“Don’t do anything.” She flattens her palms on my chest, touching, exploring, imploring.
Her advances have become a bit more daring in the last couple of weeks, but still not sure or confident enough. She only touches me when she’s either holding on to me or wants to stop me. No time in between.
“I really would rather not piss off Papa.”
“Take me with you, and I’ll change his mind.”
“No way in hell,” she blurts. Then, seeming to think better of it, she says more calmly, “He just needs time before I can tell him all about it.”
My jaw clenches and it takes everything in me not to tighten my hold on her waist. “Are you sure he’s the one who needs time and not you?”
She swallows, her touch growing unsteady. “I just don’t know how to explain your background to my parents.”
“Did you have to explain Annika’s?”
“She’s different. She won’t be inheriting a mafia empire and she never really liked that part of your lives.”
“And I do.”
“Isn’t that true?”
“My background and who I am changes nothing, Cecily. If you think you can use that as an excuse to leave me, then you have no fucking clue who you’re dealing with.”
“Seems that I perfectly do, considering your threats whenever something doesn’t go your way.” Her lips purse. “You need to stop doing that. This isn’t how relationships work.”
“Then howdothey work? By hiding me from your parents likeI amthe dirty little secret?”
“I never said that.”
“You don’t have to. Your actions speak louder than your words.”
“Can’t you understand my perspective? This is new to me, like I’m sure it’s new to you. Wouldyoutake me to see your parents?”
“Tomorrow if you like.”
Awe and surprise mix and clash on her face. “You…would?”
“I don’t see why not.”
“But aren’t you supposed to marry a Russian? Someone like Maya?”
“That’s a preference and in no way mandatory.”
“Wow. You really would introduce me to your parents.”
“As I said, you’re not my dirty little secret. I’m not embarrassed of you, which can’t be said about you.”
“I’m not embarrassed by you, Jeremy. I just…need to come to terms with all of this on my own before I involve other people.”
“Is that what you truly believe or are you just too scared to admit to what we have?”
Her face blanches, and it’s all the answer I need. I release her and step back, forcing her to let go of me.
She takes a step forward, but whatever she has to say is interrupted when the door barges open and hits the wall from the force of it.
Nikolai strolls inside, followed closely by his cousin Gareth.
“Ever heard of knocking?” I say in a tone that doesn’t hide my displeasure.