Bend For Him (Volkov Crime Family 1)

He leaned across the space and kissed me. I lingered in that kiss, luxuriated in it. Even after all this time, just one touch from this man drove me wild.

“Kids,” he said. “You want kids, right? I want kids. Let’s make them.”

“We’re not married yet.”

“So what?”

“So, you’re not getting me pregnant until you put a ring on my finger.”

He looked surprised. “That’s all you want?”

I held up my hands. “Of course. What the hell do you think I want?”

He laughed and got up. “Stay here.”

“Leo.”

“Stay put. Hold on.” He walked down the hall toward his office at the front of the house. I let out a sigh and rubbed my face. I felt nervous for some reason, like something bad was going to happen. We’d talked about kids before and I knew he wanted them, but that was the first time he actually talked about having them right now.

I think I was ready for children. I mean, I figured I’d never be totally ready, and it was as good a time as any. I knew I loved him and wanted a family.

But I couldn’t do it without being married.

He came back out with his hands behind his back.

“What is this?” I asked. “You better not be playing some stupid trick.” My heart raced wildly and I had to take deep breaths to stay calm.

He dropped down to one knee and held out a little black box. “I got this a few months ago. I’ve been waiting for the right time.”

I stared. “Leo.”

He opened the box. A gorgeous princess cut engagement ring with a diamond the size of a boulder glittered in the center of crushed black velvet.

“Marry me. Be my wife. Have my babies. Be my partner in this fucked-up little crime family we’re building.”

“Yes,” I whispered. “Of course. You’ve been holding that for months? And you’re doing this now?”

“I had a big thing planned, but fuck it, I’m sick of waiting. I want you, I want kids, and I want it all now.” He took the ring out of the box and slipped it on my finger.

I stared at it for a long moment.

“Don’t cry.” He stood and hugged me close. “Don’t cry, little birdie.”

“I’m not crying. My eyes are just wet, that’s all.”

He laughed, kissed me, wiped my tears away. “You’re going to be my wife. You’re going to be all mine. How’s that sound?”

“Sounds perfect.”

We kissed again and I felt like my life had come together, finally come together. All the shattered broken aspects of myself and my world had been picked up, dusted off, and glued into place.

All because of him.

“Now, let’s eat,” he said. “I’m fucking starving.”

“Afterward, maybe we can work on that baby thing, huh?”

He laughed. “Damn right we can.”

I grinned at him, kissed his neck, and let him steer me over to the table.