by Katie Dowe
"I'll try."
They were silent for a while, Alexei rocking Maya gently as her sobs subsided. After some time he thought she had fallen asleep but then Maya spoke.
"Most men would be running in the other direction."
Alexei smiled.
"I'm not most men."
While he was still struggling with his own issues, there was no chance of him getting pushed away by a deranged stalker who thought he was entitled to something he could never have. And he wouldn't let Maya deal with that alone.
Maya sighed and sat up, Alexei's arms falling to her waist. She focused on his chest, not looking at him.
"Alexei, I can't rely on you all the time. That's not who I am. I rely on myself."
"I know that." Alexei knew that Maya was an independent person. That was what he admired about her. He rubbed her back gently. "At least lean on me now and then. Even the strongest of people need that."
"I can do that." Maya glanced up at him. "But I can't completely rely on you."
"I'm not asking you to." Alexei sat up, sliding a hand up to the back of her neck. "I'll be there, just not holding your hand."
He kissed her gently. Maya's lips trembled against his but her hands slid up to his shoulders, pulling him closer. She sank into his embrace and Alexei eased back, lifting his legs up until they were reclining, his head on the armrest and Maya draped over him. Maya pulled back and gave him a smile.
"You know, Alexei, a girl could easily fall for you."
"Could they?"
"Yes, they could."
Alexei then clicked what she had just said. He raised an eyebrow.
"Is this your way of saying you're falling in love with me?"
Maya arched an eyebrow in return.
"What do you think?"
Alexei inwardly punched the air. She loved him. He grinned and kissed her.
"I think a guy could easily fall for you." He whispered against her lips.
Maya groaned and deepened the kiss, Alexei's arms tightening against her and she melted against him. Maya was the first to pull away, her eyes lidded in their desire.
"What's the plan for tonight?" She asked. Her voice sounded breathless.
"Whatever you want."
"Then can we just stay here and do nothing for now?" Maya lowered her head and rested it on his chest. "I don't want to do anything except be held."
"I can do that."
Alexei's cock was saying he wanted something else but he was happy to do this for her. Pressing a kiss to her head, he held her close, staring at the ceiling as he listened to Maya's breathing slow and deepen until she was gently snoring against him.
*****
Maya entered the gallery with trepidation in her stomach. She was still reeling from the news herself. The doctor was certain about it but it was taking a while for it to settle in.
If she was struggling to understand the news, Maya had no idea how Alexei would react.
The past four months had been incredible. Alexei was attentive and caring. He seemed to know exactly what she wanted, both in and out of the bedroom. Maya couldn't get enough of it.
They weren't living together but Maya spent most of her nights at his apartment. Even after her and Jenny's place had been refurbished and redecorated she still couldn't bring herself to sleep in her own room. Jenny had offered to switch rooms but Maya didn't want to impose. She spent the nights when she wasn't at Alexei's on the couch or sleeping in Jenny's bed when Jenny was out. Soon she would have to make a decision about her room but after Jonny had invaded it, it didn't feel like her room anymore.
Maya hadn't heard from Jonny since that incident. She assumed he had moved away and had given up trying to pursue her. She hoped this was the case; the police had told her it wasn't often that stalkers suddenly stopped following the object of their desires. The victims of stalking often ended up dead and sometimes they wouldn't have any contact for weeks, months or even years before they started up again.
That made Alexei all the more worried. Both of them knew that it was only a matter of time before Jonny came back and tried to get her back again. Maya wasn't looking forward to it. And Alexei wasn't taking any chances; he made Maya carry mace and a panic button around and he took her to the firing range to learn how to shoot. Maya didn't like the thought of using guns but knowing how to use one if she needed to made her feel a little better.
He treated her like a princess and Maya enjoyed being pampered every now and then. But how would he react when he heard the news?
Lucy was at her desk when Maya came up the stairs. She smiled at Maya.
"Morning, Maya. Do you want to see Mr Petrov?"
"Please, Lucy. Is he in?"
"Yes, he's not busy right now. You can go on in."
Maya went to Alexei's door and knocked, entering when bid. Alexei was tapping away at his laptop at his desk. Even though it had only been a few hours since they parted ways to go to work, Maya felt like it had been longer than that. Alexei had been growing his hair out so it was a few inches longer than when they first met, barely brushing his collar. He had been foregoing his tie in recent months, especially once the warmer weather came around and he was even starting to wear jeans to work. It wasn't the office attire but Alexei was the boss; he could wear anything he wanted.
Suit or jeans, Maya thought he was the most handsome man in the room. Her eyes always went to him when they were separated at functions he took her along to and she always found him staring at her. He made her feel special and Maya loved it.
She loved him, plain and simple.
"Hi, Alexei?"
Alexei looked up. He straightened up and frowned when he saw her.
"Maya. What's wrong?" He stood and hurried around to her. "I thought you had work. Are you okay?"
"I'm fine." Maya closed the door and leaned against it. "I've called in sick. I was still struggling even after you left."
"The nausea still hasn't eased off?"
Maya shook her head. For the last six weeks she had been suffering from bouts of sickness which caused her to spend most nights hugging the toilet. Alexei had always been there with her, armed with a cold cloth. Neither of them knew if it was a stomach bug that was refusing to leave or stress that was making her throw up but Maya had always insisted she was okay.
Alexei put his hands on her shoulders, concern in his expression.
"Have you called the doctor?"
"I saw him half an hour ago." Maya bit her lip. "He did a test and got a result."
"What sort of test?" Alexei's eyes narrowed as Maya hesitated for too long. "Maya? What test?"
"He says I'm pregnant." Maya braced herself. "That I'm about four months along."
Alexei's eyes widened.
"Pregnant?"
Maya nodded.
"I checked the dates. It must've been when we didn't use a condom. Right after I got back from Barbados." She clutched as his arms. "Alexei, say something, please. You're beginning to worry me."
"I'm going to be a father."
Alexei sounded dazed. Then he moved so suddenly Maya didn't have time to react. She nearly screamed as he picked her up and spun her around.
"Whoa, steady!"
Alexei laughed and put her down, leaning her against the desk. He was smiling now, his eyes shining.
"God, Maya." He cupped her face and kissed her. "I'm going to be a father."
Maya could help but laugh.
"I take it you're happy then."
"More than happy." Alexei kissed her forehead and pulled back, rubbing the back of his neck. "I must admit I didn't think I'd know how to react if someone said they were pregnant with my baby but now I know."
"At least we've got an answer to the symptoms I've been having." Maya could feel the tension disappearing now she knew Alexei wasn't angry. They hadn't spoken about having a family yet and this was sudden. "The doctor told me to take it easy and he's given me some anti-sickness tablets. Fat chance of me taking it easy but I've said I wo
n't take any jobs out of the country until the baby's born."
"Good girl. I don't want you too far away from me." Alexei kissed her again and then moved around the desk. "Actually, you beat me to it. I was planning a surprise of my own tonight."
"Really?" Maya turned around and watched as he opened the top drawer in his desk. "What is it?"
Alexei grinned. He pulled out a box and came back around to stand before her. Maya's heart leapt into her mouth. This wasn't what she thought it was, was it?
Alexei opened the box and Maya gasped when she saw the diamond ring, its settings sparkling on the band. It wasn't too big or too sparkling; it was pretty but simple. Alexei had remembered her taste in jewelry with what little she wore.
"Alexei, it's beautiful."
"I thought you'd like it. The jeweler helped me pick it out."
"You chose well." Maya looked up at him. "What's it for?"
Alexei chuckled.
"Can't you guess? It's an engagement ring."
Maya stared in amazement as Alexei lowered himself onto one knee and took her hand, pressing a kiss to her knuckles and he looked up at her with such affection Maya felt wobbly. She was glad she was leaning against the desk.
"Maya Featherstone, will you marry me?"
Maya didn't even need to think. She knew exactly what she wanted. She nodded.
"Yes."
There was no question about it.
*****
Alexei settled back in his seat and stretched his arms and legs out in front of him with a relieved sigh.
"I'm so glad that's over. It felt like that took forever."
"I'm not surprised." Ivan chuckled. "We were there all day."
Alexei and Ivan had been in Connecticut for the day doing an exchange with a fellow gallery owner who had expressed interest in some of Alexei's paintings. Alexei had suggested coming up to his gallery to discuss a price for the ones he was interested in. They had arrived at the other man's gallery at eleven and it was nearly four.
Some things weren't meant to last five hours and that meeting had been one of them. Unfortunately their fellow owner hadn't got the message and had drawn it all out. Now Alexei was hungry and wanted to head home for dinner and an evening in bed with Maya. Now her sickness had eased up she was more active than ever. Plus her appetite for sex had gone up and Alexei was enjoying it, even if it was wearing him out.
"That man was such a stinker over those prices we were giving him, wasn't he?" Ivan spoke as he overtook a truck and moved back into the lane. "He was asking far too much for just one painting, never mind three."
"He just didn't know when to stop." Alexei grinned at his friend. "By the way, where did you learn that word?"
"What word?"
"Stinker. I've never heard you say that before."
Actually, Alexei realized, Ivan had been using a lot more American words in the past six months. Alexei had been meaning to ask Ivan about it but the situation never arose. Now they had an hour's drive back to New York and plenty of time.
Ivan shrugged, never taking his eyes off the road.
"I guess a few words are rubbing off on me."
"Who's been teaching you them, though?" Alexei grinned. "Is a woman helping you with extra English words?"
From the way Ivan was blushing, Alexei had guessed correctly. He laughed and sat back.
"Well, you bastard. When were you going to tell me about this?"
"It wasn't intentional learning." Ivan said hurriedly. "Caz has been known to curse even worse than that. You're lucky those are the tamer words I've been using."
"Caz? As in Caroline Stanton, Maya's friend?" Alexei blinked in surprise. "When did this happen?"
"I met her six months ago to speak about Widecombe. We've been seeing each other for the last four months. It's harmless right now, just casual." Ivan said hurriedly. "We're too busy for anything serious."
Alexei didn't doubt that. But he had been seeing Maya for six months and he was just as busy, as was Maya, and they made it work. He deduced the only reason Ivan wasn't making it serious was because he was too afraid. A casual relationship he could do but not serious; that scared him and he often went running.
Plus Caroline Stanton was a stunning woman. She was the type of woman you had to get serious about. Ivan had to know that.
"Wow." Alexei shook his head. "I never thought you'd have a woman like Caz Stanton on your arm. She's way out of your league."
"Oh, really? Well, you're punching well above your weight with Maya."
Alexei couldn't help but preen.
"I know."
"How are the plans going?"
"Good. Maya wants to wait until the baby's born before we tie the knot. Said she doesn't want to look like a balloon exchanging her vows."
Ivan chuckled.
"She'll look fine."
"Try telling her that."
They had set the wedding for Valentine's Day. Maya was due in December near Christmas and she said she wanted a few weeks to get herself back into shape so she would look good walking down the aisle. Alexei didn't care but Maya did and Alexei was willing to pander to that.
Ivan glanced at him before turning back to focusing on the freeway.
"Aren't you concerned the baby will be born out of wedlock?"
"In a sense he won't be. He'll still have my name. I'm the biological father." Alexei shrugged. "Nothing to it."
And there wasn't. Their son, Nikolai, was going to be born as a Petrov. It was just timing that had them doing things the wrong way around. Alexei had been brought up believing in marriage before children but that couldn't be helped; he was happy with what he had.
Ivan grunted.
"Well, good luck with the sleepless nights."
"Since when have I had a good night's sleep in this job?"
"Good point." Ivan smirked. "Not when you've got something more interesting to do."
"Very funny." Alexei looked out the window and sighed. "Oh, I forgot to mention. Hans called me this morning before you got in. Katya found out that I'm getting married again and she's saying that we were never legally divorced."
"What?" Ivan stared at him. "Are you serious?"
"Keep your eyes on the road, Ivan!"
"Sorry." Ivan looked back at the road but kept glancing at him. "Are you serious?"
"Very." Alexei couldn't believe the gall of his ex-wife. It was almost laughable. "Hans told her the divorce was completely legal and that I'm not giving her any more money. She would have better luck trying to get money out of my penniless brother for child support than getting it off me."
"She has a nerve." Ivan's hands tightened on the wheel. "What is her motivation for all this?"
"If I can't have him nobody else can, I suppose."
Alexei shifted and fished out his cell phone as it buzzed against his thigh. A glance at the number told him it was Maya. Alexei couldn't help but smile. Anything involving Maya made him smile.
"Sorry, Ivan, I've got to take this."
Ivan grunted. He had stopped teasing her about Maya a while back. Alexei answered the call and put his cell phone to his ear.
"Hi, Printsessa."
There was a sound at the other end and then a moan. Alexei was confused. Had Maya turned her cell phone on by accident?
"Maya, are you there?"
Then he heard another moan. There was no mistaking it for anything else.
It was the sound of a woman close to climaxing.
"What the...?"
Alexei stared at his cell phone. What was going on? Then dread began to fill him. Was Maya having sex with somebody else?
"What's wrong?" Ivan was flitting his gaze between him and the road. "Alexei?"
Alexei didn't want to hear any more but he put his phone on loudspeakder.
"Listen to this."
The sounds of two people in the throes of passionate sex filled the car. A woman's voice quietly urged her lover on, telling him to fuck her hard. A man's voice, too muffled to be
heard well, said something back and the slapping of bodies picked up speed.
Alexei didn't want to hear anymore. He felt sick. He hung up and stared out the window, gripping the phone in his hand.
Maya was cheating on him.
"You don't need to be a genius to know what that was." Ivan said grimly.
Alexei shook his head. The anger was building up. Maya knew how much his past was hurting him even now. She would never do that to him, surely?
"Maya? I can't believe it. She would never..."
"Does that sound like her?"
Alexei blinked.
"What?"
"To me that didn't sound like her voice but you've been intimate with her for six months. Does that sound like her?"
"It must be. It's her number."
"That's not what I meant." Ivan shook her head. "Does that sound like your fiancé in throes of passion?"
Alexei tried to focus. But everything was all jumbled up in his head. What he had heard had thrown him off-kilter and he didn't know what was going on. He pressed his fist to his head.
"I don't know." He said through gritted teeth.
"Because, if I'm right, her stalker's come back again."
"Widecombe?" Alexei frowned at his friend. "How do you know this is his doing?"
"Something Caz told me about Widecombe. He's done it before." Ivan pressed his foot on the gas. "We need to find Maya. She could be in danger."
Alexei didn't know what to think. He just sat there staring into space.
Chapter 9
Maya snapped the last shot and lowered her camera.
"Right, that's a wrap. Great work, guys."
She headed to Howie's desk and gave him the memory card. Then she packed her camera away and picked up her laptop case. Immediately Rodrigo was at her side, taking the bag away from her.
"Here, let me take that, Maya."
"Rodrigo, it isn't heavy. I can manage."
"I insist."
Rodrigo gave a pointed look at her swollen belly. Maya didn't have the heart to argue with him. It had been a long day and she was eager to back and see Alexei; he would be returning home soon and Maya was looking forward to spending the evening with him.
She rolled her eyes and passed her laptop case over.
"Fine. If it'll make you feel better."
