I think I could come to like Nikki if he continues to be this patient...and let Sunshine lead. I know for him this much restraint is very diificult but he is trying.

Sunshine does seem to have some affection for him and he treating her like a princess and captive Princess but  a princess non the less. She should be treated well...she is self less and a good person. I hope she can change him and soften his hard heart.

I am glad her daddy took her to get her birth control pills...they only decent thing he has ever done for her!!

But she is strong like her mom and well taught by her mom..it help her make it through this time..which Nikki seems to be looking for more than 5 years.

There is a very dark side to Nikki, I am worried about though..I am not sure even Sunshine can save him from that side.

I love this story..I stayed up late because I knew you would be updting tonight!!!You are rocking it sweetie...keep up the great job!!

This story is up and down for me emotionally. This chapter again makes me very sad for Sunshine. All she is sacrificing for her family, being with a man she admittedly only likes sometimes and is afraid of probably most of the time. How is it fair that this child should have to pay for her father's sins. I keep expecting any minute for Nikki to be the monster he really is and what will happen to our Sunshine then....she has such a beautiful spirit, her mother did a wonderful job with raising her in the time she had...but every good heart is fragile and her desire to take care of everyone else sometimes can lead her to be more vulnerable to hurt herself. I just want Sunshin to have a chance at a real life for herself and Benji...she deserves some happiness and freedom away from this mobster and her self destructive father.

I am SICK of her father..he will not so the simplist thing because he is too busy trying to find the easy quick way out of trouble..he makes me sick!!

Poor little Sergei..I hope his affection for Sunshine does not sign his death warrant..he is being careless with his obvious feelings and desires to please her..if he decides to take classes leaving her unattended and something happens to her...Nikki will not hestitate to kill him.

I love this story sweetie..the emotional conflict I feel means you are on exceptional writer...You are doing your thing with this one..please don't run that muse away! Great job!

Well no Christmas story with Sunshine..ok..well I will be happy if Sunshine just gets some happiness..which she actually seems very happy!

Nikki is taking very good care of our Sunshine and I think we can safely say he is in love with her. I thought it was sweet he referred to her as his most precious thing in his life that was very sweet,

I think she has real feelings for Niki as well..I think at the end of 5 yrs she could truly be in love with him ...

I agree with Anatoly, I don't think Nikki would be willing to part with Sunshine at end of 5 yrs though he would be torn between his honor and his love for her.

I think Sefei si asking for trouble..I know his brother see his affection for Sunshine but U am sure Nikki does too..you could tell by his questioning that he was on to Segei..I am so worried about Segei..I hope nothing happens to him ..Sunshine would never forgive Nikki and Anatoly woud probably take it out on Sunshine to hurt Nikki..

Her father is pitiful..enough said...

Excellent excellent excellent...Sunshine and Nikki are hawtness tooo woooooo!!great job sweetie..

Child I was scared for a minute. I knew Nikki was gonna kill her daddy and beat the crap out of Sergei. Lawd my heart was actually beating fast,lol. I knew if he killed her father, she would never recover from it and if he beat up Sergei..she would not forgive that either.

I am glad he beat her dad's butt even if it was just a little. I cannot stand that weak pitiful man. Nikki is right about one thing, it is Jacob's fault that his daughter is in the situation not Nikki's, he has no one to blame but himself. I am just glad he did not kill him. However, we do see that Nikki's plan to win Sunshine's heart enough for her not to want to leave at the end of the 5 years. I think she cares a lot about him but she is a free spirit so I am not sure if she would stay in this situation if she does not have too.

Segei is playing with fire. I don't know if he is stupid or that far gone for Sunshine that he does not value his life. Anatoly needs to really wake his irresponsible brother up. Nikki is quite aware of his brother's feelings for Sunshine , he is one step away from a serious beatdown or death...he needs to be smarter!!

Why does Nikki treat Cilla so badly..I thought he liked her...he is awful to her sometimes..Maybe he is jealous of her relationship with Sunshine too.

There are glimpses of the dangerous Nikki that help remind us of how very dangerous he is even with Sunshine's influence, Nikki is not one to be taken too lightly. I hope Sergei and Jacob understand that...

Sergei Serge Sergei..he has a death wish and Nikki is the man that appears to be about to fulfil that wish!

It looks like Darla will soon be sleeping with the fishes but I hope Sunshine's daddy does not join her..

Darla is too stupid to play these games...she is asking for trouble and since Sunshine has no feelings for her..she will be easily gotten rid of..somehow I don't feel sorry for her at all!

Nikki is a dangerous man and he showed us that for Sunshine he can be gentle and loving but for anyone else..he is still and scarey deadly man!!

Loving this story sweetie..cannot wait for more!!

I really think Sunny is the boss in this relationship. Nikki is totally under her control..I am sure when he brought her to his home he had no idea she would be this truely wonderful person..who would bend..adjust, adapt but not break..(her mother was so wise and taught her daugther well)...she captured his heart like never before and now I think he is terrified.

What will happen when she leaves. I am still not sure he will let her ..I can tell she feels deeply for him..she is such a caretaker...but skank Darla is right she is still a child who has yet to live her own life....I think Nikki will lose his mind when and if she leaves..I would not want to be the cause or in the way if she does leave.

Seigei I have no more words for ..she is telling him to find someone ..everyone is telling him..yet he does not listen.

Nikki is not stupid but letting Darla stay is nit smart..I a sure she will end up dead cause she pushes too hard but who will she bring down with her is the question.

Excellent chapter sweetie...I was actually so caught up I didnt even breathe..lol..excellent. Enjoy your time away but hurry back...you will be missed!!

Ok I read this again for the third time and something sticks out at me. Sunny says the money she gave Jacob was her money that she earned . Then again she says back to school and work. I am sure Nikki told her she could not work and he gives her an allowance. So does she see her life with Nikki as work?? As something she has to do to provide for herself , her brother and her dad? If so, then maybe she is not in love with Nikki but playing the role she has to play to make it through this situation. Or maybe I am reading too much into "work" because she really does seem to genuinely care for Nikki. I just don't know where Sunny's heart is really..that is brilliant writing on your part! Why I just cannot get enough of this story!!

Author's Response:

Hi Nene. Thanks as always for your insightful comments and questions. You are definitely one of the reviewers i look and wait for. I will now proceed to ignore all of your comments and questions except one because, well, I'm evil. (Mwah ha ha).

Sunny definitely meant school for her and work for Nikolai and i went ahead and added some words to that effect.

 Thanks again! 

I hate Sergi almost as much as Darla I am sorry but I do!!

Nikki messed up but she was expecting too much from him. He was a dangerous man who made her pay her father's debt with herself...so why does this surpise her. She knew the kind of man he was when they got in this relationship. Saying that she has to realize how much he has changed. That man who made that deal is long gone, changed by the power of love. He has transformed so much in the three years they have been together, why can't she see that also.

Sunny knows no matter what Nikki did her father was going to gamble, heck he did not even use Nikki's money and gambled anywway. The reason she is in the situation she is in now is not because of Nikki but her father. You cannot be tempted by something you do not have a weakness for in the first place.

I think Nikki has come a long way, yes he still has a ways to go but who is perfect nobody. He loves her and he has never loved anyone else. I hope this time away helps her to realizze how much she really loves him.

She said she needs to be away from him to think. To figure out if she loves him because she wants to or because she has too..that is a good idea..but they way she left was so horrible. I just pray that the blackness does not consume him again because if it does there may be no coming back this time.

This was such an emotional chapter..I cried sadly for both Nikki and Sunny...you could feel her pain and after she has been through so much recently but yo could also feel his desperation...his fear of losing her...of what he will be w/o her...girl that was heavy and so incredibly sad.

Sergei is an opportunist of the worse kind...he is fine being the rebound guy...he almost smilled at watching her in so much pain and her heart breaking, wow....what kind of freaking beast is he..I hate him!

I don't know how this will end...I am scared to find out..for now I will keep reading until it becomes unbearable...but I have to read somthing cheerful in between chapters though!!

You are writing the heck out of this story sweetie...it may be hard to read but I cannot pull away...that what makes it great!Bravo!!!

Ok a couple of things..

- I love how cautious Sunny is with everyone's feeling no matter who they are she is such a good heartd person..

Gets Vasily glass of water ..lol..calls him portly instead of fat..lol. Has a picture of Stanislasky and Kostya. And how gentle and concerned she is with Sergei's feelings for her. She is such good people no wonder everyone loves her. Like Ben says she loves hard, she does not know any other way. That is why I hold out hope for Nikki.

Ok Jil, I could actually have seen Sunny with him prior to Nikki. He is a young innocent, inexperienced girl's dream. But Sunny is a very old soul with lots of life experience most girls her age do not see until later in life if ever. She is too much for Jil and he is not enough for her.

I am glad she spoke to Sergei though from his last comment I do not think he gets it. He may chill for now but his obsession is not over and it is not healthy. I would not be surprised if he did something really stupid that makes Sunny have to hurt him or Nikki have to hurt him We will see!!

Nikki is so smooth...he says the sexist (because they are innocent and sweet) things to her, things women love to hear. Funny thing about Nikki , he means them all,they are not just lines. This is his first real love and she has his nose wide open but he has hers just as open but she is more control than him ..funny as that sounds!! Sunny is the star of Nikki's life but he is going to have to earn starship in hers!!

It is very clear that Sunny is very sexually attracted to Nikki and being w/o for a couple of months can make you almost do it againt the wall,lol. And sexy behind Nikki does not make it easy to resist him either. But sex is only one aspect of a relationship, Nikki will have to prove he now worthy of a place in Sunny's new independent life..I think he can do it , if he keeps the darkness away and shows Sunny all of himself..no more hidden parts....I want them to do make it so badly...they really do belong together!!but it will not be easy..but it will be worth it!

Nikki is almost every  woman's dream, even with a totally alpha, dangerous (slightly), totally in love and devotion to his woman, fine and sexy (oh and rich)  but he needs to change some things and add some others if he wants to be apart of the newer independent Sunny's world!

I have always thought you were using a metaphor with Sunshine in Nikki's life:that the Sunshine came in Nikki's life to destroy the darkness that had captured his heart..!! .

Only one sad moment..no picturss of Nikki..that was sad to me...I hope they get to take some togeher!!

Another great one sweetie..not as hard to read..beautifully wriiten...you are doing your thang with this one and I love it!

Go team: Sunnikki!!!!

Lord it is so nice to see some happiness to be in their lives for a change..I know they still have some things to deal with..heavy things and people like Sergei are itching to make sure she knows all Nikki's dirt before he can tell it..but given the chance I think he will tell her everything.

The beginning part with Nikki in jail at 18 w/o parents and really innocent of crime..almost made me cry. His parents just abondoned him, thank goodness for Stanislasky..though he was a criminal he took care of him like  a son.

I think the fact that Nikki does have legitimate business dealing may help him get out off the business if they allow him to leave.....him escaping this life unharmed is my biggest concern. I really think he would try to go legitimate for Sunny'

When he was revealing his heart to her in the restaurant I was that was so touching..I wanted to hug and mak Sunny take him back..I could feel his anguish and regret..but I could also feel his love for her!!

I kinda was hoping that Sunny had a picture of Nikki by her bedside or somewhere close and intimate...that revealed a lot about her feeling for him. I love how she revealed that she always knew he loved her. I think he would die w/o her...I love how much he loves and needs her...it is kinda humbling for him but beeautiful to witness!!As usual that were on fire..they smoke when they get together ..curls my toes!!

I absolutely love this story...complex, tender in may ways, dark at times but enthralling a 100% of th time! Excllent sweeetie excellent!!

Please take care of you (and muse) and get better soon!

BTW I love all the song selections everyone has suggested and I love Dear Life especially..perfect!!

That was so intense Nikki almost made me cry...Only Sunshine could bring a man like Nikki to tears. I could feel his frustration, he absolute feeling of helplessness and his desperation to protect her from what could lie ahead, That love making scene was so intense and emotionally I got nervous!! You could feel his love for her. I am so afraid if anything happens to Sunshine or if she leaves him he will not make it..He loves her so profoundly it is almost scarey!

I am glad she let him and Ben speend time together,,she is taking their relationship seriously and that is a good sign. But Nikki will eventually have to tell Sunny the truth about his work and trust that she will still love him, I am hoping that his visit with Stanis will be discussion on how he can get out of the business and become legite. I think that is the only way for them to be together forever!

I love what a strong, fiercely independent young woman Sunny has become....I say it all the time but Jasmine has created such a wonderful, unique , caring person in Sunny..she would be proud. I knew she would go to Africa..it is her nature!!

Excellent updt sweetie..everytime I think this story cannot get better it does...so many twist and turns....nothing simple about their relationship or these people..

So much like real life there is nothing black and white about this story but beautiful shades of grey, blues. pinks and all the colors of the rainbow ...like lives really are in the real world!!

Another fantatsic updt sweetie!!

wow this chapter was an emotional rollercoaster.

First thoughts..is Sunny gonna walk away from Nikki..I think he was thinking the same thing and she was seriously contempleting it!!

I am sad that she still cannot say I love you to Nikki...loving him does not mean that she cannot walk away if she has too..come on Sunny you love him!!

I think Ben is way smarter than Sunny thinks but way more realistic in expectatiosn of people...Sunny puts the people she cares about on pedestals..Ben appears to keep thm grounded more so in realism of who they are not the fantasy of who you want them to be...pragmatist and Sunny the hopeful dreamer!!

I love little Kostyva..he is adoable and so in love with him some Sunny..I think it is so sweet!

OK can I say how much I love Stan..I knew he loved his son too much to allow him to suffer..I think he is going to help Nikki go legit...I least I pary he will...but teh story he tokd Sunny spoke volumns to teh man Nikki has become because of her.

OK jealous Sunny..I LOVE IT...at least Nikki gets to see how much she loves him wether she says it or not!! Gloria was about to catch the anger of Sunny..lol!!

There love making in the car was so strong and powerful...whe Nikki told her don't push them apart because it hurt to much...I felt it! I am not sure either could survive w/o the other..I know Nikki would surely waste away or allow something to happen to himself...but I am not sure Sunny would make it out ok either...they have become such a vital part of each other lives...neither be able to survive w/o the other!!

Ok Sergei..is a fool. Funny thing is Nikki does not seem very worried. I don't think he knows what a big fool Sergei has become or he knows he would never be able to ge off a shot before his men or him would not be all over Sergei. The problem is if anything happens to Sergei even though he caused himself...Sunny would blame Nikki and they would not be able to come back from it and hsi friend ship with Anatoly would end ...Anatoly would probably out to destroy Nikki too..so he cannot kill Sergei but he could shoot Nikki ,,kill or permanently injure him....this would destroy Sunny but also sign Sergei's death sentence..because even if Nikki's men did not kill him..Stanis would not tolerate losing another son and all hell would break loose..

I normally hate cliffies but anything to make this wonderful story last a little longer is alright with me!!

I just love these two so much..I love every relationship... even as complicated as Nikki and Sunshine's ''to as simplistic as Kostyva and Sunshine....each relationship has it's individual complexity that enriches this story even more!!

I love how this story has devrloped to Sunny having no control to Sunny having all the control..and it was so smoothly done it seems very natural and right!!

This is a masterpiece ...a lesson it writing at it;s best!! Bravo sweetie,,now don't make me cry and go into depression with the next updt...lol!! 

BTW way what Stanis telling Sunny he hopes one day she will call him..OTETS??