Page 122 of Scarred Ruin

He promptly placed his finger across my lips. “Shush. If you aren’t a very good girl, Santa won’t come down your chimney.”

“I think…” I started and he shoved his finger into my mouth.

“Open your gift, moya krasivaya, no ozornaya rozhdestvenskaya feya.”

“Not until you tell me what you called me.” When he grinned, I offered my version of his growl, deep and husky. Hearing his laugh brought another sense of relief.

“I called you my beautiful but naughty Christmas fairy. Open your gift.”

He flopped down on the couch while I glared at him before tugging at the ribbon, stopping just as it fell away. “Sweet Mina finally showed me a picture of your wife. It was hidden in her nightstand.”

I expected him to bristle. Instead, he took a deep breath. “I’ve never hidden pictures of her mother from Mina. I just find having them out in the open painful.”

“I’m not criticizing, Maxsim. I can feel your pain even now. I wish I could take it away, but handling death is so different for everyone. For me, the cycle is never ending.”

“Your sister.”

“And my mother.”

“What about your father?”

His question was the same one I’d grappled with for years. “I don’t expect you’d understand and honestly, I don’t want to talk about it, but I was never close to my father. He was always working and even when he was home, he was either too busy to deal with his children or was angry all the time. When I was sent away to school, everything changed. The few times I was home I didn’t even recognize him. When he died, I felt a sense of… relief. Isn’t that horrible?”

When Maxsim didn’t respond right away, I found the courage to look him in the eyes. “Blood doesn’t mean a family is happy or healthy, Isabel. That’s why often found families or those created from tragedies and the desire for something different are so much stronger. My father was also a busy man, but I will say he took time to be with family. Even if at times my brother and I wished he’d go anywhere else.” He chuckled. “Don’t you have another sister?”

“Yes, well, Genevieve and I haven’t spoken in years. We are twins yet are nothing alike and she blamed me for just about everything that happened in our family. Including our mother’s suicide. I finally had enough and walked away from the toxicity.”

He absently stroked my arm, the light caress as surprising as I’d found the man in the beginning. “Family can be toxic, but I firmly believe if there is no one else to turn to, blood can mean the difference between life and death.”

I studied his eyes, realizing whatever he was telling me was very personal. I stroked his cheek in return, finally laughing softly. “Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that. I don’t think Genevieve would lift a finger to help me. Anyway, remember that even though Mina never knew her mother, in Mina’s heart she is still missing the gift taken from her.”

His deep breath held an agonizing sound. “You’re right. I’ll do a better job of letting her know more about her mother. Now, if you don’t open your present, I will punish you.”

“Oh, such encouragement.” I playfully punched him in the gut before returning my attention to the package. As soon as I opened the lid, I groaned.

“You don’t like it.” Not a question but a statement.

“Are you kidding me? A ruby and diamond tennis bracelet? It’s gorgeous, but you don’t have to buy me anything.” But I had to admit the piece of jewelry was freaking gorgeous. Enough so I clambered into his lap, straddling his legs. “You didn’t need to.”

“Yes, I did, Isabel. I always want to make every holiday very special.”

I fingered the jewels in the box before placing the incredible gift beside me on the couch. He was trying very hard to move past barriers that I’d created, walls to try to protect me. From him, his life or from myself? I wasn’t certain, but I was still holding back. I could feel that more now than before.

“I don’t need gifts for you to be able to do that.” I placed one arm over his shoulder then slid my other down his chest.

“Oh, yeah? What do you need?”

When I lifted my pelvis, he didn’t argue with me or try to stop what I was doing. I was direct and without taking any extra time unfastened his belt and jeans. When I slipped back onto his knees, he laughed softly as if just realizing what I was doing.

“You are such a…”

“Very bad girl?” I answered for him.

“Very much so.”

“Yes, but that’s what you need to keep you in line.” I tugged on the dense material until I was able to free his cock. While I was sliding the damp lace of my thong to the side, he was shaking his head while lust pooled in his eyes.

“What I need is you.”