Page 103 of Bought to Bear Bratva Heir

Too fucking long, and I missed it.

"Is that so?" I teased.

Ilya's eyes darkened. "Oh, it’s so. Just—"

At that second, our heated silence was shattered by a loud whoop and the sound of our son's laughter.

"Mama, Papa!" he yelled up, his voice full of joy. "Come and see what I can do."

We paused, staring at each other until I broke the spell and giggled. "Rain check?"

Ilya nodded once. "Oh, definitely rain check. The moment the kids go to sleep, you are mine to please, Mrs. Popovitch."

Grinning, I giggled. "I look forward to it, Mr. Popovitch."

It didn’t happen. Not that night and not the night after that, either.

In fact, the kids kept us so busy that two weeks went by, which meant it was thirteen weeks since I had given birth. Over three months since I had felt my husband's hands on my body.

In all other ways, he was as attentive as ever, maybe even more so. Nothing was ever too much trouble, and he made me feel beautiful and wanted as often as he could.

Life was blissfully good.

But I missed my husband. I missed the way he dominated my body, and I was tired of waiting.

Looking up from my empty plate, I found him staring at me from across the table. Sara had taken the kids upstairs a few minutes ago. Usually, one of us did the bedtime routine, but tonight I’d asked her to do it. She had nodded with understanding and said not to worry. She would get up with Rosie tonight so we could have some alone time.

"Is everything okay?" Ilya asked, surveying my face before dropping his eyes to where I was twisting the napkin nervously in my hands.

I didn’t even know why I was nervous. I’d initiated sex before. Lots of times, in fact, but suddenly I was. Maybe it was because my body had changed.

What if he turned me down?

What if he was repulsed by my stripe-covered, soft stomach?

"Yeah." I forced myself to smile, hoping that it was charming and seductive. Trying to play the part of sex kitten was harder than ever, especially when I had baby spit-up on my blouse. "I think." I ran my tongue over my bottom lip, and Ilya followed the movement hungrily. His eyes darkened with a need that mirrored what I was feeling.

"I think I might have an early night." I prayed he got what I was saying. After all, there was only one real reason I would be suggesting an early night.

A line appeared between his dark eyebrows as his face creased with concern. "Are you not feeling well?"

I sighed with a roll of my eyes. Lord Jesus, men were clueless.

"I’m feeling great. I just thought we," I stressed the word we, "might have an early night."

I waited for him to click on to what I was saying.

"I would love to, but—" standing up, he rounded the table and pressed his lips to my temple. I stiffened, not liking the sound of that at all.

"I have some calls to make this evening." Again he brushed his lips against my skin. "But I’ll come up as soon as I can. Promise."

I sat there as he walked away. My own feelings at war with each other. Either Ilya was completely clueless to the very clear signs I was giving him, or he really didn’t find me attractive.

Only he did find me sexy still. I knew he did. And he never hesitated to telling me he loved me. Which meant something else was happening here.

Of course, it could just be because we were new parents. But I wasn’t going to allow the fact that we had children to change our relationship.

Taking a deep breath, I pushed away from the chair and headed up to our bedroom, an idea already forming in my head.