Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 75814 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 379(@200wpm)___ 303(@250wpm)___ 253(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75814 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 379(@200wpm)___ 303(@250wpm)___ 253(@300wpm)
“Hi.” My voice comes out sounding like a mere peep, and I clear my throat.
Rodian closes the distance between us with confident strides, and stopping right in front of me, he takes hold of my trembling hand and squeezes it.
“Are you okay?”
“Just nervous,” I answer honestly.
“Oh! Such beautiful couple!” Irena suddenly calls out. “You go to dinner now?”
Rodian nods, and letting go of my hand, he places his on my lower back. “Don’t wait up for us, Mam.”
“You have fun.” The way Rodian’s mother is beaming makes me smile, and when she notices, hers grow even wider. “Wait!” She rushes forward. “Take my coat. Might get cold.”
We stop near the front door and watch as she grabs one from the coat closet. The caramel-colored, cashmere coat is gorgeous, and when she gives it to me, I say, “Thank you. I’ll take good care of it.”
“You can have, my daughter. You need to stay warm until stronger so you don’t get sick.”
Touched by how kind she is, my voice is filled with emotion as I whisper, “Thank you.”
She reaches up and adjusts my hair over my shoulder, then says, “Go have fun. Eat lots and get to know each other better.”
“Thanks, Mam.” Rodian presses a kiss to her forehead before moving his arm around me and guiding me out of the house.
Seeing the guards, I grip the coat tighter in front of me and curl my shoulders forward.
Rodian’s arm tightens around me as he pulls me into his side. “No one will hurt you.”
What he doesn’t understand is that there are many ways to hurt a person without lifting a finger. Disgusted looks. Snide comments.
As I dare to glance at the guards nearest to me, I notice they’re too busy scanning the front yard and on alert for danger to mind me.
“Everything is ready,” a man says as he walks toward us. When his eyes rest on me, I’m surprised when I find no malice, but instead, he gives me a tight smile. “Nice to meet you, Anastasia. I’m Andrei Dragun, Rodian’s best friend and underboss. I’ll be accompanying you tonight to make sure you both remain safe.”
“It’s nice to meet you.”
He gestures for a man to come closer, then says, “This is Sergei, Rodian’s personal guard.”
I incline my head at Sergei and repeat, “It’s nice to meet you.”
“With that out of the way, you all hang back. Do not crowd us,” Rodian orders as he nudges me toward a black Rolls-Royce. I didn’t even know the brand made SUVs.
The back door is already open, and he gestures for me to get in. Sitting down on the luxurious leather, I adjust the coat on my lap, but then Rodian pulls it from my hands and says, “I’ll put this in the trunk so it’s out of the way until you need it.”
“Okay.” He shuts my door softly, and I hear the men's voices rumble as they speak Russian.
Smoothing my skirt out, I nervously begin to fidget.
Even though I still claim our special night at the theater as our first date, this is technically the first time I’m going out with a man, and it only adds to my anxiety.
The other doors open, and while Rodian gets in beside me, Andrei takes the front passenger seat and Sergei slides in behind the steering wheel.
“Ready?” Rodian asks, covering both my hands with one of his.
Nodding, I swallow hard.
He gives me a reassuring squeeze, then orders, “Let’s go.”
Just breathe, Anastasia.
CHAPTER 16
Rodian
Feeling how Anastasia is trembling and the tension coming from her, I keep holding her hands, softly brushing my thumb over her skin.
The ride is quiet as we head to where the yacht is moored for our cruise down the river, which will lead through central Moscow.
Trusting my men to be on high alert, I let my eyes drift over the beautiful woman beside me.
With none of the bruises visible and her weight returning, she almost looks the same as she did when I saw her in the workshop at the theater.
Finally getting to take her to dinner, anticipation floods my chest.
I lean over, and near her ear, I whisper, “Thank you for going out with me tonight.”
She turns her face, her eyes only meeting mine for a split second before she focuses on my shirt. The corner of her mouth lifts in a shy smile, then she admits, “This will be my first date, so if I mess up, please turn a blind eye.”
My head jerks back with surprise, and a stupid grin forms on my face. “Haven’t you dated before?”
She shakes her head and glances past me to look out the window. “No.” Her cheeks turn a light shade of pink. “You were the first man to ask me out.”
Does that mean…?
“Was I your first kiss?”
When she nods, I want to beat my chest like a caveman. Possessiveness coats every word as I say, “You’re all mine. Every one of your firsts will belong to me.”