Whispered Promises

She rolled her eyes. “You are truly wicked, Anton Durov.”

“But you still love me,” he teased.

“I do. God help me.”

The pitch of his voice rose in concern when he asked, “When you are ready, radost moya, I need you to tell me everything that happened with Holloway.”

Chills ran down Brie’s spine when she heard the man’s name. “I will…” she agreed hesitantly, then added, “…when I see you in person.”

Rytsar groaned again. “I make you a solemn vow to come as soon as I can.”

“Tomorrow?” she asked half-jokingly.

“If God wills it,” he replied, “but not until then.”

Brie growled in exasperation. “I hope this secret is worth the torment it is causing me.”

“I would have told you if it were not.”

She was about to hang up, but decided to throw out one last guess, knowing it was guaranteed to evoke an instinctual response from him. “Is it Lilly?”

Rytsar chuckled. “I told you I wasn’t playing twenty questions, radost moya.”

Brie sighed in defeat. Although she would not be getting any answers today, at least she had two fewer things to worry about—Lilly and losing Rytsar to a secret marriage.

She handed Sir back the phone. “I’m still miffed about being left in the dark, but Rytsar is right about one thing.”

“What’s that?”

“Even though you and I promised never to keep things from each other…” She met Sir’s gaze and declared fervently, “I trust you.”

After spending the day with the children and being pampered with a delicious meal Sir lovingly prepared for her that night, Brie found it difficult to stay awake.

“Let me put the children to bed before I tuck you in, babygirl,” Sir told her.

Brie loved the sound of that and smiled. “That would be wonderful, Sir.”

When he returned to her, Brie could barely keep her eyes open as he guided her to the bedroom. After she lay down, she sighed in contentment as she made a mock snow angel on the bed. “I never appreciated how sinfully comfortable beds are.”

He silently undressed her before undressing himself and slipping into bed beside her. Spooning against her body, Sir put his arms around her and nuzzled her neck. “I’ll take care of the children in the morning so you can sleep as long as you need.”

She turned her head to kiss him on the lips. “My hero in every sense of the word.”

He smiled, murmuring, “Go to sleep now.”

Brie laid her head back on the pillow and closed her eyes. Being home, wrapped in Sir’s arms, felt like a wonderful dream.

But, as she floated between consciousness and slumber, Brie heard his far-off call.

“Hey, little songbird…”