Aria."And they lived happily ever after," I sighed out the end of Beauty and the Beast for the second time that night. My eyelids were drooping, and I was relieved to see Mila's were finally fluttering closed. Max was already snoozing, a puddle of warmth against my thigh.I reached out, tucking a stray curl behind Mila's ear. She looked so peaceful in sleep, a sharp contrast to the turmoil I knew was stirring within her. The same turmoil I remembered all too well from my own childhood after losing my parents.Once I was sure they were both deep in dreamland, I rose, my gaze lingering on their innocent faces a moment longer before I silently treaded my way out of her room, a wave of fatigue washing over me.But as I passed by Axel's door, my heart thumped wildly in my chest. The door was closed, and the room behind it was silent, but I couldn't help the sudden flash of memories. His hot touch, his rough kisses, the way he took me in his bed… It was imprinted in my memory. My cheeks fl
Just as I was about to succumb to the inevitable, a pair of hands reached into the water, strong and steady. They scooped me up, dragging me up and out, hauling me against a hard chest. I gasped, lungs heaving as I sucked in a greedy breath, coughing and spluttering as the world slowly came back into focus."Take it easy," I heard a deep voice.Gasping for breath, I felt a rush of cold air against my skin as I stood in front of Axel. Completely disoriented, naked, and dripping wet, I reached instinctively for something to cover myself. There was nothing.Oh, fuck.My cheeks burned with embarrassment. Axel looked at me briefly, a spark of something – amusement or annoyance, I couldn't tell – shifting his stoic expression."Th-thank you," I stuttered out. The chill in his voice had done nothing to alleviate my flustered state. "I was…I was having a nightmare."A storm brewed in Axel's eyes, his words a knife-edge of frosty sarcasm. "Seems like you're struggling with the basics, krasotka
Aria."I…I don't know," I whispered, but his suffocating grip on my throat and the intensity of his gaze made it clear he didn't believe me."So, Aria," he growled, his fingers unyielding against my throat. "Or should I say Sonia? You thought you could fool me?""I'm…I'm not fooling you, Axel," I choked out, squirming in his grip."Why the fucking lies?" He glared at me, a storm of fury and lust swirling in his gaze."I…I…" My voice failed me. His question stung more than the harsh grip on my throat."Lies…deception…betrayal," he spat out, his free hand sliding down my back to my ass, his touch electrifying and threatening at once.His words hung in the air, punctuated by the dangerous slide of his hand over my curves. He dug into my flesh, claiming possession with a primal intensity that sent shivers down my spine."Did you think you could fool me?" he sneered, his voice a deadly warning. His hand slid between my thighs, exploring my arousal, a damning testament to the effect he had
AriaHe tilted his head as he digested this information. "And why would you do that?" he growled, suspicion lacing his every word. But his touch didn't falter; he kept the rhythm with ruthless precision, keeping me teetering on the edge."Oh, God," I moaned as he continued to play my body expertly. I could feel myself drawing closer, each deliberate stroke sending jolts through me. It was becoming increasingly difficult to form coherent thoughts, much less respond to his probing questions."I…I…I'm…going to…cum," I gasped out, the words a pitiful plea as my body writhed in anticipation of an orgasm. The delicious promise of relief was threatening to spiral me into depths of ecstasy I'd never known.A vicious grin spread across Axel's face, a cruel glimmer lighting up his eyes as he took in my desperation. "Oh, you want release, do you?" he growled, his voice low and menacing. "You – a lying, deceitful temptress – want satisfaction?"The harsh words stung more than any blow, cutting th
Axel."Mudak! What the fuck was I doing?"I shook my head, anger at myself heating my cheeks. Guilt gnawed at me, hot and relentless."Shit, Axel!"She was a goddamn wreck because of me. All because I couldn't control my fucking temper. Sitting there on the floor, trembling, crying her eyes out. It was all on me.A part of me wanted to rage, to shout and break something. I had arrived here in a mood. Viktor's betrayal was gnawing at my gut, a bitter reminder of my own failure.How the fuck did I not see it? Was I too blind? Too trusting?Trust. The word tasted like bile in my mouth. Could I ever trust anyone again after what Viktor did?Fuck, could Aria ever trust me after what I had just done? The questions hammered at me, relentless and cruel.But damn her, she was still breathtaking. Teary, flushed, all soft and shaken. Taking a deep breath, I sank to my knees in front of her.Axel Yakov on his knees. Who would've thought?But right then, none of the usual macho bullshit mattered."
Axel."Are you sure?" I questioned again, a faint layer of sweat forming on my brow. I needed to hear her say it."Yes," she breathed out, pulling me back by my nape. "I need you, Axel." The conviction in her voice shattered any of my lingering doubts.The sensation of the ripple of tiny bumps on her flesh sent a thrill through me as I navigated up her thighs, her skin searing beneath my fingertips as I found her slick lips and spread them."Fuck, you are so wet…Aria." I gave a raw groan as her hips bucked into my touch. I seized her mouth in a voracious kiss, the hunger unmistakable. Her grip tightened in my hair, her breath catching as the relentless rhythm I established drove her wild.Suddenly, she pushed me back a fraction. I frowned in confusion until her fingers fumbled with my belt, the metallic click resonating through the room. She reached for my pants, pushing them down. My cock sprang free, hard as a rock. I couldn't even remember the last time I'd been so turned on by som
Aria."Alright, Mila, if you have ten apples and I give you three more, how many do you have?" Miss Katya asked as she displayed the red apple-shaped blocks for Mila.I stifled a yawn, catching Mila's sparkling blue eyes as they intently focused on Miss Katya. Miss Katya was a vibrant young woman, her Russian accent lacing her words with a foreign charm as she animatedly explained simple addition and subtraction to Mila. Brightly colored blocks and plush toys served as teaching aids, making the concepts visually engaging for Mila."A lot of apples!" Mila giggled.Miss Katya laughed back. "Funny girl. But how many are there?""Fifteen," Mila chirped happily, her small fingers counting the apples one by one. Miss Katya praised her with a bright smile, encouraging her further.Mila's first class of the day was math. We sat in her "classroom," a small but well-equipped room tucked away in the expansive mansion. A whiteboard stood at the front, while colorful educational posters brightened
AriaI had to remind myself to keep my composure.Why did his voice affect me so much?"Is she free later today?" His tone was matter-of-fact, as if he hadn't just made my heart lurch in my chest.Swallowing the strange lump in my throat, I managed to keep my tone steady, "Well, Mila's got music lessons with Mr. Sergei at three and then art and crafts with Miss Olga at five."He nodded coolly. There was no hint of the warmth he had for Mila a moment ago, just polite acknowledgment. The absence stung sharper than I would have liked to admit.What exactly were you expecting, Aria?"Get changed and meet us in the lobby in fifteen minutes," he instructed, his tone final. His eyes didn't leave mine, but there was no warmth there, no softness – just a hard, distant formality that left me feeling empty."What? Where are we—?" I started to question, but he was already turning away from me, focusing his attention on Miss Katya."Don't keep us waiting," Axel cut me off again. His voice was void
ZaraA glimmer of hope ignited within me as I eyed the old, rusting doorknob. I'd seen enough action movies to know a thing or two about breaking locks. All I needed was one good swing, one good fucking hit, and that damn knob would fly right off. Picture the cool rush of freedom, right?But then, fucking typical, I heard the murmur of voices outside. My heart plummeted, ice-cold dread pooling in my gut."Cock-blocking bastards," I grumbled, my gaze darting to the locked door. I shoved the pipe back under the old cloth, concealing it as best as I could. Couldn't risk those fuckers finding my ticket out of this shithole. Not when Nilo's life hung by a thread.Crossing the room, I knelt next to Nilo, his face as pale as a ghost's. Each breath he took was shaky and labored. He needed the drugs. Now.Then the door creaked open, revealing two of Viktor's goons, their smug faces setting my teeth on edge. I forced a false smile, my heart hammering an erratic tattoo in my chest."Hey, asshole
Zara."A fucking week in this fucking shithole," I snarled, feeling the cold seep into my bones from the damp floor.The rat-infested room was a desolate pit of despair, and the sounds of revelry from the floor above made the gnawing ache in my stomach more potent.Beside me, Nilo, poor bastard, was barely hanging on. He was shivering, sweat-soaked, his face deathly pale. They'd been denying him his fix, and the withdrawal was kicking his ass. He needed his fucking drugs, and I needed a goddamn miracle.Nilo heaved again, and the foul smell of vomit filled the small space. My heart clenched, but I kept my face hard. I wasn't going to let them see me break."Get a grip, Nilo," I said, but it was gentler than I intended. He couldn't help it; the withdrawal was a bitch. "Fuck this!" I stormed over to the heavy iron door, slamming my fists against it. "Hey! Assholes! You gonna let him die in here?"The footsteps thudded closer, sounding like a damn drumbeat in my skull. The door groaned o
Axel.I watched as Aria trotted away with Mila, my sister urgently whispering something about needing to pee. It left me alone with Ekaterina. There was a pause as we watched them disappear into the house."You do good with Mila," Ekaterina finally broke the silence, and I was sure I heard pride in the words.Switching to our native Russian, I confessed to Ekaterina, "Mila's an easy kid. She's really warmed up to Aria, too. She thinks... well, she thinks Aria is like Belle from Beauty and the Beast." I shrugged. What did I know about kids' fairy tales?Ekaterina chuckled at that, a sound that took me back to simpler times. Then she looked at me warmly. "You seem happy, Axel," she remarked. "Truly happy. It's good to see you like this."I could feel the truth of her words, the lightness in my heart, the calmness that wasn't there before. She was right. I was happy.Her gaze moved to where Aria had just disappeared with my sister. "I like that one. Keep her. She might be young," she beg
Aria"Hungy time," Mila announced, slapping her tiny belly. The seriousness on her face, the sheer gravity of her statement, yanked a surprised laugh from both Axel and me."Again?" Axel looked surprised. She nodded, then giggled as her belly rumbled."Wait, that's not a thunderclap?" I mocked, a feeble attempt to wash away the red searing my cheeks. "Here I was, thinking we're due for a storm, but it's just Mila's stomach playing tricks!""No, silly!" Mila giggled, her laughter a soothing balm to the tension knotting in my chest.I sneaked a peek at Axel, catching him mid-stare. Our eyes met, and there it was – a gentle smile playing on his lips. Melting my heart.Oh God, please don't do that."See that?" He gestured toward the vast, open sky, hues of pinks and oranges bleeding into each other. The sunset. Gorgeous, yet an unwanted reminder of time flying.A swift check of my wristwatch confirmed it – we'd been there for hours, tangled in our problems, our fears. My fears."Let's hea
Aria.The name crashed into my mind, a vicious reminder of the web I was tangled in.Viktor.The man who had my brother.The man who had my best friend.The man who sent me into the lion's den to spy.The man who murdered his own brother-in-law, Axel's father.My stomach churned at the revelation, and for a moment, I feared I might lose my lunch right there, on top of that serene hill, in front of those majestic tombstones.The same fear snaked up my spine, coiling tightly around my heart.What was I to do now?The air felt heavy around me, pressing down on my chest.I needed to breathe. I needed to think.I needed to run!But right then, all I could do was freeze, my hand still resting on Axel's shoulder. His hand came up, gently clasping mine. The warmth, the spark that leaped at the contact... it was undeniable.He slowly stood up and turned to face me.Just when I thought things couldn't get more complicated, the universe proved me wrong. And for the first time since stepping into
Axel."I- I didn't know. I'm sorry," Aria stammered, her gaze lingering on the distant gravestones.Suddenly Mila rushed past, breaking the moment. I was grateful for the distraction. "Axel, Max is being silly!""Slowly, Mila!" Aria called, but her eyes stayed locked with mine. They were wide pools, sucking me in. There was more of that goddamned silence, and now I was really regretting bringing her here. Too many questions. Too much to explain.Mila returned, tugging on my sleeve. "Look at what I picked, Axel!"I crouched down to her level and took a moment to admire the bunch of flowers she thrust in my direction. "Mama would have loved these, Mila. She loved wildflowers.""Did she?" Mila looked at me, her innocent eyes wide with curiosity. "I was too small when she went to heaven.""Da, you were just a baby, malyška," I confirmed, scooping her up and hoisting her onto my shoulders. From her perch atop my six-foot-three frame, she must have felt like she was on top of the world."Le
Axel."BLURP!"The gurgling noise was loud enough to be heard around the room. And it was a sound that came from Mila's belly. I watched as she successfully annihilated her second bowl of macaroni. Finally, she sat back, licking her lips and patting her full stomach.Aria couldn't hide the grin tugging at her lips. "Your sister's got quite the appetite, Axel."I laughed back, nodding at the observation. "You've no idea."Mila was now trying to sneak a portion to the dog."Malyška," I said, giving her a pretend stern look, "Don't turn Max into a macaroni junkie."Mila raised her eyebrows, her expression one of pure innocence. "What's wrong with that?""Nothing, if Max were a human like us," I retorted. "But dogs... they don't digest pasta the same way."She squinted in thought. "Max likes it.""No doubt," I agreed, nodding at the puppy. "But we should stick to dog-friendly stuff next time, yes?"Max yapped as if throwing in his two cents. Mila exploded into giggles, and even Aria joine
"Alright, Mila. Ready to chow down on that macaroni?" I asked, swiftly changing my focus.In one fluid motion, Axel strolled over and hoisted Mila into his arms, placing a smacking kiss on her rosy cheek. A sound that could only be described as pure, unadulterated glee exploded from Mila, lighting up the room in a way no chandelier ever could.The scene felt unreal, like I'd somehow crash-landed in the middle of a family sitcom. But this wasn't television, and there were no commercial breaks coming to relieve the tension building within me. The jovial brother, the innocent child – their joyous laughter at odds with the spiraling thoughts in my mind."Did I tell you, Aria?" Mila suddenly piped up, turning her bright, expectant gaze on me. "Next week, it's my birthday!" She practically bounced with excitement.Next week? Hell. I didn't even know if I'd be around in the next hour.I felt like a fraud, smiling and nodding at this little girl, knowing what I had in store. I could barely st
Aria."Aria."The sound of my name jerked me from my thoughts, making me drop the damning burner phone onto the bed. I spun around to find Mila peeking through the slightly ajar door. Her big blue eyes, disoriented from a deep nap, squinted at me."Mila," I said, trying to regulate my heartbeat. "You scared me." Gathering myself, I quickly tucked the phone back into my purse and forced a reassuring smile on my face."Sorry," she mumbled, her little fingers gripping the door. She ambled into the room, still dazed from sleep, blonde curls framing her sweet face. "I just woke up," she said, rubbing her eyes sleepily. "And I'm hungry."A pang of affection softened my features. "Hungry?" I echoed, rising from the bed. Her innocence in this whirlwind of danger was so at odds with what was at stake. "Well, we can't have that. I smelled something good wafting from downstairs. Want to go down there?"Her face brightened immediately, any remnants of sleep chased away. "Really? What is it?""Com