by Brook Wilder
He cups my face gently but firmly in his hands as his eyes lock onto mine. “This is real, Stella. You and I, we’ll get through whatever they try to throw at us. We’ll do it together like we always should have done.” He kisses my lips softly, then both cheeks and my forehead. His lips rest there for a long moment, and I sense he’s holding back.
“Danya?”
He tucks my hair behind my ears then smooths his fingers along my jaw. “I want you to slow down a bit. You’re running yourself ragged with trying to deal with this life and college.”
“I can’t,” I argue. “I’m so close to … to graduating,” I say, hoping he won’t notice my stumble.
His narrowing eyes say he’s too observant for me to be that lucky. “Stella, if there’s something else going on, you’ll tell me, right?”
Does he know about the journalism classes? Or the movie? I usually do my best to keep an eye out for anyone following me on campus, but after last night, I was in a bit of a daze all day. Shit, this could be bad. If he finds out, I can’t honestly say how he’ll react.
“Just pushing myself too hard,” I say, hoping he believes me and leaves it at that.
“How long until you’re finished with school?”
“A few months. And after that, I don’t know what I’m going to do.” I squeeze his hand hard. “I can’t let Mom stay with Joseph. Somehow, I need to get her away from him before he winds up killing her. I keep waiting to get that phone call, and I don’t think I can bear it.”
His jaw clenches and he avoids my gaze for a long few seconds. When he turns back, there’s a determined look in those eyes, but it’s warring with worry. “We’ll figure it out together. I’ll do what I can to keep your mother safe. What we are going to do this weekend is get away,” he says and pulls me to my feet with him. “You and I are taking our honeymoon. Might not be as long as I want it to be, but you need it. Hell, we both do, and it’ll be expected of us.”
I grunt in annoyance. I’m so damn tired of doing what’s expected of me, but he’s right. It’s better to keep up appearances for now, at least. I rest my hand against his chest, feeling his pulse strong and steady. He’s agitated, and I tilt my head, studying his face. “Something you’re not telling me?”
“Let’s just say you’re not the only one close to breaking some days,” he replies.
The admission catches me off guard. He always seems so indestructible like nothing can get to him. Yet here in this kitchen with just the two of us, I catch a hint of his vulnerable side. I know I hate this life, but it never occurred to me how much he’s trapped in it, too. My hands glide up his chest to his shoulders, and then I’m standing on my toes to kiss him.
His hands squeeze my hips as a deep groan rumbles through his chest when I crush my body to his. We fit so easily together, how can this not be right? All I want is to feel that deep connection we had last night, to have him buried inside me where he belongs. As if reading my mind, his hands fumble at my skirt. I undo his belt and easily slide the zipper down. He’s in my hands and grunts as I nip his bottom lip.
“Playing with fire, woman,” he says, his voice husky.
I kiss him harder, sucking on his tongue as I pump my hands down the hard, solid length of his shaft. I tighten my grip just slightly and a second later, a ripping sound fills the kitchen. I glance down long enough to see my skirt is torn up the side. A rush of desire pools in my lower belly, and then he’s lifting me up.
Danya lays me back on the sturdy wooden kitchen table, drags my red panties down my legs, and tosses them carelessly over his shoulder. I’m wearing another blouse today, blue. He grabs it at the top and, with his eyes focusing on me, tears it open. I gasp as buttons go flying, pinging off the counter and walls. His hands cover my breasts, teasing my nipples through the thin lace. I wrap my legs around his waist and drag him as close as I can.
“Danya,” I whisper, wanting him more than I did last night.
Eyes dark with desire, he shifts his hips and takes hold of himself. Once he’s in position, his tip slowly spreads my soaking-wet lips. My head falls to the table as my back arches. The slow push in and even slower drag out makes me dizzy. I urge him on faster, flexing my inner muscles to squeeze him each time.
“What did I ever do without you?” he rasps.
I don’t get to answer when he pulls out then thrusts all the way to the hilt. He spreads my legs wider and when the angle changes, making it so he rubs against my clit, a moan slips from my mouth. It turns into a cry when his fingers tease my bead. He massages it furiously until I’m crying out from the sheer pleasure ripping through my core. My legs shake as his groan of release joins mine as he thrusts one final time, hard and deep.
He covers me with his body, lifting me up as he kisses me soundly. We could’ve stayed right where we are for a while, but my stomach growls. He chuckles until his does the exact same.
“Guess we should eat before you almost pass out again,” he muses with an arched brow.
I sigh, giving in. “Yeah, probably a good idea.”
We traipse upstairs, me holding my ruined skirt and panties. He gives my ass a good smack on the way, and I duck into my room with a wicked grin on my lips. He looks ready to follow, but I close the door on him. I need a few seconds to catch my breath. I want more than anything to fully trust Danya, but if this life has taught me anything, it’s to not ignore my gut. I’ll tell him everything soon enough. Hopefully, before he finds out himself.
Once I’m back downstairs, wearing only my robe, I find Danya in the living room. The takeout is spread all over the coffee table. The damn man is wearing nothing but a pair of snug jeans slung around his hips.
“Really? You’re going to tease me like that?” he asks, nodding to the robe.
“Look who’s talking.”
He glances at his tattoo-covered chest. “Fair point. Come on, time to eat.”
I plop down on the couch, ensuring my robe parts just a hint as I do. He swallows hard, his Adam’s apple bobbing as he stares at my exposed cleavage. I smirk all the while. He hands me a container of fried rice, shaking his head.
“You sure you can handle having me back in your life?”
“As if I could live without you.” He says it with a straight face and my breath catches. He leans in close enough to kiss me but doesn’t. “Here are your chopsticks.” He winks, then backs off.
“Now, who’s the tease?”
He laughs as he grabs another container for himself. Once he’s settled at the other end of the couch, he grabs the remote. As the movie starts playing, I laugh.
“Seriously?”
He digs around in his rice with his chopsticks, grinning like a giddy schoolboy all over again. “You telling me this is no longer your favorite movie?”
“I said nothing of the sort.”
“Good, because I have all of them, including the two new ones. It’s going to be a long night.”
“I have class in the morning, and I’m sure you have … things to do,” I say quickly, stopping myself from saying he probably has to go off a few people for Mikhail.
His smile remains, but it’s a bit stiff around the edges. “Actually, I’m leaving one of my men in charge tomorrow. I have the day off, and now, so do you. I’m your husband. Let me take care of you.”
“But my classes,” I start to say until his hand rests on my bare calf.
“They will all still be there. Time you had some time to yourself.”
I really shouldn’t. The others needed me to help them finish the documentary. But if I push back too hard, Danya might get suspicious. I’ll text them in the morning and let them know to keep working on the film without me.
“All right, one day off.”
“And the weekend,” he adds.
I laugh as I scoot closer so our shoulders touch. “Fine. Such a demanding husband.” I mean it as a joke, but for some reason, my words sound off. Danya pauses the movie and turns to face me.
“Whenever we’re
alone,” he says quietly, “I want you to be you. I don’t want you to hold back anything from me. But out there in front of Mikhail or the others, Stella, it’s not going to be easy.”
“I know.” I set my food aside. “You have to be the big tough son of Mikhail and I have to be the quiet, submissive wife.”
“I don’t want you to be, but I won’t risk your life. With any luck, it won’t be forever.”
That makes me perk up. “What do you mean?”
“Just trust me, all right? Things are going to change for both of us soon enough. Until then, I’m going to do everything in my power to keep you safe. Don’t give them any excuse to come after you. Please.”
I fidget, nearly coming clean again, then nod and settle back into the couch. “Deal. Now, can we get this movie marathon going?”
He hits play, but I sense him watching me out of the corner of his eye. “Your favorite part still the raptors?”
“Always. How could it not be?”
We tuck into our dinner and watch the movie, joking and laughing like we used to do when we were kids. By the end of the first movie, I’m tucked against his side, warm and safe. I just wonder how long I’ll get to stay here once he finds out what I’ve done.
Chapter 13
Danya
The drive to the small lake in upstate New York is pleasant. We wake early and set out just as the sun is peeking over the horizon. Stella’s excitement grows, the further away from the city we get. As I park the jeep along the gravel drive outside the cozy, one-story cabin, her dark green eyes widen, and she laughs. I’ve barely shut off the engine before she’s jumped out of the passenger door and hurries to our home for the weekend.
I can’t help but laugh right along with her. I had Lukas check the place out just before we came, so I know it’s empty. Only Lukas and several other men know about it, but no point in acting like Mikhail hasn’t figured out about my getaway. The lake isn’t as big as the one we used to go to with our families. The idea of taking her there seemed like we’d just be dragging up old memories. I want us to create new memories that are all about us.
After our conversation last night and seeing her break down in my kitchen, I saw just how much Stella needed to get away from our families and anything associated with them. Her worry over her mother makes me worry about how she’ll take it when her father’s assassinated. Her mother isn’t to be touched, but I can’t chase away the nagging in my gut that says whatever plan Mikhail told me is not all of it. If Stella loses both her parents in one fell swoop because of my family, I’m not sure she’ll ever forgive me or trust me again.
Stella’s peering in through the front windows, her face pressed to the glass as I climb out of the vehicle. I take a moment to admire her lean legs. She’s wearing denim shorts, hiking boots, and an oversized red sweater falling off her right shoulder. She’s beyond gorgeous. “This is adorable. Who’s it belong to?”
“Me,” I tell her as I approach with our two small suitcases. “Bought it a while back.”
“What for?”
“An escape,” I say sincerely, and she turns to look at me with a curious frown. “I had to go somewhere after I gave you up. To get away from Mikhail. So I found this place, bought it, and came here for a week. A few of my guards who liked me over my father told him I was safe, and they watched over me.”
“Is this place just for us?”
I set down the suitcases and pull her into my arms. “Just for us.”
She grins as she hugs me fiercely. “Thank you for bringing me here.”
“You’re my wife, Stella. I meant it when I said I was going to take care of you.” I kiss the top of her head, breathing her in at the same time. The smell of sweet apples and spice fills my nose. “One of these days you’re going to have to tell me how you do that.”
“Do what?”
“Always smell like fall.”
She shrugs, not looking at me as she draws back. “It’s your favorite season, right?”
“Yours too, I thought,” I say, forehead furrowing. She’s picking at my T-shirt, still not meeting my gaze. “Stella?”
“It’s my favorite because of you,” she replies. “It was always the most stressful time for the families because of elections and bribes, and you know how it goes. But then we’d go to the lake or all get together, and you’d be there.” She smiles as she says, “You’re the guy that put me on his shoulders so we could go apple-picking. And all the campfires we had with smores. The ghost stories you came up with just to get my mind off the family business.” She steps back, and her cheeks redden. “Fall became a happier time because of you.”
“And even after I left you?” I ask, confused about how she would still want to think of me after what I did. How I broke her heart.
“I clung to the memories. They got me through as much as I didn’t want them to.” She sniffs hard and swipes at her eyes. “Doesn’t matter now, though, right? We’re together. Funny how life works out.”
There’s a shift in her tone as if she’s not one hundred percent certain she can trust what’s happening between us. Or trust me like she used to. Stella has secrets, but then again, so do I. Part of my goal this weekend is to figure out what she’s hiding. Lukas reminded me last night I should come clean about her family and what is going to occur whenever Mikhail decides to end Joseph’s life. How can I hurt Stella like that again when I just got her back? I wish I could say we’re the same people we were five years ago, but that’s not true. I’ve become a killer and Stella … I fear for whatever mischief she’s gotten into because of Mikhail and Joseph’s meddling in her life.
“Yeah, funny,” I finally say.
I take the key from my pocket and open the front door. I motion for her to enter first then follow her inside. There’s a stone hearth to the right with a stack of logs sitting beside it courtesy of Lukas. The rest of the minimal furniture is rustic, with wood and warm plaids. I bring the bags inside, captivated by Stella moving through the space. She runs her fingers over the mantle with a few small rocks and dried leaves left by me over the years. Her lips twitch, but there’s no smile. She explores the tiny kitchenette at the rear of the cabin then glances down the short hall.
“Bedroom and bath are down there,” I tell her. “Out back is a path to the lake.”
“I think I’m going to go take a look.”
“I’ll be there in a minute.”
She doesn’t even glance at me but heads out the back door. It slams shut behind her and I curse, running a hand through my hair. I need a moment to get my head on straight. This weekend is meant to be relaxing for both of us, but all it’s doing right now is making me question everything. There are too many factors at play that I can’t control. If anything goes wrong, I might lose Stella again, and this time for good. I’ll have to push to get the answers I need from her. Make her see I’m doing all of this to protect her. Whatever game she’s playing against the families, she’s going to lose. I can’t watch her die. I won’t.
Steeling my nerves, I head outside and walk down the dirt path. Stella’s standing at the very edge of the dock, her hair blowing gently in the breeze coming off the water. I shove my hands in my front pockets and slowly make my way to her.
“It’s beautiful out here,” she says as I approach.
“Why I chose it. No one else for miles.”
“You own this whole area?”
I nod. “Wanted privacy. The lake, well, that was because of you.”
“The little sunfish. That was definitely a night to remember. One of the best.”
“Stella, I need you to be honest with me,” I say, unable to stop myself from blurting out the question. There’s no more time to be subtle. “The classes you’re taking on campus, what are they for?”
Her brow wrinkles, but she avoids my gaze. “Accounting. Told you that.”
“And you’re not taking any other ones on the side? You’re not working on something that’s going to get you in trouble?”
>
That makes her whip around. This time, her cheeks are bright red and her eyes narrow in anger. “Trouble with who, you? Didn’t realize I had to ask your permission to do what I want, husband.”
“You don’t.”
“Good.”
I scowl at her. “I’m not trying to control you. I’m not your father.”
“So you keep saying, and yet here you are, questioning me.” She crosses her arms over her chest, staring me down.
I’ve built up quite the reputation over the years. Many men are afraid of me due to my skills. Mikhail has turned me into a weapon. Yet here’s Stella, all five feet three inches of her, acting like she’s the toughest person standing on this dock. Her hands twitch like she’s going to deck me at any second. I take another step closer, towering over her. She doesn’t even bat an eye.
