Their buddy Chris wandered over to join them, offered them beer, then stayed to chat. “Janine was worried that today was going to be too cold for swimming, but it’s almost too hot to stand around out here.
“If you’re too hot, it’s from looking at the women,” Ambrose said, grinning. “I’m starting to regret shaving my head again though. I’m going to fry my melon if I don’t move into the shade. He shifted his chair back into the shadow of the table’s umbrella.
“Varushka is settling in,” Banner remarked, watching the knot of women socialize. “Kate and Everly really like her. I have to say, though, that I was surprised you bought her a ring already. It hasn’t been very long.”
“When she’s the right one, you know,” Konstantin and Ambrose replied at the same time.
Chris raised his beer to that, and nodded. “Yup. I knew with Janine right away. I can’t believe I have buddies who are still happy with picking different girls up at clubs every weekend. Can’t train a woman in one night.”
“You really can’t,” Konstantin agreed. “It was almost like Varushka was pretrained, though. Maybe because she’s naturally submissive and wasn’t raised to think it was a bad thing. It’s hard to believe how smooth it’s all been.”
Chris clapped him on the shoulder and went to check on other guests.
“She’s a lot more sure of herself than she was the last time we hung out,” Banner observed, arching a brow at Konstantin. “She holds herself more confidently, and even walks different. You also look a hell of a lot more relaxed. Do you have something you want to share with the class?”
Worried, Konstantin looked back at Varushka, trying to see her through someone else’s eyes. She seemed happier, more social, and less afraid. Was there more, or was Banner just fishing for information? Would people who knew her well, like her parents, be able to tell he’d been sleeping with her? Guilt nibbled at him as he looked for the telltale signs. There was no question she was getting overly familiar with him, but surely she’d be more on guard around her family?
“Mind your business,” he finally grumbled. They were delusional if they thought he’d tell them something that personal. Before her he would have, but Varushka was almost his wife, not just a woman he bossed around and stuck his dick in.
“He’s totally fucking her,” Ambrose said. “Just look at that obsessed look in his eyes. He can barely stand to be this far away from her.”
Konstantin sighed. “She doesn’t know many people here, and this kind of thing is unfamiliar to her. She was completely vanilla when she got to America, and now she’s wandering around topless at a kinky pool party. Maybe I should keep her closer.”
A middle-aged man Konstantin didn’t know stopped in front of them, frowning. “Excuse me. I saw the girl in the pool over there walk in on your arm.” The man pointed a disapproving finger at Varushka.
Shit. What had she said? “Yes, she’s mine. Can I help you?” Konstantin grumbled. He didn’t have a lot of patience with self-important asshats. The self-important asshat quota in his life was full—just two, and they were going to be the best men at his wedding.
The man lowered his voice. “Bringing underage girls to parties like this isn’t just disgusting and against the law, but you’re putting the rest of us at risk too. You need to collect her and leave. Take her home to her mom and dad.”
Fuck. Seriously?
“She’s several years over the age of consent,” Konstantin replied calmly. “No need to worry.”
“Like you’d say so if she wasn’t? If you’re staying, I want to see some ID.”
Konstantin rose, forcing his stance to stay loose. Back in the day, someone taking that kind of disrespectful tone with him would have been shown some manners, but he wasn’t a teenager anymore. He pushed aside the urge to punch the guy.
“Our hosts can vouch for us, if you’re concerned. Do you think Chris would let me bring her if he didn’t know she was legal?” Konstantin stared at the guy coldly, until he dropped his gaze. “You have no business asking for her ID. It’s Russian, anyway, so I doubt you could read it. Move along, friend.” He smiled pleasantly, but the man saw something in Konstantin’s gaze that made him take a couple of steps back.
“I won’t be dismissed,” the man said impetuously, hands on his hips.
“You already were.” Konstantin gestured vaguely at him to go away and sprawled back in his chair.
For a moment the man stood there and stared at him stupidly. Was he going to pick a fight? That was a nasty business to bring into a party. He’d have to ask him to step out into the street, at least.
“Look at her build. She’s barely got anything up top. There’s no way she’s of age. Men like you are the ones who bring a bad reputation to BDSM. It’s not safe, sane, or consensual if she’s not old enough to consent.”
Yeah, Konstantin was going to fucking kill him.
Chris stalked back over and eyed the man. “How dare you insinuate I’d let an underage girl into one of our parties. Get off my fucking property.”
Konstantin got off his chair. Ambrose pushed him back down.
The man opened his mouth to say something, but Chris lit into him.
“And if you think the only woman capable of consent has to meet your criteria of what a woman should look like, you’re even more of a dickwad than I thought.” He jabbed a finger at the man but didn’t touch him. “The only reason you’re here, Pete, is because your wife is a total sweetheart and she’s friends with Janine. Learn some fucking manners and we might invite you back sometime.”
The man strode off, his expression thunderous. He talked to a woman who must have been his wife, but the woman rolled her eyes and stayed seated. He left without any more fuss.
Konstantin’s friends turned to him and he held up his hands innocently. “I’m not following him out. It’s done.” He wouldn’t be a very good husband to Varushka if he was in jail for murder.
He turned his attention to her. She was standing in waist-deep water, and looked away from him when he met her gaze. Crap. How much of that had she heard?
“Varushka, get your ass over here,” he called in Russian.
She walked up the steps of the pool immediately and moved gracefully toward him, her red hair wet and smoothed back from her lovely face. Her steps were confident, even though her eyes were wide and nervous. Those eyes made him want to take her in his arms and comfort her. Unfortunately, it also reminded him of the last time he’d spanked her, and the way she’d sobbed for him to stop but had been careful to remind him that “stop” wasn’t her safeword. She’d been so wound up afterward she’d begged for sex.
Konstantin folded a towel and threw it down beside his chair, then gave her the hand signal to kneel. Soundlessly she complied, just as the other men wandered off to watch a flogging that was in progress in the living room that they could see through the patio doors.
“You look like you have something to say to me.”
Briefly, her fingers twisted together before she laid her hands properly on her thighs. “Baba Nina should have sent Mikka instead of me,” she mumbled.
For a moment Konstantin hesitated, not wanting to ask questions he didn’t want answers to. But if he didn’t ask he’d wonder until he did. “You don’t like it here, little bird?”
“I never should have come to America,” she whispered, the words driving a stake into his heart. “I’m an embarrassment to you. I don’t know how to do the things you like and I have no tits. Mikka is very beautiful and she knows about men. She’s made like a woman. No one would ask you if she was too young.”
“You’re very beautiful. Haven’t you felt the people here admiring you?”
The girl blushed and ducked her head.
“Do I seem disappointed with how you look? Have we spent our time together innocently, or have I been buried deep inside you every chance I get?”
Her mouth fell open and she blushed, then glanced around, but no one was paying attention to them.
“There are many different sizes of women, and all of them are beautiful.” He traced a fingertip down her small nose. “There’s a reason Baba chose you for me. Why are you her favorite and not Mikka?”
She shrugged. “Mikka is bold and smart, but sometimes she cuts people with her words. Maybe Baba Nina thought she would argue with you too much.”
Konstantin pulled her to lean against his leg and stroked her wet hair. “Do you think Mikka would work as hard to please me as Varushka does, or would like being my slave?”
The girl chuckled darkly at the thought. He took that as a no.
“Does Varushka like being my slave?”
She nudged his leg with her forehead, and her eyes closed as he wrapped his hand around the back of her neck. Her shudder was telling.
“I don’t care if Mikka would like being your slave, Master. I’m the one who’s yours. She can get her own man.” Varushka’s expression was fierce.
“Good. Now no more of this nonsense.” Konstantin pulled her up into his lap.
“But my bathing suit is wet!” she squeaked in protest.
He draped a towel around her, then settled her again. Towels were remarkably easy access. Despite her whimpered protests, he let his hand wander underneath the covering, then traced the seam of her pussy lips through the thin fabric of her suit. He slipped the brief garment aside, feeling a slickness that had nothing to do with pool water. Varushka was holding very still. Any squirming on her part would look suspicious, although with this crowd, they’d be eager to watch, rather than offended.
“Other than me, there’s only one man who gets a say about our relationship,” he murmured in her ear. “Luckily, he’s too far away to save you.”
Chapter Eleven
Varushka was getting used to the quiet emptiness when Konstantin was away for work. It was still strange having so much space and privacy, but she found ways to fill the few days here and there when he had to be away. At least now she had her animals to keep her busy, and in some ways, keep her company, as silly as it sounded.
She opened the goat pen, noting the dent in the chicken wire. “Have you been causing trouble again, Beda?” she scolded the white goat. The brown one followed her sister to the bucket, hungry to be fed. They were particularly noisy today. “All right, all right,” she said when they nosed her. “Don’t be so pushy.”
After feeding the goats, she moved on to the chickens, then grabbed the eggs laid while they’d been away. She was surprised how much she enjoyed taking care of their little farm. After having done it for so long at home, she’d have thought it would feel like a chore¸ but there was comfort in the familiar. Not just that, the farm at home was her papa’s. He made the decisions. He said what happened, when and where. But this garden, the two little goats, the chicken coop—it was hers. All hers. It was one of the only important things she’d ever had of her own and there was immense satisfaction in that.
Even Konstantin, as controlling as he was in some ways, let her do as she pleased when it came to this. He probably had no idea how much it meant to her. Smiling, she stood in the chicken coop, holding a basket of eggs, watching the birds peck at the ground.
The early-morning sun warmed her skin. Later, she’d check on the cucumbers she’d been growing. There was bound to be one or two ready to be picked. For a small moment, she felt invincible. Coming here had been the best thing to happen to her. And aside from missing Konstantin, life couldn’t have been more perfect.
Her phone vibrated in her apron pocket. Expecting Kon, she rushed to answer it. But the incoming number showed it was her parents.
“Hello,” she answered.
“Varushka!”
“Hi, Mama!” She smiled, pleased to hear from her. It’d been two weeks since the last time they’d spoken.
“Varushka, you must come home immediately.” —Her voice broke— “It’s Dedushka. He is very sick.”
“What?” Her breath caught in her throat. A picture formed in her head—her grandpa’s kind smile, the deep wrinkles creasing his forehead, white, bushy eyebrows. But he’d always been strong and healthy.
“He had a stroke. He is in the hospital. The doctors say there is a small chance he could get better but it could be the end. You must come say your good-byes.”
Tears began and she stared morosely at the ground.
“Varushka,” Mama said sharply. “Do you hear me? You must come home!”
Nodding, she made her voice work. “Yes. Of course. I’ll come right away.”
“Good,” she murmured, sounding tired. “Call us when you land at the airport. I’ll tell you if we’re still at the hospital.”
“Okay. I’ll be on the first flight I can catch.” Ice formed in her veins despite the warm summer air. With Konstantin across the country, she’d have to go alone. She suddenly felt sick.
Hunched over, she stumbled toward the deck stairs, then sat down. With her head resting on her knees, she fought back the nervous butterflies in her belly. She had so much to do. She had to pack and order tickets . . . She didn’t even know how to order tickets!
Phone still in her hand, she scrolled through to find Konstantin’s number. Would he be angry at her for disturbing him? What if he was in an important meeting? But, this was important too. And before he traveled he always said she could call him for anything. She hit the CALL button and waited while it rang.
“Good morning, love,” he said.
Just hearing his voice calmed her some. “Hi,” she croaked.
“What’s the matter?” His tone sharpened. How did he know something was wrong in one word?
She sniffled. “My dedushka is in the hospital. He’s very sick.”
“Sick?” A pause. “I’m sorry, malish.”
“I have to go there to see him. Before it’s too late.” Would he offer to come? Could he get here in time? It’d be so much easier if he could travel with her.
He sighed loudly. “Shit. I can’t leave this negotiation. I’ll lose the contract. I can’t go for a few days. Damn it.” She could hear the helpless frustration in his voice. “I really can’t.” He made a sound like he was in pain. “I’ll arrange everything and follow you as soon as I can. Unless you can wait?”
“No.” Her hands shook so much she nearly dropped the phone. “I don’t know if he has a few days. I was going to leave today.”
“Varushka,” he said wearily and she pictured him rubbing his face like he did when he was lost. “You can’t go alone.”
Straightening her shoulders she told him, “Yes, I can. I can do it. I remember how.” Her stomach tightened. She would do it for her family, God help her.
He stayed quiet for a long moment. “I can see if I can leave early . . .”
“No!” If she messed up this contract for him, or whatever, she’d never forgive herself. Too many people in Nasva relied on the money he made. If she was selfish and insisted he accompany her now, it could take money directly out of programs he ran in the village. “I can do this.”
“I know you can. You’re a big girl. I just feel like shit for not being able to go with you. I’d leave Bruce in charge here, but this Franklin guy gets all power-trippy about needing to talk to me instead of my people.” He groaned. “And he’s already pissy about how long it took me to get down here for this meeting.”
Varushka was the reason he’d delayed those meetings in the first place. She’d asked him to stay and play with her and he’d postponed going for two weeks to do just that. He’d missed so much work because of her already, that if he wasn’t self-employed, he probably would have been fired.
“Please,” she begged in a small voice, tears streaming down her cheeks. “Please, Master. I can do this myself.”
Another long pause then he sighed again. “All right.”
Relief mixed with nerves and now she wasn’t sure what to feel. “Thank you.”
“But you’ll text me before you take off and when you land.”
“Okay.”
“Right when you land,” he grumbled.
She winced but knew he wasn’t upset with her, just the situation. “Yes, Master. I will.”
“I’ll get your tickets now. Do you have the credit card I gave you?”
“Yes.” It was in her purse. She rose to start packing as he spoke.
“Good girl,” he said. “Don’t be afraid to use it for anything you want. Be careful. Call me if you have any problems. Anything at all. Do you understand?”
“Yes, Master.” She threw her most modest clothing in a bag, then stopped as she eyed her one black dress. Tears streamed from her eyes, wetting her cheeks. A second later, she grabbed it and stuffed it in her bag, hoping she wouldn’t need it.
He talked her through getting the ticket he’d booked and finding the right gate. Then he demanded she call Kate or Everly for a ride to the airport. She’d planned to call them anyway to ask them to feed the animals while she was gone. Konstantin had said if they weren’t available, to call him back and he’d have Banner or Ambrose take her to the airport and that he had someone booked to take care of the animals. She hated being such a burden but she hadn’t gotten her driver’s license yet, and apparently a taxi hadn’t crossed Konstantin’s mind. He sounded more panicked than she did.
She was ready far too early since the first flight out wasn’t for six hours. In that time, she sat on the couch, bags at her feet, biting a stubborn hangnail. She wouldn’t think about her dedushka dying. She had to stay positive.
Maybe he’d recover and she could announce her engagement. Yes. That was a good plan. They could celebrate her dedushka’s recovery and her engagement together as a family.
* * *
As it’d turned out, Kate and Everly had both been working so Konstantin had arranged for Ambrose to bring her to the airport. She was glad now, going through customs, because his humor and easy conversation settled her nerves. He’d spent the whole ride trying to distract her with silly jokes. The sweet man had even insisted on parking and walking her all the way to the security line.
To Have and to Master Page 17
