The Enticing CEO’s Chosen Bride

No freaking way!

Nathan blinked. Pinching Anya’s chubby cheeks, he teased, “Come on, my little munchkin, flash me another smile.”

But Anya was having none of it at this point.

The little girl was at that age where she needed constant praise, and after Nathan had offhandedly called her ugly,

she was a mix of hurt, angry, and pouty. Smiling was the last thing on her mind.

With her lips pursed and brows furrowed, she twisted her little shoulders away, wanting nothing to do with Nathan.

“Hey, look at that temper,” Nathan chuckled, genuinely puzzled about who she might have gotten that from.d1

Yulia? He rarely, if ever, saw Yulia throw a tantrum. Thinking about it, Yulia seemed mostly well-behaved. But ever

since that Ronald started hogging the spotlight, he began to suspect that Yulia was not as innocent as she seemed.

Raising an eyebrow, Nathan scratched Anya’s chin playfully. “Are you going to smile or what?”

“Hmph, Nathan, you’re annoying.”

Nathan grinned, scooping Anya up in his arms. “If you won’t smile, then so be it. I don’t have much of a memory for

my brother’s grins anyway. I’ll ask him about it tomorrow.”

Carrying Anya out, they were met by Carly in the living room, who quickly said, “Dinner’s all warmed up. Should I

call Yulia to join us?”

Nathan hoisted a moody Anya onto his shoulder. “No need, I’ll bring something up to her in a bit.”

Anya, initially nervous high up on Nathan’s shoulder, clung to his head for dear life. Once she was sure he wouldn’t

drop her, her fears dissolved into giggles, the previous insult forgotten.

Carly watched Anya’s happiness spread and couldn’t help but smile with relief.

“I’ll go get ready then. Anya should be going to bed soon. You guys eat, and I’ll take care of her.”

Nathan nodded, and Anya, now addicted to the fun of riding on his neck, wriggled and laughed even more.

“You aiming for the stars or what?” He gripped her tightly, playfully swaying her back and forth, which made her

cling to him, laughing and screaming.

After a few minutes, Nathan’s feeling of unease grew. “All right, that’s enough. Time to get ready for bed.”

He set Anya down on the couch as Carly came out with a tray of food. Taking the tray from Carly, Nathan glanced

at Anya, who was now curled up in a ball on the couch. “Make sure you sleep tight, you hear?”

Anya pouted and huffed but said nothing.

Upstairs, Yulia was sprawled out in bed, too tired to move a muscle.

and build, was not a man to be trifled with. Too many times Yulia felt like he’d nearly

gentleness was something she wished she could teach

kick from an impatient foot. Yulia’s eyelids

her eyes.

the room, but she didn’t mind. However, she couldn’t ignore it when Nathan’s

enveloped her, and his kisses trapped her, his broad, warm palm sneaking under the

on her skin.

had to

his hand away and propped herself against his shoulder, catching her breath as

him.

lip and chuckled softly, “Don’t flatter yourself. Even if you wanted me

me.”

in a towel, and

with her on

Yulia saw the food on the coffee table, she remembered she hadn’t eaten at all. Now that food was in

conversation. Her stomach grumbled on

towel and tried to slide off his lap,

waist and he picked

“Stay put.”

“I’m hungry too. I want to

a bite and fed

and eventually

bite himself. After she finished, he fed

lots of food,

alternated between feeding himself and Yulia. Of course, he ate more, and

Yulia was full and refused more food, but Nathan stubbornly fed her a

before giving up.

some food in her, Yulia’s fatigue eased

bathroom, it was nearly dawn. The tiredness had subsided, but her

their toll. Once back in

been distracted all day. At the company, his

flooded with unread documents.

both body and mind relaxed and not wanting to leave the comfort

in mind, he tossed the phone aside, content

and drifted off

—

first, courtesy of her internal clock. She saw Nathan and

as she lay on

though he was crafted solely to

seemed almost gentle.

his features in the air, admiring the canvas that should rightfully be

just her. His beauty begged for exploration, but here

alone made the corners of her lips curve into a

be an innocent

Pfft.

into Yulia’s head unexpectedly, and she

up as soon

help but feel it had something

to stare at her, he saw that indeed,

early, huh? Dreaming up some R-rated scenarios