"It's a long story, sweetheart."
One side of her mouth lifted with amusement at his pet name. He expected her to verbally smack him for calling her sweetheart, but she let it go. Giving his chest a gentle pat, she said, "Sergei, there are lines I don't cross. The mob? That's one of them." She backed into the entryway. "Good night, Sergei. Thank you for bringing me home."
"Anytime." He gestured toward her house. "The next time you need some work done, get my number from Vivian. I can send a crew out here."
She seemed surprised by his offer. "Thank you. I'll think about it."
She would think about it, but she wasn’t going to call. He sensed Bianca Bradshaw had a stubborn streak in her a mile wide.
"Night." She pushed the door closed.
"Good night, Bianca." He waited until he heard the locks engaging before returning to the idling SUV. Spotting Arty's sedan halfway down the block, he slid behind the wheel and ignored Vivian's curious stare. He didn't want to talk about his interest in her friend. She would probably have a list ten pages long about why it wouldn’t work. He was already working on a list eleven pages long about how it would.
Not an easily discouraged man, Sergei thought of Bianca as he navigated the slick Houston streets. She might have shot him down, but he had seen the interest in her gorgeous eyes. He had also caught a glimpse of something else in them—fear. There was a story there, something that made her afraid of getting involved with him, and he meant to uncover it.
Certain that Bianca was a special woman, the kind who came into a man's life once and only once, Sergei accepted the challenge of wooing her. It might take weeks or months, but he was determined to show her that he was worth more as a man than his criminal connections. She was worth the effort.
Turning down the street where Vivian's studio was located, Sergei let himself feel a bit of excitement before that hard, harsh mask he wore on the job was forced back into place. He had something new and wonderful in his life now, something clean and pure and not of this dark underworld he was forced to inhabit. He had a reason to fight his way out now, a woman who deserved a man she could be proud of on her arm.
Yes. Sergei suspected the coming year was going to be very interesting indeed.
You can read all about Sergei and Bianca in SERGEI (Her Russian Protector #5) available now in ebook and print. A sequel to their novel, SERGEI, Volume 2, will be released in Spring 2014.
Author's Closing Note
Thanks so much for reading A Very Russian Christmas. I hope you enjoyed revisiting old couples and discovering new ones. The next books in the series will release in 2014 and include two sequels—NIKOLAI, Volume 2 (Her Russian Protector #6) and SERGEI, Volume 2 (Her Russian Protector #5.5)—and KOSTYA (Her Russian Protector #7), ALEXEI (Her Russian Protector #8) and DANILA (Her Russian Protecor #9.)
You can check out my website, Facebook page or sign up for my newsletter for updates and notices on upcoming releases. I also offer Free Reads featuring couples from my books on my website.
About the Author
When I’m not chasing after my wild preschooler, I like to write super sexy romances and scorching hot erotica. I live in Texas with a husband who could easily snag a job as an extra on History Channel’s new Viking series and a sweet but rowdy four-year-old.
I also have another dirty-book writing alter ego, Lolita Lopez, who writes deliciously steamy tales for Ellora’s Cave, Forever Yours/Grand Central, Mischief/Harper Collins UK, Siren Publishing and Cleis Press.
You can find me online at www.roxierivera.com or www.roxieriverawriter.com.
Roxie's Backlist
Her Russian Protector Series
Ivan (Her Russian Protector #1)
Dimitri (Her Russian Protector #2)
Yuri (Her Russian Protector #3)
A Very Russian Christmas (Her Russian Protector #3.5)
Nikolai (Her Russian Protector #4)
Sergei (Her Russian Protector #5)
Sergei, Volume 2 (Her Russian Protector #5.5) – Coming Spring 2014
Nikolai, Volume 2 (Her Russian Protector #6) – Coming Spring 2014
Kostya (Her Russian Protector #7) – Coming Summer 2014
Alexei (Her Russian Protector #8) – Coming Summer 2014
Danila (Her Russian Protector #9) – Coming Fall 2014
The Fighting Connollys Series
In Kelly's Corner (Fighting Connollys #1)
In Jack's Arms (Fighting Connollys #2)—Coming January 2013!
In Finn's Heart (Fighting Connollys #3)—Coming April 2014!
Seduced By…
Seduced by the Loan Shark
Seduced by the Loan Shark 2—Coming Soon!
Seduced by the Congressman
Seduced by the Congressman 2
Erotica
Chance's Bad, Bad Girl
Halftime With Craig
Tease
Eddie's Cuffs 1
Eddie's Cuffs 2
Eddie's Cuffs 3
Disturbing the Peace
Quid Pro Quo
Search and Seizure
Copyright © 2013 by Roxie Rivera.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. For permission requests, write to the publisher, addressed “Attention: Permissions Coordinator,” at the address below.
Roxie Rivera/Night Works Books
3515-B Longmire Drive, #103
College Station, TX 77845
www.roxierivera.com
Publisher’s Note: This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are a product of the author’s imagination. Locales and public names are sometimes used for atmospheric purposes. Any resemblance to actual people, living or dead, or to businesses, companies, events, institutions, or locales is completely coincidental.
A Very Russian Christmas (Her Russian Protector, Book 3.5)/ Roxie Rivera. -- 1st ed.
ISBN 978-1-63042-004-8
Roxie Rivera, A Very Russian Christmas
(Series: Her Russian Protector # 3.50)
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