While walking back towards Aleksander's home, I was dumbfounded to see a black SUV already parked in the front. Antonio was earlier than expected."Rhea", He jumped from the car. "Had I known you weren't here, I could have picked you somewhere else", He spoke quickly."It's okay, Antonio. I just had a quick errand to run but l'm ready to go now. I assume Aleksander told you where to take me", My smile was forced all because of the thought of shopping in the city."He gave me a list of stores that would have something appropriate for the Gala. But if there's somewhere else you would like to go, we can make a detour", I was staring at him as he spoke. He had a smile as he told me everything. His smiles were always so genuine and warm. You could tell that he really enjoyed working for Aleksander and the job he did. "Nothing comes to mind. Let's just get this list out of the way. All I know is Aleksander requested me to wear blue", I smiled at the end before I got into the car. Within mi
"Now let's get you dressed up in the dressing room", Margaret ushered me to the back of the store, where they had massive dressing rooms set up. There was even a separate section for women trying on wedding dresses. "Call me if you need any help dear",As I looked at the wall of blue dresses lined up before me, I began to feel overwhelmed. The price tag on each dress had too many zeroes and I had no idea which one Aleksander would like. After all, I was picking up a dress for him, as the prize on his arm for a night. I wanted to look good for him while I was at his side.He paid good money to have me and I didn't want to disappoint him.However am hour passed and I still hadn't decided. The minutes ticked by and I worried about leaving Antonio in the street waiting for me. But none of the dresses felt right, or I was unsure on the shade of blue. Margaret kept bringing options and I was amazed that she hadn't run out yet.She was too eager to please me and each time I walked out in a b
"You so wicked", i whispered already breathless. Aleksander could see the flush in my cheeks and his smirk up at me was cruel and the devil in his smile showed it self..Without another word, Aleksander pulled me onto his lap until I was straddling him on the bench. I didn't have anything else to say, so I crushed my lips onto his and kissed him hard. His tongue darted out to lick my bottom lip and I opened for him. Our tongues danced together and I rolled my body against him. I felt his toned body through his suit and wished he was as bare as I was. I wished we could be skin to skin and I was burning up to feel him inside of me. In a rush , I reached between us and began unbuckling his seatbelt to free his erection. My hands were too frenzied and I couldn't get my fingers to cooperate.Aleksander chuckled against my lips and pulled my hands away to free himself. His cock bounced free against my stomach.and I arched against him to feel his velvet soft skin. Aleksander slipped his han
ALEKSANDER'S POV.It was good thing that Rhea already had my black Golden Card in her possession as we left the store.. She wasn't expecting it but I was suddenly motivated to spoil her. And nothing was going to stop me from doing as I wished. Each store along the Fifth Avenue we entered, I bought anything she glanced at with appreciation. I'm not sure where this drive came from but I wanted to adorn her like a goddess in all luxuries of this world. If anyone asked me, Rhea Martinez deserved it all. Yes she did!"No, Aleksander. I don't wanna go in. You keep buying me things I don't need", She dug her heels in the sidewalk in front of one of the last stores. "What even is this?, Purses!. I don't even need a new purse. It was embarrassing enough for you to buy all those shoes and lingeries","Rhea, why won't you let me take care of you?", I cupped her cheek and stepped closer , ignoring all the passengers passing by on the busy street. "I don't need any of this stuff, it's too much",
Rhea was smiling and shaking her fans' hands. She was being so kind and friendly in return. After some minutes, I took a step back to make sure I was out of their way. But then in between photos, her eyes caught mine and I saw the cry for help behind her smile. "Alright, I'm sorry ladies and gentlemen, I have to steal the prima away from you. Ms Martinez is currently very busy and I need to get her to her next appointment", I swooped in and wrapped up my arms around her. "Aw!", They started to protest. Always so entitled to the time of others. People on the streets were still taking pictures, even those who might not recognize who she was just in case she was the celebrity, they couldn't recall at the moment. So I used my body to shield her and lifted up Rhea up into the car. "Get us out of here, Antonio", I barked out and he charged into the traffic a second later.Cars hooked and the engine roared loudly as he pushed the vehicle to it's limit for our escape. That moment was on the
"I think that just goes to show , I don't really know much about you. What do you really do at least?", Rhea asked while still looking around the restaurant. Shrugging my shoulders, I leaned back in my seat and gave a restaurant a once over before returning my focus on Rhea."Makalov Inc. Does a lot around the city but I'm responsible for things likes restaurants, bars, clubs. Nikolai likes to call me the Director of Entertainment although that's not too far from my actual title", She perked up as we dived into the conversation. "Well, that magazine i read on you didn't tell your actual title. What is it?","Makalov Inc. Senior Vice President", I responded."That isn't similar to a director at all", She threw up her hands and giggled. I loved the sound. Her laughter was infectious. "No, it's really not. You right but still that is what he says", I smiled."Your uncle was really intense when we met him but I really liked your aunt", Absentmindedly she began twirling a strand of her hai
"Shit, Rhea am sorry","No it's okay. I was honestly too young to really remember them much anyways. My grandparents took me in and ballet became my life", I gripped her hand tighter, trying to silently thank her for opening up to me. "Your grandparents sound amazing. I'm glad that you had them there for you during something so traumatic","Me too", Then she shrugged and inhaled as if shaking something off. "You know what's like to be raised by your family not the real parent's", She added."I do. Count it as one of the things we have in common", My heart thumped against my ribs, saying out loud and realizing how right she was.Before she could respond, just then the servers came out with our food and refills on our drinks. Enough of a distraction that our minds went elsewhere and left the darker topics behind. Rhea looked profoundly delighted as the burger was set in front of her."Eat up baby", I winked at her when she looked up. "I still have promises about tonight to fulfill", Sh
"It's a word you can remember to say when you want me to stop whatever am doing to you", Aleksander explained."I have never wanted you to stop before", My response was instant and I slapped my hand over my mouth when I registered what I had said.Aleksander chuckled. It was a low rumble in his chest that made me squeeze my thighs together. "Good to know. But for tonight I want you to have one. Please","Allegro", I chirped the first word that popped up in my head.Aleksander paused but after a second he nodded his head. He took a breath and turned back to his closet. Bending over, he opened a drawer, I had never seen him opening before. "Alright I can remember that", He pulled a black case out of that drawer and turned around to face me again. "If at any point you uncomfortable or you want me to stop remember to say it", He added.I swallowed hard at his words but a voice in the back of my mind was screaming, we wouldn't need it and dancing eagerly for what was coming next. However
EPILOGUE RHEA'S POV Three wonderful years came and went. Each one became a new chapter in my life that I'd never forget. I couldn't when I had otherworldly love pouring through me every day. More than I ever thought I'd experience in my life.Trudging through the grief of losing so much family ate a hole in my heart. Aleksander came along and slowly threaded the chasm together, healing me with each delicate touch and sensual kiss. An unlikely love formed from that illicit contract, and through turmoil and pain, we forged our story.Glowing, floating on top of the world, I swept into the kitchen. A delightful buzz from champagne left a rosy flush across my cheeks. I poured myself a glass of water, listening to precious laughter drifting from upstairs as I did."Rhea!" Annika's excited coo made me whirl around from the sink. I came face to face with her, waving her red nails, gesturing for a hug. I stepped into her arms. Annika shimmied against me. "How did the event go?""It was great
The technician broke the silence first. "Your chart says that you're estimated to be about eighteen weeks along. Is that correct?""Yes," Rhea swiftly answered. Her smile widened. "The size of a bell pepper this week.""That's right," the technician chortled. She glanced between the three Makalovs in the dimly lit room. One hand clicked a button on the ultrasound keyboard and the monitor flickered on. With the probe hovering over Rhea's navel, she asked, "Are you interested in knowing the gender?"Rhea's throat bobbed. Her fingers twitched in mine. Simultaneously, we locked gazes. It was an important question, and one we hadn't discussed nearly enough."I'm going to love them, regardless." Her bottom lip trembled as she studied my face. "As long as they're healthy.""Do you want it to be a surprise?" I whispered in my wife's ears alone. Leaning closer, I nuzzled into the side of her face. "Whatever you want, baby. Just say the word."Despite her nerves, Rhea giggled. She turned her he
ALEKSANDER'S POV A month passed, and we returned home.Keeping my promise to Rhea, I relinquished the reins over to Nikolai to close the loose ends with the Genovese crime family.My aunt and uncle understood and approved of my wish to keep my hands clean for my wife's sake. Nikolai didn't bat an eye when he proclaimed the Genovese would accept a deal and leave our family alone if we did the same.Antonio recovered from his injuries from the car accident. After two weeks in bed, he returned with renewed vigor. The incidents of that day wounded his honor, and he stated he needed to make up for it. As much as I argued, he needed to take time away. He continued showing up in uniform.Rhea had a checkup with her doctor. That was an appointment I wouldn't miss for the world. I held her hand through the follow-up tests, using her as my lifeline through the stress. I'm sure I was the same for her.The thumping sound of a heartbeat lifted a weight off my chest. Rhea cried from the sweet tast
Keeping one hand on his cheek, our lips a hair's breadth apart, I hooked my other arm around his neck. Chest to chest except for his hand on my breast, I breathed my promise into him. "I love you, Aleksander. Forever."A relieved shudder rushed through his body from head to toe. The stuttered sigh past his lips tickled my mouth. I repeated my vow to him, again and again, accompanied by each primal thrust of his hips. "I love you. I love you. I love you."Lush warmth blossomed in the center of my being. It rose from a taut coil in the depths of my core. All at once the carnal pleasure of Aleksander making love to me exploded through my body, rushing in waves from between my thighs to each of my limbs.Quaking against him with searing pleasure wracking my body, Aleksander couldn't hold back. My pulsing cunt forced him into the throes of his climax, following the heels of mine. He painted me from within, claiming me in the salacious way that I enjoyed.He caught my cries on his tongue, s
He seized me in his hands, tenderly stroking them over my fevered flesh. I didn't notice when the gloves came off, but I savored the sensation of his skin on mine. Aleksander explored every dip and curve of my body as if discovering me for the first time.His scruff tickled my throat as his lips tasted me from my chin to my collarbone. I wrapped my arms around his neck, and Aleksander grabbed my hips. In one swift motion, he lifted me off the floor. My legs curled around his waist.The stiffness of his growing erection slipped against the wet center of me. A groan escaped from his mouth into mine. We shared a brief moan at the sweet moment of friction.Aleksander's lips clashed with mine in a passionate frenzy. He moved forward, marching us under the hot spray of the shower. We didn't stop until my back met the tile, crushed between the shower wall and Aleksander's perfectly sculpted frame.I grasped the back of his hair in one hand, tugging slightly as Aleksander's teeth nipped at my
RHEA'S POV Every ounce of my consciousness slipped from my grasp the moment Aleksander freed me. While all the world moved around me, my thoughts stayed still within the pit of darkness consuming my mind. My awareness stayed on my pulsing veins, coursing with cold blood and the rough pounding of my heart throbbing through my limbs.Each breath cleaved through my lungs, strained and burning. Only the heat of Aleksander's hand on my arms kept me on my feet. He was my anchor to reality during a turbulent car ride, and as he swept me through the blinding lights of a semi crowded lobby.A hotel, I thought, somewhere downtown. My eyes couldn't focus on anything, from the onlooking strangers in the shadows to the overly bright glow of opulent lighting. Aleksander and Nikolai's hushed voices brushed against something inside my head. I knew they were with me, but I moved on autopilot.My body floated on a cloud. Up an elevator. Several turns down hallways that felt like a damn never-ending ma
Men screamed. Blood and brains splattered the walls and floors as they went down.A figure popped out around a corner. I fired one shot at his head, and he descended to the ground like an axed tree falling in a forest.Another came behind him. Too close to shoot from afar. My left arm shot out and blocked his. I used the momentum to force his aim up. My opponent shot and missed, bullets lodging in the ceiling. With my left hand, I pointed the gun at his stomach and fired two rounds.The last shot went into the side of his skull as he stumbled to his knees. Then he dropped like a stone on the filthy concrete.An arm emerged at the end of the corridor I passed through. I pulled the trigger, yet nothing left the chamber.Regardless of my unloaded pistol, I grabbed the arm in front of me. One twist of the wrist forced his weapon from his hand. The gun clattered away on the floor.The man grunted. When I jammed the butt of my gun into his face, breaking his nose, he screamed. As he fell, I
ALEKSANDER'S POV Nikolai burst from the front doors of the Makalov mansion. I followed hot on his heels, rushing toward the line of awaiting cars parked around the massive fountain at the end of the driveway.The very last thing Nikolai and I expected was to receive a call from an anonymous contact who worked for the Genovese. Someone in their organization vehemently opposed a potential war. Enough to give away Luca's location.Rhea was the one thing in this world I wanted more desperately than my body needed air. Luca Genovese stole her from me. Now betrayed by his own, I would take his life.The fiery glow of dusk settled itself over the horizon. A brisk wind whipped up the edges of my coat. My fingers twitched, itching for a cigarette to relieve my bristling nerves.Leaving Annika safe at the mansion, I joined my uncle in the backseat of the first car. Personal guards accompanied us. All well-trained and armed with the same pistol I carried.Savage anger writhed like a serpentine
"I'll handle it." The snarky response pulled me from my thoughts. Then the door at my back pushed open with a grating creak of metal on metal. I slammed back into reality, where I sat handcuffed to a chair in some semi-abandoned building.Every breath I took burned my chest. My body tensed with the fear running in my blood. As Luca's shadow rose ominously over the opposite wall, I couldn't breathe. I couldn't move a muscle as each sinister thump of his shoes carried him closer.Luca appeared in front of me with an eerie aura. His disturbing grin slashed wider upon finding me alert.I tried maintaining my gaze at first. He lasciviously ogled every inch of me with a malicious sneer, twisting his features. The threatening glint in his eyes forced my gaze down to his expensive leather loafers crunching on bits of broken glass beneath us."You're finally awake," Luca announced, cocking his head to the side. "The accident was unfortunate, but I didn't think your driver knew any defensive ma