Read Online Alexandr's Cherished Submissive by Ann Mayburn - Free Book Online

decent used truck for my sixteenth birthday” She flushed and set the bottle down. “Though I’m sure, to you, we would be considered poor.”
    That offended him, even if it was probably true. “I think you were raised in love. That is without price.”
    Her eyes grew watery, and he sucked in a breath, wondering what he said to offend her. When she began to blink rapidly, she looked away, obviously struggling for composure. She fanned her face. “Yes, I was raised with love, and yes, I know how lucky I am to have had them in my life. Can we not talk about this right now, please?”
    The need to comfort her consumed him, but he managed not to reach for her. Sometimes, he forgot how young she was compared to him, how fragile. Not just in years but also in experience. Taking pity on her, he changed the subject before she burst out into tears. “Yes, we can talk about how Maks refuses to go shopping more than two hours a week.”
    “Pardon me?”
    “Maks is another of your bodyguards. He will be watching over you when I cannot along with your third primary bodyguard, Oleg. There will be other men coming and going to replace Maks and Oleg for two weeks at a time so they can go home and visit with their families.”
    “Oh, right. Three full-time bodyguards? Wow. That’s…ummm…well, tell them I’m not huge shopper, more of a wanderer, so they should be okay.”
    “Oleg, he will shop with you without complaint, but is only because he has been trained by his wife and daughters to endure it.”
    That made Jessica burst out laughing. “Oh dear.”
    “Yes, but when you see Oleg, you will know why no one teases him about his devotion to his women. Is large man.”
    “I bet they don’t.” She smiled, her earlier happiness returning easily.
    Alex was beginning to think she was one of those rare people who were easily pleased, and her default mode was cheerfulness. Not that he minded it. Her mood was contagious, and he found himself smiling more than he usually did. A soul as sweet as hers needed to be safeguarded against a world that would try to crush it like a butterfly. It would take a delicate touch to keep her safe without smothering her. Thankfully, he was here to do just that. A deep sense of expectation filled him, like he was about to embark on something important.
    He leaned against the counter, watching as she searched around for the shot glasses, giving him a nice profile view of her perfect breast pressing against the soft cotton. A natural beauty who did not need makeup and jewels to shine. Alex had almost kicked Gleb’s ass when he’d attempted to flirt with Jessica. Thankfully, Alex had kept his temper, because he had a feeling Jessica would not understand or condone them fighting until one of them was bloody.
    Faint warning bells rang in his head that he was becoming infatuated with her in a way that was far from professional, but he ignored them.
    She crossed the white tiles of the kitchen floor to him with two ruby shot glasses. Her lean hips swayed, and those fucking pants tormented him with hints of what she would look like naked. He wanted to rip the crotch open with his teeth and lick her pussy. He sucked in a slow breath through his nose and willed his erection to stand down. Just looking at her was as arousing as having his dick sucked by one of his random mistresses. The low lighting of her kitchen made her hair darken to almost a garnet tone, and her cornflower blue eyes mesmerized him.
    He had a feeling there were many layers to Jessica, and he looked forward to getting to know her. After all, he would be here for the next six months, studying with Peter and strengthening the Novikov Bratva’s presence in the British Isles. There was no reason he could not be friends with the girl.
    She handed him a shot glass then raised hers in a toast. “May the wind be always at your back.”
    “To new neighbors,” he replied, amused at the way she almost choked on her tequila.
    “Yeah, neighbors.”