“Again with the apologizing, goluba moy? There is nothing to apologize for.” He kissed her lips and taking another yawn into his mouth. He chuckled. “You’re sleepy. Let’s get you ready for bed. Shower now or in the morning after you rest?”
“Um…” She yawned and swayed as she attempted to sit up.
Vanko made the decision. “Morning, I think.” When she didn’t argue, he quickly stripped off her sweater, shirt and bra, then lowered her to the bed. “Let me do all the work. I don’t want you straining your wound.” Then he unfastened her jeans.
From her prone position, she lifted her head and looked down as he gently peeled the jeans and underpants down her body. “Am I still bleeding? I can’t see the bandage.”
“Let me worry about that. You just lie there.” He took off her boots and socks, then finished pulling her jeans off. The bandage was still pristine white. “It is good. We’ll change it tomorrow after your shower.”
“Okay,” she said, her eyes already at half-mast. “Sleep with me?” Even half asleep, her cheeks flushed when she asked the question. His little rabbit was shy about asking for what she wanted. She’d get over it when she realized he’d give her anything.
“Oh yes, milaya. I’ll sleep with you after I make some calls. Okay?”
When she didn’t answer, he looked up and saw she was already asleep. He packed the extra pillows he’d brought from the front desk around her body and then pulled up the covers and added two more blankets. Later he’d replace the pillows and some of the blankets with his body and warmth. Before leaving the room, he kissed her lightly on the forehead, pleased when she smiled and murmured his name in her sleep. She was already used to his touch, his closeness; it boded well for their future intimate relations.
* * * *
Monday morning, December 5th, 7:00 A.M. (EST)
Vanko awakened with his arms full of warm, naked woman. His woman. Last night, after he’d made calls to SSI and Elana’s uncles, he’d stripped down to his skin and crawled into bed with a dead-to-the-world Elana. He spooned her and fell asleep to the sound of her even breathing and the sweet scent of her hair. It was the best night’s sleep he’d ever had, and he looked forward to many more nights like it in the years ahead.
“Vanko?” Elana’s voice was a mere breath of a whisper.
“Yes, dushka?” He kissed the sensitive spot below her ear. His morning boner pulsed as she shivered in response against his body.
“I’d love that shower now.” She wiggled her perfectly shaped ass against his hard-on. “I’m hungry, too.”
She couldn’t mean for sex, could she? Damn it, his mind was in the gutter again. She was hurt and needed food and more rest, not hot, raunchy sex.
Vanko leaned over, caging her within his arms and kissed the tip of her nose, her cheek, and finally her mouth. She made a small noise in the back of her throat, a combination between a moan and a whimper. “We’ll take a shower, and I’ll wash you. Afterward, we’ll have breakfast and then you’ll go back to bed and sleep some more.”
“Bossy much?” She turned her face into his throat and nuzzled. “Will you hold me if I go back to bed?”
“I’ll hold you for as long as you want.” He kissed her mouth, just a taste, because if he kissed her as he’d like to, he’d probably scare her to death.
After getting out of bed, he helped her to stand. He groaned and all but salivated at the sight of her beautiful body, all sleek dancer muscles covered by pale ivory skin with the texture of the finest satins.
“Vanko?” Her avid gaze swept over his nakedness. She licked her lips, and color tinted her cheeks. “Do you need help with this?” Tentatively she reached and then swept a shaking finger over his plum-colored cockhead.
It had taken a lot of courage for Elana to ask her question, and he had to be careful in how he responded not to shut down her burgeoning desire. Of course, his dick knew what it wanted as his cock seemed to stretch and demand more of her touches. Precum had spurted at her initial touch. Only a few more touches like that and he’d erupt. He girded his loins, both mentally and physically.
“Elana…angel moy…you…” he coughed. God, he sounded like a geeky school boy confronted by the most beautiful girl in school. “You aren’t ready for this. I can wait. You need to rest and heal.”
“Vanko…” Elana’s soft voice held a hint of laughter, but her eyes showed her wariness, her fear of rejection.
Shit, shit, shit. He teetered on a precipice of over-protecting her or attacking her.
“…look at me, sladkie.” She turned and faced him fully, her lower abdomen brushing against his painfully aroused cock. And the damned thing leaked again, this time over her soft, warm skin.
He looked into Elana’s beautiful eyes. In those eyes he saw his world. She loved him. Desired him. She humbled him with her bravery in opening herself up to him in this way. He couldn’t reject her intimate overtures. This was too new for her; her sexual identity was so fragile. He would protect her in this realm also.
“I like what I see, sladkie.” She looked down to where their bodies touched, at his stiff cock.
His purple cockhead was in stark contrast to her pale skin. It was a very erotic sight and at any other time, he wouldn’t hesitate to take control and act on his desire. But this was her show, and he needed to take his cues from her, or risk damaging her.
“I’m glad, goluba moy.” He massaged the tense muscles in her shoulders. “It is all for you. Only you.”
Elana’s smile lit her face as she stroked a hand down his chest. “Want, um…some…help…” she grasped his cock then squeezed, “…with this big problem in the shower?” Her other hand cupped his balls.
Her grip, while somewhat hesitant, was firm enough to cause him to grit his teeth and groan low in his throat. He could tell this wasn’t something Elana offered to just anyone…if ever. God, what he did or said next was crucial and he hadn’t a clue what he should say or do. He only knew he wanted her with every beat of his heart and didn’t want to hurt her in any way, physically or emotionally.
“Ah…” He barely opened his mouth when she cut off whatever he might have said by squeezing his dick firmly in her fisted fingers and gently swiping her thumb over the head of his cock. Then she pulled her hand away, her other hand still cupping his tight and aching balls, and sucked his juices off the digit in question.
“Sweet, holy mother of God,” he groaned. He leaned his forehead against hers and breathed through his nose as he tried to regain control. She threatened to unman him with just a touch.
“I’ll take that as a ‘yes,’” she whispered as she placed a kiss on the tip of his chin.
Every muscle in his body tightened at the thought of her “helping” him with his erection. He managed to beat back the urge to push her to her knees and thrust his steel-hard cock into her sweet, luscious mouth.
His higher brain once more engaged, he coughed once, then again, before he managed to rasp out, “First, let me check your wound.”
Elana frowned. “Check my wound, then we’ll shower.” The “after that” was left in the air. She let go of his balls and swept her thumb over the glistening head of his bobbing erection again. She looked in his eyes, her gaze both defiant and fragile.
God help him. Vanko swore silently. She saw his move for what it was, a diversion. He was fairly certain she wouldn’t be diverted. She’d courageously put herself out there and asked for what she wanted; she wouldn’t back down now. She was just as stubborn as he was.
But still, she needed her wound checked, and dammit, he’d check it. Her physical well-being was his first responsibility.
Vanko lifted Elana to the bathroom counter. He checked the exterior of the bandage and was happy to see no blood had soaked through. He lifted the bandage back and found only a bit of blood on the dressing where it had oozed from around the wound glue. He bent over to get a closer look at the wound track. The glue seemed to be holding the skin edges together well, and what s
eepage there was ran as slightly tinged sera. Damn amazing stuff, that glue.
He sniffed the area around the wound, and only smelled Elana’s slightly sweaty skin, the copper smell of healthy blood, and the antiseptic smell of the glue.
“How is it?” Elana lifted her right arm as if to look and winced. “Dumb move. I’m not very flexible right now.”
“Don’t strain yourself,” Vanko chided. He straightened to stand in front of her and massaged her smoothly muscled shoulders, easing the tautness he found there. She was nervous.
“That feels so good.” She moaned and swayed forward.
Her beautiful, teardrop-shaped breasts brushed his chest; the rosy nipples were tight buds. Two perfect handfuls. Before he could stop himself, he cupped both breasts and swept his thumbs along the ruched nipples. “Damn, I didn’t mean to…”
He started to pull his hands away when Elana begged on a sigh, “Don’t stop, please. That feels wonderful.” She peeked at him from between thick, dark lashes. “I love your touch.”
“And I love touching you.” He leaned over and pressed kisses to the fullness over the top of her breasts. She sighed and her lids drifted shut as if she concentrated on the sensations he was giving her. “Your beautiful breasts shot my self-control all to hell.”
Elana giggled. Her eyes flew open as she looked at him with happiness and desire. He’d have to give her more compliments. He liked the sound and look of her happy.
Vanko shifted his attention back to her wound and resealed the old bandage, then taped a plastic bag over it to help keep the wound as dry as possible while they showered. He’d put on a new dressing afterward.
Elana watched him, hunger for him in her eyes. When she licked her lips as she cast another glance at his ever-ready cock, it was all he could do not to take her to the floor and claim her fully.
God, give me strength.
Vanko examined her face. He found no signs of pain. Maybe he could take this intimate moment a little bit further, let her gain some confidence in the sensual game of tease and retreat. “You know I find your body beautiful. My body can’t hide its desire for you.” He took her hand and placed it back on his dick. “This is yours. Just as these,” he touched her breasts, “and this,” he swept a finger over her damp pussy lips, “are mine.”
Elana’s eyes darkened to a stormy gray. She licked her lips and sighed. “Yes.”
He smiled then bent down slightly to whisper against her mouth. “So, tell me. Do you like my body, dushka?”
Elana eyed him from top to bottom and back again. Her pupils dilated and her dainty nostrils flared. His undisciplined dick got even harder within the light clasp of her hand.
“I love your body. It’s so strong,” she pumped her hand up and down his cock once, “so beautiful, so powerful.”
Her voice had been hesitant…but also, thank you God…husky with need. He wanted to shout his joy to the sky.
*
Even after his reassurances last evening and the evidence in front of her eyes right now, Elana still couldn’t believe this sexy man wanted her with all her sexual deficiencies. She wanted to pinch herself to make sure this wasn’t all a dream.
Elana wasn’t used to a man who played…all teasing and sexy outside of bed. Heck, for that matter, she wasn’t used to teasing sex play in bed either. Her previous lovers had been in and out, then gone. There’d been nothing fun or teasing or sexy about any of her sexual encounters. The men had scratched their itches, and she’d endured in an attempt to find a way to a normal sexual relationship.
All those years, she’d been going to bed with the wrong men. Vanko was the right one. In fact, she imagined he was the only man who’d ever do it for her.
Vanko was being slow and gentle; she could tell he was torn between wanting her and protecting her. And she loved him for his care of her. But her libido all of a sudden had awakened and it wanted fast and hard. Though, she wasn’t sure her hip could handle the force of nature that would be Vanko unleashed.
There had to be a middle ground, and since Vanko was the more experienced of the two of them, he had to find it. Her job was to inspire him to find it. She’d die of embarrassment but she’d beg if she had to. She needed him to claim her, because if he did…when he did, her instincts told her he’d never let her go. She wanted to be his…forever.
Tentatively, Elana let go of his cock and smoothed her palms over his muscular chest in a massaging motion, up over his perked brown nipples and then to his muscled shoulders. Then she moved her hands back to what had fascinated her the most about his chest. He had golden-brown hair, not too much, not too little, that covered the middle of his chest and then led down the midline of his sculpted torso to his groin. His cock stood out from the golden-brown curls; a silver drop of precum pooled in the slit. She hummed low in her throat at recalling how he tasted on her thumb, all salty like the ocean.
“I love your chest.” She placed biting kisses down his sternum. “I love your abs.” She traced each and every cut muscle. “And I especially love your cock.” She swept the tempting moisture from his glans and took it to her mouth and sucked it off. She groaned low in her throat as she held his fiery opaline gaze with hers.
God, please let him take over. She had never been this forward with a man in her life. She had no clue what to do next. She knew she had to have a full-body blush. If he rejected her advances, she’d lock herself back in the mental tower she’d encased her true emotions in for years and never venture out again.
Vanko inhaled sharply. “Milaka.” Sweet darling girl. He cupped the back of her head and took her lips in a deep, tongue-thrusting kiss. He ate at her mouth as if he were starving for the taste of her.
She moaned and leaned forward from her seat on the counter, striving to get closer.
Vanko broke off the kiss, his hands holding her in place. His face flushed with desire and his breathing, labored. “No, no, Elana. You’ll hurt yourself. Let me take control. I’ll keep you safe.”
Yes, that was what she wanted, but only if…“Don’t stop. Please.” She’d die if he stopped.
“No, I won’t…stop. Can’t…I need this…I need you.” He peppered her face with kisses, some biting, some sucking, some mere whispers of skin against skin. “Please, don’t let me hurt you.”
“You won’t. You can’t. I love you, masik.” She inhaled and tried to pull away. God, had she said that?
“Elana, lyubimaya. I love you, too.” He held her still for his kiss and swallowed her cry of joy. This kiss was one of adoration and reverence, a pledge, as he tasted every bit of her mouth and lips.
He loved her. All his talk about a relationship with her, her living in his home had been a lead in for the declaration she wanted, no needed to hear. He loved her. It was amazing how those three little words swept away all her insecurities and convinced her more than all his actions.
Sheer happiness mixed with equal parts love and lust permeated every part of her body. He loved her, and he meant it. He’d even called her his beloved, the special endearment Russian men, even Ukrainians, didn’t use casually.
Vanko continued to kiss her as if he never wanted to stop. Her heart threatened to beat its way out of her chest. His breaths were hers, and hers became his. Her folds were wet with the evidence of her arousal and her clit throbbed in time with the beating of her heart. Her nipples were so tightly budded that each brush against his chest hair sent pleasurable signals to her sex.
The urge to lean in to close the last few inches between their bodies and rub her lower body against his was strong. But she knew it would pull her wound, and then Vanko would feel obligated to call a halt to the sex play. So she controlled the urge and sank ever deeper into his ravenous kisses.
After many minutes, Vanko groaned and pulled away from her mouth. “I love the taste of you. I could kiss you for hours,” he whispered against her hot cheek.
“Yes, please.” She smiled and then nuzzled his chest where she’d rested her suddenly
too heavy head. She hadn’t frozen on him. She’d responded—and she wanted to go to the next step. Now, not later.
Vanko cupped her face and tipped it up. “Milaka, I love your smile. I was afraid I’d hurt or scare you.”
His concern fractured what little control she had over her chaotic emotions, and she grabbed his face with both hands and kissed him harder than she’d ever kissed anyone before.
“Elana!” Vanko moved even closer, his thighs on the outside of hers as she sat on the counter. “You’re not afraid of me, goluba moy.”
“Never.” She sighed. “But you’re so experienced…” she looked away, “…and I’m…a freaking mess.”
“You aren’t a mess, freaking or any other kind.” He angled her face and held it for another searingly hot kiss, his tongue thrusting inside and tangling with hers. After several incendiary minutes that left them both gasping for breath, he pulled back and muttered against her kiss-swollen lips, “Never be afraid to ask for what you want—for what you need—from me. You can have all that I am.”
When she moaned, he kissed her once more, a quick, light tasting. “When you’re better, dushka, I’ll show you just how much I adore you. I promise to worship every blessed inch of you…over and over again.”
“Telling me that makes me want you all the more…now, not later.” Elana choked back an almost giddy laugh and looked down at her hands spread on his firm abs, immediately above the evidence of his desire. She inhaled sharply and moved her hands to his cock and double-fisted him. “I want to suck you. Today…not later. Please.” She needed to do this, to please her man…and to show herself she could.
Vanko’s gray-green eyes darkened to smoky tourmaline and a flush spread across his cheekbones. His cock jerked within her hands.
God, he wanted her to do it as much as she wanted to. She smiled.
“Elana…dushka…you’ll be the death of me.” He pulled her hands away from his cock and took them to his lips and placed a kiss on each palm before releasing them. She hissed and reached for his penis again.
Vanko stayed her hands and moved out of her reach. “Look at me.” She turned her gaze to his. “I won’t allow you to hurt yourself seeing to my cock. I can wait. And if I can’t, I can take care of it myself.”
Weather the Storm (Security Specialists International #3) Page 20
