Page 34 of Forced By the Bratva King
“Four.” Zoya giggled innocently.
“Hmm.” I inhaled the aroma of Sierra’s baked goods. “It smells good.”
Sierra smiled broadly. “You think so?”
I stared into her eyes, and in mine, she got her reply. She was beautiful, and I was tempted to rip her clothes off right there and then. But a kid was present. I’d have to wait.
“Just kiss already. I know you want to!” Zoya blurted out.
We laughed, and Sierra asked me, “Wanna taste it?”
“Yes, I’d love to,” I replied.
She cut out a slice of chocolate cake and slowly pushed it toward me, though I noticed how she herself didn’t seem to be eating any. Zoya had already started scarfing down a piece.
I took a bite and munched it, savoring the incredible flavor on my tongue. It was rich and decadent; tangy cocoa mixed witha sweet filling, leaving the cake rich and moist. “Hmm. This is good. This isreallygood.”
“You like?” She fixed her eyes on me, watching my reaction.
“Best I’ve ever tasted,” I confessed, giving her a thumbs-up gesture. “Where did you learn to bake?”
Her face lit up—lips pulling into a smile and eyes brightening—and I could tell my comment meant a lot to her. She was good at this, so it was well deserved.
“When I was a kid, I used to watch my mom bake for my stepdad. Guess I sorta picked it up from there,” she replied, gazing off a bit, as if looking into the past.
“Stepdad?” I asked, frowning. “What about your real dad?”
She was quiet for a moment, and I felt I may have overstepped.
Not wanting to undo any of our progress, I said, “I didn’t mean to pry—”
“No, no, no, it’s fine,” she cut me off. “We just don’t speak about him often.”
I didn’t want anything to ruin this blissful moment, so I changed the subject to a less gloomy one. We spent the next few minutes chattering on neutral ground. I tried my best to crack them up with some jokes, but unfortunately, my failed attempts were the primary source of their laughter.
Sierra had never been happier since she got here, and it pleased me to see her in this state—playful and cheerful. Each time she looked at me, there was a glint of something in her eyes that hadn’t been there before. I recognized that look, having once seen it through the bright eyes of another woman. It was love. As faint as it was, it was there.
Chapter 13 – Sierra
These past few days had been full of bliss—just joy and happiness. Zoya’s stay with us had its benefits; she’d helped me see a side of Artem that was surprisingly cool. I wished that she could stay longer, but sadly, she couldn’t; her parents had returned from their trip.
I’d grown fond of this smart four-year-old with a sharp mouth and a brilliant mind. Zoya was more mature than I was when I was her age, and that, amongst the numerous other qualities she possessed, was the reason I connected with her.
She was an amazing little girl with a beautiful soul, lovable with a kind heart, and had an adorable pair of blue eyes. Having her around made me wish for a second that I was her mother. I’d always loved kids, and now, being Zoya’s babysitter had opened my eyes to the concept of motherhood. I’d realized that in the not-so-distant future, I would become a Mom myself.
Shit.
As great as that should seem, it scared the living daylights out of me. I didn’t think that I was ready to be a mother just yet.
I shook my head, brushing off the thoughts that were gradually creeping in before they could settle in my mind. I was dealing with a lot already, and the last thing I needed was another depressing possibility weighing me down.
“Pass me the salt, please,” Frank said to Zoya.
His words drew my attention back to the dinner table, where my husband and I were seated side by side. Across from us, Kara and her husband sat beside each other with their little girl close by. The air was filled with the delicious aroma of roasted chicken and the sweetness of caramelized onions. The table was set with truffle mac and cheese, filet mignon, and roasted vegetables.
Zoya passed him the salt. “Here you go, Dad.”
“Thanks, sweetheart.” He smiled at her.