“Allegra. Alli!” Macy and Maude call out to me. “Where were you? You zoned out!”
“Oh. Sorry. Maude, you need to find out who it is as soon as possible. You can’t dump something like that on me and not tell me who it is.” I grab my water and my hand visibly shakes as I take a sip.
“Fine. I’ll get on it. Calm down, honey. You’re comfortable with either one, aren’t you?” She fumbles through her purse in search of her cell phone.
“Or you could just ask him...Jesus Christ, he’s beautiful.” Sienna looks past me and points towards the hostess stand. Boris is here and gazing in my direction. My heart swells at the sight of him. When he waves his phone, I look down at mine and feel a text come in.
Let’s go. We need to talk.
Relieved that it’s him and not Felix, I reach for my purse and excuse myself from the table. I should be angry that he’s breaking the rules. Today is Felix’s day. But I don’t care. Something about the look in his eyes tells me it’s important. If he’s here to say he bought out Linus, then things will change. As I get closer, he extends his hand and leads me outside to his car. After I slide in next to him, he instructs the driver to head to an address on 96th Street.
“Where are we going?” I take a long look at his face. His perfect blue eyes look bloodshot and his five ‘o’clock shadow is heavy for this early in the day.
“We’re going to my place.” Raising the privacy screen, he lifts me and straddles me into his lap. “I missed you. Allegra, I can’t do this anymore. Please don’t make me do this anymore.” Before I can pull away, he devours my lips, punishes my mouth and sets my soul on fire. It was wrong, I knew it was wrong, but how could something we both wanted so much, be bad? The more possessive his kisses become, the more eagerly I submit, until he cups my ass harshly and grinds me into his crotch.
When I feel the car slow down, I whisper, “When did you buy out Linus? How did you manage it?”
He freezes. As he slowly looks over his shoulder at me, I realize it wasn’t him. I feel weak. Grabbing my hand tightly, he whisks me out of the car and drags me up the stairs of his brownstone. As he unlocks the door, he makes a call, barking in Russian at someone named Ivan. He’s asking him if he moved forward ahead of schedule. I’m not sure what the schedule pertains to, but the answer is clearly, yes. Boris is furious. When he hangs up, he throws his phone on the table and glares at me angrily.
“It wasn’t you?” I toss my purse on his couch and stand awkwardly in the center of his living room.
Shaking his head, he scowls, removes his jacket and walks over to me. In one strong jerk, he wraps my legs around his waist and pushes me up against the wall. “No. It wasn’t me. But it’s done. Linus is out of the picture. You’re not doing this anymore, you can’t. Break your contract with Felix, Allegra. If you don’t, I’ll break it for you.”
I wanted to say I would. I wanted to tell him I loved him and would do whatever he wanted but the words wouldn’t travel from my heart to my lips. Squirming out of his grasp, I begged him to put me down. He refused.
“I lose everything if I break it. How can you ask me? All of this will be for nothing. I’ll have nothing.” Angry tears threatened to fall as he reclaimed my lips and kissed me into silence.
Chapter 6
Boris
“You’ll have me. I’ll have you. Zaika, I love you. You know I do. I’ve loved you since the day we met. I should have never...I’m in idiot. I should have never let you do this. I should have kept you to myself. There were things I could have done to help you. I could have hired you or helped you find a job, anything but this. It was selfish because I needed you to be available to me and I’ve paid for it every day since then.” Every word is torture to pronounce as I choke back tears I’ve swallowed for eleven months.
Staring up at me, she bites her lower lip to stifle her sadness. Clenching her jaw, her wide honey eyes turn red as she fights the onslaught of tears. She doesn’t want me to see her cry. “I was never your responsibility, Boris. Nor am I now. You don’t love me, and I don’t love you.” Dipping her head, she mumbles softly. “I don’t believe in love anymore.”
“Yes, you do. Look at me and tell me you don’t love me.” She looks up but turns her head and walks away before answering.
I’ve never seen her cry. For as long as I’ve known her, she’s been impervious. Now her incredible iron will has faltered in my presence and I’m the reason. Attempting to block my view of the tears streaming down her cheeks, she turns her head before letting her arms slip through mine and sliding to the floor.
“Please let me leave, Boris. I need to be alone. You don’t know what you’re saying. You don’t mean it and I can’t hear it.” She tries to cover her face, but I catch her hand and bring her close.
“Allegra?”
“Boris...please.” Her bottom lip quivers as I pull her into my embrace. I can’t let her leave. She needs to know I can’t live without her. As I close my mouth over hers, I reach down and pull the hem of her dress over her head. She doesn’t resist and allows me to tug it off her body. Feeling her so close, her scent, her warmth, the taste of her skin, sends my senses reeling with an undeniable ache to claim her completely. Allegra’s mine. I knew it the moment we met. I know it now. More importantly, she knows it. Lifting her up, I carry her upstairs to my room.
“We shouldn’t. It’s not your day.” She whimpers while we kiss.
“From now on, every fucking day is my day.” I growl against her lips and she nods.
“But Boris...”
“But nothing...”
As we enter my room, she helps me undress, pulling at my clothes, unbuttoning my shirt, while I unzip and step out of my trousers. Our lust feels like madness. Kissing, nibbling, biting and licking every bit of skin we can reach, we make our way to the bed, desperate to feel more.
Letting my hands skim the curve of her breasts, I follow the line down her stomach, caressing it gently while her soft hazel eyes gaze deeply into mine. She’s taut with anticipation as my fingers trail over her waist and down her outer thighs. When I spread them and run my hand through her wet slit, she leans into me, clenching and whimpering with need.
“This pussy is mine. Don’t you ever give it to anyone else again.” She blinks slowly, and her eyes cloud with desire. Nodding, she purrs like a cat and arches her back with every touch.
“Say it, baby. Say it’s mine. Say you’re mine.” I know her body too well. Rubbing her hard clit, I make her jump and clench on my hand, writhing and panting in seconds as she stubbornly holds out. When she’s about to come, I pull away and she grips my forearm, demanding I continue.
“It’s yours. I’m yours. Please…” Pushing my hand back down, I shake my head, spread her thighs wider and sink my tongue into her dripping pussy. Working her into a frenzy, I savor every taste, sucking and licking her clit, just the way she needs, before I watch her body vibrate with pleasure. Shrieking my name, she thrashes in my arms and shatters on the sheets. I fucking love the way she comes.
Chapter 7
ALLEGRA
“Tell me you love me.” His eyes, those blue eyes, my weakness, gaze into my soul and already know the answer.
“I can’t. I’m not ready.” If I say the words and then let him make love to me, there is no going back.
Jerking me roughly against his chest, he smothers my lips with his, consuming me with hot kisses until I gasp for air and feel him pull me in once more. While our tongues dance and my naked hips grind down into his lap, he pushes me forward and brings my legs around his waist. I can feel his huge cock digging into my clit, teasing and tempting me to reach for it. When I don’t move fast enough, he takes his shaft and rubs it in, making me jump and moan into his ear.
“Boris…” I’m so wet, he easily glides his cock through my slit, stroking my clit with every pass while his mouth latches on to my nipple, sending me into a fit of desire that only he can ever inspire in me.
“Tell me you love me, zaik
a. I know you do. Let me hear you say it.”
“Please…not yet.” I whimper as he dips the tip of his sizable dick into me, pulling it out and pushing it in to entice me. Whining, desperate to finally feel him, I lift my hips to drive him deeper, but he denies me. To teach me a lesson, he moves away, pulling out completely until I give him what he wants.
“I love you. You know I do. ” With one bold move, he fills me completely, quenching my lust and making me gasp, wail and scream as I ride him wild and recklessly, eager for a second release.
“Fuck me. Show me how much you love my cock. You feel so good, zaika. You’re going to make me fill you up with so much cum.” Grasping my waist, he holds me steady while I gyrate and bounce with voracious hunger on his throbbing cock. Every inch, every stroke, every hard thrust brings about an unbelievable tension that I can’t control. Sensing I’m close, Boris flips me over, brings my knees to my shoulders and plunges deep.
“I want to see it. I want to see your pussy covered in my cum. I want to know it’s mine.”
I’m so aroused, I nod and reach down to rub my clit for him. Watching me, his eyes grow wide and he thrusts harder, sending me into an erotic oblivion of multiple orgasms that don’t end until he growls with a shuddering cry and erupts deep inside me. Pulling out slowly, he smiles as he smears his hot seed all over my pussy, working it in to brand me. I’ve never been more turned on in my life.
Falling into each other’s arms, we stare silently at one another. There’s so much to say, so many questions and yet only one answer to everything. Brushing my sweaty hair off my forehead, he leans in and kisses me. I want to tell him I love him. I want to say it without coercion this time, but as I open my mouth, there’s a knock on his door.
Chapter 8
BORIS
This is it. I need to tell her everything. She needs to know what she’s getting herself into. Does it matter? Will I let her walk away if she wants nothing to do with this life? I refuse to believe I would be that much of an ogre. And I refuse to believe she doesn’t suspect something. She’s the smartest girl I’ve ever met. Holding her in my arms, I work up the nerve to finally come out with it. I’ve just made her come three times---she’s got to be in a good mood. Gazing up at me with trusting eyes, she looks like she wants to say something. Maybe I should let her go first. Brushing the mess of dark hair from her forehead, I kiss her and wait. Smiling sweetly, she touches my face then almost jumps out of her skin. There’s a loud knock on my door. It must be Ivan. No one else would have the balls to knock that loud.
“Wait right here. Let me go see who it is.” I search for my boxers and she hands me a discarded t-shirt.
“Are you expecting someone?” She slides off the bed and walks naked towards the window. She’s so beautiful. The sight of her in my bedroom almost takes my breath away. “There are two men at your door and three cars double-parked. Why didn’t you ever tell me you lived so close to me?”
“I’ll answer that after I get this. Wait here, okay?” I try not to look worried. She nods and glides back under the covers.
Rushing down the stairs in my bare feet, I do a quick check and see Ivan’s big head peering in. Fucking Ivan. Three town cars are lined up on the street and I’m almost certain Felix is in one of them. Opening the door, he strolls in with a shit-eating grin. As If we had not discussed waiting, he swings his arms and clenches his fists in apparent victory.
“We have the banker. The rich boy signed off the minute Vasiliy shook him up a bit. But you know what? Someone sent his wife incriminating photos and it wasn’t us. Was it you?” He looks around the room, hoping to catch a glimpse of Allegra.
I shake my head. “No. I wouldn’t do that to his wife. I bet it was Felix. Lower your voice.” I point up, signifying she’s upstairs but he’s incapable of whispering. When he switches to Russian, I roll my eyes and listen. It’s no use.
“About Mahler, the prick is not budging. Says he’ll tear up the contract but he’s not staying away from the girl. Says he wants to marry her.”
The word marry freezes my brain and I hear myself growl in anger. “The fuck he is. Why did you move ahead of schedule? Allegra is breaking her contracts. She has that option. She’ll just have to give back her place and investments. We don’t need Felix.”
“Are you sure?” Ivan glares at me. “Did you just growl?”
“No. Yes, about Allegra. Let me change. She’s upstairs. Let me take her home and you take Felix to his place, the one he shares with his wife. Make sure he keeps his mouth shut about today. I’m sure he’ll clean up and head back to Allegra’s. Today’s his day to see her. She can tell him in person.”
After agreeing to meet back in Brooklyn, he heads out and with the caravan of cars and I run back up to my room. When I open the door, Allegra is dressed and ready to leave. The look on her face speaks volumes. She was listening.
“Is he okay?” She whispers, anxiously. “Is Felix okay?”
“He’s fine. They took him home to his wife.” I wave her over, something I always do, wondering if she’ll take the bait. She doesn’t hesitate. Rushing over, she wraps both arms around my waist.
“Boris! How could you? Why didn’t you ever tell me? Didn’t you trust me?” She digs her head into my chest as I kiss the top of her head.
“I trust you with my life. I just didn’t want you involved with that side of my life. Not until things were different between us.” I lift her into my arms, closing her legs around my back and hungrily cover her mouth. When she relaxes, I let my tongue trace the fullness of her lips and lose myself, devouring her like a starving man. Everything about this moment, her breasts pressing against my chest, the taste of her breath, the soft moans she’s trying to contain and the scent of her hair falling against my face, seal my fate. I could never let her go.
“Allegra...” My hands squeeze her ass so hard, she whimpers against my cheek. “You need to break your contract with Felix today? You will, won’t you?”
She almost nods then hesitates and grows angry. “That’s easy for you to say, isn’t it? You can make all these demands, but I’ll be the one to live with them. What happens to me? Am I supposed to get wrapped up in your world? What kind of future is that for us? There was a reason you didn’t want any complications, Boris. Admit it.” She looks away, unable to face me and climbs off.
The sight of her turning away infuriates me. The fact that she’s still using my words against me makes me want to spank her until she begs for forgiveness. I know what she’s doing. She’s scared of love. It’s easier to pretend she doesn’t have a heart than watch it get broken again.
“Enough.” Lifting her over my shoulder, I bring her back to bed and sit her down. “I love you. Do you hear me? I would love you whether you loved me or not, I love you. But I know you do love me. I knew every time we made love, just the way you knew I loved you.”
She tries to interrupt me, but I hold my hand up.
“You knew how much my heart broke every time I left you, and you rubbed it in to pay me back for not stopping you that day you left to meet Felix. But I did try to stop you. I ran after you. It was just too late. You don’t know how many times I’ve tried to buy them out. There are days when I thought about just walking away because the pain of sharing you was fucking killing me, but I knew the pain of being without you would be so much worse. Break your contracts and come be with me. Stay with me. Marry me.”
“What?” She raised her chin, staring wide-eyed with bewilderment.
“Marry me. Please. I love you. I was meant to love you. Without reason or regret, I’ll always love you.”
Chapter 9
ALLEGRA
Oh, God. Why did he have to say that? He’s waiting for me to answer. Of course, he is. You can’t throw something like that, something so beautiful and not expect an equally touching reply. Wait a minute. Did he ask me to marry him?
“Did you ask me to marry you?” I clutch my heart like a pubescent schoolgirl.
�
�Yes. Didn’t you hear that part?” He gets down on one knee in front of the bed. “Zaika, marry me. I love you.” He pulls me down and presses his warm body against mine.
“Borya, are you calling me a bunny while you propose?” I pout as I struggle to hold in my tears. Dear God, please don’t let me be a chick who cries during a proposal. Crap. Too Late.
“You’ll always be my bunny. Please, sweetheart. Marry me.” He cradles me in his lap, and I nod against his chin. “Is that a yes?”
“Yes. It’s a yes. I love you. You know I do, you conceited man.” I sniffle against his neck, wipe my tears and try to figure out what the hell I’m going to tell Felix.
“I know you’re worried about today’s revelation and I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner, but you had some idea, didn’t you?” He whispers as he stands and sits me down on the bed.
“I’m not sure, maybe I did. Felix kept trying to convince me of it.” Wringing my hands nervously, I stare at his long, muscular body. It’s spotless. “Don’t members usually have tattoos? Am I being naïve?”
As he dresses, he scowls at the mention of Felix. “Fuck, Felix. He is no less criminal than the people I work for. People like him hide behind their money, but they’re some of the sleaziest people I’ve ever met. He had no problem cheating on his wife this past year and when he wanted to freeze Linus out, he sent photos of the two of you to his wife. If I had a wife, he would have done the same to me.”
“Boris, you asked me a question. Did he really do that to Linus? How sad. Can he hurt you?” I help him fasten his tie and he chuckles softly.
“No, he can’t do shit to me. The worst he could have done was take you away.” Raising my chin, he caresses my cheek and tries to soothe my worries. “I live here, away from everything. I work here and in Brooklyn, in Little Odessa. I don’t have tattoos because I’m an attorney and that would be a dead giveaway. But I am in the brotherhood, I am Bratva, and the man who was here, one of my closest friends, is the Pakhan. Do you know what that is?”
Park Avenue Courtesan Page 3
