Leave Me Breathless: The Ivy Collection

by KL Donn

  “The boys might think they know that stubborn, pig-headed man better than anyone, but I swear, Emmy, Viktor will be overjoyed with the news. Especially because it’s with you.” I want to believe Madelyn.

  “Not sure I’ve ever seen him so smitten before,” Adam reassures.

  “And if you’re both wrong?” I don’t believe in bringing others into our business, so I can’t begin to explain why I feel so doubtful.

  “Christ!” Kodiak curses a few times before speaking. “Trust me, little one, he’ll be strutting around like a fucking peacock.”

  “Well, okay. Then I suppose I better tell him soon.” I just don’t know how.

  “Good. Now tell me about the fatigue and morning sickness,” Adam inquires, and I begin to tick off the list of symptoms and how often. Just as I finish, Viktor walks in and pauses as he sees so many people still in the room.

  “Is everything alright, Adam?” I can see the concern crinkle the lines around his eyes, and I won’t lie, knowing that he can show any emotion in front of others is an enormous relief to my unsettled feelings.

  “Oh, yes, fine. Just gonna run a couple of blood tests to be sure there are no deficiencies, and I’ll have the results in about three days. Otherwise, she’s as healthy as can be expected.”

  His shoulders sag with relief as he quickly makes his way to my side. Pushing Adam out of the way, Viktor leans forward to kiss my cheek and stroke my hair.

  “How do you feel, moya lyubov’?” His tender words coupled with the softening in his gaze melt my fragile heart ever so slightly more.

  “Tired is all, Viktor.” I mimic his action by cupping his cheek in my own hand. His face turns toward my palm, and he inhales deeply. My anger begins to float away with each sweet action, every caring word, and suddenly, all I can picture is a future with this man.

  “Forgive me, moy, I made a decision without consulting you first.” Kodiak snorts at his confession and murmurs something in Russian that has Viktor shooting him an angry glare.

  “I’m sure you meant well.” I hedge, still guarded and uncertain but willing to hear him out first.

  Guilt enters his gaze as he explains to me. “I made arrangements at my church for a wedding.”

  “Okay.” That’s not so horrible. I imagined so much worse after all we’ve been through thus far.

  “I’ve also called for a priest to come tonight.”

  That part confuses me. “For what?” I frown, and a headache begins to form as everyone clears the room.

  “To marry us.” Viktor is nothing if not honest and blunt.

  “I’m confused. You just said we have a church for that, but we’re supposed to marry tonight?” Am I stuck on a rollercoaster or something?

  “Da.”

  “Walk me through it, please.”

  “You remember Oscar Haggen? From the poker game?”

  “The man with Marshall?”

  “Da.” I nod. “I’ve been given information that suggests he’s going to try and ruin any plans we make. Anything I do. The Haggen family has been out to slaughter mine for generations.”

  I’m spinning in circles here. “The wedding is a setup? A trap?”

  “Nyet. It is a peace offering. Nika suggested I offer an olive branch now that I have you. More friends, less enemies is her theory, and I do not disagree. All I want is for you to be safe. For our children to be safe.”

  “Children?” Not what I should be focusing on in that explanation, but it’s what’s most important to me.

  “Da. I plan to have many with you. When we’re ready. For now, I want tonight to be about us and the ceremony to be about peace. Or war. Whichever the Haggen’s decide.”

  “I see.” Sort of.

  “I will not carry on with the peace offering if you do not wish, but Nika is right, the time for fighting is over. Our forefathers’ battles are not our own, and I have no desire for more bloodshed over something that only affects us in vain.”

  “Just one question.” He nods. “Who’s Nika?” I still feel foggy, exhausted.

  “Danika, my sister.” Right. I think I knew that already.

  “I knew that.” His smile is filled with happiness as I accept his decisions without a fight. “Viktor, thank you for explaining it all to me. For making me feel like I had a part in the decision, even if it was after plans were made.”

  “Next time, you will be by my side when the discussions begin. You may be young, Emmaline, but you are wise beyond your years.” Placing a gentle kiss on my lips, he pulls away before I’m ready. “Rest. I will have Madelyn come help you get ready in an hour.”

  Laying back on the bed, I watch him leave the room, stopping at the door for one last look before he closes it behind him. I almost forget why I was so enraged with him in the first place.

  Feeling as though I was being tossed to the side after such a vulnerable moment isn’t easily brushed aside. But I can choose to look back on those moments through the eyes of a stranger, though, and note how vulnerable he must have felt, too.

  Relationships are new to both of us, and Viktor wants to give us a life worth living. One where I’m not a burden but a treasure. I can’t and won’t throw that back in his face, either.

  11

  Viktor

  “You have awoken something long forgotten inside of me. You are my paradise, my heaven, you are my sun. You are the beat of my heart, moya lyubov’, and without you, I do not wish to carry on.” My vows to Emmy are spoken in my native tongue, but I intend to repeat them to her in every language I can for the rest of our days. She will never again doubt for a moment how much I genuinely love her.

  “That was beautiful, Viktor.” She sighs as Madelyn wipes a tear from her own eye. I can almost feel Niko and Kodiak rolling theirs. “I have nothing to recite as wonderful as I’m sure that was.” Her blush is a rosy red that only makes me want to carry her up to our bed as fast as I can.

  “I do not need special words to understand how you feel for me, moy. In your heart, I hear it with every beat. In your eyes, I see it with every look.”

  “Jesus.” Tears flow in a stream as her smile widens on her cherub face. “I do love you, you know that, right?”

  “Da.” Her uncertainty is unnecessary. “I love you too, moy.”

  The priest continues his sermon, speaking in a mixture of Russian and English out of respect to my bride’s needs. When it comes time to say I do, the words have barely left her mouth before I’m pulling her into my arms and devouring her.

  The priest continues on, our friends grumble and cheer, and blood rushes through my veins like a dam has broken.

  Emmaline Taylor is a woman of the past.

  Emmaline Vashchenko is mine.

  And it’s time I impress that sentiment in every sense of the word. Picking her up in my arms, her legs wrap around my waist, and my hands cup her ass cheeks. Holding her tight to my body, I continue to plunder her mouth with exacting nips of the teeth. Sucking her tongue into my mouth and chasing her back when she retreats.

  “My wife,” I grumble into her neck as I take the stairs two at a time. Striding down the hallway with hurried steps, I slam the door shut with my foot. Not stopping until I’ve lain us down on the bed.

  “My husband.” Her breathless proclamation is filled with wonder.

  Sitting up on my knees, I pull my clothes off before tackling hers. “I will not be an insensitive ass this time, Emmy. Your confessions will forever be safe in my hands.” Her tender smile as her gaze devours my body fills my cock with my need for her.

  “I just want us, Viktor. That’s all I’ve ever wanted and never knew about until you stole me away.”

  “You shall have it. Whatever you desire will be yours.” I’m not unaffectedly promising her the world; it’s now a vow I will take to the grave with me.

  Slipping the light pink dress she wore for me over her head and tossing it to the floor, I have very little interest in foreplay. I only wish to bring us together as one.

&
nbsp; Scooping her into my arms, I slide her further up the bed before spreading her milky thighs and settling against her naked core.

  The heat pulsing off her in waves is nearly enough to drive me wild. “Please, Viktor,” she whines in the back of her throat.

  Dropping my head to her chest, I try to contain the control that’s fighting to break free and take her like the wild man I feel burning inside.

  “I don’t want to hurt you, Emmy.” I say the words, but I’m not entirely sure I mean them. I want to hear her scream my name. I want her tears. I need her begging for more.

  I wish it all to be pleasurable, however.

  “You won’t,” is her sweet response.

  Rubbing my length through her dewy heat, I groan out my own longings. When she raises her hips into my movements, I can no longer hold back.

  Pushing my dick through her folds, I unhurriedly move my hips back and forth, thrusting gently into her tight embrace. Her moaning only drives me farther into her welcoming body. When she cries out from the pressure of her virginity tearing, I want to beat my fists against my chest like Tarzan. Shout my triumph from the rooftops.

  I yearn to kiss every ounce of pain she feels away.

  “I love you, moya lyubov’.” I murmur the words into her ear as I rock my shaft within her tightness, feeling myself advancing closer and closer to the edge of insanity and all the ecstasy it will bring us.

  Emmy

  And I thought the morning sickness and headaches were horrible. Viktor breaching my womanhood has nothing on being pregnant. But oh, how wonderful it feels now that the pain has subsided, and the blissful feelings of gratification have taken over. There is so much more that should have been discussed before we said I do.

  Before we fell into bed.

  Before we fell in love.

  I can’t bring myself to regret any of it, though.

  All I can think about is the pure delight crashing through my body like a freight train. I never want it to end. If I’d known sex was this good, I would have been doing it for years.

  Except, I think it’s just Viktor and the feelings we share that makes it an incomparable experience. I would never want to live in this moment with anyone else.

  “Oh, Viktor,” I sigh into his neck as his body pitches into mine in measured thrusts. I tingle from head to toe and realize my orgasm is going to burst at any moment. “Hold me tighter,” I plead.

  “Forever and a day, moy.” I love it when he whispers in my ear. His hot breath on my neck. His pounding heart against my frantic one.

  My release consumes me as stars burst behind my eyes. My chest tightens as the breath is sucked from my body, and everything sizzles like a fire. I wish I could hold onto this moment forever. Savor the euphoria and live in this feeling for a lifetime.

  Hearing Viktor roar his own ecstasy as I’m slowly being brought back down to earth, the way his hands tighten on my back and cover my flesh like a blanket is a heady feeling.

  He rolls, so I’m cradled into his side. Fatigue swoops in and takes me under as my husband murmurs in Russian. I can only assume its words of love, but no matter its meaning, I know I’ll hold them in my heart forever.

  12

  Emmy

  The wedding march begins. Niko hooks my hand in his arm, and the doors are swept open in grand gesture as I’m pulled forward. Nerves have settled in my stomach as we begin our stroll up the aisle. Not because of what this day represents, I already belong to Viktor, but because it’s been a couple of days since our exchange of vows, and I still haven’t confided in him that I’m pregnant.

  I’m sure if things hadn’t been so frantic since our wedding night, he would have figured it out already. Mads has been great in helping me hide it. Kodiak knows, and I’m fairly certain Nikolai does as well.

  The two of them watch me like a hawk.

  “Smile, little one, or your groom is going to think you do not wish to be here,” Niko murmurs in my ear as we’re halfway down the aisle. It’s mostly business acquittances of Viktor’s that are here, but there are a few friends as well.

  Guests from the darker side of my husband’s world know to be prepared and escort anyone out who needs help. Including Ben and Amanda Williams. Sadie is with her grandmother, thankfully, and I know the couple can take care of themselves.

  Viktor had seemed shocked when the Haggens accepted his invitation to the wedding, but then he became skeptical, and like his sister and her two husbands have been saying, everyone is positive it’s an ambush.

  Which is why I should have told him about the baby.

  “You know, don’t you?” I whisper to Niko as we get closer to the altar. He nods. “I want to tell him.” He nods again. “I will, today. After everything is over.”

  “I know you will, little one. It’s scary, but I’m honored to be an uncle to such a blessed child.” Relief punches me in the gut at Niko’s words. We’ve become so close over the past couple of days, and I couldn’t be more grateful for his unknowing support.

  “Thank you, Niko.” I stand on my tiptoes to kiss his cheek as Viktor steps down to grasp my hand in his own.

  “Viktor.” I sigh his name as he guides me, loving the feel of his powerful hand holding mine.

  A change overtakes his face before we’ve gone a full step. “Brace, moy, it’s time.” The words are barely past his lips when the first shot is fired.

  Viktor drapes me with his body as I see Kodiak jump towards Madelyn to cover her. A body lands with a thud at my feet, and when I open my eyes to see what’s happening, a deafening scream pierces the air.

  “Nikolai!” His face is pale, a mask of pain as blood pools beneath him.

  “Kodiak!” I hear Viktor yell. I try to move towards my friend, but he won’t let me. “No, moy, stay put.” My eyes remain glued to Niko’s as I see his torso rattle with each breath he tries to take.

  “Viktor, help Niko,” I beg with a sob, hating that my friend is hurting. This was supposed to be a peaceful gathering. I know Viktor had his doubts, but Danika, Madelyn, and I had hoped it would end with hands shaking.

  Not a hail of gunfire and bodies littering to the ground.

  The smell of blood is pungent in the air, making me gag as I cover my ears and close my eyes. Viktor’s considerable body is still draped across mine. Protecting me.

  “Moy, you go with Ben now. I’ll be there soon.” The words pass his lips, and his shelter dissipates. Ben ushers me and Amanda into a back room.

  The sounds of carnage are muted but no less terrifying as Ben barricades the door. “Come here.” Amanda pulls me further into the room, whispering reassuring words to us all.

  “Shit,” Ben hisses as bullets pelt the door followed by a loud bang. My ears ring, dust fills the room, and I begin coughing, unable to take a cleansing breath through my burning throat.

  “Ben!” Amanda calls, and when we hear no answer, I assume he’s not coming to our rescue. Not now.

  “We only want the whore,” someone grunts in another language. German, maybe? I’m not sure, it’s still hard to hear.

  Before I can react, there are two men in front of me, both heavily armed, both menacing. Both appearing ready to kill at the drop of a hat.

  Viktor’s worst nightmares are about to come true.

  The Haggen’s are going to take me; they’re likely going to hurt me. Hide me somewhere Viktor won’t find me, and the worst of it is, I never got to tell him about the baby.

  “You aren’t taking her,” Amanda screams at them, looking ready to kill in her own right.

  The smoke in the room finally begins to clear, and there, in the middle of the floor, is an unconscious Ben with a man towering over him, holding a gun to his head.

  “It’s fine, Amanda.” I place a hand on her arm, relaying tranquility I don’t feel. “I won’t be the reason either of you dies.” I’d rather give up my life than allow someone else to be killed because of me. For all I know, Niko already has. The thought makes my heart cramp painfully in
my chest.

  “No. They’re not taking you,” she insists.

  “Think of Sadie.” I play a card I’d rather not.

  “Fuck.”

  “It’ll be fine. You’ll tell Viktor–” My throat closes. “You’ll tell him I love him.” I nod my head and turn to my captors. Stepping over debris, I follow one while another shoves the barrel of his gun into my spine.

  Chaos has transitioned into a war zone as we exit our hiding area. Rushed past the entrance to the church, I see Niko on the floor with Kodiak bent over him, holding a cloth to his chest. Viktor is on the other side of the cathedral fighting some man, and nobody knows that Ben needs help and I’m being abducted.

  All this pain over a feud that nobody in this generation has even been a part of. A dispute that has likely been lost in stories passed down from each parent to their child and embellished upon over the years.

  Pushed out a back door and into an alley where a car is parked and waiting, the door is opened, and I’m shoved in to take a seat. Across from me is an elderly man holding a cane, and a pipe hangs from the corner of his mouth.

  “I suppose you’re wondering why you’re here,” he says in a heavily accented voice.

  Angry and scared, I allow my fury to lead my mouth. “Not really. I know there’s been a feud that’s passed from father to son for years. I don’t really care to know more.”

  Crossing my arms, I turn my head as the man laughs, a cough rattling his lungs. He speaks again, but I don’t listen. He doesn’t deserve the energy it would take to decipher his dialect.

  I don’t particularly care about the reasoning behind his abduction of me. He had a choice to make today, and he chose destruction over peace. That’s all I need to know about his character.

  Viktor

  Paramedics have been called. Police are arriving. Ben has Emmaline. It’s time for the prince of darkness to make his presence known as I watch the Haggen Clan try to decimate my friends. My family.