’s my bag? I’ll get dressed.”
I slipped out of bed and padded barefoot over to the dresser, where I’d put his bag. After pulling his clothes from it, I set them on the bed. “If you need help, let me know.”
He nodded and shoved the sweatpants I’d given him to wear down his thighs, letting them pool on the floor. Forcing my eyes away so I wouldn’t be tempted to drag him into bed and fuck off on my responsibilities, I dug out his toiletries and took them to the bathroom. I was just beginning to brush my teeth when he walked in, his sheepish gaze meeting mine in the mirror.
“Can you fasten my jeans?” he asked. “Fucking hurts when I try to. Never realized how much my shoulder is connected to my damn fingers until now.”
Turning with the toothbrush hanging from my mouth, I quickly fastened his jeans. Then, I moved aside, making space for him at the bathroom counter, and he joined me in getting ready for the day. After rinsing my mouth out, I patted his ass, gave it a squeeze just because I could, then headed back into the bedroom. I grabbed my phone off the nightstand and shot off a text to the chef, asking him to have pancakes, bacon, and eggs delivered to Rico’s office for Maksim. He would need pain meds soon, but I didn’t want him taking them on an empty stomach. They already made him so drowsy as it was. An empty stomach would probably have him face-planting on the floor and completely delirious.
Which would be a bit funny, but I wasn’t keen on him injuring himself further.
Maksim emerged from the bathroom, and I took a minute to drink him in now that I wasn’t busy. Dressed in faded dark jeans and a black t-shirt, he looked fucking good enough to eat. Damn Rico for forcing me out of bed this early in the fucking morning. Because I definitely could’ve spent my morning doing better things—like taking my mouse apart piece by piece until he was sobbing beneath me and coming on my cock.
“Where are we going?” he finally asked. “And why are you staring at me like that?”
“Admiring the view,” I told him, watching as his cheeks pinkened. Fuck, he was cute. “And Rico wants to talk to me, and I know it’s about last night. And since all this bullshit pertains to you, I want you part of all the discussions. Don’t want you in the dark.” I held out my hand because I knew he needed that tether, and he quickly took it, slipping his fingers between mine. And fuck, they fit perfectly. Maksim was made for me.
“Is he going to be okay with me being present?” Maksim asked as I led him from our room.
I nodded. “Rico and I go way back, mouse. I helped him build this empire. It’s why he’s not losing his shit over me bringing you home and into our safe space. He trusts me. And I trust him to give you a chance.”