He added with a smirk, “It’s a good thing it didn’t kill her, or I fear the Reverend Mother would never have forgiven me.”
“This is not a laughing matter,” Brie insisted.
Rytsar’s eyes twinkled as he pulled her into his embrace. “My plan worked out just as I had planned. You should have seen her face when she realized there was no escape for her.”
Brie looked up at him gratefully, still digesting the fact that Lilly was safely confined in Russia and receiving the care she needed from Rytsar’s friend, Dr. Volkov, who was a leading psychiatrist.
Rytsar leaned forward, grazing her cheek with his hand. “Imagine my relief knowing the chase was finally over, radost moya. After I delivered the creature to her new ‘home’ and verified for myself that she could not escape, I left her under the care of the good doctor.” He kissed her on the lips. “I was finally free, knowing I would soon return to you…”
Brie traced the healing wound with her fingers, murmuring sadly, “But you have another scar that you must carry.”
He wrapped his strong arms around her. “Scars gained in battle are sacred.”
Brie stared deep into his piercing blue eyes. “I owe you my life, Anton.”
He smiled as he glanced at her wrist, which bore the scar from their blood bond. “Nyet. You only owe me your fidelity, protection, and comradeship, radost moya.”
Wrapping her arms around the back of his neck, she pressed her lips against his, wanting to express the depth of her gratitude and love. When she pulled away, she murmured, “I may not be able to protect your body with my puny one…” She placed her hand on his muscular chest, “but I will protect your heart.”
They both turned their heads when the doorbell rang. Rytsar released her slowly while Maxim went to answer the door.
Brie was thrilled to see Sir standing in the doorway holding both children. While Maxim stepped aside to let them in, Rytsar told Brie in a low voice, “As far as what the maggot confessed to Marquis, that secret shall go with me to the grave…”
Raising his arm in greeting, Rytsar smiled and shouted, “Moy droog, you’re just in time to have a shot with me!”
Little Black Box
“This is a pleasant surprise, Sir!” Brie cried happily, taking Antony from him to snuggle with her son. She watched with delight as Hope ran to Rytsar with open arms, wrapping herself around his leg.
Sir told Brie, “I was finished with my earlier call and was feeding the children when Durov texted me with an invitation to join you.”
Brie smiled at Rytsar. “So, that’s who you were texting…”
“I felt it was necessary after our long talk, radost moya.”
Rytsar picked up Hope to give her a big bear hug. It made Brie smile to see. “I’m glad you sent Little Sparrow to come get me this morning.”
Rytsar walked over, taking Antony from her. “You and I needed this talk so all of us can live in harmony again.”
Grinning, he told Antony. “Moy gordost, you grow more handsome each day. You have already surpassed your father.”
Sir chuckled. “Good…”
Brie disagreed. “I love the way you look, Sir. You’re perfect!”
He tweaked her nose. “It’s not necessary to inflate my ego, babygirl.”
“But it’s true,” she insisted. “I wouldn’t change a thing about you.”
When he wrapped his arms around her, Brie sighed happily, the synergy in the room filling her with contentment.
Rytsar told the children, “Your dyadya has gotten you both a new present. Would you like to see what they are?”
Hope’s eyes lit up and she threw her hands in the air. “Yay!”
Seeing his sister’s excitement, Antony clapped his hands. Rytsar’s warm laughter rang through the house as he carried them down the hallway to the playroom with Maxim following close behind.
When Brie took a step to join them, Sir pulled her to him instead and said in a sultry voice, “Durov has a different kind of present in store for you, babygirl.”
She turned to face him, laughing in surprise. “Really? Right now?”
“Yes,” he murmured.
Responding to the lingering lust between them after their morning encounter, Brie stood on tiptoes to give him a kiss. Her body instantly reacted to his fiery embrace, and the kiss became more passionate.
Who would have thought a regular Monday morning could turn out like this?
Rytsar returned wearing a huge grin on his face. “There is no better thrill than seeing their smiles whenever they receive my presents!”
Sir shook his head, chuckling, “It’s amusing how you shamelessly spoil them despite being told not to.”
Rytsar put his hand over his heart. “I am their dyadya, brother. It is my solemn duty to do so and I’m willing to suffer the consequences of my actions.”
“I’ll go warm up my bullwhip, then. It’s been a while…”
“No, moy droog,” Rytsar stated in a serious voice, looking at Brie. “Although I experienced a sense of healing speaking with radost moya this morning, it has also reopened old wounds.”
Glancing back at Sir, he said, “All three of us have suffered greatly, and it has left me with a need for deeper connection.”
Sir looked at him thoughtfully. “How so?”
“I would like to propose a change of protocol for our scene.”
“Go on,” Sir encouraged him.
Looking at both of them, he stated, “I wish to call each other by our given names.”
Brie’s heart began to race. They had only done that once before and she’d never forgotten it. Calling each man by his given name changed the entire dynamic of the scene, adding an emotionally charged element to it.
“Intriguing request,” Sir asserted.
Turning to Brie, he said, “If you are willing, answer with my given name.”
Her heart beat faster as she bowed her head. “Yes, Thane.”
Delicious goosebumps rose on her skin by just saying his given name out loud in this setting.
“Then Anton and I will do the same with you, Brie.”
She blushed when she heard Sir say her vanilla name. It felt wickedly forbidden—but in the most sensual way.
Rytsar walked up and lifted her chin with his finger to meet his even gaze. “Say my name.”
She bit her bottom lip. The sexual tension between them all was now off the charts.
“Anton.” Just as with Sir, it felt wonderfully wicked when she said the name he’d been given at birth.
After a tender kiss, Rytsar took her hand and led her to the bedroom. When she turned her head in the direction of the children, he assured her, “No need to fret. Maxim is watching over them.”
She squeezed his hand in thanks. The moment she entered the bedroom, Brie spotted a small black box tied with a gold ribbon sitting in the center of the bed.
Rytsar followed her gaze and smiled. “Yes, Brianna, that is for you.”
She felt pleasant butterflies hearing him call her by her first name in that rich Russian accent. “May I open it, Anton?”
“Undress, and then you may get it and bring it back to me.”