It had been two weeks since Vlad had brought Jane to his mansion. She was now well into her recovery except for some residual stiffness and becoming easily exhausted. Jane was beginning to find the pampered life to which Vlad subjected her entirely too stifling. She was used to hunting down leads, and if she was lucky, bad guys. She didn't particularly enjoy lazing around in bed with unlimited magazines and books at her disposal. She had memorized every inch of his backyard, including the guard's rotation (if Vlad were nice to her she would mention the alarming predictability of his security team). She'd reorganized every single article of his clothing, more for her amusement than his convenience. And catalogued the contents of the bathroom. Twice.She was over being an invalid. And when Jane was over something, she became cranky, unpredictable and possibly a little stabby.Vladimir entered his bedroom without knocking. Though she was getting used to his casual invasion of her privac
Sitnikov dragged her through the house without another word to Boris, who continued to stand stoically by the front doors. Jane was forced to hurry after Sitnikov, his iron grip on her wrist never slackening. She was confused when they exited the back of the house and glanced around her looking for where he might be headed. Her bare feet barely had time to touch the spongy grass as he pulled her mercilessly behind him toward the tree line far back on the property. Finally she saw it, the place he must be taking her too. It was a concrete wall with a door built into the side of a rise in the landscaping. When they approached the wall he unlocked the door using a keypad and heaved it open. The chill air washed over her, causing her to unconsciously step closer to her tormentor in a fruitless attempt at finding warmth and security. She was horrified at all the possibilities for his having an underground facility on his property. This would be where he conducted the business that couldn
Vlad stalked away from the underground bunker, swearing viciously into the emptiness surrounding him. He knew there were men patrolling the land, but they knew better than to interrupt the Boss when he was working in the bunker. They were highly trained and intelligent, which is why they were rarely seen unless he wanted them visible. He shoved a hand through his hair and contemplated whether he'd made a mistake in locking Jane in the cell where she would be alone in the cold and darkness. He hated the thought of her even knowing that room existed, let alone her becoming a resident. If she weren't so damn stubborn he wouldn't have to resort to breaking her down as he might an enemy. Why didn't the woman just yield to him? Then he could have what he wanted, Jane in his home and his bed, warm and willing. He would shower her with gifts and lavish attention on every delectable inch of her curvy little body. Yet somehow he couldn't picture her happily spending her days shopping and ra
Sitnikov let out an involuntary sound of disgust and snapped, "Of course not!""No?" she said. "Then why did you bring me here. This doesn't seem like a place you would bring the woman you want to have sex with."She rolled over to look at him. Her arms remained wrapped around her middle, protectively. He hated the accusing look in her eyes, tempered with fear of him. He'd wanted to frighten her into talking, but he didn't like the result his actions got. "Jane, I could never bring myself to kill you, despite what you know of me.""But you would hurt me?" She pushed herself up on the dirty mattress, wincing slightly and pushing a hand through her disheveled black hair, fluffing it around her head like a halo. It had gotten longer in the past weeks she had been with him, it reached past her shoulders now. He liked the severe, straight style she usually wore, but he loved the slightly longer wavy look on her. He couldn't lie to her, she needed to know what it would be like to live w
Jane stared up at Vlad and slowly surrendered. She was in his control, living in his house, surviving by his grace and quite literally pinned beneath the grip of his powerful hand. He wanted her. It was in his every word and action. She had fought him, repeatedly, and she had failed on every level. And God help her, she wanted him too. Even as he threatened to crush her and force her surrender, her body melted for him. Her heart sped up and her pussy heated up at the thought of his big, hard body taking hers.Slowly, her body slumped against the door, held up only by his grip. She read the triumph in his dark eyes and looked away before she got pissed off and did something they would both regret. Again. Slowly Vlad removed his grip on her throat and ran his hand in a heavy caress down her arm until he reached her waist. Then he took her in a firm grip and held her against his side while he entered a series of digits that would open the thick metal door.Jane was grateful for the tall
His hands swept her body as he took over, brushing aside her hesitant touches and returning them with bruising, passionate caresses that seemed to touch her everywhere at once. Jane gasped when he reached down to yank the delicate cloth of her panties down her thighs. She lifted her legs to help him pull them off and arched into the heat of his body as he slid his long fingers back up the side of her naked body.Jane reached up, wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled Vlad's head down to her lips for another fiery kiss. She loved the feel of his firm mouth against her soft one, dominating her with his consuming caress. He growled into her mouth and returned the kiss with as much force as she could have asked for and more. She felt him shifting above her and realized that he was unzipping and pulling off his pants. Her mouth opened wide in a gasp when she felt his hot, bare flesh against her inner thigh.He kneeled on the bed above her and took her thighs in his large hands. Jane
Jane woke suddenly, disoriented and wondering why her chest felt so heavy. She realized right away it was the buzzing of her phone that woken her and that Vlad's arm lay across her chest, pinning her to the mattress. In the past week she had found out he was a light sleeper. Not wanting to wake him, she edged her arm out from under the covers and reached for her phone on the bedside table. She was a little surprised Vlad hadn't also woken to the buzzing sound. He must be tired, having to split his attention between his criminal empire and his new toy, she thought cynically. She depressed the button on her smartphone and read the message.The rat is in the cage.Jane smiled at the melodramatic, old-school copper language Des was using, but excitement filled her. She had to tell herself to breath calmly or she would wake Vlad. She was more than ready to confront the man who shot her in cold blood. She could kiss Desiree for setting it up for her. Now all she had to do was get out of Vl
It was a simple trick. Jane used her connection with Claudia Cantore to send Boris running from the house. She 'let' him overhear a fake conversation between herself and the blond woman about Laney being in trouble at the club. Even though Jane had set him up, she was shocked at how fast the man had run to rescue the little Asian woman. He was going to be pissed when he found Laney to be safe and sound and in zero need of his intervention. Sometimes being a PI really paid off. She'd learned about Boris' unrequited feelings for Laney ages ago and had been waiting months to use that piece of gossip to her advantage.Several minutes after Boris had left, Vlad exited his office to head into the city for his meeting. She tossed him a cold look when he suggested she might miss him. He laughed and kissed her hard enough on the mouth that she gasped and her lips tingled from the pressure. Vlad did like to make an impression.?"Where is Boris?" he asked.Jane's heart sped up and she dropped
Vlad looked down at his wife while she worked quietly. She sat crosslegged on the floor on top of his expensive rug in front of the roaring fire she had insisted he light for her. He'd demanded a kiss in return for the favour. When she had laughingly refused, he had, like the thief he was, stolen it from her and then proceeded to steal so much more. It amazed him yet, this intense feeling he felt for his wife. He knew it was love, yet he couldn't bring himself to say it. What he felt went beyond the calf-like love he witnessed in others. He had wanted to possess Jane in a way that would bind her to him for eternity. Even now, he felt anxious that she wasn't as much his as she should be. He could make men bleed without thinking twice. He took anything and everything he wanted, leaving destruction behind him if he encountered resistance. Yet Jane had defied him on numerous occasions and he could do nothing but claim her again and again. She was a strong woman, not to be broken easily
She's still alive, Vlad told himself over and over again as he sat waiting for Petrov to appear. They wouldn't murder the only leverage they have over you. They need us both alive.Intellectually, Vlad knew his words were true. But inside, his thoughts were black and murky with rage. He couldn't erase the vision of Petrov grabbing Jane from behind and lifting her off her feet. She had screamed Vlad's name and reached for him. He had been helpless to get to his woman while she was afraid and suffering.Vlad contented himself with imagining every way in which he could torture Petrov while still keeping him alive. He wanted Petrov to understand, to truly understand the colossal mistake he'd made in touching Jane. Vlad had been willing, for friendship's sake, to let the boy leave the city unharmed, though it might weaken him in the eyes of the organization. Instead of accepting his generous offer, Petrov had declared war.The enforcer had sacrificed his life the moment he moved against
King took her hand in a firm grip. When Jane winced involuntarily, he frowned, gripped her wrist and pulled her closer when she tried to pull away. Jane glanced back at Boris. When he didn't react with murder and mayhem, she allowed Tyson King to turn her hand over in his and examine the palm. He gently touched the grazes where glass had pierced the skin. King dropped her hand. "It's a pleasure to finally meet you, Mrs. Sitnikov. I've heard about you and have been eager to make your acquaintance."Somehow, Jane didn't find that comforting. Especially not when King indicated the man standing to his right. "Daniel Mercer is head of my security. He'll be working with you on getting your husband back."Jane was about to protest any interference when she got a good look at King's head of security. There was no way to describe his eyes except dead as they calmly took in every detail of her and Boris' appearance. His face was hard as rock. Even the sexy waves of sandy brown hair and trimm
"Jane, come to me, pchelka!" she looked around and saw Boris reaching for her, his large arm thrust under the car.She reached out and put her hand in his, trusting him completely. His hand immediately engulfed hers and with a grunt of pain he pulled her bodily from under the car. Jane winced as her sweater rode up and the bare skin of her side scraped across the pavement. She bit her lip to keep from crying out. She suspected Boris was shot and he was still trying to help her. If he could suck it up then so could she.Boris pulled her into a sitting position next to him. His other hand was pressed tightly to his shoulder where blood was seeping from between his fingers.They heard the screech of tires. Jane tried to crawl up the car to look over the hood. Boris yanked her back against his body and swore as the SUV pulled out into traffic and passed them. A man was leaning out the window with a gun.Boris grabbed Jane around the waist, stood with her in his brawny arms and lunged a
"My ass hurts, asshole," Jane said grumpily the next morning while Vlad led her to their car. "I can't believe you lied to me."Vlad shrugged his shoulders, supremely unconcerned with her discomfort as her sore ass came into contact with the plush leather seat of his Bentley and her breath rushed out in a pained hiss. "You lied to me first when you ignored your promise to release me. Besides I merely said I would not beat you. I consider that light spanking as foreplay to our second round of lovemaking last night. Admit it, you enjoyed it just a little."Jane glared at him, put her sunglasses on and stared steadily out the opposite window from where he sat. He laughed huskily and reached around her to draw a seatbelt over her chest and hips. Once she was safely buckled in, he did the same for himself. Despite her objections Jane had enjoyed the way her husband had taken her forcefully after relieving his anger on her rounded derriere. Something about the combination of pain and pleas
Jane climbed his body, and pressed her lips against his in a passionate kiss. She wasn't eloquent, she didn't know how else to tell her criminal mastermind of a husband that she had fallen in love with him despite herself. His words had pierced her heart, ensuring the final thrust in her capitulation. She belonged to him now of her own free will. His lips devoured hers in return, sealing their incredible attraction to each other with a promise of forever.Jane tore her lips from his and began kissing her way down his body toward his cock, which stood eager for her attention. Her lips closed over him with an ecstatic moan, encasing the tip in the velvety softness of her mouth. She ran her tongue around the head, paying the indent particular attention. Vlad groaned and thrust his hips up, forcing more of the stiff flesh into her mouth. Jane enthusiastically complied, bringing her hand up to fist the base and sinking down the shaft as far as she could go. "Fuck!" he groaned, fighting t
Vlad bent down and swept her off her feet. Jane laughed crazily and grabbed hold of his neck as her feet left the ground. He had one arm around her back and the other tucked under her jean clad legs. Her booted feet stuck out in front of them as he strode up the steps, into the mansion and past Boris, who calmly closed the door and disappeared into the shadows."Here I thought all those muscles you like to hide under your suits were for show," she smirked.Vlad ascended the stairs swiftly with his wife held tightly in his arms. "I will smack that beautiful ass for suggesting such a thing.""Bring it on, Russian!"Vlad let her legs slide to the floor once they were in their bedroom. Now that they were alone, he allowed his eyes to roam over her with unconcealed lust. He took his jacket off and began unbuttoning his shirt. Nodding toward her, he said, "Clothes off. Now, Jane."She didn't need to be asked twice. She unbuckled her skull-studded belt and shoved her skinny jeans down he
Vlad was leading Jane from the restaurant with a hand under her arm when the blond man he'd been talking to stepped in front of them, blocking their path. They stopped walking. Vlad didn't give any outward impression of annoyance, but Jane felt the subtle shift in his body as he moved her slightly back, away from the other man whose sharp eyes were taking the pair in."It seems that I must congratulate you on the recent occasion of your marriage, Mrs Sitnikov," the man drawled, his cold blue eyes sliding from Vlad to Jane. "I was sorry to have missed the invitation."Jane didn't like his tone of voice. He seemed insolent, something she hadn't experienced in any of Vlad's men thus far. "If you know my husband at all," she replied, her brown eyes just as cold, "then you know he acts quickly when he wants something and doesn't require the approval of others."The emphasis she put on the word others left no doubt that she meant 'subordinates'. The man stepped toward Jane, but Vlad stopp
Jane rolled over in her bed and tried to get comfortable underneath the layers of homemade quilts. Where once she would have hated the thought of everything in the room and house, now she found the familiarity comforting. Even the creak of bedsprings took her back to her childhood spent in that same room. Oddly, visiting her family seemed to ease the worries she had struggled with all of her life. She had resented her family and the lifestyle they led. Now, coming home, she saw everything in a different light. It wasn't for her, but she didn't hate everything Amish anymore. Especially now that they seem to be in favour of indoor plumbing.She missed Vlad. More than she thought possible. More than she had ever missed anything, ever. This was her third night away from him. And she was done. She wouldn't spend one more night out of the arms of her husband. Their marriage may have been forced on her, but she found now that she badly wanted it. She couldn't imagine not having Vlad in her li