by Cora Blu
Sweat beaded on her top lip. The pulse pounded in her neck. She was on fire, but this skank wasn’t getting her man. Come back over here Nina.
It’s okay to be afraid. Fear means I’m alive. And if I’m alive, Nina hasn’t won. The nightmare hasn’t won. I’m strong. Show this tramp the real woman in Mikhail’s corner and Robert’s big sister. No way would she give up the man she loved to a ruthless bitch.
Before she blinked a hard body fell on top of her.
“Die die,” Nina screamed.
Struggling with the last of her energy, Bethany groaned. “Don’t touch my family,” gasping the last of her energy, the blade of the knife sliced deep into Nina’s abdomen.
Their faces inches apart.
Nina’s eyes were barely contained in their sockets as a faint gasp slipped from her lips. Bethany felt shaky…dizzy…
Eyes closed she felt tears running down her temple. Nina gurgled out Mikhail’s name in a plea, and Bethany fought the dizzying surge and twisted her wrist. A sensation she’d remember for the rest of her life…another nightmare.
Nina convulsed falling against Bethany’s body and rolled off, nearly breaking Bethany’s arm when she twisted on top of her.
“Khail!” The words slurred from her lips but hearing her own voice told her it wasn’t a dream and she was alive.
“That’s my Bethany!” Mikhail shoved Glenda away from Bethany crawling over her pulling her to cradle in his arms. Fighting to get the gloves off he closed their cold fingers around the ring on her finger. “I love you, Beth, for all eternity, I love you.”
Bethany smiled weakly as the sound of the polizei’s radio squawking close by the truck. “Ms. Bauer, don’t move you’re going to jail for a long time,” he charged. He spoke into the radio. “Follow Mrs. Dragoslava to the chalet. Two possible poisoning…minors. Ready the chopper to get them to the hospital.”
Chapter 26
Simone
Inside, blind with tears, Simone rushed through the kitchen not seeing Anya and the girls and leaving Seth and Crazy to dismount. She had to find her babies.
Her feet felt like lead when she saw the jug on the small counter beside the dishwasher, with at least a cup of water missing. A scream filled her mouth. The bedroom.
Staring down the hallway it became the mouth of a demon possessed nightmare and her girls were in there fighting for their lives.
Calling Anya’s name she broke the paralyzing grip then shot down the hall, her body vibrating with a picture she didn’t want to be true. Bursting through the bedroom door, she fell to her knees, tears pouring from her eyes down her face.
Zoya, her beautiful girl lay curled around her sweet sister Eva, sucking her thumb with the bear huddled at her back…In great grandpa’s arms asleep. Simone stiffened seeing the cup of water beside a bowl of dry cereal on the dresser.
“Simone…what happened?” Anya jerked up off the bed.
Frantically pointing at the cup, she stuttered her words, “The water…tell me you didn’t…?”
“Their greedy great-grandpa played with them until they fell over asleep in his arms. I never got a chance to feed them.”
Simone vibrated and fell to her knees hands clasped together. “Thank you Lord! Thank you!”
“I know my son, he has a vengeful side,” Hans admitted his worn face held pain and embarrassment. “They may not be blood, but Mikhail’s family is my family. I had to watch over them until Mark was found.”
Seth exploded through the door with Crazy holding him up and crumbled to the floor at Anya’s words. “They wouldn’t stop crying until Dad started to play, and I never got to feed them…your girls are fine, Seth…your family’s safe.”
Simone covered her mouth, cries muffled under her hands and crawled over to her girls, placing her head on Han’s lap her arms snuggled around the babies. Anya huddled to her back.
Satisfied they were safe; she brought them up to speed.
Later, bundled and standing at the chopper, they were loaded on with Seth and whisked away to the hospital. Seth was losing blood.
At the hospital, the family waited by Bethany’s side after Seth came out of surgery.
The polizei had Greg’s statement cataloging the entire setup from Glenda getting back at Mikhail and Mark hiring the detective that hired him, Glenda’s cousin to keep an eye on Bethany. Mark offered to let the detective get back at Seth through Mikhail that way no one connected Marks role in the threat.
Mikhail rested beside Bethany on the bed as Simone wheeled in Seth with Zoya and Eva riding gunshot on the arms of grandpa Josef and great grandpa Hans. His family was okay and he had his woman at his side. He’d never let her out of his sight again.
Epilogue
Unpacked.
Two months later…
The last moving box lay emptied on the counter in the kitchen.
Flattening the sides, Mikhail stacked it on the pile with the others, moving them out to the back porch. “Beth, baby, please tell me that’s the last of the boxes? How can we have so many dishes before we receive any wedding presents? Hell, before we’re even married.”
“Khail, honey, people send gifts the minute they receive the invitation, especially those living outside of the country.”
“Aren’t they coming to the wedding?” he asked, grabbing her around the waist when she stepped into the kitchen past the leather bar stools. “C’mere,” he said tugging her gently to his chest. Lifting her off the floor, he set her on the edge of the marble island. Scrunching up the hem of her t-shirt over her breasts, he leaned in kissing the fading scar around her throat, leaving a warm trail up to her ear, nuzzling along her hairline.
“Don’t worry, they’re coming,” she assured, lifting her arms, giving him full access to remove the top. Giggling under his whiskers rasping her cheek, she relaxed and played her fingers down his arms. Mikhail tossed the t-shirt on the barstool then brought her hand to his mouth kissing the palms of both hands.
Her engagement ring sparkled under the recessed lighting of her beautiful kitchen. “It’s cheaper to have it shipped straight here to the house than schlep it on the plane and pay for the extra package,” she told him, pulling his shirt out of his jeans. It landed on top of her shirt with the same force. He gathered her legs around his waist lifting her up and walked out of the kitchen to the back stairs. “I take it we’re done unpacking for tonight then?” she teased.
Mikhail drew in a breath. “You smell nice.” She tilted her head giving him access to her slender neck. He kissed the tender skin. “Before I forget, the new HR manager has three candidates for you to look at for your replacement.”
“That was quick,” she admitted a little sad. “So much has happened since everything happened. I can’t wait to get back to work and start in my new position—Diversity Marketing Officer.”
“There’s no one more qualified, or that I trust with the reputation of the company.”
“Suggesting I write the chapter on diversity in the workplace for the handbook was a great idea, and I had no clue how many things were relevant until I saw them in print.”
“That’s what I had in mind when the idea of diversity came to me. Not just mixing the people, but learning to see each other for the strengths we bring when we understand one another as people with different backgrounds.”
Bethany held him tight. “You were always so much more than you let others see.” Larry the Lounge Lizard was gone forever.
“But I couldn’t hide from you,” Mikhail confessed.
“You weren’t trying. You were hiding the real man from everyone else, and I pray I never lose sight of the man before me.”
“If you need reminding, open our copy of European Mover’s and Shaker’s magazine. We’re the couple to be right now.” He winked running a finger over her bare stomach playing with the waistband of her jeans.
“Well, the media got what they wanted, a shot of the bachelor being taken off the market when we got to the hospital. Being refer
red to as the new mogul couple is a little daunting. My income is nowhere near your capital worth.”
He tucked her jagged cut hair behind her ears. “Next year the company will be signed over to me, and I want your name right beside mine as Mrs. Bethany Shamochernyi owner of Heinemann and Heinemann Financial Firm. I fought becoming the owner, because I had no one to share it with.”
“Now you have me.”
He flipped the light switch in the hall on the first floor sending their shadow to follow them up to the third floor. “You fought me the whole way, but you never left me, left us. That’s the woman I want by my side.”
“Even after I start my therapy next week?” she asked burrowing between the crook of his neck and shoulders.
“Now that you’ve faced your nightmares, I think it’ll be good to see a therapist, so she can help us, help you free yourself of them completely.”
She brushed her knuckles over his thick brows and looked longingly into those passionate eyes. “You know, they may not go away.”
Mikhail shrugged. “Either way, we’ll face them together and deal with whatever they bring to the surface.”
“I love you,” she praised running her fingers through his sumptuous thick hair, letting them roam around to caress the nape of his neck, a soft blush coating her skin. “Every time I think I’ve got you figured out, you slip in another reason to love you.”
“Get ready for a lifetime of reasons to love me, woman.”
A lifetime won’t be enough with this man.
She giggled when his fingers tickled her behind. “Khail…You going to carry me up both flights of stairs?”
“I like your breasts in my face like this. Besides, it’s been a few weeks since you’ve felt well enough for me to carry around like this. Promise me you’ll never get Botox on purpose.”
“I promise.” She caught the switch on the wall for the chandelier over the stairs plunging the stairs behind them in shadows. “I couldn’t believe you did that, but I’m so glad it’s all over, and we could finally get Yannik properly buried.”
She said softly, “Did I tell you how proud of you I am for everything you did to save me and the twins?
He turned onto the third floor crossing down the carpeted hallway. “Those girls, Zoya and Eva, are the future for our families, and if it had damaged our chances of having children, it’s a loss I’d painfully accept, hoping you understood,” Mikhail confessed. “I count on your compassion to keep me grounded Bethany.”
“That goes both ways.” Trailing kisses over her face as they entered the bedroom, Mikhail held her close padding over the thick carpet masking his footsteps. The large bed cradled them as he lay on top of her peering into her warm eyes. “It already feels like a home since you moved in. I don’t think I’ve ever had food in the refrigerator…”
“I know you wanted to wait, but it made no sense to sign a lease for two months. And I don’t want to sleep without you next to me again.”
Neither did she. “Moving is always a chore, and I don’t want to be bothered while trying to put the wedding together in a few months. We still need to decide on a reception venue. Something small and intimate.”
His hands rested under her behind massaging, the tips of his fingers inching down to rub her through the thick jeans. “The wedding’s fairly large, with shareholders and company officers coming. We could do something special for the family; maybe go to an island, someplace warm.” She shifted over him caressing his face between her hands.
“I like that idea. Will I meet your biological parents, Larissa and Sergei Dragoslava, before the wedding?”
“They’ll make it. Sergei had a bad cold or they would’ve made it up to the winter games.”
“Then an island reception is just what this family needs. Tomorrow I will check the websites for packages.”
“You know, we can afford to hire someone to do this.”
“I’ll think about it once my parents come back next week. Thank you for sending for them. It was nice having them here while I healed.”
“I thought you could use some familiar faces.” Mikhail began unbuttoning Bethany’s jeans tracing his fingers down along her hips as he pushed them down her legs.
“Are you ready for our new neighbors tomorrow? Having Seth and Simone moving in down the street is going to be good for you two,” Bethany said running her hands over his shoulders happier than she pictured her life two months ago.
“It’ll be good for all of us,” he said undressing her down to her panties, running his hands possessively over her body. The mattress dipped when he pushed himself up and off the bed. Removing his jeans, he led her into the bathroom over to the shower stall, where he started the hot water. “How long are we going to wait?”
“For what, honey?” she asked unclasping her bra to drop in the hamper her breasts swayed from the movement, catching his hungry attention trained on her tight nipples.
“To start our family…children?” he answered. Tracing a finger around her breasts making the skin tingle Mikhail molded them into his hands. Bethany arched into his warm touch. “I can’t wait to see your face on my child, baby.” He caressed them gently kissing the rounded sides. Bethany gripped his hair as he suckled each breasts into his mouth a hand cupping her behind bringing her close to feel his arousal pressing at her stomach. She gasped when he released her flesh the wet sound echoing around the room. “When’s the last time I made love to you? It feels like it’s been days.”
She laughed. His libido must run off nine amp batteries. “Honey, it’s only been eight hours ago since we made love right here in the shower,” she said smoothing back waves from over his ears before reaching in testing the water temperature with her hand. “The towels are still in the hamper. Don’t you remember?”
“Is it a crime to crave my fiancée?” He helped her into the shower, the warm spray dotting their faces. He held Bethany close to his heart, the sense of true love filled her soul. “No more birth control,” he ordered then chewed his bottom lip in consternation. “If you’re ready, that is,” he said this time a little less forward.
She nodded with a grin. “I stopped taking them last week.” Nuzzling his whiskered jaw abraded her skin. “I adore you, Khail and you’re gonna make an amazing father.”
“With you by my side, amazing is an easy achievement.” Mikhail lifted her over his slippery and swollen cock positioned at her entrance. “You want this now?”
“Now, later, tomorrow, next year and forever,” she said wiggling her hips over the tip.
He thrust up into her. Bethany threw her head back. The pleasure of him so deep spiraled instantly up her core to her breasts where they ached for his mouth. Her hips undulated over him in greedy waves, riding out his every push. Her mouth slightly parted. She watched him pull one of her breasts between his lips sucking it with the hunger of a starving man. Warm water slouched between their bodies, now moving as one.
Mikhail gripped her hips, pumping faster. Her orgasm hit hard and fast. He rocked harder with her ankles locked over his muscled behind as the weight in her belly increased until she thought she’d claw the tile from the wall.
“Khail…yes!”
Mikhail stiffened, threw his head back and hot fluid filled her, his body pulsing deep in her sex.
He lowered them to the shower floor. Panting, dragging exhausted kisses over one another a minute went by before they could move.
“We should probably go dry off,” Bethany suggested, grabbing a towel from the shelf. On shaky legs, Mikhail got to his feet, leading her out of the bathroom wet and naked. They crossed the carpeted hall where he wrapped them in thick bathrobes then set Bethany on the floor.
Pulling back the covers on the bed, he followed her the mattress dipping under them situating their bodies.
He hit the remote and tugged her to his chest, corrugated abs rippled against her belly.
What was he doing? “We’re going to watch TV?”
“It’s Friday night
isn’t it? What scary movie do you want me to protect you from?”
A grin tugged at her lips. She loved the little things he remembered. “Now that we’ve both admitted our personal fears, we no longer have a threat keeping us apart. It’s time we watched a romance.”
She let him maneuver her until she curled over his chest warmed by his thundering heartbeat.
“We don’t need the TV for that. C’mere,” he urged, settling her on top of his chest, wet hairs tickling her tight nipples to pucker even tighter until the color tinged to a blushing brown. “I plan to be your romance hero for the rest of our lives, personally doing any and all rescuing.”
Folding her arms over his chest, she played in the damp black waves framing his hooded cool blue eyes, under the soft light from the nightstand. “I love the way you rescue me from my nightmare, helping me face them head on.”
“I love you, Beth. There’s no nightmare we can’t fight together as long as we communicate honestly with one another.”
Her body surrendered to Mikhail’s hardening cock nudging at her swollen lips to find her slick and ready.
“Is this where you steal my breath, Khail?” She raised up on her knees to straddle his waist, loving the full sensation of him deep inside her. She planted her hands to his chest, her breasts swaying over his face.
“You’re perfect,” he praised. “So perfectly beautiful. I may be the one losing my breath,” he admitted with a bright white smile.
“I’ll give it back in the morning,” she flirted brushing her nipples over his mouth, tempting him to take a lick. He took that offer suckling her skin as if covered in flavored sugar. She rode him slow and controlled, as controlled as a wanton woman could be, with her thighs spread wide over her husband’s hips.
“I love you Beth. From the moment you stepped off that plane, you were my one true love. Bring that left one a little closer…like that.”
When she woke later with Mikhail wrapped around her, Bethany held him to her heart. This was the true love in her soul.
The End.
