The last thing I wanted to do right now was talk Mila down from a fucking tree. She’d probably insult me before climbing higher, and if I had to touch her right now... Albert argued with Mila, who was clearly vehement about her conservationist efforts. After returning the bird to its nest, she began her descent back to earth. The relief was short-lived when, from ten feet aboveground, her grasp on the branch slipped. She slid a foot down the tree before she found purchase on another branch, and if I wasn’t mistaken, she laughed. Albert grabbed her ankle and tugged her down into his arms before setting her on solid ground. I watched Mila brush pine needles off her muddy coat. Give me a cold, dark cell occupied by five men who wanted to kill me, and I would make pancakes out of it. But give me that, and I didn’t know what else to do with it except fuck it. I’d yet to get there, so, admittedly, I was a little out of my element. My phone pinged, and, welcoming the distraction, I grabbed it to read the message. Nadia: I haven't seen you in so long. Don’t you miss me? I missed sex, that was for damn sure. Catching movement out of the corner of my eye, I lifted my gaze to see Pavel approach Mila. The kid rubbed the back of his neck and said something. It looked like he was trying out some English on her. It was probably awful. She would never tell him. Nadia: Come over tonight. I will make you dinner . . . and dessert. @ Me: Polina is a better cook. Nadia: Does she suck cock better too? Me: Give me a minute, and PII find out. I would never go there with my cook, but an irrational buzz played beneath my skin and spread further each second. Nadia: ® Nadia: What about your American? Does she know how to get you off as well as I do? My teeth clenched. I didn’t like Nadia even mentioning Mila. Nadia: I bet she doesn *t. Glancing up, I saw Pavel blush. The kid with an AK-47 slung to his chest.