by S. C. Daiko
He shot me a shifty look and put them face-down. “Nothing of concern to you.”
Hmm…
“Why did you wanna see me?” I tilted my head toward him.
“I won’t beat about the bush.” He leaned forward in his seat and captured me in his stern gaze. “Pasha came to visit me this morning. He asked my permission to request your hand in marriage and I said yes.”
My stomach lurched and I let out a gasp. “No!!! This is the twenty-first century. I don’t love Pasha, and I’m sure he doesn’t love me. This is something you’ve cooked up with his father…”
Papa banged his fist down on the table. “While you live under my roof you will do as I tell you.”
Ha, he didn’t deny it.
I set my jaw. “I want to get my own place. Be independent. Be my own person, not yours nor any man’s to command.”
He snorted out a derisive laugh. “Your mother and I raised you for marriage. How do you expect to cope as a single woman? You’ve never lived by yourself…”
“Please, Papa.” I shuffled my chair even closer to him. “I won’t know until I’ve experienced it. Being marooned on that island opened up a whole new world to me.”
“Living like a savage?” He creased his brow. “Did Ben Collins put you up to this? Encourage you to disrespect me?”
I placed my hand on my chest. “He has nothing to do with it. I learned some things about myself which made me realize how empty my life has been up until now.”
Papa raised his eyebrows. “You and he… you didn’t…?” His cheeks flushed as he struggled to put his suspicions into words.
“What are you insinuating?” I folded my arms. “I coped on that island. I found out that I’m resourceful. You should be proud of me.”
“I’ll be proud of you when you marry Pasha,” he barked.
“Not going to happen.” I flared my nostrils. “Tomorrow I need to visit my doctor then I’ll go look at some apartments.”
“And how do you expect to pay the rent?” His tone had turned snide.
I glared at him. “I have my trust fund…”
“I created that fund. I can break it with a snap of my fingers.”
My mouth fell open. “You wouldn’t…”
“I would and I will. Obey me, daughter, or else.”
I scraped back my chair and jumped to my feet. “Go ahead and break the trust,” I hissed, my voice brittle. “I’ll get a job. Pay the rent from my paycheck like everyone else.”
He laughed so hard tears ran down his face. “Calm down. Sleep on it. In the morning you’ll realize I’m right.” He rubbed his chin. “Why do you need to see your doctor, by the way? Are you sick?”
“Just a check-up,” I said nonchalantly, although I was anything but. I’d have to make that appointment first thing.
Hopefully they’ll be able to fit me in on short notice.
“Go to your room,” Papa waved me off with a sneer. “Your mother will ask Cook to send supper to you on a tray. Consider your options carefully, Alyona. It’s a hard world out there. I don’t think you have what it takes to make your way in it on your own.”
My own father doesn’t believe in me. Sends me to my room like a naughty child…
I brushed tears of disappointment and rage from my eyes. Swiveling on my heel, I left him without a further word.
My breath rasped. I clenched my hands so tight my nails bit into my palms as I headed toward my bedroom.
I’ll show him.
I’ll fucking show him.
I’ll make my own way in the world and prove him wrong.
I was tempted to call Ben and share what had happened. But it would only provoke him to take matters into his own hands and come storming over here.
I barely ate the supper Cook delivered to my room.
My belly ached and my breasts felt swollen.
God, I hoped I wasn’t pregnant.
It’s not that I don’t want Ben’s baby. But now just isn’t the right time.
No point in worrying myself into a meltdown, I decided as I got ready for bed. I stared at my reflection in the mirror, at my coffee-colored skin and sun-bleached hair.
Ben said he’d call me as soon as he was back. My heart hammered in my chest. If I could get away from my bodyguard, I’d go to him.
Holding that thought in my head, I pulled back the sheets and stretched out on the mattress. Still too soft, so I spread my sheet on the floor like last night and hugged my pillow. Just thinking about Ben made me feel horny, and I dropped my hand between my legs. I bit down on my lips while I fingered myself, remembering how I’d done it for him all those weeks ago and where it had led. With a deep moan, I stepped up the pressure and rocked my hips against the press of my hand until I exploded whimpering his name.
Sleep came quickly afterward and I woke late. Mom had gone to her Pilates class, so I enjoyed a light breakfast alone before making the dreaded appointment. I spent the rest of the morning online and discovered an organization promoting the sustainable use of the oceans and aquatic habitat conservation; I contacted them to offer some of the pics I’d taken of the tuna fishing in the Maldives. Scrolling through the photos, I was relieved when I realized I hadn’t taken any of Carl. He’d been skulking around behind me as I was framing the shots that I took of Ben.
Warmth spreading through me, I gazed at my lover’s image. God, he was handsome. His strong arms were holding the rod high, his dark hair lifted by the breeze. How I wanted to run my fingers through his curls and press myself into those rock-hard pecs.
Mom came home for lunch and we ate together in the opulent dining room. If Papa had told her what had passed between us last night, she made no mention of it. I wasn’t in the mood for further confrontation, so I drew her into a conversation about how her charities were doing. She offered to come with me to my OB-GYN appointment, but I declined. “My periods have become irregular,” I said by way of explanation, hoping that was in fact the case.
“It’s no wonder with everything you’ve gone through,” she said before daintily wiping her mouth with a linen napkin.
I pecked her cheek, then went to change out of my shorts and t-shirt into a turquoise off-the-shoulder cotton mini dress.
“’Bye, Mom,” I called out, snatching up my purse.
I exited the front door, and Iosif, the bull who’d watched over me since I was a teen, fell into step beside me.
“Is this really necessary?” I huffed. “I’m visiting my OB-GYN.”
“Sorry, Alyona. Boss’s orders,” he grunted.
Built like a tank, Iosif’s sole purpose in life, other than the online card games he indulged in on the sly whenever he didn’t think anyone was looking, had been to protect me. He’d even been detailed to watch over me in boarding school. As far as I was aware, Papa had gone legit years ago, but he told me he still had enemies from the old days who wouldn’t hesitate to use me against him.
Papa’s driver had taken him to a business meeting in his Audi, so Iosif drove the SUV. Weirded out, I stared at the busy streets as I rode to the clinic in Brighton Beach. This time last week I was still on the island, braiding coconut husks and cooking slivers of fish on a hot rock by a smoky fire.
This all still feels totally unreal.
Half an hour later, I was sitting next to Iosif in the clinic’s long, narrow waiting room. The wide chairs were comfortable with plush seating pads, and there were planters filled with pink and white roses. Posters on the walls showed the various stages of pregnancy.
Worry squeezed between my ribs.
I can’t be pregnant. I just can’t be…
A young dark-haired nurse called out my name, and I got to my feet.
Iosif retrieved his cellphone from his pocket with a grunt, and I left him playing one of his games.
Dr. Phillips beamed a smile at me as I entered his consulting room. “Take a seat, Alyona,” he said. “Tell me what I can do for you.”
I scraped a trembling hand through my hair
while I explained my concerns.
“How long is it since your last period?”
I blushed. “I’m not sure. The days got kind of muddled up on the island.”
“You’ve had unprotected sex, I take it?” he asked in a calm tone.
I’d known Dr. Phillips since I was thirteen and Mom had taken me to see him because I hadn’t started my periods yet. I’d nearly died of embarrassment, but he’d been completely reassuring there was nothing wrong with me.
“We used the withdrawal method,” I confessed.
“Hmm,” he steepled his fingers. “Not exactly failsafe.”
He handed me a beaker and indicated toward a door at the side of the room. “Can you provide me with a urine sample?”
I did as he’d asked, returning with the beaker half-full. The nurse took it from me. “I’ll be back with the result asap,” she said, smiling.
“You’ve had quite an ordeal,” Dr. Phillips said, indicating for me to take a seat. “Stress can throw off your hormones. You’ve also lost a lot of weight, which can stop ovulation.”
I twisted my hands in my lap, my heart thudding.
The nurse returned.
My heart raced even faster.
“The test is negative,” she announced, and I released the breath I’d been holding.
“Thank God.”
I lowered my head, sudden disappointment swelling inside me. I knew it was the wrong time to have a baby; I still had to make my own way in the world and prove to Papa how wrong he was. And yet… and yet, a part of me was sad and hurting at the loss of what would have been a piece of Ben growing inside me.
Our baby.
Made up of the two of us.
Confirmation of our love.
With a heavy sigh, I rubbed my belly, then explained how I’d been experiencing cramps and sore breasts.
“Hmm,” Dr. Phillips said. “Your test might have been a false negative. If you still haven’t gotten your period by next week, make another appointment for a repeat.”
I drew in and slowly released a deep breath.
Oh, God…
“I’ll examine you now,” Dr. Phillips said. “Then we’ll discuss birth control.”
I’d never had a pap test before, but I gritted my teeth and stared up at the ceiling during the slightly uncomfortable procedure.
Twenty minutes later, I stepped out of the consultation room. After discussing the different options, Dr. Phillips had given me a prescription for the pill, to be started within five days of my period showing up. “You’ll need to use a condom in the meantime,” he’d warned. “And I’ll see you next week if you haven’t bled yet.”
Out in the corridor leading to the waiting room, my cellphone chimed in my purse.
I reached for it and stared at the screen.
Ben’s calling me via Messenger!
“Hey,” I answered, a wide smile on my face. “Where are you?”
“At my apartment in Manhattan. Can you come over?”
I didn’t hesitate for one second. “What’s your address?”
“I’ll ping it to ya,” he came right back at me.
We disconnected and I turned around, heading down the corridor away from the waiting room. I knew from a previous visit there was a fire escape at the back of the building. With luck, I’d be half-way to Manhattan before Iosif finished his card game and asked about me.
I stepped up my pace to a run.
Chapter Eighty-Two
Brash
Crutch under my arm, I hobbled up and down the living room at my penthouse apartment in the Lower East Side. My dick was twitching. Down boy! Aly meant more to me than her luscious pussy. But the mere sound of her soft voice had been enough to make me hard.
I was a lucky bastard she loved me despite my brashness getting us marooned on that island; I’d been careless about safety on the seaplane, never for a minute thinking anything would ever go wrong. And it wouldn’t have if it weren’t for that crazy son of a bitch Carl.
I bet the mofo screwed around with the locator beacon on the life-raft; he was fucking insane.
Anaan had visited me in the hospital shortly before I’d been discharged. Told me Semion had fired him. I immediately reinstated my pilot. Semion was a sleeping partner in the business; he had no authority to fire anyone.
My guess is he won’t be a partner much longer.
His high-handed behavior didn’t bode well for our future working relationship. I didn’t need him, anyway. Investors had been lining up to join me in the venture. If he pulled out, I’d find someone else.
My doorman buzzed before I could continue my train of thought. “Miss Abramovich is here, sir,” he announced.
“Please, send her up.”
I rested my crutch against the wall and impatiently jittered my foot on the white oak floor outside my private elevator.
The doors opened with a ping, and there she was, gazing at me uncertainly.
Bracing myself, I opened my arms wide.
She flew into my embrace. “How’s your leg, honey?”
“A lot better,” I said, pressing my nose into her silky hair and inhaling her fresh scent. “You’re no longer my wild woman,” I chuckled.
“I went to Mom’s salon,” she sighed. “But I’m still the same underneath.”
“My beautiful Aly.” I brought my mouth down on hers.
She scraped her sharp little teeth along my lower lip.
I hardened against her.
We clung to each other, breathless.
I sucked her tongue, biting down on it, and she whimpered into my mouth.
Gripping her tighter, I walked us backward, kissing her relentlessly until her spine pressed against the wall.
I dry-fucked her, tilting my pelvis while she nipped at my lips.
“Gotta get inside you, babe,” I groaned. “I’m about to break through my zipper I’m so fucking hard.”
“I want you so bad.” Her voice was throaty with want.
I set her down. “Need a condom…”
Nothing like donning a rubber to dampen the heat of the moment.
She stared at me while I reached into my pants pocket. I tore open the foil with my teeth. “Unzip me, babe, and put it on.”
Her pink tongue poking out of the corner of her mouth, she knelt and sheathed me like she’d been born for it. “They taught us how to do this in sex ed classes,” she giggled.
“Come here,” I growled, lifting her up. “Wrap your legs around my waist.”
I held her against the wall with my hips while I pulled down her soaking panties and slipped a finger inside her.
So wet.
So tight.
So… mine.
I pulled out my finger and sucked on it.
Delicious.
Groaning, I rubbed the head of my cock against her pussy, coating it with her wetness. Then I thrust upward and claimed her.
I gripped her waist with one hand and slid the palm of my other against the wall while I fucked her furiously.
“I’ve missed this so much.” I thrust hard. “Tell me you’ve missed this too.”
“I have, honey,” she panted. “I’ve missed this so much.”
She moaned and rolled her hips to take more of me, demanding that I bury myself deeper inside her, and I did.
Pushing her fingers into my back, she dug her nails through my dress shirt while she kissed my face, my jaw and my lips.
I stopped thrusting momentarily. Didn’t want to finish too soon. But she rocked herself on my cock.
She was clenching around me, ready to come, and so was I.
We kissed, and bit; her breath became my breath and our hearts beat in unison.
When I emptied inside her, filling the rubber, it was like I’d finally come home. “You’re so beautiful, Aly. I love you.”
“I love you too, Ben,” she gasped.
Her body shuddered, her lovely tits jiggled under the sexy dress she was wearing, and I felt her cunt milking my coc
k as she moaned her release.
“Wow,” she said breathlessly. “That was amazing.”
“Call it the entrée,” I winked.
Now she was here, I planned on taking the rest of the evening nice and slow, fucking her so many times she wouldn’t be able to walk.
I lowered her to the floor and tugged off the condom, knotting the open end.
We were both breathing hard, coming down from our high. I kissed her deeply, and she returned my kiss, pressing herself into me, her greedy hands squeezing my ass.
I bent and nuzzled her silky hair, her fresh scent invading my senses.
With a mutual sigh of regret, we took a step back— but our hungry eyes were still feasting on each other.
I zipped up my pants, and she picked up her panties, followed me into my open-plan kitchen.
I stared at the rubber as I disposed of it in my trash can.
Blood.
Fuck.
“Did I hurt you, babe?” I drew my brows together.
She shook her head. “Why?”
I told her.
“My period must have started,” she murmured, her eyes tearing up.
“Hey,” I reached for her, held her close and kissed the top of her head. “Don’t worry. I can wait for round two.”
She shook her head. “We need to talk, honey. That’s partly why I came...”
I narrowed my eyes. “What about?”
“Just a second while I go to the bathroom.”
She picked up her purse and I showed her the facilities. My leg had started aching a little and I reached for my crutch.
“Do you need to go to the drugstore?” I asked when she emerged.
“It’s okay. I have tampons,” she said wryly. “Makes a change from coconut husks.” Her chin trembled, and her eyes welled up again.
She looped her arm around my waist, helping support me as we made our way to the sofa. We sat and faced each other.
“Okay, I’m all ears. What’s wrong?” I kissed away her tears.
And she told me. Told me about the argument she’d had with Semion. Told me about his threats. Told me about her visit to the doctor and how she’d been worried she might have been pregnant. How he’d given her a prescription for the pill.
