Alexandr's Reluctant Submissive by Ann Mayburn

embarrassing herself by the elevator dinging at their floor.
    Rya’s eyes were suspiciously wet as she wiped at their corners, and Dimitri’s face might as well have been carved from granite.
    Maks was waiting for them outside the elevator and she blushed when he winked at her, but was relieved that he wasn’t giving her that hot stare that made her antsy.
    Rya began to talk in a fast, excited voice. “Okay, so I wasn’t sure what to do for Tatiana’s room, but the girl is set for clothes for like the next ten years. I went shopping with Gia, that’s Ivan’s wife, and a couple of Alex’s cousins. Alex…well, Alex is the first one among our group of close friends to have a child so we might have gone a little crazy. Anything that you don’t want, please let me know, I won’t be offended if something isn’t to your or her taste. There are a couple shelters in the area that could use whatever you don’t like, so nothing will go to waste.”
    They reached a set of black double doors with curving steel handles and what looked like a thumb pad next to the door.
    Catching the direction of her gaze, Alex said, “We will set you up in the system later. Right now I want to show you our home.”
    To her surprise, Dimitri and Rya stayed in the hallway. With a small smile, Rya tugged on Dimitri’s hand. “Well, we’re going to, uh…do some stuff that we have to do. It’s been so nice meeting you, Jessica, and I cannot tell you how happy I am that you and Alex are back together.”
    “Thank you.” She barely got the words out before Dimitri snatched her up into another huge hug.
    He released her then pressed a kiss to her cheek. “Do you think I could meet my niece tomorrow?”
    “Only if she’s not too tired,” Rya quickly added. “I know how cranky kids can get during travel and she’ll probably be wiped out.”
    “I think she would love to meet you, but Rya’s correct, she might need a day to settle in after all the excitement.”
    Alex began to slowly close the door. “Goodbye, Dimitri. I need to make love to my wife, so fuck off.”
    It shut on their laughing faces while she turned to scold Alex. “That was rude.”
    The words died in her mouth as she caught sight of the short double staircase leading up to what looked like a huge sitting area with an amazing view of Moscow through the floor-to-ceiling windows. One wall was dominated by a large bar with elegant white cloth and black wood chairs, along with two huge and comfortable-looking sofas, which had been set up on a giant Persian carpet. The sitting area was separated by some neat-looking curved black coffee tables inlaid with strips of white. The room managed to somehow be modern and inviting, something probably achieved with the help of a killer interior designer and an unlimited budget.
    “Holy moly,” she murmured and held Alex’s hand, pulling him with her as she walked up the stairs, taking in the artwork tastefully adorning the open space, the sculptures on the low coffee tables, and all the delicate things an active little girl would accidentally destroy.
    She bit her lower lip, trying to figure out how to approach the need to child-proof his home.
    “Alex, this is all so beautiful, but…”
    “You do not like? We have other options if this does not please you.”
    She turned to find him studying her and knew she was doing a shitty job of hiding her apprehension. “No, no, it’s magnificent. It’s just that there are so many…fragile things. I-I’m afraid Tatiana might break them. I’d try and keep her out of this room, but there really isn’t anywhere to put a baby gate on those big stairs.”
    He took a step closer, crowding her with his body. Alex was like a massive tiger, all muscle and bulky grace. He gently cupped her face then rubbed his firm lips against hers. “I will have anything removed that could be a danger to her. I do not give a shit if she destroys every inch of this home, it is just things, but I do not want