Chapter 22

Juliette’s awe began as they traveled up the snow-covered drive to Nicholai’s home. The front yard boasted a beautiful fountain, dry for the winter, but Julie easily imagined the water flowing from the vase held by the statuesque lady. Her alabaster skin matched the two winged lions, made of marble, sitting guard at the base of the stairs to the home.

Neatly rowed windows surrounded the arched entryway on the plain but capacious brick mansion. Its brick exterior reminded her of her parents’ home, same color but many more bricks were needed to complete this grand estate. The plain exterior did not give away the surprises that awaited within.

Though not as opulent as Peterhof’s palace, Nicholai’s home spoke of wealth and aristocracy. Where the palace had had Midas’s touch, this home seemed tastefully decorated with gilded patrician furnishings scattered over priceless Persian carpets. Antiques abounded inside on the gilded mantels and large portraits hung in golden frames. The walls were lined with hand-painted silk upholstery, the ceiling trimmed with thick crown molding inlaid with gold leaf and the chandeliers dripped with crystals.

He’d brought her to the mansion this evening for their date, saying he had a surprise in store. The house alone had been enough of a surprise for Juliette. She could have spent hours roaming the rooms, learning the home’s secrets.

But the reading room, with its floor to ceiling bookshelves, became her favorite spot because it contained an attached conservatory. A fountain played soothing trickles of water in the middle. Lush green plants surrounded it on all sides, giving the illusion of summer as she spied a scalped hedge garden through the circular dome of windows. Julie imagined Nicholai in the leather chairs reading a first edition book as the fountain whispered peacefully in the background.

“Let’s skip the fourth floor,” Nicholai offered. “All the rooms on that floor are bedrooms, and we can save those for another day.” He winked.

Julie chuckled, and a blush heated her face at the innuendo.

They made their way to his spacious kitchen. Butterscotch and chestnut marble countertops complemented the maple cabinets that surrounded Julie. A wide island negated the need for the dinette set which sat in the corner.

“So what do you think of the house?” Nicholai glanced at Julie over his shoulder as he pulled the milk from the refrigerator.

“What can I say? It’s huge.”

“But do you like it?” he pushed, looking as if he needed her approval.

“Oh, yes! What’s not to love? It’s beautiful.”

Nicholai crossed the room, then took her hand and gave it a soft kiss. “Just like you, lastochka.”

“What does lastochka mean?”

“Lastochka means darling. Literally translated, it means little swallow. I find it a particularly apt term to express my feelings for you.”

“Speaking of translating, I believe you said you would tell me what ya tebya lyublyu means, but you never did.”

“That translation is for another day, lastochka. But I promise that day will come soon.”

Nicholai stared into Juliette’s eyes when he spoke, and she fell into his deep gaze. She could get lost in him, lost in his strong arms, his sweet words.

Nicholai pulled a pot from the cabinet beside the stainless steel stove, then poured in some milk.

“What are you doing?”

“Making hot chocolate.”

“From scratch?” She did not keep the astonished expression from her face.

“Do not look so surprised. Some men can cook you know.”

“You can cook, too?” She feigned her surprise this time by widening her honey-colored eyes and placing a hand over her heart. “Why, Mr. Peterhof, you are full of surprises aren’t you?”

When Julie giggled, she barely heard Nicholai murmur, “You have no idea.”

A sensual smile spread across his lips in response to her teasing. He turned to her with something akin to love sparkling in his eyes. The look of adoration on his handsome face threatened to collapse Julie’s knees from under her.

“Would you mind handing me the cocoa? It’s in the cabinet behind you.” Nicholai gestured toward the cabinet with his head.

Julie spun around. The movement splayed her brunette hair about her shoulders. “This one?” she inquired, touching one of the maple cabinets.

Her date paused his stirring to glance her way. “Un-huh, that is the one.”

She pulled the dark cabinet open and scanned the containers inside. She read the Russian word for chocolate, one of the few words she read in the language. The irony she read the word for her arch nemesis in the struggle with her weight did not escape her.

“This it?” Julie produced the metal container with a wry smile on her lips.

“That is it. Thanks.” He turned his attention back to the pot of warm milk.

Juliette tried to be helpful by opening the container. Finding the lid on tight, she gave a hard tug. When the lid let go, powdered chocolate arched into the air. It fell to floor coating Julie in the process with the delicious confection. Her eyes went wide with shock when the powdery dust covered her.

Her gasp drew Nicholai’s attention from his task. His humorous smile reached his eyes, making them gleam like stars reflecting in the sea. A deep chuckle reverberated from his chest, his muscles rippled beneath his black turtleneck. Her pulse raced, stomach knotted.

Nicholai’s eyes intensified as if he realized she appreciated the view. Heat coiled its way through her blood, warmed her. A flame of desire danced throughout her body.

“Let me get that for you,” Nicholai said in a husky voice, grabbing a dish towel.

When he brushed the brown powder, the aroma of chocolate surrounded them. He started at the top with her hair, smoothing the towel along her brunette strands softly before moving to caress her face. Each stroke of the towel sent a sensuous sensation rushing over her skin.

His gentle touch caressed like a lover. The butterflies in her stomach became hawks, beating their wings with such force it made her stomach list. Moist heat flooded her feminine core when his caress feathered down each of her cheeks. The pad of his thumb ran across her lower lip through the towel, pulled it down slightly to expose her perfect white teeth. The intimacy closed her eyes. As she sighed, her hot breath escaped over his thumb.

The towel continued down her neck, lingering over the pulse beating strongly at the base for a moment before it continued its way.

When Nicholai brushed the cocoa that had nestled on her bosom, his light touches caused her nipples to tighten into tiny peaks. She hungered for him, the need made her arch into his touch. The slight movement broke the last of his will, and he locked his lips to hers in a crushing kiss.