by Leslie North
Misha was pleasantly surprised by the small apartment. It was sparsely furnished with items that had probably once been cast aside by others, but it was clean and well organized. Something he would have expected from Jasmine.
He didn’t see a crib, so he figured the child had slept with her all this time. A fact that would be changing soon. He would be the only man, little or otherwise, to sleep with Jasmine from now on! He calmed his raging lust, telling himself he needed to go slowly here or risk pushing her away again.
“Tell me what I can do to help,” Misha commanded.
Jasmine laid the sleeping baby down on the bed, piling pillows between his body and the edge to keep him from rolling off. She then reached beneath the bed and pulled out two duffel bags. Handing one to Misha, she indicated the small dresser, “Could you put his things in there?”
Misha took the bag and nodded. Opening the top drawer, he spied a few diapers and some wipes. He decided those would probably be needed first, so he left them until last. Packing the few articles of clothing he found in the other two drawers in the bag, he then placed the diapers and wipes on top. When that was finished, the bag was still more than halfway empty.
He turned to ask what else he could pack to see Jasmine taking the last items of clothing from the small closet. Her bag was only partially full as well. What had happened to her belongings?
Chapter 9
“Jasmine, where is the rest of your stuff?” Misha demanded, already feeling that he wasn’t going to like the answer.
“What stuff? This is it. Well, I still have a few of my books, but everything else was sold.”
“Why?” he demanded, placing his hands upon his hips.
Jasmine sighed, “Look, that was months ago. It’s okay, really.”
“It’s not okay!” Misha exploded. “It’s not okay that you were willing to live in this abject poverty with my son! It’s not okay that you look like you haven’t had a decent meal in months!” He stopped, closing his eyes to gain control of his emotions. He wanted to shake her for having placed herself and his son in such a precarious situation!
“Look, I know you think I should have tried to find you, or tried to contact Alexey or Dmitry, but I wasn’t even completely sure of their last name. I just happened to see Alexey on the cover of a magazine a few months ago and put the pieces together.
“On top of that, you’re still a commissioned member of the Russian Army. How’s it going to look when your superiors find out you have a son and that his mother is in your country illegally? Have you thought about that?”
“You let me worry about that.” Misha tried to think if he had ever told her his cousins and he shared the same last name, and drew a blank. He had told her his late father had been into mining, but he didn’t remember ever telling her the company name. Just his own surname – one that was fairly common in Russia.
Dasha came into the bedroom carrying two boxes. One full of books, and the other held what looked like her personal items from the bathroom. “I think I got everything.”
Misha thanked her and when she offered to take the boxes down to the car, he smiled his thanks at her and nodded his head.
Jasmine started to sling the duffel bag around her body when Misha took it from her. “Take our son, I’ll take these.”
Jasmine did as he suggested, carefully picking up the sleeping boy and heading back down to the car. When she exited the building, she found Sergei conversing with several members of the Bratva, including Mr. Alenin. Oh, please, don’t let there be trouble.
Misha took stock of the situation immediately and moved to intercept Tomas. Greeting him in a friendly manner and kissing him upon both cheeks, he spoke to him in Russian, “Good afternoon. I must thank you for taking care of my woman and son.”
Tomas raised his eyebrows at that statement, but he acknowledged Misha’s right as protector with a nod. “She is very strong for an American. A warrior. I will miss our time together.”
“You know you can have the paper delivered in Russian electronically, right?”
“Yes, I know this. But why would I want to do that if I could have a beautiful woman simply read it to me?”
Jasmine narrowed her eyes at both men. She hadn’t known you could get the New York Post translated into Russian electronically! That would have been very helpful to know.
“Mr. Alenin…”
“Tomas, angel. I’ve told you many times, you are to use my first name.”
“Sorry. Tomas, thank you for everything.”
“You are very welcome. Had I known that you were Misha’s, I would have contacted him much sooner and ended this little charade. Shame on you for keeping it a secret.”
Jasmine started to defend herself, but Misha spoke up, “Don’t blame her. We had a misunderstanding before she even knew she was pregnant with my son. We will be clearing that up and moving forward now.”
“Good.” Tomas looked at them both and the smiled, “You make a good couple, don’t you think sister?”
Dasha smiled at him and nodded.
Jasmine turned and pinned Dasha in place, “Sister? Your Tomas’s sister?”
“Yes. I’m sorry for the deception, but you refused to just accept my help, so I contacted him and we arranged this living situation and for you to read to him so that you didn’t feel like we were giving you help you didn’t earn.” Dasha had tried to give her more help, but Jasmine was stubborn and not only didn’t ask for help, she didn’t think she was deserving of it. It was very difficult to help someone who refuses to accept it.
Jasmine felt like she had been played, but before she could get angry, Dasha walked over and hugged her. “Don’t be mad. You’ve been like a sister to me these last eighteen months, and while I am happy that things have worked out for you, I will miss you.”
Jasmine had no words to say as she hugged her back, being careful not to crush her son in the process. “You’ll keep in touch?”
Dasha nodded, “I will. I know where to find you.” She smiled at Misha and stepped away, opening the way for Jasmine to slide into the car.
Over her head, Misha inquired about a car seat. “She doesn’t have one. She’s never needed one until now. In case you haven’t put it all together, she walks anywhere she needs to go.”
“Not anymore. Thank you again for taking care of her,” he told everyone who had gathered to witness her departure. “It won’t be soon forgotten.”
“Go. Tell your cousins ‘Hello’ from me. I heard about their pending nuptials and wish them well.”
Misha nodded, “I will do that. Goodbye my friend.”
Chapter 10
Jasmine settled back into the car and grew uneasy in the silence that ensued. She knew Misha was waiting for her to offer him some sort of explanation. Finally, she began talking in a low voice.
“I told you when we were together before that I was an orphan and had been raised in foster care. What I didn’t tell you is that before I came to Russia, I had hired a private investigator to see if they could find my birth mother. They did; unfortunately, she died when I was two. That is probably why I ended up in the orphanage and ultimately in a variety of foster homes.
“The investigator also discovered that I had a brother. He was a few years older than I was, and was taken to a different orphanage. I couldn’t afford to have the investigator find him, but I have some pieces of information and when I get back to the states, I’ll track him down myself. I have to see if he’s still alive.”
“And then what? Do you think he’d remember you?”
Jasmine shrugged her shoulders, “It wouldn’t matter. You don’t know what it’s like to grow up thinking you have nobody. When the investigator told me I have a brother somewhere, it was like the biggest Christmas gift ever. I wasn’t alone in the world anymore. I know that’s hard for you to understand, but I have to find him.”
“He’s not all you have though. You have your son now.”
Jasmine looked down upon the downy h
ead nestled against her shoulder and kissed him tenderly, “I know. He’s the best thing to ever happen to me. That’s why I couldn’t risk the authorities finding me and trying to take him away, or put me in prison. I just couldn’t.”
Misha laid a calming hand upon her shoulder, shushing her. He let the tip of one finger brush his son’s cheek, feeling the baby soft skin in wonder. Meeting her eyes, he quietly told her, “Things are going to change. Starting now. No more living in Ligovo. No more translating the paper for Alenin. No more running. Together, we will figure out the visa situation. Together, we will figure it all out.”
“Misha, I don’t want to be a burden…”
Misha shushed her, “Do you remember what I told you that last day in front of your campus housing?”
Jasmine blushed and nodded, “Yes.”
“Repeat it for me, please.”
“You said you wanted to spend the rest of your life showing me the beauty that was Russia and if I still wanted to return to America, you would find a way. You told me that I had your heart,” she ended softly, watching his eyes, amazed at the tenderness she saw there.
“I meant every word.”
“Then.”
“Now. I haven’t dated anyone since. I haven’t even looked at another woman with lust in my eyes since we parted. You stole my heart. Now I want it back, along with my son.”
“Misha, so much time…”
“Not that much has passed. We owe it to ourselves to try once again. We owe it to our son to try and make things work.” He stemmed her flow of words by laying his lips upon hers in a tender kiss. He was still furious at her situation, but was coming to understand that circumstances had arisen to which she simply reacted. She should have contacted him months ago, but he also understood her fear of being arrested.
In Russia, prison was not a vacation from reality, it was something to be feared and avoided at all costs. He was proud of her for keeping her wits about her and avoiding that outcome. He wasn’t sure how the situation would be resolved, but with Dmitry’s help, things would be set to rights. Of that, he was certain.
Ending the kiss, he suggested she try to get some rest. His home was a thirty-minute drive out of the city. When she closed her eyes, he smiled and picked up his cell phone.
“Misha, what’s going on?” Dmitry asked when he picked up.
“There’s been a little excitement this afternoon. You may congratulate me now.”
“On what?”
“I have a son.” Misha waited while Dmitry digested that information.
“I didn’t realize you were seeing anyone. When did the birth occur? Was that the emergency that took you from the office?”
“Whoa! Hold up a second. His name is Mikhail and he is already ten months old.” There was a silence across the line as Dmitry came to terms with what he was hearing.
“Jasmine?”
“Yes. It is a long story, and one I will gladly share with you at a later date, but for now I need some assistance.” Misha explained about Jasmine’s visa and Dmitry promised he would make the appropriate calls and see about getting it renewed as if it had never expired. It would be tricky, and cost some serious cash, but Misha didn’t care.
Bribing officials was standard practice in Russia, as was working with the Bratva. He’d buy her a fake visa if need be, however, he’d rather not chance that being discovered.
“What about the child?” Dmitry asked.
“He’ll have Russian citizenship once I claim him as mine and verify that he was born in Russia.”
“Will Jasmine not want him to have American citizenship?” Dmitry had already figured out that she would. Unfortunately, it was impossible to claim dual citizenship for both countries. It was to everyone’s advantage if the boy was to remain a Russian citizen, but Misha would have to convince Jasmine of that fact.
“I’ll work on it. Don’t do anything about Mikhail for now. If we can get her visa situation sorted out, the boy’s will take care of itself.”
“Are you keeping her?” Dmitry asked, not finding anything strange in the way he worded the question. Misha was a conqueror and wasn’t known for asking permission. He took what he wanted. The fact that he hadn’t demanded she remain in Russia those many months ago was a testimony to the feelings he had for her. He loved her!
“She will be staying in Russia for the unforeseeable future. I hate to disrupt your woman’s plans, but I will be getting married before you. As soon as it can be arranged in fact.”
“Would you like me to have Julia and Desi arrange things? I’m sure they’d love to be involved.”
“You just want to distract them from over-planning their own weddings.”
“Well, that would be a side benefit, yes.”
“Thank you, cousin. That would be helpful. I will gain Jasmine’s acceptance of her new position in this world while your women work their magic. Saturday should be soon enough.”
“Misha, you know that’s only two days away, right?”
“Of course. My mother is already in St. Petersburg visiting your mother, so I don’t see the problem.”
“You wouldn’t. Fine. Two days. I can’t wait to meet my nephew.”
“Tomorrow, cousin. Or the next day. In fact, you can meet him Saturday. Tell Julia and Desi that tutoring sessions are cancelled until next week.”
“Will do. Shall I arrange the ceremony to take place at the local cathedral?”
“No, the estate will be fine. I’ll see you Saturday. Send me the details once you have them.”
Misha hung up, pleased with his plans. By this time on Saturday, Jasmine would be his wife and Mikhail would officially be his son. He would see to it.
Chapter 11
Misha watched Jasmine as Sergei drove them to his home. Unlike his cousins who had converted an abandoned building downtown into a huge condo for themselves, he preferred the privacy of a single-family home – away from the city.
He had purchased the house as a present to himself upon turning twenty-five. That had been only a few months before he met Jasmine. He had imagined his children playing in the huge backyard, climbing the large trees and jumping in piles of leaves each fall.
The dream had been a fanciful one, and one that he’d had little hope of seeing come to fruition, but then he had met Jasmine.
She had been walking across the university campus, completely lost in her thoughts and had stumbled right into the hostage drill his troops were conducting. Not wanting to scare her any further, he had called a halt to the drill for the day, giving his men the night off.
Jasmine had been terrified as she looked up to find a rifle pointed at her face. She had dropped her books, sending notes scattering across the ground. Misha had helped her pick up her things and then offered to help her rearrange her notes.
She had looked up at him and that had been it. His body had responded so quickly to hers, he’d had to hold himself back from grabbing her and finding out if her lips were really as soft as they seemed. When she had opened her mouth to speak, the husky quality of her voice had sealed her fate.
He had escorted her back to her campus housing and then taken her to dinner. When he had seen her to her doorway, she had leaned in and kissed him first. Misha had taken that as a sign and proceeded to kiss her back. They had ended up in her apartment, making love and caring not that she had the first draft of her thesis due the next afternoon.
He recalled the way she had joined him in removing their clothing, her responsiveness to him remarkable. She hadn’t shied away from their joining, but welcomed it, urging him on with gentle caresses and murmured words of encouragement.
Their first coupling had been almost frantic. His eyes closed as he recalled that time…
Entering her apartment, Jasmine had kicked her shoes off and been in the process of removing her jeans when she was grabbed from behind and pushed up against the door.
Misha kissed her ravenously, letting his lips trail from her mouth and down to her chest.
He suckled on her right breast through the material of her t-shirt, making her squirm in delight.
Pushing him away, she pulled her shirt over her head before reaching for his own. He helped her remove it and then she pulled him back against her, sighing as their bare skin collided for the first time.
Little to no talking had taken place, other than a murmured “Yes,” or her pleas for him to “Don’t stop!” as he removed her jeans and then lifted her against himself.
Jasmine had responded so naturally to all of his directions, wrapping her legs around his waist as he continued to pay homage to her breasts. When his hands had skimmed lower, slipping beneath the edge of her panties, she had come undone in his arms, gasping his name.
He had been desperate to join with her and had quickly lowered them to the floor, donning protection before pushing his jeans to his knees and thrusting up inside her in one fluid move.
The ride to the top of the mountain had been quick and hurried, neither of them able to slow down the fire that raced through their veins. The second time hadn’t been much better, but at least they had made it to her small bed.
The third time had been the most memorable. He had awakened in the wee hours of the morning to find her ready and willing. Pulling her atop him, he had allowed her to control the pace, watching her face in wonder as she found her pleasure, taking him over the edge with her.
She had drifted to sleep lying on his chest, and it wasn’t until several hours later when they had awakened that they had both noticed the third time they hadn’t used protection. Not willing to let that fact dampen their mood, they had leisurely showered together before falling back to sleep once again.
Their peaceful interlude had ended abruptly when they awoke around 10 o’clock and she was jolted back into the present. Nothing had been said about their unprotected joining, and Misha had forgotten all about it in the ensuing days and weeks.
Opening his eyes, he recalled how that first night had ended. She had all but kicked him out of her apartment, her mind already on the paper she needed to finish writing. He had promised to take her to dinner that night to celebrate, but they had ordered in instead.
