Gleb has organized a private room on the pediatric floor of the hospital. I call my parents to tell them Kir has been admitted, reassuring them it's only a precaution. I try to believe that with every ounce of my being, but I'm so freaking worried. My baby is asleep, an IV in his little arm feeding him antibiotics and keeping him hydrated. My heart thuds so loud I'm sure the Beast can hear it.

He's worked out that Kir is his, I know he has. I saw it in his expression just before Dr. Hughes took out his stethoscope.

And I'd felt the blood drain from my face.

One of his security team is outside the door. Why else would he arrange for that unless he's put two and two together?

Gleb lowers his six feet plus frame into the armchair next to mine by Kir's bed and gets right to the point. "Why have you been keeping my son from me all this time?"

He leans toward me, and I recoil, trying to make myself as small as I can... maybe I can even disappear.

No such luck.

He places his hand on my arm, his touch so gentle it's like he's taking care not to hurt me; except, at the same time, I feel the firmness of his hold. I take in a shuddering breath. "I was scared."

"Of what?" He frowns.

"That you'd want to take Kir away from me." My eyes well up and a lone tear trickles down my cheek.

"Why the hell would I do that?" He reaches across with his finger and wipes the tear from my face.

So, I tell him.

Everything.

Taking deep breaths to stem my tears, I start with when I caught a chill after walking home in the rain that fateful night, explain how I missed the window of opportunity to take the pill, how I struggled at college, and eventually Kir's difficult birth and the aftermath. "I was afraid you'd use my melt-down against me," I sob.

"Jesus, Elousha, I'd never do anything like that."

I like it when he calls me by that name, I suddenly realize.

The word rolls off his tongue. Makes him seem less of a beast.

I stare at his beautiful lips, think about how warm they'd felt when we'd kissed the other night.

So much has happened since then.

"You're a powerful man, Gleb. You kill people, or at least get them killed." My voice sounds like it's on the verge of breaking. "I thought you wouldn't consider someone damaged like me worthy of being the mother of your son," I tell it like it is. "And I hated you because of what I let you do to me. It changed the course of my life."

His gaze roves over to Kir, and my own eyes snap to where his gaze has landed. "Do you regret having him?" he asks.

"No. How could I? I love him. He's everything to me." I speak the words slowly and firmly. "If you take him from me, I'll die."

He raises his palms. "How many times do I have to repeat that I'd never take Kir from you?"

I swallow hard.

Can I trust him?

As if in answer to my question he opens his arms. "Come here, Kiska."

I slide out of my chair and into his lap. After everything that has gone down today, I need to be held.

Held by him... the father of my son.

His lips find the sensitive spot behind my ear, and hot shivers roll through me as he comforts me. His breath feels like a warm soft breeze travelling down my body.

I run my hand over his dress shirt, tracing his muscular chest until I arrive at his abs. He stops me with a grunt, grabbing my wrist with his wide palm. "Careful," he whispers.

I let out a gasp as my fingers touch something.

Something cold, hard and deadly.

Holy shit, a freaking gun.

My heart pounds. I squirm away from him and climb out of his lap.

Before I can say anything, there's a sound at the door.

A middle-aged nurse comes into the room. "I'm here to check Kir's temperature," she says, smiling.

My pulse races and my stomach churns. Dear God, please let him be alright.

I sense Gleb's eyes on me, heating my back. I swivel around and meet his gaze, discerning the worry in his electrifying irises.

He cares about his son.

Gently, so as not to wake him, the nurse takes Kir's temperature. She stares at the thermometer after removing it. "Right back down to normal," she says brightly. "He's out of danger."

Relief spirals through me, tears of happiness trickling down my cheeks.

In a beat, I'm in Gleb's arms, and he's lifted me up to kiss me and spin me around.

"You both look exhausted." The nurse's face is lit with a smile. "Why don't you go down to the cafeteria and get some coffee? I'll sit with Kir until you return."

Gleb thanks her and pulls me through the door into the empty corridor. He tells his boyevik to go into the room and keep an eye on our son, then bends and kisses me again, hot wet kisses, his tongue chasing mine. He lifts me, and I wrap my legs around his waist.

He walks us backwards toward a door, reaches behind and tries the handle; it opens into a narrow utility room, with a sink at the end.

"Perfect," he grins wolfishly, setting me down on the linoleum floor. "We can have a private moment together."

He goes to turn the key then comes toward me, pacing like a panther after its prey. I feel the heat of his body, even though we aren't touching.

Yet.

Maybe knowing Kir is okay has let down my defenses.

Who are you kidding, I tell myself.

It's lust. Pure and simple.

Warmth floods through me, rippling down my lower belly to the spot between my legs. My breathing grows heavy.

I'm on fire for him, but at the same time I'm struggling with my feelings.

This shouldn't be happening.

It's dangerous.

He's dangerous.

We should be talking, not having sex. Except, I don't want to talk to him. Not yet. I'm still scared he'll want Kir all for himself.

"Face away from me," he grunts. "Hold onto the counter."

I can only obey.

His hot breath on the back of my neck, he reaches around and unzips my jeans. Down they come, and then my panties. I step out of them.

I'm naked apart from my Keds and sweater. The latter doesn't stay on me for long. "Lift your arms," he commands. His warm fingers trail down my spine and a shiver of want moves over my skin.

"Spread your legs. Bend forward. Ass in the air."

I do as he asks, my heart beating furiously against my ribs.

"Just a second," he says gruffly.

I hear a click and catch sight of his gun being placed on the counter next to me. With a thud, his holster drops to the floor.

Oh, God ...

His hand comes around and lifts my right bra cup, pinching and tugging on my nipple.

"Tell me to stop, Kiska, and I will."

"Don't stop," I hiss.

I must be crazy, certifiable in fact, but I can't help myself. Anything to delay the moment of reckoning when he quizzes me about Kir. I arch my back toward Gleb.

"Good girl," he pulls me against his rock-hard chest, briefly touching his lips to the back of my neck.

I look over my shoulder. He's lowering himself on his knees behind me, spreading my legs wider with rough hands and running his tongue up and down my slit.

Moaning, I flutter my eyes and give myself over to the sensations. I've never had oral before; my one and only boyfriend wouldn't go down on me after I refused to do it to him.

Gleb presses his face into me, nuzzling me and breathing me in through his nose.

He's like an animal.

Suddenly, he turns me around to face him and looks up at me with lustful eyes. I meet his gaze and brush my fingers through his thick dark hair.

I can't believe this man, this beast of a man, is on his knees for me. He parts my slit with his thumbs and pushes his mouth into me. Then he licks inside me, his tongue darting in and out. "You're so wet for me, Elousha," his voice vibrates against my pussy, "delicious and tight."

He latches onto my clit and starts sucking hard, the pressure building until I'm moaning and fisting his hair, tugging at it and urging him on. He pumps his tongue, making my toes curl. I lean against the counter, my legs turning to Jell-O. He lifts one of my thighs over his shoulder, so he can go deeper. My vision clouds and I start shaking. "Please," I groan. "Please..."

He withdraws his head and stares up at me. "Please what?" His eyes glint.

"Please... please make me come."

"Since you beg so nicely, my sweet..."

With a grunt, he's on his feet, pulling me into him and trailing his hand down to my pussy. He presses one finger into me, his thumb circling my clit. "Ahh..."

Rubbing my wetness with his hand, he curls a second digit, swirling until he finds my spot. I clench against him and he picks up the pace. He raises me onto the counter, still with his fingers inside my sheath. He trails his mouth up my neck, biting and kissing and murmuring how I'm so sexy, how I'm his kitten, how beautiful I am when I give myself to him, how proud he is of me for birthing him a son.

Oh, Jesus, don't let him take Kir from me, I can't help thinking, even while his fingers twist and scissor, his thumb rubbing my clit. I close my eyes, focus on what he's doing. I'll deal with what happens next afterwards. Gasping, I start to come apart, an exquisite numbness making me lose control of my muscles as wave after wave of pleasure crashes through me.

With a grunt, he withdraws his fingers. He places them between his lips and sucks on them, sucks on my wetness, his blue eyes shining.

So freaking hot...

I shuffle to my feet, and he helps me into my clothes. I wonder if he wants me to get him off too, but he retrieves his gun and holster, and we sneak back out into the corridor like two naughty kids.

"I'll just go to the Gents," Gleb stares down at the bulge in his pants. "See you in a couple of minutes."

Back in Kir's room, his nurse smiles at me, tells me all is well. She hands me two blankets and shows me how to make the armchairs fold back.

"Did you enjoy that coffee?" she asks Gleb as he comes into the room.

"Delicious," he deadpans, and I feel my cheeks redden.

He sends his bodyguard back to corridor duty, and we stand next to each other by our baby's bed. Gleb takes my hand. "He's beautiful," he says. "I'll take care of him. I'll look after you both." He stares into my eyes. "Things are about to turn complicated, however." He squeezes my fingers, frowning. "We'll talk tomorrow." He presses a kiss to my forehead, then yawns. "In the meantime, we'd better try and get some sleep."

I think about the gun I saw earlier, and a lump blocks my throat. Gleb is a ruthless Vor and I'd sworn I wouldn't let him touch me again. Wouldn't let him wreak havoc with my life like he did two years ago. My traitorous body betrayed me; he's like an addiction.

My breath catches on a heavy sigh. Gleb is also the father of my baby and he clearly wants to be a part of Kir's life.

I never put his name on the birth certificate; he doesn't have any official rights.

Not that it would make any difference to him...

What did he mean by 'things are about to turn complicated'? Sudden doubt whirls through me and my chest is tight. What if he's messing with me? Pretending to care so he can take my baby away when my back is turned? I don't know Gleb at all. All I know is he has the reputation of being a beast.

Why should I trust him?

And yet... and yet, he appears trustworthy. He could have taken Kir from me tonight. He has a gun and people to do his dirty work; he could have had me dragged out of the hospital and sent away or even had me killed, but he didn't. Instead, he comforted me in his lap and then gave me release.

He appeared as happy as I was when we heard our son was going to be okay.

Surely that means his intentions are good?

I chew on my lip so hard I taste blood on my tongue.