Paper

by Roxie Rivera

  “I feel a bit silly now. I made you something with paper. You know, like all the books say?”

  “I know,” he said, pulling back to gaze down at her. “The first anniversary is paper—and that’s exactly what I got you.” Saving the best for last, he slowly disentangled himself and backed away from her toward the worktable. He picked up the stack of papers there and handed them to her. “Happy Anniversary, Vivian.”

  Guardedly, she took the papers from him and started to read through them. Her eyes widened a few times, and she glanced up at him with shock. “Is this…? Are you serious? It’s all mine?”

  “This is all yours. This is something that is clean and outside the family. I want you to build a business for yourself. I want you to have something that is yours and only yours. You deserve this.”

  “Kolya…”

  Gesturing around them, he explained, “This whole street belongs to Alexei. He snatched up all of the retail space on these three blocks when the developer lost everything in the recession. Kazimir is going to relocate to the shop space right next door, and the other shop on the corner? That’s going to be a luxury boutique for handbags and dresses.”

  “You certainly chose a high traffic area.”

  He nodded. “Sergei’s construction crews did all the work here. He’s given you a fair price, and Alexei’s agreed to make you a very good deal on the rent for the first five years.” Not wanting her to worry about the cost of running the gallery until it became profitable, he said, “Turn to the back two pages.”

  Shooting him a strange look, she did as told and scanned the contract. Looking completely taken aback, she asked, “Are you serious? No.” She shook her head. “You can’t be serious.”

  “You’ve earned it. Samovar isn’t Samovar without you there. You became the soul of that place, and everyone loves you. It’s only right that you own half of it with me.”

  “But you built that restaurant! You made it what it is, Nikolai.”

  “And I want to share it with you.” He dropped the ribbon onto the worktable and placed his hand against her soft cheek. “You’re my wife. We’re already partners in life. I see no reason why we shouldn’t also be partners in business.”

  “But you already share everything you have with me!”

  “Yes, but this makes it legal. This gives you the right to take your partner draw and spend it however you like. It will give you some breathing room until your gallery is established and profitable.”

  Her beautiful face scrunched up as big, fat tears dripped down her cheeks. The pregnancy hormones and the romantic gesture he’d made seemed to be almost too much for her to handle. Hauling her into his arms, he whispered, “Baby, come here.” He hugged her tight and kisses the top of her head. “Ya tebya lyublyu.”

  “I love you, too.” She rose on tiptoes again to brush her mouth to his. “I love you so much.” Her insistent kisses sent a shock of heat rolling through his chest. “So much.”

  Just then, her stomach growled loudly, interrupting their romantic moment and making them both laugh. He dragged her toward the candlelight dinner Boychenko had arranged at a worktable at the rear of the studio. The street soldier had gone above and beyond by bringing a tablecloth and silverware and even setting out flowers and lit votive candles.

  As Vivian settled into her chair, she asked knowingly, “Roman?”

  He nodded. “Roman.”

  “I can’t understand why he doesn’t have a girlfriend! He’s so sweet and handsome. You would think girls would be lining up around the block to date him.”

  Nikolai shot his wife a look. “Do I need to worry about you elbowing the other girls out of the way to make it to the front of that line?”

  She rolled her eyes and tapped the back of his hand with her spoon. “You know Roman isn’t my type.”

  No, but you’re definitely his. More than once, he had caught young Boychenko watching Vivian a bit too closely. He had considered rotating the kid out of guard duty, but he trusted Boychenko not to do anything stupid. Lots of men looked at Vivian in a yearning, needful way, but no man was stupid enough to try and make a move. Not even that infuriating Danish bastard was ballsy enough to try to lure her away from their marriage.

  “He doesn’t date because he spends all of his time working, training with Vanya or taking care of his grandmother.” Nikolai opened Vee’s napkin and draped it across her lap. “He doesn’t have time for a social life.”

  “That’s sad.”

  Incredulous, he dropped into his seat. “Says the woman who worked her way through college waitressing and who was either in class or in a studio every other minute of the day and night!”

  “The person I wanted a social life with wasn’t very interested in me at the time.” She slipped in that barb with the arch of an eyebrow, almost as if actively daring him to explain his behavior back then, and dipped her spoon into the creamy butternut squash soup.

  “I wanted you, Vivian. I wanted you so badly it hurt. But I wasn’t ready to be the man you needed or deserved.” He bypassed his soup and went right for his entrée. “I would have hurt you back then—and you were too young.”

  She rolled her eyes at him again. “I’m still young.”

  “Yes, your old man is quite aware of the age difference, solnyshka.”

  “Lord,” she said with a laugh. “Can we agree right now never to call each other that? My old man? My old lady?” She gave an exaggerated shiver. “You’re giving me flashbacks to my childhood and the club Daddy rode with!”

  They had a nice laugh about that and then enjoyed their candlelit dinner. The evening was quiet, simple and sweet, and exactly what they needed. With the baby coming any day, this might be one of their last chances to have a special night. Nikolai liked to think it would be as easy as hiring a nanny to look after Lev so they could have a social life or travel for business, but his paranoia about his son’s safety would make that a difficult position to fill.

  “What are you thinking about?” Vee asked as she polished off the last of her dessert. “You looked so serious all of a sudden.”

  “I was thinking about how hard it will be to find a nanny we can trust to watch Lev.”

  “Maybe we can see if Ten is interested in a slight change to his job description.” She leaned back in her chair and placed both hands on her belly. “I think he would be a fantastic manny.”

  Nikolai choked on the wine he had been trying to swallow. Vivian tossed back her head and laughed gaily as he mopped at his mouth with a napkin. “Jesus, Vee! Warn me before you say something like that!”

  “And ruin the surprise? I don’t think so.”

  “Ten? A manny?” He shook his head. “We’ll see if you’re brave enough to repeat that tomorrow at breakfast when he’s at the house.”

  She shrugged with total nonchalance. “You watch, Kolya. He’s going to be a big, soft teddy bear when it comes to Lev.”

  “I don’t pay him to be big and soft. I pay him to be mean and hard and willing to do whatever it takes to protect you and the baby.”

  “He can be all those things and a caregiver.” She leveled a stare that made him shift uncomfortably. “You’re all those things. You are ruthless and hard when it’s necessary, but you’re also wonderfully patient and loving and tender when I need it.” A wistful smile crossed her face as she glanced around the studio. “Do you remember the first time we made love?”

  “Of course.” His answer came out deep and husky. Memories of their torrid lovemaking on that canvas drop cloth made his blood run hot. “It wasn’t my best work.”

  “It was good enough.”

  Now he was the one arching an eyebrow. “Good enough? That sounds like a dare, Vee.”

  “Maybe it is.” She had kicked off her shoes and now ran her bare foot along his calf and up his inner thigh. Holding his gaze, she kneaded his quickly hardening cock with her toes. Her eyes had gone all smoky with desire. “This could be our last night without a baby.”

  G
rasping her ankle, he warned, “If you keep that up, I’m going to fuck you right here on this table.”

  She pulled free from his grasp and rubbed her foot along the full length of his erection. “Promise?”

  “Woman…” He growled low and captured her foot again. “I’m warning you.”

  “Take me home, Kolya.”

  He made a big production of saying yes. “You know I can’t deny you anything.”

  She smiled impishly. “I’m counting on it.”

  “Solnyshka.” Laughing softly, he pushed out of his chair and walked around to her side of the table. Gazing down at her, he trailed his fingers down her cheek and thought of all the ways he could make her blush once he had her naked in their bed. “What am I going to do with you?”

  Taking his hand, she kissed each tattooed finger before turning those sea blue eyes toward him. “If I’m a very lucky girl? Wicked, wicked things.”

  Leaning down, he held her mischievous gaze. “I have it on good authority that tonight you’re going to be the luckiest girl in Houston…”

  The End.