Anastasia Romanov

by Svetlana Ivanova

  "You’re ready to go again, love?" I asked and tilted my head to look at her face. Avery nodded her head and gulped loudly.

  "I'm fine, just give me another moment. You tickled me when I laughed..." she said. I wanted to laugh, but I was afraid I would make her climax unintentionally again.

  "Then we must start celebrating my Thanksgiving," I said and began to move gently and sensually inside her. Avery stiffened up and sat back to look down at herself and then back at my face. Her cheeks were burning hot by the look of it. Her eyes grew brighter.

  My other hand squeezed her backside while I began to move inside her orgasmic heaven. I let her ride herself gently over my lap. Avery threw her head back and arched her breasts, and I took those lovely mounds into my mouth again. The flooding juices between Avery's legs made my mouth watered.

  "Oh Alex...Alex..." she gasped loudly, but I wanted to prolong her orgasm and let her enjoy the satisfying build-up longer. I claimed her mouth with mine again. She moaned into our deep kiss and tightened her embrace around me. It lasted only a few moments until Avery struggled to free her lips from mine. I let her go and she stared back at me with her jaw dropped. Her beautiful face crumbled with sweet ecstasy. I knew it was time to release her from the physical world and have her taste the enlightening sensation once again.

  With a few more direct strokes on her special region, Avery let out a strangled cry and her entire body shuddered. Her walls tightened around my fingers— clenched and unclenched as she came undone over and over. A flood of fresh juice trickled down my hand.

  I watched her climaxing intensely with fascination. The face when she comes never gets old, I thought to myself with a smile. That special face had become a priceless reward that only I had the privilege of seeing.

  Avery sank back into me, still panting. Her orgasm was long and all consuming, it took her a while to recover. I massaged her shaking thighs and nibbled on her neck to relax her.

  After a while, her hands slowly went up to hold my face, and her mouth dazedly searched for my lips again.

  We kissed tenderly and warmly this time. I could still feel her twitching.

  “You're still inside me," she reminded me with soft kisses.

  "I like it where it is," I said and continued to taste her lips.

  "Take your hand out of me already, Alex," she whined, wriggling herself a little, but a soft flirty smile plastered on her shy face made me think otherwise.

  "I'm going to miss that place again if I do," I protested, causing Avery to slap my arm coyly. Then as if in a burst of adoration, she grabbed my face and kissed me hard.

  "You're spoiled rotten, you know that," she said. "There’s always another round if we go upstairs."

  My eyes shone with excitement again.

  "Can we get a round three and four and five, too?" I asked, smiling suggestively.

  "That's too much!" She pushed at my shoulders playfully.

  "Please, please?" I pleaded, pulling the best pouty face I could muster. Avery bit her lips from smiling.

  "Alright, but you have to carry me," she said. I grinned widely in triumph and leaned forward until our noses touched.

  "Much obliged, my rose princess.”

  Chapter 16

  The feeling of warmth and contentment I had from last night still enveloped me. Stretching myself on the bed, I blindly grabbed the familiar angelic form under the blanket. A smile curved itself on my lips when my eyes opened and gazed down Avery’s smooth naked back. She lay on my chest with one of her hands placed nicely on my left breast.

  "You're awake now, Alex?" her soft melodious voice said to my surprise.

  Her legs shifted around, brushing gently against mine as they got intertwined. I ran my fingers over her smooth silken skin. Avery slowly lifted her face to look at me with a smile. Her bright violet eyes pierced through the early dawn. I gave a sleepy smile back. She pecked me on my lips and butterfly kisses all over my face and my exposed chest. I gathered her back into me and tightened my hold around her body.

  "Morning, beautiful," I said, staring at her adorable face. Our eyes locked and we just looked at each other and were mesmerized.

  "You shouldn't do that, you know," she said in a whisper. "It's still too early."

  "Do what too early?"

  "That..." she said again and wrapped her arms around me tighter. "We just woke up."

  I chuckled and buried my nose into the dark fragrant hair and inhaled. My hand rubbed and scratched her. Avery purred and nestled her face into the curve of my neck. Our soft naked bodies flushed against one another. Her sweet scent and the delicious smell of our love-making still lingered around us.

  "I can't help it when I get to wake up with the most lovely woman every day," I said.

  "You make it sound like it's my fault," she pointed out.

  "I would say that,” I chuckled. “But the sex was really, really good with you."

  "True, because you're a sex addict," Avery teased as she stroked my chest and stomach absentmindedly.

  "And you're the cause of my addiction," I said, tipping her chin up and leaning in to kiss her.

  Avery anchored herself on her elbows on either side of my head and lay back down on top of me. Her lovely pale breasts squashed against mine. She dipped down for a more intimate kiss as her hands pressed my cheeks as if to hold my head still. Her tongue darted inside my mouth, unleashing a moan from the depth of my throat.

  "Someone is getting feisty..." I murmured against her lips. "What happened to 'we just woke up'?"

  “Oh shut your mouth,” she said.

  “Well, you’re already doing it.”

  I could barely manage to get the words out since Avery entwined our legs and started to move.

  "Oh...Avery," I grunted as the sensation spreading from the bottom of my tummy started to stir like a stack of hay caught on fire.

  "Last night, you didn't even let me take a break," Avery said and continued with what she knew was starting to weaken me.

  "You know we don't need a break," I tried to argue, but my jumbled mind was begging me to shut up and let her have me already.

  "No excuse, Alex," she said between moans herself. "It's my turn to get back at you."

  I tried to smile, but my breathing turned into panting and groaning. Avery couldn't wipe that smirk off her face as she stared at me. I could've rolled her onto her back and assumed my dominant role, but seeing the proud look in her eyes, I let her have her way with me. After all, that was what living together all about. We had to compromise— even in bed.

  Avery sighed loudly and closed her eyes as she concentrated on that soft heated area of our joined body. My jaw slowly dropped as the throbbing feeling flowed endlessly from my burning core.

  "Damn it, Avery..." I gasped aloud. My hands and legs began to shake with prickling sensation. Avery looked down with a frown and then she clasped my lips with her own.

  "I told you not to curse," she said in a scolding raspy tone as she continued to kiss me deeply. "Don't curse when I make love to you."

  "Sorry...can't...help...it..." I hissed. More sparks burst through my trembling body. The tingling throb began to wag in a frenzy force.

  I was almost on the brink of release when suddenly we heard distant humming sounds that caused our ears to perk up. Avery stopped moving and looked down at me as we concentrated on the strange noise that drifted in from the sea.

  "You heard that, too?" I asked and she nodded. Then I sat up, looking straight at the open window. The pink glow was starting to get brighter over the dark blue horizon. Avery got off of me and looked in the same direction, only to find a seaplane flying towards the island shore. Looming ghostly behind the speeding aircraft was an enormous Russian battleship.

  "What's going on, Alex?" Avery whispered when she saw my unblinking stare and knitted brows. I turned back to her and leaned in to kiss her lips reassuringly.

  "Let's get dressed, Avery," I said and began to move out of bed. "We've got visitors."


  Once we readied ourselves and got down to the living room. I told her to invite our guests inside. I just knew who had come to see me.

  Avery returned with several men in tow. They brought in the scent of familiar cold air as they entered my house.

  I sat, waiting on the sofa with my legs crossed.

  "Grand Duchess Alexandra," Victor gave me a low bow with his hand over his heart while the men to his right gave a military salute.

  "What do you want?" I asked in a solemn voice while I motioned for Avery to sit beside me. She gave the standing vampires a nervous glance before she walked up to me again.

  "Your Highness, I have come a long way here, bearing terrible news," he said straightforwardly, causing me to sit up straight and looked at the middle-age vampire.

  "What is it?" I asked.

  "Grand Duchess Anastasiya has been kidnapped and is under the hand of the Hunters now."

  "What?!" I cried, looking back at them in alarm. Avery let out a gasp as she grew tensed by my side.

  "Anastasiya was kidnapped during her visit to Ostankino Palace," the vampire continued.

  "Anastasia was in Russia?" I said with a surprises frown.

  "She had only been back in Moscow for a short while. Since you had given up on the state affairs, she tried to take the matter into her own hands," Victor said. "Almost everyone got killed that night. They burned down the palace and took the Grand Duchess with them. We have been trying to follow their trail every which way possible, but there is still no trace of them."

  "Oh my god," Avery breathed in shock as her hands clung over her chest in disbelief. I quickly put my arm around her to comfort her.

  "How long has it been since that happened?" I said again, trying to stay calm although the news had shocked me just as badly.

  "Three days ago," Victor said in a rather apologetic voice. "It was my fault, Grand Duchess. I failed to protect her."

  Then the silent man, who I knew clearly as General Konstantin, took a deep breath before he stepped forwards and bowed again.

  "Your Highness, we are in a deep crisis now," he said. "The Royal Council insists that you return to Russia. Grand Duchess Anastasia is gone and we need you to..."

  "My sister is not gone!" I hissed and stood up. Konstantin recoiled then lowered his head nervously.

  "Alex..." Avery's trembling voice spoke as she came to wrap her arms around me. "We have to help Anastasia."

  I looked back at Avery and saw tears had flooded her eyes. Anastasia meant a lot to her, needless to say. They both had a strong bond in the past. And knowing her compassionate nature, Avery could stand anything but losing someone she cared deeply for. I pulled her into an embrace and kissed the top of her head reassuringly.

  "Of course, we will," I said. "I will get her back."

  Chapter 17

  Anastasia

  IT WAS A BRISK QUIET afternoon of the following day when I opened my heavy eyelids again. The light of the winter sun peered over the snow-covered horizon.

  The hunters had escorted me to a heavily guarded wing of the castle the night before. I was allowed to stay in a dark chamber with one arched window overlooking a large common square at the east.

  The chamber smelled like dead autumn leaves when I first stepped in, but it had a cozy atmosphere. I could see from the window a cluster of small stone houses below, stretching out into the dark green wilderness.

  The mist had cleared outside the frosted glass, but the chill hadn't ceased from the room. A burning fireplace provided its warmth and brightened the place with its golden glow. A set of old cushioned furniture spread around a large faded Byzantine rug. The four-posted bed made of oak wood was set by the other wall. It was where I had slept like a dead, how ironic, but at least I became better and my limbs no longer felt like they belonged to someone else. Even the deepest wounds had healed practically without the faintest scars.

  Lyra wasn't allowed to be with me that night, I remembered she had insisted, but to no avail. They must’ve kept her away from me because of my predatory tendencies. But I didn't mind. It was best for me to be left alone.

  When I was released the hall with the two huntresses and a few others the day before, the man whose named I didn't remember had fixed me a warm bag of fresh blood. This must have accelerated my healing and somewhat improved my state of mind, although I was still confused after a session of deep conversation with the former, supposedly dead, Bolshevik leader.

  Trotsky was also alive all this time, well, sort of. Now he was the so-called general of the hunters. He had made it clear that his goal was to overthrow my government with my help. It was ridiculous as it sounded, but for some reason, his haunting suggestion still hung over me like an invisible weight.

  You have to join us and help us liberate the humans, Anastasia, this world does not belong to the dead, but the living. You have the power to set things right again.

  My eyes were still focused on the void beyond the grayish ceiling when I heard a loud knock on the wooden door before it screeched open, and out came a few hunters. Then Valerina also stepped into the room. I swung my legs over the bed and stood up.

  My movement made at least two hunters behind her to hold on to their weapons out of caution. But Vale reassured them with a wave of her hand.

  I gave them an amused smile as they kept staring grudgingly at me. One of the hunters carried a pile of clothes in his hands.

  "Wait for me outside," Valerina said to her team mates and took the clothes.

  "But...Beta, you shouldn’t be alone with her. What if something happens? She can be dangerous," one of them warned.

  "Don't worry." she turned sideways at them. "I can handle it."

  They hesitated for a moment before they finally nodded and left, closing the door as they walked out. When they were gone, Vale put the clothes on the table near the door and cleared her throat awkwardly.

  "I was ordered to show you around, so you must get ready," she said in a flat tone.

  "And to what do I owe the honor?" I asked, arching my eyebrows in a sarcastic surprise.

  "It's an order," she said almost too quickly as if afraid to shutter under my gaze.

  My mind was still marveled at how she could appear as a young, sea-blue-eyed innocent girl who dressed in a velvet red hood, but possessed the killing instinct of a swift assassin.

  I noticed her entire hunter outfit. It was elegantly made up of various shades of red and black, with red as the primary color on the main suit. Over her suite was a sleek-looking leather jacket with black asymmetrical back cloth hanging like a tuxedo tail. Even her combat boots were patterned with light-red strokes. Unlike most hunters, red seemed to be her signature color.

  My red rose.

  The thought seemed to come out of nowhere and entered my foggy head as my eyes traced over the beautiful huntress. Her fingerless black gloves showed her long slender fingers recoiling into her palms.

  "Aren't you afraid?" I said, stepping towards her. "Being alone with me, you know, I could come to bite you in the rear when you less expect it."

  Valerina glared at me. Her face flushed bright crimson. When I took another step, her hand went behind her back, ready to draw her weapon. It made me smile.

  "I will not hesitate to kill you if you dare," she muttered fiercely back.

  "What a brave little huntress," I said and stepped closer. "But I know you won't do that to me."

  "What makes you think that I won't?"

  "Because you know you belong to me," I said in a low voice. "Valerina, you are mine now, can't you see that?"

  And with my inhumane speed, I rushed over and had her in my arms. Vale was taken by her surprise that she couldn't react fast enough. I had already pinned her hand that was holding the knife in place and snaked my other hand around her torso and to the back of her neck. My fingers laced through her silky hair, gently but firmly holding her head in place.

  "See?" I said as we stared at each other with our faces inches apart. "You do
n't want to kill me, not at all, because deep inside your pumping heart, you want me."

  "That's not true!" she hissed, wriggling herself from my steel grip, but I held her body. I could feel her heart pounding like a tiny little bird's.

  "Admit it, you want me to feel you and taste you, that's why you asked to be alone with me, isn't it? So that I can do this to you," I said and smirked at her. "I can satisfy your needs if you admit your desire for me."

  "I'd rather die than be touched by a bloodsucker like you!" she spat. Then she made another attempt to pull out her blade, but I gripped her hand harder to stop her. She winced.

  The girl stared up at me with those deep blue eyes. I could see the dark flecks spread like arrows of black light around her pupils. Then I dropped my gaze to her red curved lips and once again dove right in to devour them.

  Vale let out a protesting sound. The kiss sent sensual sparks jolting through my nerves. I hadn't expected to feel this again after all that happened. The girl was writhing like an eel under my deep forceful kiss. My tongue violated her mouth as she was practically struggling for air.

  But then somewhere in the middle of our frantic kiss, she managed to stab me in the stomach, sending a wave of shocking pain through my body. The stab knocked the breath out of my lungs. With a cry, I released her and dropped onto the floor.

  "You can't treat me like that!" she said in a bitter voice. Her glaring eyes glittered with a look of hurt. Then she turned and left the room as I lay bleeding in agony.

  Lyra found me clutching myself on the floor a moment later. She was shocked to see me.

  "What happened, Anastasia?!" she cried as she helped me to get up.

  "Nothing," I grunted. "I just ran into a knife again."

  Lyra didn't find my dark humor funny. She helped me into the bathroom and cleaned all the bloody mess. Then she let me take a bath. Every drop of lukewarm water that flowed over my pale skin stung, but at the same time it relieved the knots of tension in my body.

  After I finished, Lyra brought the new clothes that Vale had given me to replace the torn and blood-stained ones. I stepped into them, feeling lighter like I was floating. The new wound had stopped bleeding but it still hurt whenever I moved myself too fast. This might take a while to heal.