LOGINAnastasia's POVI somewhat had to derail the conversation from the question he just asked and he finally excused himself for a nap, claiming that old bones needed their rest. He'd squeezed my hand before leaving, his eyes sparkled with warmth."Stay as long as you like, my dear, make yourself at home. This is your home too now."I'd smiled and nodded, but the moment he was out of the room, I say on a chair much cost to Nikolai."You didn't prepare me for this."He raised an eyebrow, leaning back in his chair acting calmly in an infuriating manner. "Prepare you for what? A pleasant conversation with my grandfather?""For….." I gestured wildly at the door his grandfather had just walked through.
Anastasia's POVHis whispered words hung in the air between us, his lips still brushing my exposed shoulder. Every nerve in my body screamed at me to lean into him, to forget about meeting his grandfather, to let him have his way with me right here in this ridiculously expensive hotel room.Just this once, just give in and be done with it, but my pride won this time around. I stepped away, turning to face him with a mask of indifference that I hoped looked convincing. My heart was pounding so hard I was certain that he could hear it."We should go," I said, my voice flat. "Being late wouldn't be a good look for the happy couple facade we're putting on."Nikolai's eyes darkened. "I don't think anyone would mind if we were a little late. My grandfather is old, he understands…."
Chapter 42 Anastasia's POVI woke up to sunlight streaming through windows I didn't recognize. My head throbbed, my mouth felt dry and the ceiling above me was wrong in every way. It was too high, too ornate, covered in intricate moldings that belonged in a palace, not in Nikolai's penthouse.I blinked and sat up slowly.The room was enormous, it had a massive four-poster bed which dominated the center, draped in cream silk and velvet. Antique furniture lined the walls, a gilded vanity, a mahogany armoire, a chaise lounge that looked like it belonged in a French château. The curtains were heavy brocade, tied back with gold tassels. The floors were dark hardwood, covered in an intricate Persian rug.This wasn't my room and this wasn't even Nikolai's penthouse.Where the hell am I?I pressed my palms on my forehead, trying to piece together the fragments of the night before. The club. Zara, dancing and then……The bathroom door opened.Nikolai stepped out, wearing nothing but a towel wr
Nikolai's POVI remained in my office after office hours reviewing the final documents for before my grandfather's visit when my assistant’s message buzzed through."Sir, Miss Leona Braun is here to see you, but she doesn't have an appointment."I was surprised to hear that Leona came over to see me, a slow smile spread across my face."Send her in."The door opened, and Leona walked in with that elegant poise that dominated places. She was dressed impeccably as always, wearing a cream colored pantsuit, heels to match, and that same confident smirk she'd worn since we were teenagers."Nikolai." She extended her hand, I stood up to shake her hand, laughed and pulled me into a quick hug. "It's been too long.""It has." I gestured to the chair across from my desk. "Sit. Tell me what you've been up to, other than terrorizing my fiancée at galas."Leona's eyes sparkled with mischief. "Oh, that? She started it. Spilled wine all over my dress. I was just simply defending myself.""You called
Anastasia’s POVI went down to a restaurant five blocks away from my office for my lunch break. I decided to go early before the lunch break time started because I wanted some ‘me’ time before Zara came over.I wasn't the type of person who decides to go on lunch break. I was always so immersed in work and the numbers of the company's chart but today I decided to use the time of lunch break as my office felt too stuffy for me to breathe.I stared at the fancy expensive piece of paper in my hands, an apology letter that Nikolai had sent to me. He decided to take the easy route of apologizing through paper instead of doing so to my face. I scoffed. “Such a coward.” I muttered underneath my breath.The doorbell jingled making way for Zara as she walked in towards me. “Hi Ana, I hope I didn't keep you waiting?” She asked, sitting on the chair opposite me.“Nahhhhh you did not, I needed the time alone actually.” I faked a smile at her but Zara? Nothing gets past her.“Okay, tell me what'
Nikolai's POV The study was dark except for the warm glow of the desk lamp. I sat in my leather chair, a stack of files spread before me, my pen suspended mid-air over a document I hadn't read in twenty minutes. The numbers blurred over and over again and I couldn't make sense of the words.I couldn't focus.I couldn't stop thinking about her.Anastasia.The way she felt pressed against the wall in the powder room. The way her lips had parted for me, hesitant at first and then desperate. The way her hands had fisted in my jacket like she hated me and needed me all at once.I closed my eyes and all I could picture was Anastasia in that red dress. The curve of her hips, the flash of her eyes when she was angry, it was dark, blazing and devastating.God, she's so fucking beautiful when she's pissed.I shifted in my chair, adjusting my collar. I could feel my body tensing up from the image of her in that red dress and how I would have loved to undress her out of it but I was irritated. I
Anastasia's POVFuck! I have to stop him, they could be hearing us right now in the dining room but then again how could I stop. I continued kissing him, the close sound of the clinking of a spoon against a plate was my cue to stop it."Nikolai, we need to stop this right now, my grandmother could
Anastasia's POV The air in the room was thick with unspoken words, charged with a tension that had been right after I blurted out two words I never thought I'd say.Nikolai’s hand slowly wrapped around my back and pulled me closer to him, my body heating up.“As her ladyship pleases.”His lips cla
Nikolai's POVI slowly watched her fall asleep, lying bare on my bed, completely drained. I pulled the duvet over her naked body. She snuggled into it tightly in her sleep.Watching her sleep peacefully, like there was no care in the world, turned me on in a certain way. The way she'd moaned my nam
Anastasia's POV My eyes fluttered open, the ray of light from the window almost blinding me.I shut my eyes close immediately as I sat up on the bed, the headache instantly announcing itself in my head not all at once, it slowly rose from the back of my head like a sunrise of pure pain. It felt li







