by Jenika Snow
“Tell me where he is,” was all I said. Of course, I could have found him on my own. It would have taken time, but I knew a hell of a lot of shady people. Her telling me would save a little bit of time, and to be honest, I was anxious as hell to get my hands dirty.
I knew she’d tell me, because Poppy was a smart girl. She knew if I wanted something, I wouldn’t stop until it was mine. That included me going after the fucker that hurt her.
It also included having Poppy in any and every way I wanted.
Chapter Four
Poppy
I stood and walked over to Alexei, shaking my head.
“No, I can’t tell you where he is or who he is. He’s not worth it, and that’s not why I came here. I don’t want anyone hurt,” I said, even as I felt a little thrill at how damn angry he looked. I wanted to wrap my arms around him and press my body against him. I wanted to find out if he was as hard as I remembered.
Alexei used to work out a lot, and I used to sneak into the gym he’d built at home just to watch him. Of course, he knew I would sneak in as he worked out. I loved watching his body flex and seeing how hard he would get.
“I’ll be the judge of that,” Alexei said.
. He was always so protective; it’s one of the things I loved about him.
Unable to stop myself, I wrapped my arms around his waist and held him. He paused for a second, and then his hand was on my back.
“Please, I’m sorry,” I said. “I shouldn’t have come.”
He tensed in my arms. “I’m glad you came to me. You shouldn’t let anyone walk over you, Poppy. If you let one person, they all will.”
“Is that what you did?”
“I didn’t let anyone get away with shit.”
I didn’t imagine he did. Damn, he smelled so good, and I closed my eyes, enjoying the closeness with him. The hand on my back went from reassuring rubbing to something different. Opening my eyes, I stared at his office wall as my pussy started to tighten.
“I’ve missed you,” I told him.
“We lost touch.”
“I know.” My breasts felt incredibly sensitive. Looking up at him, keeping my body pressed against him, I licked my dry lips. “Keeping in contact, being close,” I shook my head. “It seemed wrong after you divorced Mom.”
“We went in different directions, but you and I didn’t have to drift apart.”
I nodded, knowing he was right.
“Have you met anyone that has made you want to settle down again?” Although why I wanted to know was a mystery to me.
“Poppy?” He said my name like a question, but I could tell he was on the same wavelength as me.
“I assume you have. Men don’t wait around, do they?”
“And how would you know what men do?” he asked.
Was he flirting with me? The hand on my back moved to my arm, and his fingers started to caress up and down. Glancing at his lips, I wondered what they would feel like on mine.
“I’m not a kid anymore, Alexei. I’m all grown up. You’re not a father figure anymore, never really were.” I looked at him; I wanted to make sure he knew that.
“I see that you’re all grown up.” His gaze didn’t move from mine.
Silence fell between us, and I became aware of the hand I had on his waist. He reached out, stroking my cheek. It was such a gentle touch that it made me moan.
“What the fuck are you doing, Poppy?” he asked.
“I don’t know,” I lied.
The truth was I was so aroused, and I wanted him. All it would take was a little movement on my part, and his cock would be rubbing across my stomach. Staring into his eyes, I did exactly that. I rubbed my stomach close to him, and his cock was rock hard. Alexei wanted me.
His eyes seemed to darken.
“Poppy...” He sounded like he was giving me a warning, and that just turned me on even more.
I was playing with fire, but for some reason, I didn’t care. It was like everything I had ever wanted from him was right there at the surface, not about to surrender. “What’s the matter, Alexei? Do you still want to be my stepdaddy?” I asked, knowing it was kind of wrong, but still hot all in the same breath. I had never seen Alexei as a father and I never would.
What the hell are you doing?
I have never been this forward in my entire life, but damn, it felt good... freeing even.
Alexei
Well, shit.
Poppy had indeed grown up, and now she was playing the part of a temptress.
“You think I didn’t know about you, Poppy?”
“What do you mean?” she asked, frowning.
I smile. This woman, she really did know how to do a number on me, and she was the only one. Since leaving her mother, I’ve fucked my fair share of women. I like sex, and I like control. I’m not into BDSM.
Grabbing her arm, I pressed her against the wall of my office, trapping her between the wall and me. She couldn’t get out.
“You were so young, and yet, you wanted my dick even then, didn’t you, Poppy?”
She gasped.
“I’m a man. A lot older than you, but I know want when I see it, and you wanted me, didn’t you?”
“Yes,” she whispered the word; it was a small victory to me. Maybe I should hunt down the bastard who hurt her and thought he could take from her and thank him. If he’d not done a number on her, she wouldn’t be here right now. Then again, I’d still beat the shit out of him. No one harmed Poppy and got away with it.
“I’m not your stepfather anymore,” I said, and fingered the edge of the shirt covering her body.
“I wouldn’t care if you were, Alexei. I always thought Mom was an idiot for letting you get away.”
I released her hands and took a step away from her. I moved toward the door, flicking the lock into place, and then went to my desk.
“Hold my calls and cancel the appointments I have this afternoon.” Before anyone could protest, I clicked off the machine. My cock was rock hard, and I wanted inside her. Staring at her, I contemplated my next words.
Poppy was a beautiful woman, there was no denying that, and the attraction was there. I saw it in the way she licked her lips, the way she looked down the length of my body, and the way her nipples pressed against the front of her shirt. She was aroused, and I had what she wanted.
“How about we make a little proposition here, Poppy?” Her words about me being her stepfather reverberated through my head. I had a feeling Poppy got off on a little of the forbidden, the taboo.
So did I.
“What kind?”
“I’ll give you the money, and I’ll let your friend live.” That part was a lie. “In return, I get your pussy, your ass, and your mouth.”
Her eyes widened. “For what?” she asked, but we both knew what in the fuck I meant.
I let the words hang between us for long moments.
“To do what I want with them.” I opened my belt and dropped my pants, wrapping my hand around my cock. I was being a fucking ass, but I couldn’t help myself around her. I was rock hard, and I needed some kind, any kind, of release. Poppy was blowing my mind, and I loved it. “All I want to hear from your lips is, ‘yes, Alexei, I’m yours’.”
Chapter Five
Alexei
“Yes, Alexei.” Her voice was soft, her eyes wide. “I’m yours.”
I watched her, listened to what she said, and my cock was harder than it had ever been in my fucking life. This woman, who I shouldn’t want, should stay away from, meant more to me than any other person in my life. I’d known her since she was a teenager, watched her grow into the woman she was today, and even if I hadn’t spoken to her as much as I should have over the years, I’d still made sure she was safe and watched over.
I looked at her, wanting her like a fucking fiend, but strong enough to keep my control. I could have her... would have her when the time was right. But first I needed to take care of that motherfucker who had fucked her over, even if I said I’d leave him alone. I m
ight not kill the little prick, but I’d let him know fucking with Poppy meant he messed with me, and that was never good for anyone.
I fixed my pants and walked over to my desk, grabbed a slip of paper, and wrote an address down. I wanted her at my place, wanted her close, and I wasn’t taking no for an answer. I felt her arousal as if it were my own, knew she wanted me, and I was aware this had nothing to do with our past or the fact she needed my help. We were both adults, she was consenting, and she trusted me enough to come to me, above all others, for help. I’d take care of her— in all ways. She was safe with me, and anyone that fucked with her would meet my wrath.
“Come here, Poppy.” She was by my side a second later, and I cupped her cheek, looking into eyes that were filled with so much trust. There was plenty of time to show her she was mine.
“This is my apartment in the city. I want you to go there, wait for me, and know that everything will be okay.” I handed her the paper and watched her look down at it. “I’ll have someone drive you over there.”
“But my car.”
“It’ll be taken over there and put in the garage.”
She looked up at me. “I can drive myself, Alexei. I can do a lot for myself.”
I couldn’t help but smile. She was the only person that could crack the hard exterior I put around myself. “I know, but please, let me take care of you.”
She was silent for a second, but then nodded. I’d make sure everything was okay, even if knees had to be broken and blood shed.
Poppy
Before I’d left his office, Alexei had asked for more details and I’d given them to him. I knew enough about Alexei and had been able to tell that he did not intend to leave my ex alone. But I also knew the asshole had it coming. He’d fucked me over, made me feel like shit, and if he got the shit kicked out of him maybe it would stop him from doing that to another woman.
Now, here I was, entering Alexei’s penthouse apartment in the city center, feeling like I’d dropped into some alternate universe. The sexual chemistry that I’d felt with Alexei, the things I’d wanted from him, wanted him to do to me, made me feel like I was going to combust from the inside out. He was masculine, powerful, and despite our past, the type of figure he’d been to me all those years ago, I only saw him as the man that made my palms sweat and my heart beat faster.
My mother wouldn’t care; at least, I didn’t think she would if I told her what I wanted with Alexei. Truth was I wasn’t close with my mother, and only when it was a special occasion did she grace me with a phone call. Living abroad with her new husband put me down on her list of priorities.
That was fine; she lived her life and I lived mine, and if I wasn’t important enough for her to pay attention to, so be it.
I walked around the living room, with floor and ceilings windows on one entire wall on my right side and the massive, stainless steel kitchen and granite on my left. Alexei lived in style, minimally, but still in style, and I couldn’t help but be appreciative of the surroundings. I certainly wasn’t living this lavish kind of life, but my life, poor or not, had been happy for the most part.
Not now, though. You were desperate enough to come to Alexei and clearly not hiding your feelings for him.
The chauffeur’s words played through my head once I stopped right in front of one of the bedrooms.
“Mr. Mackovich said to make yourself at home. Clothing and necessities were sent over before your arrival and are in the spare bedroom.”
But I didn’t plan on staying here with him. At least, that’s what I kept telling myself. I needed his help, but what cost was I willing to pay for it?
Obviously, pretty damn high given the fact you said you’re his and you’re in his home.
I went into the room, sat on the bed, and stared at the open door. Yeah, I was getting myself into something deep, something that didn’t feel temporary.
Was I ready for this?
Chapter Six
Alexei
Even if Poppy hadn’t given me the little fucker’s address, I would have found him. It was easy enough, especially since he didn’t try to hide who he was. I looked down at my watch, saw the prick would be getting off work in twenty minutes, and felt my blood pump hard and fast through my veins. I had no backup tonight... wouldn’t need any. This was all me, and I’d get to enjoy the thrill of making this asshole realize he’d messed with the wrong woman.
I sat in front of the shitty little bar where he worked, my heart steady, strong, my adrenaline pumping through my veins. Through the front window, I saw him checking out a scuzzy looking motherfucker.
“I’m going to make you pay, you little motherfucker,” I said to myself, my hands wrapped around the steering wheel, my knuckles white.
The next twenty minutes moved at a snails pace, but then finally, the fucker left the bar. He lit up a cigarette as he made his way to his truck, climbed in, and pulled away from the building.
I followed him until the piece of shit stopped in front of what I assumed was his house. I parked his car across the street, cut the lights and engine, and just watched the bastard walk into the house. I waited to make sure no one else was coming before finally getting out of the car. I walked around to my trunk, opened it, and pulled out a pair of brass knuckles and a baseball bat. I was going old school on this fucker, and it was bringing back a lot of memories from my days of beating the shit out of people in Moscow.
The blood pumped through my veins; the excitement of what was to come making me feel high.
Pulling the hat more firmly down on my head, I closed the trunk and walked toward the front door. I didn’t want to make a scene and have the cops show up, so I knocked, and looked around to make sure it was quiet in this semi-secluded neighborhood. When the front door opened, I pushed my way inside and shut it behind me.
“Hey, what the fuck—” Poppy’s ex’s words were cut off when he looked up at me. Yeah, I was a big motherfucker, and I’d always used it to my advantage.
The silence stretched between us as I stared at this prick, eyed him up and down, and knew this wouldn’t be a fight at all, but me overpowering him easily. The ex wasn’t big, wasn’t even muscular. However, I could see the dark gleam in his eyes, the kind I’d seen a hundred times before from men who liked to take control of those smaller than they were. This fucker hurt Poppy, and he’d pay until blood coated the floor.
“I’m going to make this short and sweet,” I said, walking a step closer to the asshole. The brass knuckles were already on, the baseball bat secure in my grasp.
The fucker held his hands up, like his surrender was going to make this any easier on him. “I don’t know who the hell you are, but I think there has been some kind of mistake.”
I lifted an eyebrow. “A mistake?” I shook my head. “No, you’re the piece of shit that stole from Poppy and thought you could demean her.” I smiled, but I knew it was menacing. “You fucked with the wrong woman.”
The guy shook his head again, and I could practically smell his fear. I knew some pretty fucked up shit I could do to him, make him suffer, cry like a little bitch, but I wanted this done and over with so I could go home to my woman.
Yeah, she was my fucking woman.
“Listen, I think Poppy got it all wrong. I didn’t mean anything by—”
I brought my hand across his cheek, bitch slapping him and successfully shutting him up. The guy looked shocked at first, and my handprint turned his cheek a vibrant red. I slapped him again just for the hell of it, just as an appetizer before the real fun began.
I stepped closer, grinning. “You fucked up, man. Poppy is my woman, and what you did to her,” —I shook my head— “that’s gonna cost you.”
“I can give the money back, no problem.”
I shook my head again. “She doesn’t need the fucking money back. That’s not what this is about. I’ll take care of her in every way.” I moved another step closer, and the fucker kept retreating. “This is about making sure you remember who you f
ucked with.” I rolled my head around my neck, ready to do this.
“This is bullshit,” the fucker said, the anger finally coming through despite the clear knowledge on his face that this wasn’t going to end well for him.
I was on him in the next second, had my hand on his throat, and I lifted him easily off the ground.
I felt primal right now, animalistic, ready to tear this asshole apart. Just looking at him, I wanted to do some big fucking damage, but I wouldn’t kill him. Right now, this time, I wanted to teach him a lesson... one that would follow him for the rest of his life. It would be a far better punishment than just ending his worthless life.
I tightened my hold, squeezing my fingers around his neck even more, and leaned in close. I stared into his eyes, saw capillaries had burst, the whites now red, is mouth opening and closing as he gasped for air, and felt sadistic pleasure move through me.
“Stop,” the fucker gasped out, the man trying to beg for his life. But I had no compassion for him, no empathy. I did loosen my hold just enough so he could breathe. I didn’t want this over just yet.
“I wanted to kill you for what you did, but Poppy wouldn’t want that.” I lifted my arm and placed the tip of the bat right by his head. The bat was more for show. I liked working with my hands, and that’s were the brass knuckles came in. “But, I’d be lying if I didn’t say hearing your bones break under this bat wouldn’t make me feel pretty fucking good.”
“I’m sorry. It meant nothing with her.”
I bared my teeth, knowing this fucker was trying to make it seem like he didn’t mean to do anything, like she didn’t mean anything. “You’re sorry because you know you’re fucked.” I tightened my hold again, but then released him. Before he fell to the ground, I slammed the brass knuckles into his face, seeing flesh tear open and blood spray. The asshole fell to the ground, coughing and sputtering out.
“I...” he gurgled again, and I smirked, not giving a shit what he said. My dark side rose up, and fuck, did it feel incredible.
