A Treacherous Killer-Dark Bratva Romance

twenty five

Maks

I wake to the sound of pans being knocked together and the distinctive smell of something burning.

My head is pounding and my body feels like it's been ran over numerous times but I manage to sit up on the edge of the bed. I run a hand down my stomach and wince when pain radiates from the bruises that had already formed on my abdomen. Damn that kid had kicked my ass.

I dig a pair of pajama pants out and reach for a shirt but think better of it when I remember the feel of Nadia's finger tips trailing down my ink. I didn't like people seeing my tattoo not because I was ashamed of it, but because it had been Inessa's work and I wanted to keep it to myself. However the thought of Nadia seeing it again didn't bother me. Maybe it had been the pure admiration in her gaze when she had looked upon it.

I go out into the living room and spot the princess bent over the stove in a pair of sleep shorts and a tank top attempting to fry eggs. Emphasis on attempting. The burnt smell was even stronger out here and I could sense a fire erupting at any second.

"Everything okay in here?" I sound behind her.

"Der'mo!" Shit! She exclaims. The arm holding the pan flys up into the air causing the eggs to fly up as well and then splat on the ground. "What are you doing up?" She snaps. I can't help but smirk. She notices and fixes me with a look of contempt.

"What are you doing?" I question.

"I was going to make you breakfast but you ruined it by coming in here," she snaps.

"I ruined it?" I taunt. She huffs out a breath, flinging the pan on the stove and bends over to retrieve the fallen eggs.

"Just forget it," she bites.

"Let me help you," I say, offering her a hand. She looks up at me with those green eyes and then reluctantly places her hand in mine. Our touch lingers for what would be considered an inappropriate amount of time for two people that supposedly despised each other.

Her red lips part as my gaze drops to her chest, drawn to her thin tank top and the noticeable buds peeking through it. She releases a breath and jerks her hand from mine, crossing her arms over her chest. I shake myself out of my ridiculous stupor and reach for two more eggs in the carton.

"Here, I'll show you how to cook them," I say going over to stand by the stove. She reluctantly comes to stand beside me as I hand an egg over to her.

I show her how to properly crack the eggs and the correct setting to cook them on. On her second try, the eggs come out looking more edible and she can't seem to hide the satisfied gleam in her eyes.

I then show her how to mix pancake batter and how to fry bacon to crisp perfection. When everything was done, we sit at the bar for what was becoming our usual morning routine with fresh cups of coffee.

I glance over at her as she takes a bite out of the pancakes and can't help recall our conversation from last night. I was pissed that Evelina had sought me out while I was vulnerable then proceeded to try and intimidate Nadia but I felt a sense of sick satisfaction at the fact that Evelina's words about how I liked to fuck seemed to affect the princess.

I saw the way her pupils had dilated and how her red lips had opened slightly at my admission. It made me wonder if she had envisioned what it would be like to be pinned beneath me while I drove into her. I wasn't above admitting that I had thought about it a few times myself.

Those were traitorous fantasies though, ones that would never come to light. It was stupid of me to think of her as anything other than my duty. I also couldn't ignore the fact that if Emil's plans were set into action, Nadia would be engaged soon.