34
KATYA
I gor storms through the front door, his entire body humming with tension. His movements are sharp and silent in a way that only makes the air around him feel heavier. He doesn’t say a word to the men trailing behind him, just gestures for them to wait outside with a flick of his hand. Then he steps into the house like a storm waiting to break.
I can feel the shift in the atmosphere immediately, a wire pulled taut, threatening to snap. My stomach knots.
Something’s not right.
Igor’s jaw is locked tight, his nostrils flaring with every breath. His shoulders are set in that stiff, unyielding way that tells me whatever has him this worked up is more than just business. It’s personal. And it’s bad.
“ Volchitsa ,” he says gruffly. The name is an anchor, but this time, it feels like it’s weighted down by a dark force. He takes my arm—not roughly, but firmly—and leads me upstairs.
I don’t resist, though my heart thunders in my chest as he pulls me toward one of the guest bedrooms. The tension radiating off him is impossible to ignore. My mind races, filling the silence with worst-case scenarios. My steps falter, but Igor keeps moving, determined. As soon as we’re inside, he shuts the door with a soft click that feels deafening in the stillness.
He leans against the door, his broad frame pressed to the wood, his head tilting forward as though the weight of whatever he’s carrying is too much for him to bear. For a moment, I think he might not speak at all.
“What’s going on?” I demand, my question breaking the silence like glass shattering. I can’t stand not knowing.
His head snaps up, and he looks at me, really looks at me, with those piercing blue eyes that have always been impossible to escape.
“Maksim Olenko,” he says finally, his voice tight. “Galina’s brother.”
The words land like a blow, and for a second, I just blink at him.
“She’s the girl you went on a date with,” I murmur, more to myself than to him. It’s not a question; I already know the answer.
“It wasn’t a date,” he snaps, the sound of his statement as sharp as a blade. “But yes, that’s her.”
“What does her brother have to do with anything?” I ask, swallowing hard. There’s a lump forming in my throat, one I’m not sure I can get rid of.
Igor exhales harshly, running a hand down his face as though he’s trying to pull himself together. The strain on his features is visible, his forehead creased with frustration and something that looks an awful lot like guilt.
“I’m trying very hard right now not to go out and kill everyone standing between me and the men who hurt you,” he says quietly, his words laced with a terrifying edge of control. “Maksim is involved. I don’t have all the details yet, but I’ll get them. And when I do, he’ll pay.”
“It was him?” I ask barely above a whisper. “He was the one who snatched me?”
“Yes,” Igor answers, his jaw tightening again. “But I still don’t know why. That’s the part that doesn’t make sense. I’ve been over it again and again, and there’s no reason for Maksim to come after you—unless…” He trails off, his eyes narrowing as though the thought has only just occurred to him. “Unless this is bigger than I thought. If he’s behind the missing shipment, then Boris has been lying to my face this entire time.”
“You’re going to need proof before you start throwing accusations around,” I say, my voice sharper than I intended. “If you go after Boris or Maksim without evidence, this will turn into a war. And if that happens?—”
My words die in my throat as Igor pushes away from the door and steps toward me. His eyes are locked on mine. I back up instinctively, startled by the sudden proximity.
“Katya,” he says, his voice low and gravelly, the sound rolling through me like thunder. He stops just a breath away, close enough that I can feel the heat radiating off him.
I close my eyes, trying to steady myself, but it’s impossible when he’s this close. He’s pulling me under.
When I open my eyes again, his gaze is softer, though no less intense. His hand comes up to cup my cheek, his thumb brushing against my skin.
“I promise you,” he murmurs gently, “they’ll pay for what they did. No one hurts you and gets away with it. Not Maksim. Not anyone.”
My heart thuds against my chest when I feel the hard length of his cock push against me. I’m surrounded by him, enveloped in a solid and silent embrace. Weeks have passed, and we still haven’t given this thing between us a label or spoken of the feelings we share for each other.
Unsure how to proceed, I lift my hands, preparing to push him away, but he swipes his large palm around my throat and leaves his thumb underneath my chin. His breath ghosts over my parted lips. Every second that passes makes my knees grow weak, and the ache in my belly swells.
“I don’t know if you’ll ever forgive me for bringing this upon you.” His low voice washes over my pulsating body. “But I promise, from this point on, I will always do everything in my power to keep our family safe.”
Inhaling sharply, I let myself melt against him. Our bodies are locked together, a stark contrast to the soft breaths that escape him, tickling against my neck.
“Look at me,” he commands.
My eyelids flutter open, his striking gaze filled with intensity and a hint of fear. I feel the pulse on his fingers dancing against my throat, causing goosebumps to erupt over my arms. I have to hold in the moan that threatens to escape my lips, fighting a losing battle.
“You’re so much stronger than you give yourself credit for, Katya.” He runs a finger along the curve of my jaw.
My lip trembles, his words touching my core. “How can you be sure?”
“Because I’ve seen you.” His words carry the weight of a thousand promises. “And I’m fighting for you.”
With our hearts banging wildly with the need for release, I reach up and grab his hair, kissing him deeply. My tongue dances against his. My grip is tight, and I hope to convey what’s inside me through my touch. Suddenly this isn’t only about need or want. It’s beyond the carnal pleasure of sex and lust. It’s as if, in a single instant, we bonded our souls.
Igor doesn’t ask any questions. Instead, he crushes my body against his while he kisses me back, his passion and hunger a match for mine. An inferno surges through me, blazing through my chest and settling between my thighs.
“I’m not taking you gently this time, Katya.” His warning washes over me like a thunderstorm, goosebumps popping all over my arms. “It’ll be rough and real.”
“I’m not asking you to be careful,” I mumble.
He smiles fiercely, and his eyes dance with delight.
I lift up on my toes, wrap my arms around his neck, and draw him down for another kiss. Everything about Igor feels raw. His body, his emotions, and his connection to me are all consuming. In that way, I’m already on fire, well aware of what’s coming.
“I need to be inside you,” he growls.
“Yes.”
His arms and body surround me, reminding me that he will always be there and won’t let me go. I lean into the moment, enjoying the weight of him, and focus on breathing.
The love flowing between us heightens and changes. I surrender to the strength of his touch and sigh into his mouth. When he shifts his attention from my lips to my neck, I throw my head back and tilt my chin.
“The dress needs to come off,” I whisper, not caring if he listens to my instructions or not.
There’s no danger of being afraid or freaking out, and certainly no tears of frustration and sadness threatening. On the contrary, I feel brave. And free.
In that one moment, his heavy lips are against my jawline.
I grip onto him, loving the strength of his grasp. Releasing me, he pulls off my clothing but leaves me in my bra and panties. Meanwhile, I start untucking his shirt and slowly unbutton the top.
Once I get halfway down, he pulls his shirt over his head and tosses it aside. His naked chest meets my heaving chest, the muscles of his arms wrapping around my flesh.
I bite back a groan of pleasure when his hands gently fondle my breasts through the lace and satin of my bra. With the same tenderness, he places soft kisses against my neck and collarbone. I clutch his shoulders, clinging onto the sensations rocketing through me like a supernova.
“You’re driving me crazy,” I gasp.
His only response is a light chuckle against my skin. Pushed against the bed, I blink and stare at him.
“I can’t stop thinking about you. I can’t stop craving you. I can’t get enough of you.”
While I admire his honesty, I have no idea what to say in response.
“I can’t let myself fall for you,” I admit at last.
That’s the truth. But I’m already in love with him. The realization settles in my chest like a boulder. I’ve never been more certain about anything else. From the look on his face, Igor isn’t surprised.
As if he knew he had me regardless of how much I resist.
Tilting my head, I drink the sight in. He’s poised, waiting for me. As much as I love sex with Igor, it’s more than that. I love being with him. The intimacy means the world. We can’t change the past, but I’m starting to accept that what we have is special.
Maybe our relationship can work over the long distance.
He reaches for his belt and unbuckles it, a slow and deliberate movement. Steadily, he slides the zipper down and takes himself in his hand.
My breathing speeds up. My gaze latches onto his hard length.
Tearing my attention away, I take one final breath and turn my back to him, moving my ass closer, seeking his hardness. He puts a hand on my shoulder.
“Not a good idea,” he groans.
“Why not?” I ask, ignoring the tightness in his voice, and instead, pull the ponytail over my left shoulder. “I want to feel you this way again.”
“Fuck,” he breathes out, the dirty curse sounding so sweet in the space between us. “You want me to rail you real bad, huh?”
I wait, knowing in seconds, he’ll allow himself to put his hands around my neck and ponytail. I shudder. Igor’s every move makes me impatient.
The air shifts, electric and cool. Not needing any more encouragement, Igor yanks me back while pushing his huge cock against me. The fabric of my panties works as a barrier, keeping him out.
“I’ll buy you new ones,” he promises before I hear a rip.
With one smooth move, he buries himself in me, grunting and already breathing heavily. His forehead drops to my shoulder, allowing him to steady himself. I brace my hands against the bed, my back turned toward him.
When his hands fly over my body, covering every inch, I gasp. Staring into the dim room, I can barely focus on the sound of my breath. Instead, the power of him slams into me. At once, I am overcome with sensations and a cocktail of emotions, both lust and love.
“You’re soaked,” he murmurs, his chest pressed against my back. His words feel like warm velvet over my skin.
Slowly, the realization sets in. Being here, giving him everything, doesn’t feel wrong. Quite the opposite. It’s freeing and exhilarating. No matter how scared I was to become his lover, now that we’re here, it’s a place that feels like home.
Igor wraps his fingers around my ponytail and forces my head back, tilting it to the side to give him access to the column of my neck. His fist in my hair should feel perverse, but I love it.
“This makes you hot, doesn’t it?” His thrusts are relentless, pounding into me, his power unleashing as a storm ready to wreck my world. “You dirty girl.”
With a harsh snap, his hips slam against me. A shock of pleasure and pain collides inside me, forming a wave of bliss that spills in an explosion. Every part of my body is wound tight, the pulses firing across my wet clit, causing me to shriek and cry out his name.
The tension builds as he fucks me harder. He groans loudly, the sound of his satisfaction pushing me over the edge. Without pause, the orgasm crashes, coming without warning. Legs trembling, arms locked, I fight through the pleasure. Soon, I can barely control my volume, not caring who can hear us, basking in the reality of us together, bonded physically and emotionally.
With a harsh slam, he keeps pumping, giving me every last inch of his thick cock. I feel boneless, riding through the high. All his groans and praises register in my head. With a roar, he fills me with his cum, slick and primal.
By the time I collapse on my stomach, I’m drained and spent. My heart pounds in my chest, the need for him hitting a new peak, the desire making my belly clench. His big body smothers me with warmth, a delicious weight that forces me to submit to his domination. Slowly, he peels off and settles beside me.
Before my thundering heart can rest, I push myself up and roll until I’m lying in his arms.
“Damn,” I blurt.
Tremors of desire still vibrate under my skin. I can feel every ounce of him, buried in my flesh. From his twitching and unsteady breathing, it takes a while for Igor to return to awareness. But when he does, his warm hand strokes my hip, sending my nerve endings into overdrive. I bury my head against his neck and sigh.
We stay like that for a while, then his voice breaks the silence. “I’m going to need to fuck you again,” he growls.
I laugh and kiss the column of his neck. “Right now?”
A heartbeat passes, and then he chuckles. “Yes, right now.” In a quick, fluid movement, he sheathes himself in me again, resting his palms on either side of my head.
I lose control of my own moan, closing my eyes and tilting my chin upward. Even with my eyes closed, I can feel him watching me, staring with an expression of awe on his beautiful face.
“Don’t hold back,” he tells me. “Let go, Katya.”
As another orgasm peeks, waves of euphoria spill down my body. When he pulls out, a loud gasp escapes me. Our heavy breaths mingle between our heated lips. I love the pull of energy that bounces between us.
My bones are liquid, a mass of tangled limbs and sated sighs. I lie next to him, knowing that he won’t allow anything bad to happen, feeling safe and secure, but also desired and loved.
Right here, it doesn’t matter what awaits us. Together, we’re unstoppable.