“It’s embarrassing,” I croaked, massaging my temples in a slow, firm circular motion like my mom used to whenever I had a headache. It never felt the same after she’d gone. It only felt better when someone else did it to you.

He shook his head, frowning at me. “No, it isn’t. You’re a woman, Mina. You can’t help menstruating. It’s what women do.” Then he shocked me further. “Do you need me to go to the store for you?”

He was willing to go to the store and buy me feminine hygiene products like it was no big deal.

Lev Leokov was the definition of the word man. He’d earned it. He certainly acted like one. Not like those pussy boys who shied away from the word ‘period.’

The thing was, I had used the only pad I’d been given and I needed more, as the spotting had been quite heavy. I looked to Nas. “Do you have any pads?”

She shook her head. “Sorry, doll. I’m a tampon girl.”

Miserable, I turned to Lev and nodded. “I need pads.”

His eyes softened. “Okay.” If I didn’t know better, he seemed pleased that I let him be of some help to me. “Tell me what you need.”

I prattled off the single item I needed and Lev helped me to bed before leaving. He returned a half-hour later with the box of pads. He didn’t seem squeamish by the situation. Rather, knowing what I needed, he lay next to me, holding my hand until I fell asleep.

Later that night, I woke for a single moment, long enough to feel Lev’s warm body slide in next to me. He worked gently to pull me in close and tuck me into the space that was made for me and me alone. He rested his chin atop my head and sighed softly.

No longer in pain, and in the place I felt most at home, I found my smile before sleep took me once more.

Chapter Twenty-Three

Mina

Waking up alone but refreshed and well rested, I dressed quickly and rushed downstairs to have breakfast with Lev. Only when I got to the kitchen, there was no one there, the newspaper neatly folded in the center of the table.

Silence in this house didn’t always mean it was empty, but today, it seemed it was.

That made me sad. I wanted to wake every morning by greeting Lev, putting my arms around him, and taking warmth from him as his giant frame enveloped me.

The time on the oven read eight twenty-three. Too early for Lev to have gone for his workout.

Where is he?

I wouldn’t be that girl.

I wouldn’t text him. No sir-ee.

I would go have breakfast with Nas instead, and try to fish out information from her.

It was a nice day. The walk did me good, now that I wasn’t having phantom labor pains. The air was cool and the sun was warm. I smiled up into the sky.

Making my way up the steps, I rang the bell and waited.

And waited.

And waited some more.

Lifting my hand, I knocked. “Come on, Nas. Get up!”

She answered the door, blinking away sleep, her face bunched and hair all over the place, wearing a flimsy nightie. “What the fuck, dude?”

I beamed at her, and not waiting for an invitation, I slid by her. “I’m hungry and I need coffee.”

Her expression dampened. I turned to her and stared, beginning slowly, “I actually came here to find out where he’d gone.”

She shrugged, yawning. “I don’t know. I’m not his keeper.”

I bit the inside of my lip, my nose bunching. “Yeah,” I muttered, sounding disappointed. “Me either.”

Nas rolled her eyes. “Whatever. Go wait in the kitchen. Let me excuse myself from my company.”

As she walked back up the stairs, I called out a little too loudly. “Morning, Vik!”

I turned on the coffee pot and poured two mugs full as Nas came back into the kitchen, her hair tied in a high ponytail. She’d dressed in sweat pants and a loose sweater, with last night’s makeup still smudged under her eyes.

Handing her a mug, I smiled slyly. “Have fun with your company last night?”

She glared at me over the rim of her mug before lifting her nose. “He snores.”

Just then, a low, gravelly voice came from the open doorway. “She lies. And yes, we had fun. We always have fun. Played Yahtzee until just after dawn.” Vik grinned, his eyelids low from sleep. He wore his dress pants and not a stitch more. I was too amused to check out his taut and gorgeous tattooed body.

I snorted, almost choking on my coffee. “Is that what the kids are calling it these days?”

He winked at me before doing something that surprised me.

He made his way behind Nas’s chair, placed his hands on her shoulders, leaned in, and pressed his lips to the space just under her ear. She closed her eyes and smiled happily. He whispered something into Nastasia’s ear and her face turned soft. She lifted a hand to cup his cheek tenderly before turning her face to press a soft kiss to his lips.

These were not the actions of two people who merely slept together. These were the actions of two people very much in love. My mind went back to the moment Nas told me that Viktor didn’t love her back. Was she mental? It was clear as crystal, written all over his face. In his smile. The way he looked at her. Viktor Nikulin was head-over-heels for Nastasia Leokov. And he loved her in a way that most women dreamed of.

My heart smiled for the two of them. They had something special. Even if Nas didn’t know it yet.

Vik poured a cup of coffee then moved around the table, stopping to kiss my head before seating himself at the head of the table. “You feeling better, wifey?”

I smiled at his nickname for me. It was clearly designed to make Nas jealous, and from the way her nose bunched, it was working. “I’m feeling much better, thank you. Damn virus,” I lied.

Vik’s brow rose. “I thought it was period pain?”

I blinked at him before turning to Nas. “Is no man in this family squeamish?” I fluttered my lashes at Vik. “I was trying to protect your delicate sensibilities.”

He sipped his coffee. “That’s too many big words for morning, Mina.”

“So,” I dug. “Where’s Lev?”

Vik blinked at me, eyeing me curiously. “What’s it to you?”

My cheeks heated. “Nothing,” I uttered, dipping my chin.

Vik grinned, the shit stirrer. “Okay, then if it’s nothing to you, he’s gone to have breakfast with Anika.”

“What?” My head shot up, eyes blazing, unsure of whether he was lying to get a rise out of me.

“Oh,” Nas muttered, suddenly remembering. “Yeah, he is.” She shook her head then cringed, “Sorry. I forgot.”

Why was he having breakfast with Anika? Why wasn’t he having breakfast with me? More importantly, why didn’t he tell me?

Because it’s none of your business!

My mind’s statement hurt, because it was true. I wanted Lev to be my business. I wanted him to think about me when he made decisions, like having breakfast with a tall, gorgeous redhead who clearly wanted him for herself.

I shrank down in my chair and Vik’s smile fell. “You’re upset.”

“I’m not upset,” I blatantly lied, my cool tone giving me away. “Lev can do what he wants. He doesn’t owe me explanations.”

Nas tilted her head. “What’s going on with you and my brother?”

I shrugged, unsure about how to answer. “I don’t know. One second, he’s all protective and caring and giving me necklaces, and the next, he’s off hiding inside himself. I thought we had a thing, but it’s like he’s afraid to talk to me.”

Vik stretched. “He is afraid to talk to you. Well, not you, but people in general.”

Nas shushed him, but I reached out for all the information I could get. “What do you mean? He’s so confident at the club.” I was confused. “Why would he be scared to talk to me?”

Vik lightly nudged Nastasia’s arm. “Will you talk to your girl? She thinks she’s the issue. Give her a break, Nas.”