by Paige Warren
I didn’t want this! I only wanted…Ivan. I wanted Ivan.
“No! Stop, please! I…. I want Ivan. Get Ivan!”
Whoever had me placed a kiss on my pubic bone before stroking my body again. Horror filled me when I felt myself growing wet, my nipples tightened, and my body responded to whoever held me down.
“I need Ivan!” I screamed. Even if I couldn’t hear my voice, I felt the pain in my throat and knew I’d been louder than before.
Abruptly, the man pulled back. He removed the plugs from my ears and then the blindfold. I blinked rapidly, trying to adjust the suddenly bright room. My gaze found Ivan’s and I realized he’d been with me all along. He’d been the one touching me. My body relaxed, and my fear receded.
“I’m sorry, kiska. I didn’t know how else to break through. You were too scared of what you were feeling.”
“How did you know?” I asked. “How did you know I wanted you? What if I hadn’t?”
He cupped my cheek and brushed his thumb across my lips. “I just knew. There were flashes in your eyes when you didn’t quite control your emotions. I saw your need, your hunger. It matched my own. I need you, kiska. I’ve wanted you since before that day at your uncle’s house.”
I yanked at the restraints, but he didn’t free me. “What do you mean? I didn’t see you before then.”
“You might not have noticed me, but I saw you. Your uncle took you to a restaurant, then left you with some men. As payment for his debts. You were so beautiful, so haunted. I knew I had to have you. I’d never wanted anyone more.”
I didn’t know what to think. Why hadn’t he just taken what my uncle offered? He could have had his pleasure and been on his way. But he hadn’t. Instead, he’d taken me, brought me to his home, and he planned to marry me. I didn’t know why.
“What does liybimaya mean?” I asked.
His lips twitched as if he fought not to smile. “My love.”
I stared, not quite comprehending his words. “You love me?”
He knelt on the bed, bracing his arms on either side of me. “Yes, Imogen. I love you. I think I fell for you that very day.”
Tears blurred my vision as he lowered his head and kissed me. My body heated as he caressed and kissed every inch of me. I pleaded for release, begged him to let me come. Finally, he filled me with his cock, using slow, deep strokes to drive me to utter madness. When I didn’t think I could take it another moment, he changed his angle and hit just the right spot inside me and I came, screaming out his name as my body tensed and pleasure washed over me in waves.
“That’s it, kiska. Come for me.”
He drove into me harder and faster until I felt the heat of his release. He panted for breath as he brushed a kiss against my lips. He pressed his hips tighter against me, his cock still semi-hard.
“I’ll stay here a bit longer,” he said. “Need to make sure every drop stays inside you.”
And just like that, the spell was broken. It was like having ice water dumped over my head. What would he do if he found out I might not be able to give him children?
Chapter Six
Ivan
The priest married us at our home, under the arbor out back. Imogen was breathtaking in her wedding dress, but something bothered her. I’d felt her withdrawal last night, and shadows lingered in her eyes this morning. Something had changed. I just couldn’t figure out what.
She smiled politely as people gave us their blessing. I had only invited a few close friends and Pavel, who’d brought his wife along. The others had dates. Women they’d thought would set Imogen at ease. It hadn’t worked. If anything, she seemed even more tense each time one of them approached.
Dimitri pulled me aside and handed me a sheath of papers. I flipped through them, skimming the lines.
“Just tell me,” I said. “You wouldn’t give this to me right now if you hadn’t found something.”
Dimitri rocked back on his heels and nodded toward the hall. I followed him, not sure if I should leave Imogen unprotected or not. I trusted the men, and Pavel’s wife, but the other women were another matter.
“Your wife ended up pregnant after her uncle started loaning her out to pay off his debts. They forced her to have an abortion. It wasn’t at a clinic, but in her uncle’s home.” Dimitri folded his arms over his chest. “You should have a doctor check her over, make sure they didn’t cause lasting damage. It’s possible she’s barren.”
I heard a gasp and spun to find Imogen in the doorway, the blood drained from her face and her hand over her mouth. Her wide eyes filled with tears and she looked like someone had ripped her heart out.
“Kiska, is that what’s been bothering you? All my talk of children and you were worried you wouldn’t be able to have any?” I asked.
A soft sob escaped her as she nodded and took a step back. I lunged after her, latching onto her wrist and pulling her closer. The pain and fear in her eyes felt like someone had punched me in the gut with brass knuckles. I never wanted to see her so scared ever again.
“Liybimaya, it doesn’t matter.”
“It does,” she whispered. “You want children. You’ve been trying so hard to get me pregnant, and I…”
I cupped her cheek and kissed her softly. “I love you, kiska. If we have children, I will count my blessings. If we don’t, then I’ll still have you. Look at me.”
Her gaze lifted to mine and she sucked in a breath as more tears slipped down her cheeks. I pressed my forehead to hers. This woman. So fragile yet so strong. She undid me.
“You’re mine, kiska. And you’re all I need. I love you. Not your womb. You.”
“Ivan, I feel like a failure. I can’t give you what you want, and you saved me from the hell I’d been living in for years.”
Dimitri snorted. “Not to break up this love fest, but you’re being an idiot, Imogen. Ivan loves you and doesn’t give a shit if you can get pregnant. You have each other, and it’s all either of you needs. Now kiss the man and go live happily-ever-after.”
She laughed through her tears and pressed her lips to mine. Did I want children with her? Of course. Not having them wasn’t the end of the world, though. If we were blessed with one or two, I’d consider myself lucky. But just having Imogen in my arms, knowing she was mine until I drew my last breath was all I needed.
“Come, kiska. Let’s visit with our friends a little longer, then send them on their way so we can celebrate by ourselves. Dimitri had a good idea. I’ll set an appointment for you tomorrow, have a doctor check you over to make sure they didn’t cause any damage when they forced the abortion on you. But tonight is for happy memories.”
Imogen leaned against my arm as I led her back into the room where the others were waiting. I noticed the women were gone, except Pavel’s wife. I didn’t question where they’d gone, or why. Imogen relaxed at my side and I silently thanked all of them for seeing to her comfort.
When we bade everyone goodbye, I lifted my bride into my arms and carried her up to our suite. Someone had left rose petals scattered across the floor and bed. A soft glow came from the bathroom and I noticed a steaming tub of water with candles set around the room. It seemed the staff had gone above and beyond to make this night special. I’d be sure to compensate them later for the extra effort.
Two flutes of champaign were on the dresser with a note.
Zhelayu vam oboim more schast’ya.
“It seems the staff are happy we’re married,” I said. “They’ve congratulated us and left champaign.”
“It feels strange,” she said.
“What does?” I asked, turning to face her.
“We’ve shared this room for several days now. It’s not like we haven’t been intimate, but it feels different tonight. Not just because of the flowers and stuff either. It’s…”
“More intimate? Because you’re my wife?” I asked.
She nodded.
“Come, liybimaya. Let me help you from
your dress. Go soak in the tub with your champaign and I’ll join you in a moment.”
She came closer and gave me her back. I unfastened all the small buttons down the back and eased the garment from her shoulders, then carefully draped it over my arm. I carried it into the bathroom and hung it in her closet, wanting to preserve the dress. My wife stood in the doorway, watching me. The white lace corset she’d worn under her dress pushed her breasts up until they nearly spilled from the cups. White stockings adorned her legs, held up by garters at her thighs.
“Breathtaking. I’m a very lucky man, kiska.”
She gave me a soft smile and I helped her remove the rest of her clothes. After I assisted her into the tub and handed her one of the flutes, I undressed and grabbed the second one. I eased down into the water behind her, then tugged her back against my chest. I sighed as she settled against me, sipping her drink.
“Are you happy?” I asked.
“Of course, Ivan! I admit I was scared at first, thinking you’d end up being like the others. As much as I wanted you, I was terrified it was all a big lie.”
I rubbed my hand against her belly then reached up to cup her breast. “I’d never hurt you like that, kiska. The pain I give you will always end in pleasure. And I promise to never again scare you the way I did last night. It was a means to an end and nothing more. It ripped me apart having to do that to you, hearing you plead for mercy.”
“I thought you’d gotten tired of me and handed me over to someone else,” she admitted. “It’s what finally made me say what you’d wanted to hear. I’d needed you before then, but I couldn’t let myself believe it. My mind and my heart were at war with each other.”
I stroked my fingers over her nipple, feeling it harden as she gave a soft gasp. Her back arched and I knew she needed more. I set our glasses aside. I continued to tease her nipple while I eased my other hand down her body and between her legs. Her thighs parted eagerly as I brushed the lips of her pussy.
Mine. All mine. My wife. My everything. No one would ever take her from me. I’d kill them if they tried.
I worked the hard little bud between her legs as her hips undulated. The water sloshed over the side of the tub as she chased her pleasure. I worked first one finger then two inside of her, thrusting them in and out.
“Yes! Ivan, please. I need more.”
I worked her pussy while I pinched and tugged at her nipple. When she came, I didn’t even give her time to ride out her orgasm. I lifted her hips and pulled her down as I thrust up, impaling her on my cock. She cried out again, her hands gripping the side of the tub. I held her in place as I thrust up into her, each stroke harder and deeper than the last. I grunted as my hips jerked faster.
“Rub your clit. Make yourself come,” I commanded.
She reached down and brushed her fingers over the little bud, her fingertips flicking against my cock as she rubbed. I groaned and knew I couldn’t last. Her pussy squeezed me tight and my hips jerked faster as I let loose, not stopping until every drop of cum had been wrung from my balls.
“Fuck! You’ll be the death of me, kiska. But in the best of ways.” I pressed a kiss to the side of her neck as my cock jerked and twitched inside her.
“I love you, Ivan.”
“Love you too, kiska. So fucking much.”
My cock still inside her, I tugged her close against my chest while wrapping my arms around her. This was only the beginning. Now that she’d given herself to me, had stopped hiding what she needed and wanted, I knew we’d have many happy years together.
Epilogue
Imogen
Six Months Later
I stared at the doctor, thinking I must have misheard him. After our wedding, the man Ivan had taken me to claimed it would be impossible for me to have children because of the scarring on my womb from the abortion. But the man in front of me said otherwise.
“Excuse me?” I asked.
The doctor smiled. “You’re pregnant, Mrs. Lenkov. About six weeks if my calculations are correct. We’ll know more at your first ultrasound.”
I opened and shut my mouth. “Pregnant? But Dr. Jelinski said it was impossible.”
“Well, he was wrong. But his original findings are why I took both blood and urine. The tests came back positive. I’d thought you’d be happier.”
My heart pounded in my chest and my palms grew damp. “I am. I just… It’s hard to process. After believing I’d never have children, you’re suddenly saying I’m pregnant, and I… I’m not sure what to think or how to feel. It’s…”
“Overwhelming?” he asked.
I nodded.
“Go home and share your good news, Mrs. Lenkov. If I know Ivan, he’ll be thrilled. And extremely protective. I hope you’re prepared to feel like a caged bird until the baby arrives.”
I placed a hand over my belly. “What if I can’t carry to term?”
“There’s always the possibility of that happening, even with someone who hasn’t had your past, Mrs. Lenkov. I’ll call in a prescription for prenatal vitamins. You’ll want stronger ones than the type you get over the counter. I’m also going to recommend you do things in moderation. Don’t suddenly start going to the gym every day or take up jogging.” He cleared his throat and lowered his voice a little. “And tell your husband to be…gentle in the bedroom.”
My cheeks burned and I nodded. After my appointment wrapped up, I walked to my car in a daze. Ivan had made sure I’d learned to drive and had gotten my license, then he’d purchased a car for me. It was the same as his, but a different color. I collapsed onto the driver’s seat, my mind reeling from what I’d learned.
I went home on autopilot, hardly aware of my surroundings. I somehow made it into the driveway before I stopped and seemed to freeze completely. I heard Ivan shouting as he raced toward me after I’d been sitting there for who knew how long. He shut off the car and tugged me into his arms.
“Imogen, what’s wrong? What happened?”
He sounded frantic and it had the effect of ice being dumped over my head. The fog lifted and I focused on his concerned face.
“Nothing. Nothing’s wrong, I’m just… a little in shock I think.”
Ivan lifted me into his arms and carried me inside. He sat in his favorite chair in the living room and settled me across his lip, smoothing my hair back from my face. “Kiska, what happened?”
“I saw Dr. Semenov. He said…” I stopped and licked my lips, suddenly nervous over how Ivan would react.
“He said what?” Ivan’s hold tightened on me.
“I’m pregnant,” I blurted. My cheeks warmed and I looked into his eyes. They darkened and his lips parted before he let out a whoop and crushed me in a tight hug.
“My beautiful, stunning, talented wife is pregnant!” He grinned so big I thought his face might crack.
“I’m hardly talented, Ivan. Women get pregnant every day.”
“But my woman doesn’t.” He kissed me tenderly. “I’m so happy, kiska. You were more than enough, but this… this is a miracle. We’ve created a life together.”
I pressed his hand to my belly and told him about Dr. Semenov’s warning when it came to the bedroom and anything strenuous. I saw the flash of worry in Ivan’s eyes and knew the doctor had been right. My husband was about to wrap me in cotton and refuse to let me lift a finger to do anything. He’d probably carry me room to room, for fear I’d trip and hurt myself.
“I will take the best care of you, liybimaya. Both of you,” he vowed.
“I know you will.” Smiling I kissed him again. “You’ve always taken care of me, Ivan. With you, I’ll always be safe and always be loved. This baby might be a miracle, but you were the first miracle in my life. My savior. My husband. My love.”
When the Bratva had come to my uncle’s house all those months ago, I’d been terrified, thinking I’d be made to suffer yet again. It had never occurred to me that Ivan would rescue me, make me his wife, and fall in lo
ve with me. And I certainly hadn’t thought I’d ever love a man like him, but I did. Yes, he did bad things, and he’d hurt people. But I knew he’d never harm me. I was his world, and he was mine.
Somehow, I’d managed to get my happily-ever-after. And now that I carried his child, our fairytale ending was complete. Or it would be once our baby arrived safe and sound. I’d do whatever it took to guarantee nothing happened to our child because I knew no one would ever be more loved or wanted.
I’d been taken by the Bratva. Claimed by a monster. And given freedom in the most unexpected of ways.
Dear Reader,
Taken by the Bratva is a short novella for those who need an escape from reality but are short on time. We hope you enjoyed the story and will take a moment to leave a review or rating at the retailer of your choice, or at Goodreads or BookBub. We appreciate your support!
If you’d like to read a longer Mafia romance by us, check out Collateral Damage (Owned by the Mob), published with Changeling Press.
Paige & Harley
Collateral Damage by Paige Warren & Harley Wylde
Preview …
All rights reserved.
Copyright ©2019 Harley Wylde & Paige Warren
Cerys
I could hear my heart thundering in my ears as I strained to listen to my father’s conversation. The men had forced their way into our home, and I’d heard the crash of furniture. At first, I’d been terrified because I’d thought we were being robbed. Now I knew different. I’d known my father was in trouble, but I didn’t realize how much. Money had been tight for a while, since Mom died several years ago. Things had been getting better, or so I’d thought. I never realized the reason we suddenly had money, or rather my father suddenly did, was because of some shady dealings he’d had with the wrong men. He’d claimed he’d been working, and I thought things were going well. Had he lied to me? Why did he always have to control me? Everything he did seemed to be designed for the express purpose of keeping me under his rule, and miserable.
