RosalynNo one said anything about the possibility of the tongue being a pain reliever. Maybe I could share that discovery because I was a firsthand witness that it was.Hiswas.The way he kissed me,tastedme, made me forget the reason I was so close to blowing over fifty thousand dollars that should have been for a wedding dress.Mywedding dress. The way he held and touched me dampened all the painful memories that drove me to my brother’s enemy to offer him a proposal that could destroy everything Father had worked hard to build.I hadnever, everbeen kissed like this.When he groaned into my mouth like a hungry lion feasting on delicious prey and drove his fingers into my hair like he sought solace, I saw the white puffy clouds through airplane windows and the brown, rich, earthen peak of tall mountains. He brushed the hair away from my shoulder and nipped on the tender spot on my neck, and my head fell back in bliss. I saw colorful meadows, daffodils, and sunflowers. I heard morning b
The clouds? The meadows? The sunrise?Those were jokes compared to the intensity of fiery furnaces, boiling blood, and hearts banging from heated passion. At least, that was what I believed this moment to be—this moment where I was trapped in time with a sinfully beautiful man who could be my destruction.My black mourning gown was pooled at our feet, laying still beside my lace bra while I stood before him naked with nothing but my hair for cover. Unlike most girls my age, I didn’t like thongs. They were most uncomfortable, and I thought Nikolai would mind, but he’d hastily tugged my panties down my legs, almost ripping them off before lifting me and placing me on the soft rug.His hungry gaze burned every inch of me, from my face and my pebbled breasts to the low-shaven mound between my legs. I wished I could see through the unreadable granite expression on his face to know if he liked what he saw.I wasn’t as tall as most of the girls men like himhungwith or curvy enough to catch a
No compliments.“I guess that’s safer.” I lay back down, breathing harshly, waiting in anticipation while he tore the wrap, with my eyes glued to the ceiling and white-golden lights. Then, I accidentally murmured, “Can’t believeyouwalk around with a condom in your pocket.”“Oh, but I do.” I could almost hear the sardonic smile in his voice. “Just in case some random sister of an enemy walks up to me to join her fora glass of winewith the proposal to kidnap her.”He might not have meant what I heard, but I heard it anyway. I practically threw myself at this man. And before I was given a chance to change my mind, he eased inside me.My nails flew to his arm, and I gasped at the same time he caressed my hip and muttered a tortured but satisfied, “Fuck.”He muttered more Russian under his breath, rubbing my hips, sliding his hand up to cup one of my breasts. His eyelids grew heavier. He moved his hips again, and his lashes fluttered before his eyes closed.“Fucking…good….”The penetration
NikolaiThe last time I fucked a woman, I forgot what it felt like the second I pulled out of her. It was an empty void, a chasm that allowed the chill to echo through. Nothing but hard grunts and screams of pleasure. She’d begged for more, but I was done. And I’d been done for a while until...her.The Irish princess walked into the picture with no makeup, a simple dress, fluffy slippers, and a killer smile that ruined my night in the most unimaginable way possible. I’d never have thought such a night possible.Eyes glued to the ceiling, I kicked my legs up, lay back on the sectional sofa, and knotted my fingers over my groin, rewinding the events of last night. My jaw and fingers clenched. I wanted to stop thinking about it. Aboutallof it. How her petite body quivered in my arms, how sweet she tasted and felt. The smell of perfumed oil on her hair and fair skin. Tiny, dark beauty birthmarks scattered across her back in an eerie symmetric pattern that rivaled a masterful work of cosmi
Rosalyn Ronan’s pale skin was ablaze with a fierce, burning redness reminiscent of smoldering coals when I walked in, tucking my purse between my arm, with Hannah following quietly behind. The tall double doors to the living room clicked shut behind me, and I clasped my fingers together, waiting for it. The inevitable storm. The house should have been quaking now, the floors trembling under the angry stomps of his polished leather shoes as he marched up to me to yell at my incompetence and spit on my face. The maids and guards should have peeked through the windows, shaking their heads with false pity, while they watched as he yanked on my hair and dragged me up the stairs to my room. But he just sat there, glaring at me like he desired nothing more than to wrangle my throat. I was about to wonder why he couldn’t when I noticed the older man seated on the couch across from him. At the sight of his crooked lips smiling mischievously at me, my indifference flared to hate. Trist
Nikolai“Ace did good with this place. He probably didn’t want to answer queries concerning the money Niko put into it.”Anatoly laughed, baring full teeth as he threw his head back to take down a shot from a full tumbler, and though he found it amusing, Timur barely allowed a smile to grow on his face while he reshuffled the crystal-flared shooter glasses on the table to refill them. His biceps flexed under his coffee-brown suit, and the dancing lights from the flashbulbs bounced off his buzz cut.The mood was light, the energy was high, and it made the men loosen up a bit.“How much did he give ‘em?”“Almost a hundred grand.”Timur was impressed, and this time, he didn’t hide it. He straightened on the velvety sofa with a smug grin. Anatoly stretched for another refill. “He’s practically the owner.”“You could say that.”I glanced at the Rolex strapped on my wrist, and my eyes snapped to them. “You both know I am in the same fucking room, right?”Strobe lights pulsed like a freneti
But unlike before, when we’d rate our conquests and decide whether or not to see them again, that night with Rosalyn felt…like nobody else’s fucking business. I remembered that darn concern in her eyes, her naivety, and the soft shudders of her breath in my ears, and I got hit with an unexplainable urge of protectiveness.When I kept mute, he deduced his own answer and fired off another question. “How exactly does she want you to save her?”“She wants me to kidnap her before the wedding day.”Suspicious masked his expression on his face. “Sheaskedyou to kidnap her?”Irritation flooded my chest and rose in my throat like bitter bile.“Am I supposed to repeat myself?”He leaned forward, dropping his glass to show me how dead-serious he was. The corner of his lips turned to a firm, disapproving frown, and in that split second, he looked a lot like his father.“Niko, that’s madness. There’s nothing logical about the sister of an enemy willingly offering herself to be kidnapped. Don’t tell
The princess that wanted to run away so badly looked rather comfortable snuggled up to the side of the beast. We made eye contact, and she blushed, her cheeks assuming the fiery color of her hair. I struggled to keep my eyes on her face when all they wanted was to feast on that illusion gown that hugged her body like second skin. Every dip and curve and decent show of skin revved a sudden interest, a sudden burning sensation that threatened to drive me insane. When her gaze touched my arm wrapped over Katherine’s waist, she froze.“If it isn’t the notorious Nikolai Yezhov himself.” Tristan’s extended hand reminded me that he was present. I took his wrinkly hand in a firm shake and let go. “I heard about Onyx’sopening but never expected to see you here in person. I see you came here to unwind then.”His eyes lingered on Katherine. “This is Katherine Davis, a friend and business partner.”It might have been a figment of my imagination, but the princess visibly relaxed after I introduced
I managed a nod, knowing I was bare before this man, standing before him in a wet dress with no bra underneath and no panties. Just me, wearing my heart on my sleeve, giving him total undenied access, knowing fully well that he could squish me in the palm of his hands without blinking.His lips skimmed the inner part of my thighs, and his teeth grazed the skin on his path.“You should know, I do. I love it when we fuck, Rosa.” He looked up, locking me in with his eyes. “And I love you.”He slipped two fingers through my wetness and pushed them inside of me. I gasped, arched my back, dug my nailsinto his shoulders, and groaned in pleasure. My fingers found purchase in his hair, and overwhelming emotion made me rock my hips while the water hit my face.A fuse lit up inside me, assembling all the puzzle pieces and aligning my words. “I love you, too, Niko.”And I did love him, maybe even too much for my heart to contain.“Fuck,” he mumbled and kissed my thighs again.Euphoria unraveled i
“You were part of the best things that could have ever happened to me after Father died. There was almost nothing to laugh or smile about, but you managed to bring smiles to my face. When they pushed me around, you were always there to catch me. When I was freezing cold, you always had a blanket on standby. When I was sick, you made sure I was taken care of. Silent but observant. Cold yet warm, just enough to heat me up. I might never have believed in guardian angels if it weren’t foryou. Aiden, I’m forever grateful for those times. I am thankful that, even if you’ve never expressly admitted it, you loved me.”“I still do.”His outright, sudden confession dealt a sharp blow to my chest. I sucked in a deep breath, the weight of what I was about to do almost crushing me.“Aiden…I’m letting go.”“Rosalyn, wait—”“And it is a bit ironic that I am letting go when, really, neither of us were hanging on. But it is for the best. I will always cherish the friendship we had. But knowing that yo
“Let’s just not talk about the past anymore, okay?” She linked her arm through mine. “There’s a lot I’ve missed, I know. I heard Egor’s marriage announcement; it spread like wildfire, especially since he was getting married to that detective hottie.”“Freya,” I added for clarity. “They have two children now.”Her face grew red, and I knew she was going to cry again. Pulling her in for a side hug, I said, “You’re not going to fuckingcry, Nadia.” I looked at her, letting her see through the tough exterior guarding my heart. “Please.”She threw her head back, blinking the tears back amidst chuckles. “Okay. For that heartfelt plea, I won’t. I know it almost cost you your liver to say it. Wouldn’t want to ruin my makeup either.”“I’ll get you up to speed, but first, come, let me introduce you to Rosa, my wife. She’ll be waiting.”When we walked back to the table where my wife was meant to be waiting, she was nowhere to be found.****I found her by the lit garden, seated on the bench with
RosalynI finally met Nadia.I’d walked in to see her seated at our table with the most elegance. She was decent, at least toward me. Nice, friendly, and warm. Basically everything her brothers weren’t. I hadn’t gotten a chance to meet the oldest Yezhov sibling yet, Egor, but judging from Nikolai’s mannerisms and disciplined work ethic, I suspected there might have been a rub-off from thePahkanof the Bratva. Talking to Nadia had been like conversing with an older version of myself, a more resilient, focused, and successful version. In the short time we spent dining with her, she inspired me, and I was happy when Niko said we’d be seeing her more often.Now, we were back in the hotel room.Quietly, he went into the closet to do whatever he wanted to do there, and I walked over to the glass windows, brushing my fingers through the light curtains. I wanted to stop caring, but my heart refused to comply. Fuming, I let my hand drop from the curtains and folded my fingers into fists, diggin
“Let’s just not talk about the past anymore, okay?” She linked her arm through mine. “There’s a lot I’ve missed, I know. I heard Egor’s marriage announcement; it spread like wildfire, especially since he was getting married to that detective hottie.”“Freya,” I added for clarity. “They have two children now.”Her face grew red, and I knew she was going to cry again. Pulling her in for a side hug, I said, “You’re not going to fuckingcry, Nadia.” I looked at her, letting her see through the tough exterior guarding my heart. “Please.”She threw her head back, blinking the tears back amidst chuckles. “Okay. For that heartfelt plea, I won’t. I know it almost cost you your liver to say it. Wouldn’t want to ruin my makeup either.”“I’ll get you up to speed, but first, come, let me introduce you to Rosa, my wife. She’ll be waiting.”When we walked back to the table where my wife was meant to be waiting, she was nowhere to be found.****I found her by the lit garden, seated on the bench with
NikolaiI never thought I’d enjoy an evening dinner at a fancy restaurant so much thatIdidn’t want it to end. This moment with Rosa was beyond the physical attraction, that magnetic pull that just made me want to drag her back to the hotel room to fuck her as hard and as greedily as I wanted to.Something else was there. Something tangible that sparked a deeper interest as she revealed more sides of herself. The simmer started from the moment I saw her walk down that aisle. And after last night, I deluded myself into thinking I’d gotten that insane drive out of my system. Then, during our flight, it hit again, more forceful than before.Those darn leggings. The skin-tight fabric clung to her, every dip, curve, and soft angle pronounced. Watching her without being able to touch on that fucking jet was torture. So, I chose work over admiring.And again, the more we talked, the more I realized that a pantyhose and smart mind combination made it even more difficult to keep my shit togethe
“That dress was made for you,” he said, his voice dangerously low and husky.A flush rose to my cheeks as he approached me, his eyes never leaving mine. He reached out and gently adjusted the strap of my dress, and his cool fingers brushed my shoulders, his touch sending shivers down my spine.He smelled like soap and aftershave, and I wanted to bury my face in his neck.After a brief count of fifteen minutes, he was dressed in a plain black dress shirt, matching pants, and chestnut brown Italian leather soles. Then, he walked up to me. Undeniably handsome and drool-worthy.He offered his arm.“Shall we?”****We were both laughing until a teardrop slipped from my eyes.An hour since we’d arrived at the famousLa Coeur de la Vie, and we were already having a most splendid time. I couldn’t remember the reason for our laughter. The memory was vague, but I recalled pieces.It started from the menu. I didn’t know what to order, couldn’t even pronounce the words, butof course,Nikolai was fl
Paris?Now, reeling back to the present, we sat in an uncomfortable, awkward silence, facing each other in one of his private jets.“You’re staring.”I blinked, playing with my fingers and bouncing my sneakers on the beige cabin rug. “No, I’m not.”“Yes, you are.”“No, I’m not.”He turned off the iPad, slid it to the messenger bag, and folded his arms across his waist, looking up at me. Mirth lingered in his gaze, and he shrugged a shoulder.“Yes, you are.”I shifted my foot, crossing one leg over the other, and faced him squarely. The jet jerked under a wave of mild turbulence, and I glanced at the roof, calming my racing heart before responding. That quick scare somehow made me even more nervous.“How would you know?”“Easy. I could feel your eyes on me.”“I was looking out the window.”“Then, I guess, I’m the window.”A small smile tugged on my mouth. He was just so full of himself, wasn’t he? “You’re just proud. You think you’re the center of attention.”Mimicking me, he crossed h
Rosalyn“The name of the song is ‘Carry You Home’ by Alex Warren.” I put the phone down and looked up at him. “And Hannah was right; it isn’t a country song. The singer dedicated it to his wife. How romantic.”The corner of his lips made the smallest curve in a smirk, but he didn’t glance away from his phone. He kept tap, tap, tapping away. “You get a new phone, andthatis the first thing you decide to check.”I shrugged, folding my arms. “I guess.”Dismissively, he scoffed, returning his full attention to whatever business he had to attend to, and pulled out his iPad from the messenger bag on the passenger seat beside him.Shyly, I ogled him, sweeping my eyes from the snug fit of his bold Matcha green cashmere sweater to the black skinny jeans framing his lean, muscled thighs and then the suede glow of his black Timberlands. He looked delectable, and it almost hurt to look at how beautifully perfect this man was, so I looked out the window instead. Regardless, his image was permanentl