by Ivy Clyde
Moans escaped me as I felt his throbbing rod against my pulsing core. The sensations were more intense than anything I’d ever experienced in my life. He began moving inside me at a slow but steady pace.
My fingers gripped his shoulders as pleasure built inside me. It rose with each of his thrusts, making my walls squeeze and throb harder. Reaching underneath me, he unhooked my bra and pulled it off my body completely. The sleeves of my shirt were still wrapped around my arms but I was fully bare to him otherwise.
His thrusts increased in speed and intensity. I groaned, loving the feel of his rock-hard length moving inside me, hitting me at a particular spot that sent shivers of pleasure coursing through me in waves.
“Andrei.” Throwing back my head, I moaned out his name over and over again until my pleasure coiled tightly in my core. “Don’t stop,” I begged, wrapping my legs around him, so he could keep thrusting inside me like that.
A sudden cry escaped me as I felt all my control crumble. My body shuddered underneath him as waves of pleasure cascaded down on me. Fire sang in my veins as my walls gripped onto his length tightly.
“Skye,” he bit out, still moving inside me. His voice sounded strained and the muscles on his back and arms tightened as he plunged inside me harder and faster than ever before.
Just as the overwhelming sensations subsided, I felt another mountain of pleasure building inside me to take its place. He lowered his head between my breasts as his hands came to hold my wrists firmly, pinning them to the side of my head as his cock pistoned inside me relentlessly.
“I’m close,” he grated through clenched teeth, tightening his hold on my wrists as if he was making sure I couldn’t get away from him. He groaned, thrusting into me until I felt my insides coiling into that moment of intense pleasure.
I whimpered as my body gave way for another explosive orgasm. My insides clamped onto his cock, drawing out heavy grunts from him as he came to a sudden halt over me. He let out a deep growl as his head was thrown back.
A gush of fiery-hot liquid gushed inside me. Burying his face in the crook of my neck, he groaned my name while his hips continued to move inside me as bursts of his essence filled me up completely.
Our bodies shuddered together as we gave in to the pleasure coursing through our bodies. He slumped over me, still buried deep inside me as his breaths came out in pants and gasps.
My own heart was beating hard.
With a slow and gentle movement, Andrei pulled out of me and laid back on the bed beside me. Pulling a blanket from the bottom of the bed, he covered our cooling bodies with it.
Wrapping his arm around me, he drew me against him. Heat radiated from him, seeping into my skin as I nestled against him, quite comfortable even though we lay naked against each other. Safety stole through me as I closed my eyes, welcoming the slumber that my exhausted body needed.
24
Skye
My eyes opened to the sound of an unfamiliar voice calling for Andrei. Blinking against the blinding morning light seeping through the gaps of a curtain, I turned, only to find his side of the bed empty.
Loud footsteps approached from outside. Next moment, the door opened and Mikhael walked in.
I sprang up immediately, too shocked at his sudden appearance. Mikhael’s pale gray eyes widened as they met mine before slowly trailing down my body and fixing there. I followed the direction of his gaze and realized the sheet covering me had slipped down to pool between my thighs, exposing my nakedness to him.
“Stop staring!” I shouted, pulling on the blanket to cover myself.
A low chuckle escaped him as he ran his fingers through the short, spiky strands of his green-dyed hair. “Sorry,” he said with a smirk, not looking a bit apologetic. “I came to look for Andrei. Had no idea you’d be waiting here to flash me.”
“That was never my intention,” I replied, fuming inside. My eyes desperately searched the bed and the floor around it to look for the rest of my clothes.
“Thanks, anyway.” I stared back at him, glaring. He laughed again. “Just tell Andrei I was looking for him. He hasn’t been answering my calls.” Turning around, he walked out, closing the door behind him.
I relaxed once he left. It had been too much of a surprise to find Mikhael as soon as I’d woken up.
Memories of last night surfaced in my mind.
My face heated up as I was reminded of the way I’d moaned Andrei’s name as he thrust inside me while his lips roamed all over my body. I smiled, knowing I was no longer a virgin. At the heel of that thought, came another realization. We hadn’t used any protection last night.
I looked toward my thighs and noticed a spot of dried cum on my skin. He’d come inside me, his seeds spurting in large bursts until they’d filled me to the brim and spilled out of me in thick, creamy streams. My insides throbbed at the thought. Desire snaked around my gut even though my body felt sore.
I need a shower. The thought raced through my mind before I could think about the morning-after pill. I definitely needed one and fast before the idea of getting pregnant could freak me out. Where is he? I wondered, looking around the vast room.
Before getting off the bed, I located my bra, panties, and skirt from the folds of the blanket and then walked away to find the bathroom. The door to it was set on the other side of the room. Entering it, I detected the faint aroma of men’s body wash. The place was as large as the bedroom with a large marble bath sunk into the floor. A shower stall stood to the corner, its glass walls covered with droplets of water. It looked like Andrei had already taken a shower that morning.
I hung my clothes over a peg on the wall and walked inside the shower. Turning on the knob, I enjoyed the hot steamy water cascading down my sore body. Not only was I sore from the sex but also from the hours of sitting behind Andrei’s bike. The stiffness was worst in my thighs but the hot water helped loosen the muscles.
I borrowed one of Andrei’s robes after the shower before walking out of the bathroom. My wet hair hung around my face in tendrils, dripping water but I couldn’t find the hairdryer anywhere. Giving up, I walked out.
Andrei’s back was toward me as I stepped out. He was bent over by the bedside table but turned around at the sound of my approach.
“Hey,” he said, facing me with a gentle smile on his face. “Are you all right?”
“Yeah…” I was suddenly lost for words. He was incredibly handsome at that moment with curls of his dark blond hair spilling around his face. There was a gentle expression in his soft brown eyes as he gazed at me. My heart throbbed in my chest as warmth spread through me.
“I brought you breakfast,” he added, motioning toward the bedside table. There was a large tray on it, filled with dishes and a silver coffee pot with steam wafting from the spout.
“Thanks,” I said, trying to think clearly for a moment. “Err…I hope you don’t mind I used the shower and borrowed your stuff.”
“Of course, not. Come over here, Skye.” He extended his hand toward me. Another bout of shyness overcame me as I stepped closer to take his hand. He pulled me in a hug and held me in his embrace. “You can do whatever you like in this room. You don’t need my permission.”
“Thank you,” I muttered against his chest, feeling much better than before. He was treating me so well instead of just a one-night fling. Now that the excitement and adrenaline from last night had abated, I became more aware of our situation.
“You should eat first,” he said, stepping away from me. “Come on.” He made me sit on the edge of the bed and poured me a steaming cup of coffee. “Do you like milk with your coffee?”
“Sure,” I said, watching him add a nice dash of milk and sugar into the porcelain cup.
Taking the cup from him, I sipped the coffee. “So good,” I said, savoring the taste and aroma of the rich brew. I cast another glance at him before spilling out an awkward speech. “About last night…I’m sorry I didn’t tell you about my…err…inexperience.”
“You should have,” he
said, his voice turning grim. “I could have hurt you worse.” He gave his head a shake before glancing at me. “You seem old enough. I just didn’t think you’d still be a virgin.”
My cheeks heated up. Well, it’s not like I was a prude, saving myself for some special dude to show up. I was just too caught up in surviving and fending for myself to even think about getting involved with anyone.
“There’s also another thing,” I hedged on.
“Tell me.”
“I’m not on pills or anything.” Embarrassment heated up my cheeks again. I should have thought of it last night when he’d given me enough time to refuse him. My mind was so muddled with lust and adrenaline, I’d forgotten about every technicality involving sex. I risked a glance at Andrei.
“Finish eating,” he said. “I’ll get someone to arrange the stuff you need.”
He placed the tray on the bed. There were small savory cottage cheese pancakes that I was often served at Ivanov Mansion along with a bowl of porridge topped with fruits. There were more familiar things like eggs and buttered toasts among the dishes as well.
Andrei’s expression turned to one of amusement as I went through everything he’d brought for me.
“Would you like another helping?” he asked me in a mocking innocent tone.
“Nah, I’m full.” The look of utter satisfaction on my face was proof enough.
He grinned, getting to his feet. “Find something to wear,” he said, gesturing toward a large closet in the corner. “I’ll get someone to wash your uniform and have it ready later.” He bundled my clothes under his arm, picked up the tray and walked toward the door.
“Andrei, wait!” I called. When he turned around, I said, “Mikhael came looking for you.”
His expression changed at once. “He saw you here?”
I nodded.
His expression darkened, so I decided not to mention how his friend saw me naked. “Stay here while I’m gone. When I come back, I’ll give you a tour of the house.”
“Don’t worry about me.” I knew enough not to venture on my own in a mafia household. The armed men were enough to keep me inside the safety of this room.
After he left, I went to open the closet he’d pointed out earlier. It was massive, probably as big as the bedroom in my old apartment. One section was dedicated to a number of hanging garment bags that I guessed to be suits or tux. Another part sported his selection of leather biker jackets. I ran a hand along a tan jacket before moving onto the corner that housed more regular clothes like jeans and t-shirts.
Selecting a black t-shirt, I donned it, finding it reaching my mid-thighs. Digging around some more, I found a pair of shorts with an elastic waistband that could probably fit around my slim waist without sliding down.
I headed into the bathroom after dressing up in Andrei’s clothes. The reflection on the large, spotless mirror showed a lean girl in baggy boy clothes with her wet hair hanging down her sides. A smile rose on my lips. I’d missed wearing regular loose clothing that hid my body. Neither the academy uniform nor the dozens of dresses the Ivanovs bought me felt as good or comfortable as this.
I walked back into the bedroom. With Andrei gone, I decided to snoop around a little to find out more about him. My desire to sneak around wasn’t strictly restricted to the job Nikolai Ivanov gave me. I really wanted to get to know Andrei better.
My gaze fell on a wooden dresser which was topped with a number of photo frames. Drawing nearer, I looked at them. Andrei was featured in all of them.
One of them showed him when he was younger, probably around fourteen or fifteen as he posed with his parents and a handsome man I assumed to be his elder brother. They had the same shade of dark blond hair and chocolate-brown eyes. They were all dressed in formal clothing as if preparing to go to some evening gala. I moved closer to see his parents. While his father had a sour, intimidating look on his face, his mother’s expression was soft and warm. My gaze went back to his brother’s face. He had the same dark, foreboding expression as his father’s.
Moving on, I glanced at the other photos, coming to a stop when something familiar caught my eye.
It was the same photograph Christian had shown me a long time ago. Maria stood between Andrei and Dimitri, their faces lit up with bright, carefree smiles. I couldn’t help the shiver that ran through me to see her face. She looked too freakishly like me except for the innocence in her face and the doll-like clothes she wore.
Something terrible had happened to rip them apart. Maria was dead and Andrei and Dimitri couldn’t stand each other. The need to find out what happened overwhelmed me.
The sound of the door opening had me turning around.
Andrei strode forward to stand before me. “What are you doing?”
“That’s her, right?” I asked, pointing at the photo of him and his friends. “The girl Mikhael spoke of.”
His expression tightened at once.
“You were close to Dimitri too,” I said, glancing back at the photograph.
“Skye.” There was warning and bitterness lacing his tone.
“What happened to you guys? How did she die? And why do you hate Dimitri so much?”
“I even hate the sound his name on your lips.”
“But why? What did he do?”
A long breath exhaled out of him as he turned away from me. He paced the floor before me, looking more agitated than I’d ever seen him. Suddenly, he halted, staring back at me. “It’s better you hear it from me than that lying bastard,” he said harshly.
Moving forward, he grabbed my wrists and pushed me against a wall. His arms came up to cage me in as he leaned into me. “How much do you know about the Ivanovs?” His gaze bored into mine.
“Enough to know they’re not into all legit business,” I whispered. “What kind of people would have armed men guarding their house like a castle?”
“Do you know exactly what they do?”
“No. Mr. Ivanov gives me the creeps.” His lips quirked a little at that. “The only reason I agreed to his proposal of sending me to school and picking up the tab on Mom’s medical bills was because I was struggling on my own. It’s not bad eating four meals a day.”
He exhaled a long breath and closed his eyes momentarily before looking back at me. “At least, you’re not stupid and have an idea about the kind of people the Ivanovs are.” Pushing off the wall, he walked away, moving toward an open window. “The Ivanovs are one of the prominent mafia families that rule this part of the country.” I already knew that but let Andrei continue. “So, is my family.”
I let the surprise show in my face. “That explains all the armed commandos patrolling your homes,” I muttered.
Andrei chuckled, looking out of the window.
I walked close to him and asked him the question on my mind. “I can believe Mr. Ivanov being a mafia dude. He’s scary as hell. But you…you seem so different.”
Andrei looked back at me. Tears sprang up in his eyes, deepening the depths of his beautiful brown eyes. “I wasn’t supposed to be involved in any of the business,” he said in a rough voice. His throat bobbed as he paused for a moment. Taking a deep breath, he continued. “My brother, Egor, was going to take up the reins after my father retired. He was groomed to be the leader while I was allowed to do what I liked. My family never forced me into learning the business and I was happy to live an uncaring life with no burdens. I raced and danced. I loved my best friends with everything I had in me but everything changed.”
“What really happened?” I asked, burning to know the mystery behind Maria’s death.
“It all started with Maria being trapped,” said Andrei. His voice was steadier now but there was a bitter note to it. “She was an orphan brought up by Dimitri’s family. She grew up alongside him and me. Dimitri’s family groomed her as his bride from a young age. She was beautiful, intelligent, loyal…faithful.”
Jealousy stung me at those words but I forced myself to focus on what he was saying.
“She was naïve too and it’s all their fault. They sheltered her too much, kept her from going to school or having friends outside their immediate circle. She never grew up to know how vicious the world is toward the innocent.”
It explained her absolutely content smile on the photograph I’d seen of her, Dimitri and Andrei. No matter how much I looked like her, that was one expression my face would never make.
“Someone in our circle had been stealing from us.” Andrei’s voice broke through my thoughts. “Think in terms of millions. And they did it all through Maria’s bank account, making it look like she’d been the one siphoning the money from the joint pool. Once this was discovered, there was no hope of her staying alive.”
He waited, allowing me to process what he’d just said. “Did she never realize that millions of dollars were being deposited into her account?” I asked after a while. “I mean how rich was she to not have noticed all those zeroes?”
He frowned. “I never gave that a thought.”
“If she was really innocent wouldn’t she have said something to someone?”
“She was innocent,” he said firmly. His face was set in a hardened expression. He truly believed her to be innocent.
“Was she murdered for stealing from the brotherhood or something?”
He nodded. “And do you know who gave the order?”
I shook my head.
“David Volkov, Dimitri’s father,” said Andrei through clenched teeth. His hands fisted at his side as fire danced in his eyes. “The same man who said she was like a daughter to him. And do you know who carried out the sentence?”
I shook my head, suddenly afraid to know.
“It was Dimitri,” said Andrei in a dead voice. “He shot her with his own hands.”
Cold washed all over me as the scene came alive in my mind’s eye. Dimitri’s hands were dripping with blood while Maria’s body lay at his feet.
“Do you understand why I don’t want you anywhere near him?” asked Andrei. “He murdered the girl who was your mirror image.”
“Weren’t they supposed to have been engaged?” I asked in a slow, halting voice.
