Page 90 of Gilded in Blood

There’s a tenderness between us that wasn’t there before, a quiet intimacy that catches me off guard every time.

And with each passing day, I find myself falling even harder for him.

A few days later, I’m sitting at my desk, deeply focused on studying for my final presentation of the semester.

It’s based on a case study connected to one of my clients from the advocacy center. A woman who escaped a long-term abusive relationship and is now fighting for custody of her children.

I’ve been working on my slides, trying to make sure every point is clear, every piece of evidence is properly documented. This presentation could make or break my grade for the semester.

The door to my bedroom opens softly. I don’t even have to look up to know it’s Kirill. He walks in and wraps his arms around me from behind, pressing a kiss to the side of my neck, then my cheek, then my shoulder. His touch is warm and familiar, sending a little shiver down my spine.

“How’s studying going?” he murmurs against my skin.

“Very well,” I say, leaning back into him for a moment. “I think I’ve got most of it down.”

He kisses my shoulder again. “How about you take a break? Have some lunch. You can come back to it after.”

I glance at the clock and realize I’ve been at it for hours. “Yeah… I do need to stretch my legs a little.”

I get up from my seat, and he takes my hand, leading me to the living room. He’s already made sandwiches.

We sit down together at the island, and I take a bite, realizing how hungry I actually am.

“How's the presentation coming along?” He asks between bites.

I explain it to him, telling him about the case, the woman’s story, and how I’m trying to structure my slides to really highlight the psychological trauma and the legal steps she’s taking.

He listens carefully, asking questions here and there, genuinely interested. It feels nice, sharing this part of my life with him.

I go quiet for a moment, picking at the crust of my sandwich.

“What is it?” he asks.

I sigh. “I’m not sure. The last time I spoke to my professor, she said I might have to come back and make the presentation in person. I’ve been trying to talk to her and see if it can be done virtually like the rest of my classes. She said she’d get back to me. We have a meeting in an hour, so I’ll hear the verdict then.”

He nods slowly. “Okay.”

“If not, we might have to fly back to England.”

He frowns. “That’s risky. We can’t do that.”

I give him a small smile. “Fingers crossed I don’t have to.”

After lunch, I go back to studying. When the time for my meeting comes, I join the video call with my professor.

“I’m sorry, Milana. We can’t do your presentation virtually. You need to present it in person.”

I thank her and end the call, staring at my laptop screen for a long moment.

Now I have to find a way to convince my brothers to let me go. And somehow make sure it’s safe.

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

Milana

After a lot of convincing, and more than a few heated arguments, my brothers finally agreed. They let me go to England, but only for a few days.

Pop in, do my presentation, and pop right back out. No more than two, maybe three days at most. They made it very clear.