'Darling are you guys going to spend the weekend with me?' Fedor was packing away Rebecca's toys that she'd strewn about.
Olivia laughed. 'We seem to spend more time there, than we do here at our apartment,' she packed away the last of the dishes that she'd finished washing.
Fedor rose and walked to Olivia. He stood behind her, his arms circling her waist. 

'Move in with me,' his lips worried at her throat.

'No,' she sighed, enjoying his caress.
'Why not?' He demanded, turning her around to face him.
'Fedor, I don't want to argue with you again!'
'We're talking, not arguing,' he refuted, keeping her prisoner in his arms.
'Because,' Olivia laughed, pushing at his chest, until he released her. 'Sophie's here and Rebecca is comfortable with her routine here.'
'I do believe you are making excuses darling ' Fedor drew her into his arms again.
'I'm not,' she gazed into his eyes, wanting to escape, but equally, hungry for his love.
Fedor bent his head, his lips brushed hers tenderly. Her pelvis pressed into him. Her arms lifted, wrapping around his neck. Olivia's mouth opened, capturing his, her tongue seeking, possessing. Her lips caressed his throat, she whispered her intent, unbuttoning his shirt.

'No.'
'What!' She stepped back, searching his face. She knew he wanted her. The rock- hard evidence was inside his pants.
'We were talking,' he reminded her.
'And I said no! I thought our talking was over.'
Fedor lifted her into his arms and began walking to the sofa. 'Why did you stop kissing me?' She playfully slapped his chest.

Fedor laughed. 'I like kissing you. You know that, but I feel you're using sex to distract me.' He kissed her tenderly as he sat on the sofa, with her still in his arms.

She returned the kiss. 'I don't like talking to you. I prefer to kiss you.'

Fedor chuckled. 'My mouth is a package. It likes to talk as much as it likes kissing.'

'As long as it is only me, your mouth likes kissing,' her palm cupped his cheek. She bent her head to kiss him again.

Now,' he started, placing her a little away from his chest, so he could look into her eyes, whilst she was still on his lap. 'Yes it is only you I like kissing, but tell me what you are afraid of? Why are you refusing to move in with me? I know it has nothing to do with Rebecca, darling. Children adapt very quickly, as long as their basic needs are met. You know there is a beautiful garden. Rebecca will have the time of her life there. There are plenty of rooms, for you to choose any one to be our baby's playroom. And I have no problem with my daughter's toys all over the shore. You are the cleanliness freak,' he laughed. 'So out with it!' His eyes met hers squarely.

'She lowered her eyes, heaved a heavy breath. 'What happens when we break up? Then I will need to pack Rebecca up and move out and start again ___ without you. I don't know if I want to subject myself to that emotional trauma again. It took me many years to stop hurting, after we broke up the previous time.'

'You mean when you dumped me. Let's be clear, I wanted you in my life. You chose to cowardly sneak out without ___.'

'Yes. Yes. I dumped you. But I could not be your kept woman Fedor. You know no person enjoys the indignity of being at the financial mercy of another!'

'But you were my person darling. I am extremely wealthy. Money is not an issue to me. You saw that when we lively together, rather blissfully, I might add.'

She laughed softly, looking away. Fedor would never understand and he should be able to because he was a proud man. He would never be beholden to another. He would never allow others to do his bidding.

'Why can't you live here with us?' She demanded. 'If what you want is for Rebecca and I to be with you twenty-four seven, then move in with us.'

Fedor looked around at her micro apartment. She literally furnished it, to accommodate its matchbox size. And he detested her bathroom. They had showered together on a few occasions, after putting Rebecca to sleep, but Fedor had to brace himself in it, for it was tiny, designed to accommodate one user only at a time.

His home on the other hand was luxurious. It had six spacious bedrooms, each with their own ensuite. The garden was at least four times the size of Olivia's. The kitchen was a dream work space to any Michelin star chef. He had an expansive driveway and a garage to park four vehicles. When he visited Olivia either he was dropped off by his bodyguards, or he had to park at the communal parking bays, for Olivia had only the one garage which housed her car.

'Darling your home is comfortable,' he smiled. 'I like space. There is an abundance of that in my home.'

He could see her vacillate, could feel her insecurity, knew she was going to fight him and refuse to move in with him. He could feel it in his bones. He extended his forefinger under her chin, forcing her eyes to meet his.

'Marry me Olivia,'

'No! I ___.'

Fedor placed her rather unceremoniously on the sofa. 'The I have a proposition,' he stood up. 'Allow me to transfer the property into Rebecca's name. It will be placed in trust until she is eighteen. If you tire of me, or want me gone, I will move out, whenever you feel you do not want me in your life anymore. I will move out, no questions asked!'

She did not want to argue or fight with him. She liked living in her apartment. It gave her some control. She hated the uncertainty of just living with Fedor, just because he wanted access to Rebecca. Yes, they shared a powerful attraction. He was caring and sweet and attentive and amazing with Rebecca, but she wanted him to tell her that he loved her. And he needed to say so on his own volition.

'Let me leave, give you some time to think through what I said.' He picked up his jacket.

'No! Don't leave!' She was up in a flash. Her hands gripping his arms. Tears streamed unchecked down her cheeks. She bent her head, too afraid to speak. Fedor threw his hands in the air, confused.

'Stay with me tonight,' she whispered.

'Okay,' Fedor wrapped his arms around her. He pressed his lips to her temple.

She looked up, into his eyes and smiled. 'Thank you.'

Fedor nodded. His thumb gently padded away the tears.

'There are fresh clothes of yours here,' she smiled, wrapping her arms around his shoulder. Her fingers caressing the nerve end at the nape of his neck.

'I know,' he pressed his lips to hers, his arms tightening around her body.

'Fedor, I will think about moving in with you again.'

Fedor's eyes widened. He smiled. 'Thank you.'

'Now how about you take me to bed,' she whispered, her palms cupping his cheeks. 'and make love to me. It is what I want.'

He growled his pleasure, his mouth closing over hers, as he kissed her hungrily. He lifted her it his arms and carried her to bed. She giggled as he whispered naughtily in her ear.

A week later they were at Fedor's home. Rebecca wanted to swim. Olivia was fussing about putting on safety armbands for her baby.

Fedor laughed. 'I am going to be in the water. Why are you fussing? Rebecca's swimming coach is quite happy for her to be let loose ___.'

'Not let loose Fedor! Not ever. You will always make sure you or I are in the water with Rebecca. She is not allowed to be alone in the pool. Not ever!'

'Yes mum. Stop nagging! Just come into the pool as well.'

Olivia laughed. 'You guys are crazy. You know it's not that hot to be swimming.'

'The pool is heated. Come on! I know you have a bikini on under that dress.'

'How do you know that huh!'

'I saw you in the mirror as I was just innocently walking past.'

"'Innocently", right!'

Fedor lifted his baby into his arms and jumped into the water, holding tightly onto Rebecca. He carefully set her loose and grinned ecstatically as her tiny legs bobbed about in the water. She was using her arms instinctively to stay afloat.

'Look at that darling! Look at that,' Fedor beamed joyously.

'I see,' Olivia smiled proudly.

'I want you to come in,' Fedor ordered.

'Fine,' Olivia succumbed. She lifted her dress over her head and caught Fedor's hungry eyes, lustfully admiring her breasts, in her sky-blue bikini top. The matching blue briefs, adequately covered her shapely bottom. Olivia dived into the water, neatly landing between Fedor and their baby.

'Hey darling, you have fun?' Olivia smiled at Rebecca.

'I'm swimming mum.'

'You are,' Olivia laughed happily. 'You're doing great Rebecca.'

'Her dad is a good teacher,' Fedor wrapped his arms around Olivia's waist under the water. His thighs encircled her erotically.

'I thought it was her coach?' Olivia looked over her shoulder and kissed his lips.

'Her dad taught her some tricks,' Fedor grinned, keeping one eye on Rebecca.

'Ball dad, ball!' Rebecca pointed to the ball at the far end of the pool, instructing her father to fetch.

'Come to mum darling,' Olivia waved her hands encouragingly, as Rebecca's tiny body bobbed in the water, as she slowly reduced the space between herself and her mum.

'Made it mum,' Rebecca wrapped her tiny arms around Olivia's neck and her legs around Olivia' waist.

Olivia swam in a circular fashion, with Rebecca's arms still around her.

'There you go!' Fedor threw the huge ball towards Rebecca. She disentangled from her mum, and laughed, excitedly, as she followed the floating ball about.

'Throw to dad,' Fedor encouraged.

Rebecca aimed, but it didn't travel quite the distance. Olivia laughed, caught the ball and aimed it at Fedor's face.

'Oh we playing dirty now, are we?'

He playfully sent the ball towards Olivia, she quickly turned, it hit her smack on the shoulders. Olivia quickly picked it up, with one eye on Rebecca she hurled it backed to Fedor's face, but he ducked away in time. Fedor gently threw it so it made a soft landing on Rebecca's head.

'Dad! It hit my head,' Rebecca laughed. She tried throwing it, but it just didn't carry far enough.

Fedor swam towards it and headed it back to Rebecca. She pushed it forcefully towards her mum. Olivia lifted the ball with both hands and threw it back to Rebecca, who copied her mum, and threw it towards her dad.

'Clever girl,' Fedor clapped encouragingly.

They horsed about in the water for another two hours, before Olivia could see Rebecca tiring in the water.

'Come darling. Let's get you showered, some lunch, then you can have a nap.'

'I don't want nap mum. I want to draw with dad.'

'Okay, let's shower, then you and dad can draw, as I feed you some lunch.'

'Fedor, how we doing with lunch? I am going to shower Rebecca, but I think she's going to pass out before, she manages any lunch.'

'Chicken's done. I'm just finishing the salad. I forgot to get the bread rolls.'

'That will do. You need to entertain her and keep her awake, whilst I try to get some food into her.'

'Okay,' he smiled. 'I will have lunch on the table, as quickly as you finish Rebecca's shower.'

Lunch done. Rebecca napping. They were having an afternoon siesta, Olivia stirred, hearing the rain softly pattering on the window. She turned to watch the rain, and found Fedor still asleep. Shirtless, on his back, one hand carelessly over his midriff, the other at his side, his slept blissfully, breathing softly.

She adjusted her body, crossing her arms on Fedor's chest and admired the view from his ceiling to floor windows. She loved it when it rained. The fall of the soft rain drops gave her a warm fuzzy feeling. It was a beautiful view from the windows. Huge trees, spectacular in season flowers of every variety. Ornamental statues were strategically placed around the manicured gardens, lending it an aesthetic appeal. Fedor's garden reminded Olivia of the attractive, lush, well maintained public botanical gardens about London. Fedor's home was actually ...paradise.

'Privet moy lyubimyy,'... Hi darling.

Fedor stirred lazily. He tended to speak Russian in the throes of passion, or when he just woke up, or when angry, which thankfully was not often.

'Privet.' ... hi, she responded.

'Rebecca still asleep?'

'She will probably be out for the next hour.'

'You didn't want to rest?' His fingers raked through her hair. He loved the way, her upper body was resting atop him, with her lower body across the width of the wide king-sized bed.

'I was, until I heard the rain. I love watching the rain,' she smiled. 'It is so much more beautiful here from your bedroom.'

'I remember,' he smiled back. You use to sit with a novel in the lounge and when it rained you would stare out the window forever, and your book all forgotten.'

'You remember that!' She laughed awkwardly.

'Yeah. It was beautiful watching you. I would pretend I was reading and keep sneaking a peak at you.' He hauled her body onto his chest. 'You are beautiful,' he gently pressed his lips to hers.

'Thank you. I love your home. Everything about it is just perfect.'

His eyes widened. He lifted his upper body, gently placing her onto his pillows. 'So you will move in?'

'Yes,' she whispered.

'Yes! Yes! Yes!' Fedor did repeated air fists in victory, jumping up and down on the bed like a little boy.

-end chapter twelve-