Seth's Cravings: An Endless Series: Book 2 (34 page)

     This was going to take some thought.

∞                   
∞                    ∞

     Nadia opened the door wearing a fucking skirt…a fucking
skirt.

     I groaned inwardly. There was no fucking way I was
going to be able to keep my hands from slipping under that thing throughout the
night. The skirt was black and white, and looked like bandana print, and on top
she sported a black camisole—which outlined her pert breasts beautifully—with a
white short sleeved long thin sweater that hung open. Her legs were sleek and
creamy, and bare.

     My dick that had started to swell at the first sight of
her was full blown hard at the end of my perusal.

     “Damn, Nadia. You look…amazing.” I said it softly
knowing Issy could be near.

     Nadia blushed. I loved that. She controlled her
emotions so tightly that I wasn’t able to get one from her too often. She waved
me in and I stepped in closing the door behind me. Luka and Issy were lounging
in the living room and they gave me a wave.

     “Hi Seth,” they both chorused.

     “Hey you two. Got a big party planned while I steal
your sister away for the night?” I asked toeing off my shoes.  

     Issy giggled.

     “Nadia cut me off at thirty people. That’s not a party.
That’s only a get together.” Luka grumbled with a comical brow raise.

     “Sisters” I shook my head in mock disgust.

     Luka threw up his arms in exaggeration. “I know. Thirty
people won’t even make bus fodder.”

     “I told him he could dust off the karaoke machine; that
should at least get him locker room gossip.” Nadia said moving into the
kitchen. My gaze was glued to her ass as it twitched back and forth under the
material of her skirt, and those legs of hers…I’d never seen a better pair
outside of an airbrushed magazine picture.

     I forcibly pulled my eyes away and lucked out that
neither Issy nor Luka saw where my gaze had been. I was also in luck that the
bag I carried covered my hard-on.

     “What’s in the bag, Seth?” Issy asked leaning forward
in her seat, eyes curious.

     “Your sister challenged me this morning on what I could
find for a first date present. So this is what I’ve brought.”

     “Oooh, Nadezhda. Open it.” Issy bounced in her seat in
excitement.

     Nadia came back into the living room carrying her purse
looking just as curious. I moved behind the couch to hide my erection and set
the bag on the couch next to Issy. Nadia sat down beside it placing her purse
on the table. Luka turned on the floor to get a better look.

     Reaching into the bag she pulled out a loaf of bread,
cranberry jelly, turkey meat, and a jar of sweet pickles, setting each one on
the table in front of her. Issy and Luka looked at the paraphernalia in
puzzlement. Nadia burst out laughing.

     She looked up at me with astonished amusement in her
eyes. “My favorite sandwich. You remembered.”

     “Of course.” I replied with a smile.

     Her face and smile softened. “That’s…sweet. Thank you.”

     My heart thumped hard at that smile. I’d been waiting
to see that one directed at me. “Your welcome.”

     “You got Nadia stuff to make her favorite sandwich.”
Issy gave me a disappointed look. “That’s doesn’t seem like a really good
present. Nadia has all that stuff already.”

     Uh oh. I think I was losing a fan.

     Nadia leaned over and tickled Issy making her laugh.
“It’s the perfect present. I gave Seth a challenge and he passed it by
remembering my favorite sandwich. There’s nothing more astonishing than when a
man remembers something important about you.”

     “I take exception to that remark.” I grunted while
smiling inwardly at her jab.

     “I should hope so,” Nadia stood facing me with a clear
twinkle in her eye. “If you didn’t than I would have said you aren’t as smart
as I thought you were.”

     I shook my head; I loved how she was so quick with her
witticisms. “I’m way smarter than you think I am.”

     “As your brother I take double exception to that.” Luka
spoke up in disgruntlement.

     “You have no call to take exception to anything I say.
I wash your underwear.” Nadia retorted moving to the door to put on her sandals.
 

     “Burn.” I laughed moving with her and stepping into my
shoes. I couldn’t stop my eyes from ogling Nadia’s legs as she bent and slipped
on each sandal.  

     “Whatever. I’ve washed yours too.” He argued.

     “Dumping clothes into the washer and the dryer, and
then unloading them onto my bed doesn’t count. You barely touched the clothes.
You only had a paltry association with them.”

     I chuckled harder at that remark. “Better stop while
you’re ahead, Luka. Pretty soon she’s going to be talking about your bare
bottom years.”

     Issy giggled as Luka sprawled out on the floor is
defeat.

     Nadia straightened. “Make sure this door is locked
behind me and stays locked. Call me if there are any problems.
Ya tebya
lyublyu
.” She reached for the door knob but I already had it in hand,
opening it for her. She walked through and I received a whiff of the light
citrusy scent that regularly surrounded her. The smell heated my blood.  

     We made our way to my truck where I helped her in,
quickly closing the door when she was settled. If I’d stayed near her for long I
wouldn’t have been able to control myself, just watching her climb in and
seeing all that accessible skin had tested my restraint.

     “So where are we going, you never got back to me?”
Nadia asked as I climbed in.

     I noticed that she was leaning forward in keen interest,
an eager light in her eyes. I was thrilled that she was showing anticipation
for the night. For some reason I was slightly nervous, and anxious for her to
enjoy the evening. All our other nights had revolved around her schedule, so I
considered this my night to show her a good time.   

     “First we will be going out to dinner, and then we will
meet Nic and Carrie at the comedy club. After that I have a small surprise for
you.” Starting the truck I drove out of the parking lot.

     Her brow rose in interest as a small smile played
around her mouth. “Another surprise, huh.”

     “Do you like surprises?”  

     She laughed. “That question is too difficult to answer.
Surprises are hard to quantify until they are revealed. But I am a bit of a
gambler, so I’ll risk the consequences.”

     “Actually, I don’t think you are a gambler at heart.
You said yourself you only play if you can win. When you were losing that one night
you got out quickly.” I commented. “In fact, I think you’re one to evaluate
things carefully before jumping.”

     “Well, you can’t be too much of a gambler when you have
two other people depending on you.” Nadia declared.

     “It amazes me how well you’ve watched out for both of
them. Did you take guardianship over them as soon as you turned eighteen?”
Nadia had given me a lot of details on her life, but there was still many
details missing.

     “Pretty much. I’d been saving my money for two years
while apprenticing. Right before I graduated I began searching for an
apartment, and as soon as I received that slip of paper I informed
our
relatives
of my decision.” The way she said ‘our relatives’ told me she did
not hold them in high regard. I don’t know how any relatives of hers, or Luka
and Issy, couldn’t love them. They were great.

     “So they didn’t kick you out?” I asked feeling the urge
to find these people and have a little talk with them.

     “No…but they were relieved to see us go.”

     “You haven’t had much luck with relatives, have you?” I
said trying for humor, but I wasn’t sure I pulled it off. Carrie had almost the
same problem with her relatives. They hadn’t supported her when she’d needed
it. Thankfully, her cousins Blake and Samantha had come forward in support when
they’d found out about her, reconnecting with her.  

     She huffed out a small laugh. “You get along with all
your relatives?” She rejoined.

     I snorted. “No.” I stated emphatically. “But I would think
I could depend on them to help me out when needed.” 

     “They did help us out. They had the option to refuse to
take us in at all.” She made a slight scoffing noise and I sensed that it had
been a near thing…them refusing.

     “Who were these relatives; cousins, aunts, uncles?”

     She paused before answering. “No, our…grandparents.”

     I frowned. It was hard to believe that grandparents
wouldn’t help their own grandchildren, unless they just didn’t have the funds
to take care of them. On the other hand I sensed that Nadia seemed to have a
problem with her father. Perhaps this extended to his parents as well. It might
also have something to do with her not carrying her father’s name. Had her
parents not been married? Was she resentful of her father because of that? So
many questions.

     “So, where are we going for dinner? I’m starving.”
Nadia exclaimed.

     She was changing the subject just like she had last
time we got near to discussing her father giving credence to my suspicions. I
wasn’t going to make her talk about it tonight because I didn’t want to put a
downer on our first date, but I really wanted her to trust me enough to reveal
some of her secrets to me.

     There was this deep seated need inside of me that had
to have her trust. Something I’ve never needed from anyone else in my life.

     Reaching over I took her hand in mine.

Chapter Twenty-One

NADIA

     It was nice holding Seth’s hand, especially as my
emotions boiled at the thought of my father. My feelings for him were all over
the place. For thirteen years he’d been the light of my life, and then he’d
died and my eyes had been opened to a new side of him. He hadn’t been what I
thought he was. He had deceived us all.

     I’d told Seth that I had trust issues, and the reason I
did lay at my father’s feet. Having someone so important in your life lie to
you for years was bound to leave a mark…and left over issues.

     “The restaurant’s right up her.” Seth said responding
to my question.

     Driving another two hundred feet he pulled into the
parking lot of a restaurant called
DMITRII’S
. I smiled at seeing the
name delighted that he’d made an effort choosing the restaurant, just like he’d
taken special care choosing my gift.

     “You put some thought into tonight for something we
just decided to do this morning.” I commented.

     He squeezed my hand before releasing it to park the
truck. “I told you that you deserve special wooing. And we may have just
decided this morning, but I’ve been looking forward to it for two weeks.”

     My heart swelled at his words warning me that I was in
imminent danger of succumbing wholly to his charm. The man already held too
much sway over me, any more would be lethal.

     I had a great time at dinner. For so long my dinner dates
consisted of Issy and Luka, it was nice to dress up and go out with someone my
own age…someone that I was really starting to like a lot. Actually,
like
seemed tepid to what I was experiencing.  

     I’d never been to this restaurant before and while Seth
stuck with steak for his meal, I ordered several small side dishes just so he
could taste some authentic Russian cuisine. Or conversation revolved around
daily activities; his classes, my work, and the upcoming lacrosse
season…something I’d wanted to learn more about.

     I knew a little bit about the sport from a quick
internet search, but Luka was the one who’d done a more in-depth search on Seth.
He’d found out that Seth was one of the top defensemen in the Division One
League, but Seth informed me that while he loved lacrosse it wasn’t a career
sport. You could make money at it, but only around twenty thousand a year.

     After dinner Seth drove us to the comedy club where we
were to meet up with Nic and Carrie. As Seth helped me from the truck his hand
settled on my lower back near the curve of my butt subtly caressing and
squeezed my flesh. All my girly parts zinged in pleasure and I nearly stumbled
as my legs wobbled but Seth pulled me in snugly against his side saving me.   

     “Nadia, it’s so good to see you again.” Carrie
exclaimed with a smile when we walk up to the table.  

     Carrie had to be one of the sweetest girls I’d ever
met, and with how beautiful she was it made that fact a bit astonishing because
she didn’t seem to have a vain bone in her body.

     “Nadia,” Nic nodded in greeting. His smile was slightly
subdued and I wondered if he was holding a faint grudge because of Landon. 

     “
Privet.”
I responded with a return smile. Seth
slide into the booth and I scooted in next to him. Our hips bumped and I made
to move to give him more room but his hand landed on my bare knee holding me
there.

     “That means ‘hello’, right?” Carrie asked.

     “
Da
,”
I croaked.

     “I just love your accent. I would love to learn
different languages, but I just don’t have the time.” Her mouth twisted in
regret.

     “You’re young. You have lots of time if you still
wanted to later.” I stated.

     Seth’s hand moved inward and upward toward my inner
thigh. My breath caught at the same time my sex clenched and I slapped my hand
over his while staying focused on Carrie.