7. Yelena
Chapter 7
Yelena
A s soon as Val walks out the door, I turn to face my mom. I’m afraid to meet her eyes, scared of what I’ll find, but she doesn’t even give me the chance to be worried. She’s too busy wrapping me in a tight hug and telling me she loves me. I sink into her, letting my mom comfort me like she has been since the day I was born. I’ve always been surrounded by love, and I was so wrong to ever doubt them, to ever think that they could turn their backs on me.
I sob against her and say, “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you.”
She cups the back of my head and holds me close, letting me cry while she silently does the same. It’s only after I’ve exhausted myself that she kisses my head and says, “It’s okay, honey. Everything’s going to be okay.”
Grabbing me some tissues, she leads me to the couch and sits down beside me, keeping one of my hands in hers.
“I’m so sorry, Mom,” I say again. “I felt so bad lying to you and Dad, but I didn’t know what else to do.”
She’s quiet for a second, her fingers lightly stroking the back of my hand until she finally says, “I’m sorry you didn’t feel like you could tell me, but I understand why you hid it. Don’t forget that I was once young and in love with someone who I thought was forbidden to me. I hid how I felt for your dad, or at least I tried to,” she says with a small laugh, “and then when I turned eighteen, we both hid it from my brother because we didn’t want to hurt him, and I was afraid that he would be mad.”
“He wasn’t though, right?”
The fingers of her other hand lightly run over the colorful phoenix tattoo that encircles her wrist, the one that covers a ring of scars that my mom never talks about. Sensing her discomfort, Raspy comes running over, nudging her hand with his nose before he lays his big head in her lap, keeping his amber eyes trained on hers. She smiles and runs her fingers through his hair, petting him while she tells me her story.
“We never really got a chance to talk to him about it. He knew we were together. My brother never misses a detail, so I don’t know why I thought we were hiding anything, but before your dad and I could sit down with him, I was taken, and that changed everything.”
I meet her eyes and tell her what I’ve always wanted to say. “I’m so sorry about what happened to you, Mom. I never bring it up because I know how much it hurts you and Dad, but I’m so sorry you had to go through that. I don’t know how you survived it.”
“I almost didn’t,” she admits. “And if it wasn’t for your father, I wouldn’t have. When they found me, I wasn’t the same person they remembered. I was a mess. The man who’d taken me ruined me. He destroyed me and broke me into a million pieces.” She lets out a shaky breath, ignoring the tears that run down her cheeks. “It was your dad who put me back together again.”
My heart breaks for my mom and for all the pain she went through. She’s the strongest person I know, and I believe her when she says my dad helped her, but I also know that it wouldn’t have been possible if she hadn’t first been strong herself. If she didn’t already have that fierce drive inside herself to survive, then she wouldn’t have.
“You’re the bravest person I know,” I tell her.
She gives me a small smile and shakes her head. “I’m not, honey. Sometimes you just survive things because you aren’t given a choice.”
“No,” I say, disagreeing with her. “What you did goes beyond just survival, and you could never have done that if you didn’t have that inner strength already inside you. You didn’t just survive, Mom. You learned to thrive. You got married, had me and my brother, and you and Dad are so happy. Don’t sell yourself short.”
She wipes the tears from her face and lets out a shaky breath. “My brother and your dad and uncles made sure I was always surrounded by love, and I grew up strong because of them. My family is everything to me, and your dad feels the same way. There is nothing you and your brother could do to change that, so, please no more secrets, okay?”
“I promise no more secrets, but there’s one more I need to tell you.”
She waits for me to speak, even though I can see the confusion and curiosity in her eyes.
“I’m pregnant,” I say, resting my hand on my stomach. “I haven’t known for long, but that’s why Val and I were on our way here to talk to you and Dad.”
My mom rests her hand on top of mine. “How does Val feel about it?”
I give her a wobbly smile because I’m trying not to cry again. “He wants to marry me. He’s worried about me, but he’s so happy, Mom.”
She smiles and squeezes my hand. “Your dad and I love Val. We’ve always loved him as a nephew, and now we’ll love him as a son-in-law. Nothing’s really changing, is it?”
“No,” I agree.
“We’re still a family, and that’s all that matters.” She gives me another hug and kisses my cheek. “I can’t believe you’re having a baby. Your dad is going to be so excited to be a grandpa.”
I smile at the thought and scoot in next to my mom so I can rest my head against her shoulder while we both pet Raspy. We talk for what feels like hours. I tell her about the time Val held my hand when I had a nightmare, about him getting poison ivy on purpose so I wouldn’t have to suffer alone, and about all the other sweet things he’s done over the years. I tell her all the things I’ve always wished I could share with her, and by the time I’m finished, I feel like a massive weight has left my chest, but I’m also exhausted, mentally and physically. I’m biting back a yawn when I hear the front door open.
I get another kick of adrenaline when my dad and Val walk into the living room. Val quickly comes over, leaning down to kiss me and then cupping my face as he looks me over. “Are you okay? You never texted me back.”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t hear my phone. My mom and I have been talking. Is everything okay?”
He squats down so he can see me better. “Everything’s fine, baby. How are you feeling?”
“Good.” I reach out and brush back a strand of dark hair that’s fallen onto his forehead, that one tiny movement sending an excited thrill through me, because I’ve waited so many years to be able to touch him like this. The grin he gives me lets me know he’s thinking the same exact thing. Turning his face, he kisses the inside of my wrist before taking the seat next to me.
My parents are both staring at me when I look over at them. My mom looks like she’s going to start crying again, but I know it’s not because she’s sad. I can see the love in her eyes and how happy she is for us. My dad is harder to read. He doesn’t look angry, but his dark eyes are still closed off to me. He’s not the open book he usually is, and I hate it.
He leans down to kiss my mom before looking over at Val. “I’d like to speak with Yelena alone for a few minutes.”
My mom stands and says, “Come on, Val. You can help me with supper.”
Val hesitates just long enough to make sure I’m okay. As soon as I meet his eyes and nod, he squeezes my hand and tells me he loves me before going to join my mom in the kitchen. My dad sits down across from me. Resting his forearms on his thighs, he hangs his head and runs a hand through his hair. He lets out a heavy sigh before he looks up to face me. The last thing I’m expecting to see when my dad lifts his head is tears. My dad has always been larger than life to me, the kind of guy who fears nothing, who can handle anything, and even though I know he loves his family more than life itself, I’ve never seen him cry.
“Dad,” I start to say, but he just shakes his head and holds his hand up.
“I’m not mad at you, Yelena. I’m not going to lie and say you didn’t shock the hell out of me tonight, but I’m not mad. I was never mad.”
“Are you upset because I lied. I’m so sorry, Dad.” Tears spill from my eyes again as my dad swipes a scarred hand over his face, wiping away his own tears. When he looks at me, his eyes are glassy, but he’s keeping himself in check better than I am.
“No, honey. I’m just sad that you felt you had to.” His dark eyes search mine. “It breaks my heart that you felt you couldn’t come to us, and it kills me that you spent even one second worrying that we might be mad or disappointed in you.” He shakes his head, and the pain in his eyes nearly guts me. “I feel like I’ve failed as a parent.”
“Dad,” I start to say, but my voice breaks, so instead I just close the distance and wrap my arms around him. He holds me while I cry, soothing me just like Mom had, and when I can speak again, the first thing I say is, “You’re the best dad in the world. I’ve always known it, and I love you and Mom so much. I didn’t tell you because I was scared, but that’s not your fault. That was just me worrying. I was scared you wouldn’t approve, and I didn’t know what I’d do if that happened. I love you, but I also love Val.”
“We would never ask you to choose,” my dad tells me. “Your mom and I know firsthand what it’s like to have to hide a relationship, but more importantly, we know what it’s like to be torn apart and kept from one another. It’s not something we’d ever want you to go through. We already love Val like a son. He’s a good man, and I know how much he loves you.”
He pulls back and kisses my forehead before I sit down next to him.
“He told me about the baby, honey.” He smiles and kisses my head again. “I can’t wait to be a grandpa.”
My heart breaks at hearing my dad say that, but it’s the good kind of break, the kind that makes it feel like it’s just gotten bigger instead of shattered into a million pieces. I was so wrong to ever doubt my parents, and it’s not a mistake I’ll ever make again.
“There were so many days that I never thought I would have this,” my dad admits. “I know I don’t talk about the time your mom was taken, but that’s only because it hurts too damn much to do it, but I want you to know something, Yelena. For two years I lived in darkness. Every second of every day was hell, and after living in it for so long, I started to believe that I’d never be able to escape it. Feeling dead became my normal.”
He pauses, the memories so painful he needs to take a second before he can continue. We wait together in silence until he says, “When we finally found your mom, it was like someone had given me back my heart. I swear it stopped beating the day she was taken, and it didn’t start back up again until I had her in my arms.”
I squeeze his hand, hating that my parents had to go through so much pain. As awful as it’s been to have to hide how I feel for Val, at least we’ve always had each other. He’s always been just a phone call away. I could see or talk to him anytime I wanted.
“I’m so sorry, Dad,” I whisper, knowing a few words can never take away what they had to endure.
He places his other hand on top of mine, swallowing mine up between his. I feel the rough scarred palms, another reminder of how hard my dad’s life has been.
“I don’t know how you’ve managed to stay so nice,” I tell him.
“What do you mean?”
“The fire when you were younger, what you had to go through with Mom, I don’t know how you didn’t let it destroy you.”
He pats my hand and sighs. “I’m not a particularly nice guy,” he says, and I smile, because he’s right. I’m guessing there are a lot of people out there who would never use the word nice to describe my dad.
I nudge his shoulder with mine. “I think you’re nice.”
He smiles and nudges me back. “That’s all I care about. I wish you could’ve met your aunt. She would’ve loved you and Evgeny so much.”
My dad doesn’t often speak of his younger sister, the one I’m named after, but I know he almost died trying to save her, and that if it weren’t for my Uncle Vitaly, my dad would’ve never made it out of that fire.
“I wish I could’ve met her, too,” I tell him.
He nods and squeezes my hand again. “My life hasn’t been easy, but, for better or worse, it’s made me into the man I am. Your mom and uncles saved me after my sister died. I wished for death, but they refused to give up on me.” He gives a soft laugh. “Your mom used to sneak into the hospital so she could read to me.”
“She did?”
“She used to scare Roman half to death. He’d search everywhere for her and the whole time she’d be curled up at the end of my hospital bed, reading to me, giving me something to focus on instead of the blinding pain that consumed me. She was only eight at the time, but she had the same quiet determination that I see in you, Yelena. You’re both incredibly strong and loving and when you give your heart to someone, you go all in. You don’t hold back, and it’s such a rare and precious thing to be able to do that. I know that’s what you feel for Val, and I know that he won’t ever take that for granted. That’s all I’ve ever wanted for you.”
I nod, not trusting myself to speak.
The corner of his mouth lifts up in a sad smile. “But I’m not going to lie and say I’m ready for this. I’m not ready to lose you.”
“You’ll never lose me,” I quickly say. “Never, Dad.”
He lets out a soft laugh. “Think we can convince Val to move in here instead of you two moving somewhere else?”
I smile, knowing there’s no way in hell he’d agree to live with my parents and brother. “That’s probably not going to happen, but maybe we can do what Sveta and Vitya did. I don’t know if there are any apartments available one floor down, but that wouldn’t be too bad, right?”
My dad looks relieved to know I don’t have any plans to move far away. “If no one’s moving, we can buy the building and kick them out.”
I know he’s not joking, so I just laugh and pat his hand. “Don’t do that just yet. I need to convince Val, and maybe we’ll get lucky and there will be an empty apartment.”
Feeling better now that he knows I’m not going to be disappearing on him anytime soon, he kisses my head and says, “I love you, honey, and I’m happy for you and Val. No more secrets, though, okay?”
“I love you too, Dad, and no more secrets.”
He gives me another hug right as we hear the front door open. My brother walks into the room and looks between us. I can tell he’s wondering if they know yet, so I put him out of his misery and say, “It’s okay, Ev, they know everything.”
“When did you find out?” my dad asks.
“Just a few days ago. I heard her throwing up every morning and put two and two together.”
“Well, you did the math faster than we did,” my dad admits. Hearing Evgeny’s voice, my mom and Val walk back in to join us. Val sits next to me, and as soon as my mom is close enough, my dad wraps an arm around her waist and pulls her closer.
“I’m glad you’re both here,” my dad says, “because we need to talk about something.” He meets Val’s eyes for a second before he says, “We’re going into lockdown for a while.”
“What do you mean?” Evgeny asks. “What’s going on? Mia and I were training with Dario when Feliks came and got us.”
Mia’s been training with Dominic’s cousin for a while now, because she’s determined to one day be invited to the all-boys club that is the family Bratva, and Evgeny will sometimes join them. My brother isn’t a full member yet, but there’s no way our dad’s going to hide what’s going on from him, so he just says, “We’ll talk about it later. Right now you two and your mom just need to know that you’re not allowed to go anywhere without at least two bodyguards, and I don’t want you leaving this apartment unless it’s for a good reason. We’re all lying low until we can get a handle on this.”
“That includes you too, right?” my mom asks him.
He pulls her into his lap and keeps an arm wrapped securely around her. “I won’t leave unless I need to, and I won’t go anywhere alone. Don’t worry, malishka .”
She nods, but I can tell she’s already worrying. My dad can see it too, so he cups her cheek and kisses her, whispering something that I can’t hear. When he looks back at us, it’s Val’s eyes that he meets.
“I’d like you to stay here instead of taking my daughter somewhere else.” He holds up a hand before Val can even think about arguing. “It’s just for a little bit. You can both stay in her room, and I promise this isn’t some ploy to ensure my daughter never moves out. Although, if you’d like to live here with us, we’re more than happy to have you.”
“Thanks, Uncle Matvey,” Val says. “I think that’s a good idea for now. I’d rather Yelena be here where we can both watch over her.”
I can tell the answer pleases my dad when he gives Val a slight nod of approval. “Good. It’s settled then.” He smiles over at us while he keeps a tight grip on my mom. “It’ll give us all a chance to get used to this new dynamic.”
“Well, we’re already used to the two of them being together all the time,” my mom reminds him.
My dad gives a soft laugh. “Not like this, malishka . This is very different. My dad brain needs some time to adjust.” He looks over at me and the way Val’s arm is wrapped around my shoulders, holding me snuggly against him. “I’ve never seen you with anyone, and now all of a sudden you’re in love and pregnant. It’s a shock to the system.”
“A good shock,” my mom quickly says.
My dad smiles at her and kisses her cheek. “Yes, malishka , a good shock,” he agrees.
My mom beams at my dad, and the smile they share hits me hard after the things they’ve both shared with me tonight. I owe everything to my parents. They taught me what real love looks like, and I was lucky enough to find it for myself when I was only nine years old and woke up scared from a nightmare. I look up at Val and smile at him, knowing that even though I found him young, I’ll never take him for granted. I know how lucky I am.
He smiles down at me and hooks a finger under my chin. “You feel okay? You look a little pale, baby. You need to eat.”
I’m not really hungry, but I know he’s right, so when he stands and pulls me up with him, I don’t argue. We follow my parents and brother into the kitchen where Val and my mom have gathered together some leftovers that we can all eat. We sit around the table, and even though it feels a bit odd to be open about our relationship, it’s also such a relief to not have to worry about it anymore. He fills my plate, making sure I’m eating enough, and then he keeps a hand on my thigh, neither one of us wanting to break our connection. The smiles he gives me are filled with love, but I can tell he and my dad are worried about whatever happened tonight. Val gave in way too easily about staying here. He didn’t even argue and insist on going to pack a bag, and if that wasn’t clue enough, the lockdown is a dead giveaway. The last time we were forced to do that, all the wives and kids had to go stay at the farmhouse, and then Natalya was kidnapped. It was terrifying and none of us ever want to go through anything like that again. If we’re being told to stay home, then there’s a reason for it, and it’s a serious one.
I rest my hand on Val’s and squeeze it. I feel like we’ve only just started our life together, and I’m not ready to lose him. I want a lifetime with him, I want us to grow old together, and I never want to know what it’s like to live in this world without him.
We finish eating, and when Val sees me yawn, he grabs my hand and looks at my parents. Effortlessly stepping into the role of my protector, he says, “I’m taking her to bed. She needs to rest.”
Aside from a slight falter in my dad’s smile, there’s no indication that he’s still adjusting to the idea of a man in my bed. My mom notices it, though, and gives a soft laugh when she hugs me good night. “It’ll take him a while, honey, but he’ll get there. He still sees you as his little girl.”
I hug her back and nod. “I know. He’s actually handling it better than I thought. Thanks, Mom, for not getting mad at me and for being excited about the baby.”
She kisses my cheek and pulls back to look at me. Her blue-green eyes study mine as she smiles. “We’re thrilled about being grandparents, and we love you, Yelena.” She looks to my dad, who’s smiling down at her, before she turns back to me and says, “Nothing will ever tear this family apart.”
I hug both my parents and look over at Evgeny. I give him a can I please tell them look, and when he rolls his eyes and nods, I quickly wrap my arm around my baby brother and say, “Ev has an announcement.”
“Do I need to sit down for this?” my dad asks. “I’m not sure I can take another shock tonight.”
“Don’t worry, Dad,” my brother says, “no one else is pregnant, and I’m not getting married.”
“Is everything okay?” my mom asks.
“Everything’s fine, Mom.” Evgeny gives a sheepish grin and says, “I made valedictorian.”
He says it like it’s no big deal, but my mom squeals in excitement and throws her arms around him, hugging him tightly as my dad gives a proud grin and joins in, wrapping his arms around them both while he ruffles his son’s hair.
“We’re so proud of you,” my mom says.
“We are,” my dad agrees. “Those are your mom’s brilliant genes at work. I can’t wait to brag to your uncles.”
“Please don’t,” Evgeny says. “It’s really not a big deal.”
“It is,” my dad says. “It’s a damn big deal, and I won’t let you make light of it.”
“With those grades, he could get into any college he wants, I bet,” I say, gently steering the conversation in that direction in case Evgeny needs a nudge.
My mom looks up at her youngest. “Do you want to go to college?”
Evgeny gives an embarrassed laugh and runs a hand over his jaw. “I don’t know, Mom. I think life has other plans for me.”
My dad crosses his arms over his chest, brows furrowed as he looks at his son. “You want to go to college, Ev?”
“I’m joining the Bratva, Dad. You know that.”
My dad nods, because we all know it’s true, but then he asks, “But do you want to go to college too?”
My brother’s quiet, obviously not expecting the question. “What do you mean?”
My dad shrugs. “Why can’t you do both?”
I laugh and nudge my brother’s arm. “Told you,” I whisper.
“We make the rules,” my dad reminds him. “We’re the bosses, remember?”
“Yeah, but don’t you need me?”
“Of course we need you,” my dad says, “but that doesn’t mean you can’t take a few years and go to school. What do you want to study?”
My brother’s always been a blusher, and his cheeks heat up a bit when he says, “I was thinking law.”
“Jesus,” my dad says with a laugh.
I look at my brother and smile. “I think it’s a great idea.”
Val smacks my brother on the back as Ev gives me a grateful smile. “It’d be damn handy to have a lawyer in the family.”
“It would,” my dad agrees. He scratches at his stubble while he thinks about his youngest son becoming a lawyer. “You don’t think this would create a conflict of interest?”
“No,” my brother says, and I hear the conviction in his voice. “My loyalty is to my family. Always. I’m interested in law, and I think I could be an asset to the family, but I will pledge my life to the Bratva when I turn eighteen, and that vow will always come first.” Evgeny gives a soft laugh and shrugs his broad shoulders. “It’s just a thought, anyway. I may change my mind. I haven’t even graduated high school yet.”
“True enough,” my dad says. “First things first, but if you’re still interested in doing this after graduation, we can make it happen.”
“Thanks, Dad.”
My mom’s still smiling about him being valedictorian when she reaches up to pat his cheek. “I can’t wait to hear you give your speech.”
Evgeny groans. “God, I don’t even want to think about that. It’s going to be short, I know that much. Niki and Mia are the only two people I like at that school. The rest of them are spoiled little asses that I hope I never see again.”
“Well, don’t put that in your speech,” my dad says, making my brother laugh.
“Yeah, I’ll probably leave that bit out,” Evgeny says.
I give my brother another hug and tell him I love him. “Love you too, sis. I’m glad everything’s out in the open with Val.”
“Me too,” I tell him, and when I give another yawn, Val gives me a worried look and steps in.
“Okay, time for bed, myshka .”
He leads me from the room while I give a quick wave to my family and tell them goodnight. The last thing I see before we turn the corner is my dad’s face, dark eyes staring back at me while he tries to adjust to the huge bombshell we dropped in their laps tonight.
“You really think they’ll be okay with this?” I ask Val when we step into my room and he shuts the door behind us.
“They’re fine, baby.” He steps closer, cupping my face and tilting it up to meet his. The smile he gives me lights up his whole face. “We did it, myshka . We finally fucking did it.” He laughs and leans down to rest his forehead against mine. “We don’t have to hide anymore.”
“Never again,” I say, clutching his shirt and pulling him closer.
“There’s just one more thing that would make this perfect.”
Before I can ask what that one thing is, he smiles and starts to kneel before me.
“Val, what are you doing?”
He winks at me and pulls a velvet box from his pocket, opening it to reveal the beautiful diamond engagement ring that’s nestled inside. I’m too stunned to do anything except stare. I’ve always known we would get married. Hell, we’ve been talking about it since we were kids, but I had no idea he’d already gotten a ring.
“I bought this for you when I turned eighteen,” he admits while reaching up to grab onto my hand so he can kiss the back of it. “I don’t remember a time in my life when you weren’t the very center of it, Yel. I knew it when I was ten and I stayed up all night to watch over you, and I feel it just as strongly now. You are my world, and everything that I am has always been yours.”
He leans into my touch when I rest my palm on his cheek, but his blue eyes stay locked on mine.
“You’ve always had my heart, Yelena Melnikov, and you always will. It belongs to you. No one else will ever have it.”
My eyes get glassy again when he lifts my shirt up enough to expose my stomach and then plants a line of kisses along my skin, whispering to our baby how much he loves them and how he can’t wait to meet them. I give up the fight and let the tears fall.
“I’m asking your mommy to marry me, little one,” he whispers and then turns his eyes up to meet mine. “I’m hoping she’ll say yes.”
My throat burns from trying to keep my body in check, but I’m trying to avoid ugly crying while I’m getting proposed to, so the full-on sobbing is going to have to wait.
“I’ve dreamed about you being my wife so many times, but I’m tired of just dreaming about it and wishing for it. I want it. I want my ring on your finger. I want the whole world to know you’re mine and that you’ll never be anyone else’s. I love you, myshka, always have, always will. Everything I am is yours. Now and forever. Will you marry me, Yelena?”
“Yes,” I whisper on a shaky breath, nodding my head as I say it. “I’ll marry you, Val. I’ve always wanted to marry you, and there’s never been a time in my life where I haven’t wanted to be yours in every way possible.”
His smile is blinding as he slips the gorgeous ring on my finger. I still wear the butterfly necklace he got me for my fifteenth birthday, the night he gave me my first kiss, and when I bring my other hand up to touch it, he stands and runs his thumb over the gold wings.
“I need to replace this with something better,” he says, but I’m already shaking my head.
“Don’t you dare. I love it, and I’m never taking it off.”
A smile is still playing at his lips as he drags his finger along my neck, lightly grazing the skin behind my ear before threading his fingers into my hair and cupping the back of my head. Val has always been an all-consuming presence in my life, but when he’s this close, when his body towers over mine and his broad shoulders nearly block out the light, it’s impossible to think about anything else. Nothing else can compete with him, and my senses easily become attuned to him until all I can see is his beautiful face, all I can smell is the scent of his cologne, and all I can feel is the firm pressure of his fist in my hair and the heat of his breath against my lips when he leans closer.
“Val,” I whisper, reaching out to run my hands up his muscled chest and broad shoulders before lacing them behind his neck. “I don’t want to wait to get married. We’ve waited long enough.”
His lips ghost over mine in the softest of touches. “We have,” he agrees. “I’d marry you right this second if we could.” With one hand still fisting my hair, he slowly drags the other down my spine before cupping my ass in a possessive grip, pulling me flush against his body. “We’ll get married soon, myshka . We can start planning it tomorrow. But right now,” he says, and I feel him smile against my lips. “Right now I need to be inside my fiancée.”
I nod and caress the back of his neck.
“Are you too tired?”
I smile and shake my head no, because I’d have to be near death before I’d ever turn Val down.
“You were yawning earlier,” he reminds me, but he’s already slowly backing me up towards my bed.
“But I’m wide awake now.”
He gives a soft laugh, and when the backs of my legs hit the mattress, he scoops me up with ease and lays me on the bed, hovering his much larger body over mine. His lips are soft, unhurried as he slowly kisses me like we have all the time in the world, and we do. We no longer need to worry about someone noticing that we’ve been gone for too long and coming to investigate. For the first time in our lives, we have the luxury of unlimited time and zero worries about getting caught.
I grab onto his shirt, pulling it up his back and over his head so I can toss it aside. His skin is warm to the touch, muscles moving beneath my hands as I roam over his back and shoulders while he kisses me until I’m dizzy with need and completely drunk on him.
“I need you.” He murmurs the words against my lips while he slowly pulls my shirt off me and starts to unbutton my jeans. “I need to be inside you.”
I lift my hips so he can pull my clothes off, and as soon as I’m naked, I give an impatient tug on his jeans. He smiles and quickly sheds his jeans and boxer briefs before bringing his body back to mine. I let out an appreciative sigh when I feel the comforting weight of him. Valentin’s my home, he always has been, and he’s as familiar to me as the beat of my own heart and as necessary to me as the air in my lungs.
He’s my other half, and he completes me in every way. When he thrusts into me, locking our bodies together, a peace washes over me, just like it always does. This is the moment I crave, it’s the connection I’m always hungry for, and it’s the one thing I’ll never get tired of.
“I love you, Yel,” he whispers. His lips trail along my cheek, sending little shivers down my spine as the heat of his breath tickles me. “Now wrap those beautiful legs around me and hold on tight, myshka .” I feel him smile before he adds, “Try not to scream when I make you come, baby.”
He waits until I wrap my legs around him and dig my fingers into his shoulders. As soon as he feels it, he groans and kisses me hard while his hips speed up and he drives into me like a man possessed. Even though it’s hard and deep, he never gives me more than I can handle. Since the pregnancy, I’ve noticed that he refuses to push things too far. It’s just as mind shattering and intense, but I can tell he’s being careful to not hurt me. My safety and the safety of our baby will always come first to Val, no matter what.
I lock my ankles behind him and fist his hair with one hand while the other splays out along his back, letting him do all the work while I cling to him, happily taking what he wants to give me. His lips are searing, his hips relentless, and his touch is so goddamn sweet as he brings me to the edge, and when I topple over, he kisses my scream into submission and lets out a deep groan as he joins me.
I clench tightly around him as he pulses inside me, and when he’s empty and we’re both completely spent, he cradles me against him and pulls the covers up over us before kissing me again.
Before I fall asleep, I hear him murmur, “I can’t believe I get to fall asleep next to you every night for the rest of my life.”
I turn my head and kiss his bicep, breathing in his scent and burrowing in even closer to him. “I can’t believe it either, Val.”
He kisses my head and runs his fingers through my hair, and the sensation quickly lulls me to sleep.