The Domino Game by Greg Wilson Read Free Book Online

belonged to my great-grandfather. He died in the Revolution, and I just thought…”
    Nikolai bit his lip, holding back his emotion. He stared into her black, liquid eyes, watching them searching his own. “It’s beautiful,” he answered softly. “I’ll never lose it, I promise.” He closed the crucifix into his fist and reached forward, drawing her to him, kissing her gently on the forehead. She hugged him back, tilted her head until her mouth found his, kissed him, then pulled back and grinned.
    ‘So!” She smacked the bedclothes with an open hand. “That’s my gift. So now for yours!” She bounced from the bed before Nikolai had a chance to speak, scooped up the oversized white shopping bag and clutched it to her chest then stopped and looked serious for a moment. “I have a confession. I did peek when the delivery man brought it last night, but only a little peek, okay? Now, stay there. Back in a minute.”
    She skipped out of the room leaving Nikolai totally perplexed.
    What delivery man? What present?
    He tried to rewind his brain, backing up past the bag he’d seen last night when he’d come to bed, to the conversation with Vari in the car on the way home. He hadn’t bought Natalia a gift because he’d been so goddamned self-absorbed he’d forgotten to. The only remote possibility he could think of was that his partner had anticipated that he would forget and had arranged something for him, but that just didn’t make any sense either. His mind was still clutching for answers when Natalia reappeared in the doorway, his shirt replaced by a stunning cream slip that clung to the curves of her body like liquid silk. She stood before him, turning her head slowly from side to side.
    “Niko,” she breathed in awe. “It’s just glorious.”
    She spun slowly for him, letting the fabric glide with her, tracing the shape of her breasts, following the curve of her back and hips, then she was facing him again, flicking the same errant strand of hair from her eyes.
    “You are a bad boy, Niko. This must have cost a fortune.” The corners of her mouth lifted in a mischievous grin. “And that’s not the only reason you’re bad, is it?”
    Nikolai regarded her with a look of blank confusion.
    Natalia’s eyes narrowed. “There’s no point pretending. What do you have to say about these?”
    He noticed now that Natalia was holding something in her hand. What was it? A book? She started towards him, lifting it, holding it out in front of her.
    “I admit I peeked, yesterday, but I only looked at the box on top.” She sounded almost shocked. “I had no idea about these.”
    She was standing in front of him now, holding the cassette cases towards him. Nikolai’s eyes fell to their covers and he stared at them with astonishment. He pulled himself upright, took the boxes from her outstretched hand, swung his legs from the bed and sat on its edge, shaking his head.
    “Natalia…” He looked up at her. Shook his head again. “I don’t know anything about these.” He set the cassettes aside and reached up, taking her hands, pressing them between his. “Listen, Natalia, I’m sorry… I forgot our anniversary. Forgot it completely.” He traced a hand down her side, feeling the silk shimmer beneath his fingers. “I wish I had chosen this for you, God knows you deserve something this beautiful, but I didn’t.” His eyes fell to the cassettes again, tracing their lurid covers. His brow furrowed. “And these…” he stared up into Natalia’s dark, puzzled eyes, unable to separate her disappointment from her confusion. “Natalia, I’m sorry,” he shook his head, “but I have absolutely no idea what this is about. “
    Natalia stood at the foot of the bed, her back turned to Nikolai as she wriggled into a pair of jeans. Behind her the cream silk slip lay discarded on the covers. She reached into a drawer, rummaged through its contents, snatched out a T-shirt. Niko watched, only too aware of the sudden