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I’m going to need a cold shower.
As I step into the cozy kitchen, the aroma of freshly brewed coffee and sizzling bacon fills my senses. Portia stands at the stove, humming a tune and flipping pancakes with practiced ease.
“Good morning,” I greet her, my voice slightly hoarse from last night’s passionate encounter and all the screaming.
“Morning, Annalise.” She turns to me with a knowing grin. “You seem…happy today.”
I can’t help but blush.
I wonder why.
As I approach the table, I realize that my thighs are still sore from our lovemaking, causing me to walk with a slight bowlegged gait. Portia catches this and has to stifle a laugh behind her hand.
“Did you have a good workout last night?” she teases, raising her eyebrows suggestively.
“Portia!” I exclaim, mortified by how easily she’s able to read me.
“I’m sure she did have fun.” Isabella seems to appear magically in the doorway. She crosses her arms over her chest, and there’s still something dark in her eyes.
Portia seems to realize that there’s something up. “I’ll take this to the girls.”
The second she leaves the room, I can feel the awkwardness setting in.
“Who did you sleep with last night? Nikhil or Cassius?”
I swallow, averting my gaze, my mind trying to come up with a response.
She snorts and shakes her head. “Both?”
“Isabella, I’m so sorry,” I blurt out, unable to hold back any longer. “I didn’t mean to cross a line…”
“You didn’t,” Isabella replies gently, her expression softening. “You haven’t done anything wrong. In fact, I’m glad you’re here with us.”
“Really?” Relief washes over me, though I still can’t shake the sensation that I’m walking on eggshells around her. “Because it doesn’t really feel like that’s how you feel.”
“I just don’t want you to get yourself into any problems. My brothers…they’re complicated people. And you’re not just messing around with one of them. I want you to know what you’re doing.”
I swallow and grab a mug from the cupboard before pouring myself a mug from the coffee pot that Portia has beside the stove. “Honestly, I don’t have a clue what I’m doing.” I sigh and bring the mug to my lips.
“I’m scared for you,” Isabella admits.
“Should I be scared?”
“Not like that.” She shrugs. “My brothers aren’t bad people. They do bad things sometimes, but so does everyone else. They don’t hide who they really are. But, they love just like everyone else, Annalise. You need to understand that.”
The word “love” seems so foreign when it’s in reference to the Volkov brothers. But, like Isabella said, they’re just people too.
Her words stir something within me, a sliver of hope that perhaps there’s more to these men than meets the eye. The conflicting feelings inside me begin to shift, ever so slightly, toward understanding.
“You’re Volkov royalty,” Isabella says, looking at me seriously. “They’ll protect you with their lives, and you’re getting closer and closer to them. If you don’t want this life…can’t stomach that sometimes they do bad things…then get out now while you still can.”
I realize what this conversation is. It’s more than just Isabella warning me. She’s looking out for her brothers…making sure that I won’t hurt them.
It’s a weird thought…that I could do damage to the Volkov brothers.
“Wow, that was a lot to unload on you.” Isabella straightens her back, her usual playful expression finding its way back to her face. “You should go and use the pool today. The weather’s great.”
“There’s a pool?” I frown.
