Red Reaper - Soldiers of Fortune [book one]

Chapter TWO

Lucky O'Cléirigh

"Hiya.." I manage to squeak out, feeling the shame of my past behaviour burning me up all over again.. Especially now, under his gorgeous golden-eyed gaze, standing here at the church altar, the temperature is up and beneath my clothes it's hotter than hell!

"You are looking vury beautiful today, Malishka.." He smiles at me and calls me 'Malishka', something that is undoubtedly lovely and even though I don't understand that delicious foreign language he speaks, it still makes my knees wobble..

Maybe I should learn to speak Russian?

I can already speak Gaelic, French and English.. Maybe Russian would come in handy..
Or maybe I just want to be able to know the meaning of absolutely everything he says..

Oh, heaven help me.. He is magnificent.. I am in danger.

"Oh--me? Thank you.. You look--um-- that's a nice suit.." I force the compliment out, fidgeting with the buttons on my camera, unable to maintain eye contact without blushing..

"Oh, hey Lucky, why doesn't Konnie just give you a ride back to the apartment, he's joining us for dinner too.. Did I forget to mention that?" Kirby pipes up, disrupting my lusty daydreams..

"No, you definitely didn't mention it.." I turn to her with a face on fire, annoyed by what feels like an unwitting ambush..

Is this some kind of punishment for my absence at her last dinner party?

Tonight was supposed to be just family..

"You wouldn't mind, would you, Konstantin?" I glare at my sister as she makes it impossible for him to say no while she frowns at me in confusion..

Hunter nudges his wife with his elbow, displeased by her pushy behaviour and she turns to look at him with exasperation.. "What are you shoving me for?!" Hunter shakes his head at her and she rolls her eyes in return.. "It's not a big deal, Viking! Konnie doesn't mind, do you?"

"Nyet.. I do not." He replies with a courteous nod..

Kirby digs my grave even deeper and I am forced to give The Russian an out on her behalf.. "Oh, no, you really don't have to do that--"

But Konstantin doesn't give me much of a chance to protest.. "It would be my pleazure.." He smiles warmly, his amber eyes alight with amusement, as if he finds my squirming shame to be so funny..

Of course he does!

Last time we saw each other I had been a messy drunk making an idiot of myself.. I hardly think he would have forgotten my stumbling and slurring.. Or my desperate pass at pressing my lips to his..

"Great! So we'll meet you guys there! Lucky you have a key, just let yourself in, we're going to stop for baby supplies.." Kirby grabs her husband by the arm and her son by the hand leading them both off before I can object..