Chapter 48 – Harley
I t was the third time poor Camilla moved this semester. Such a disruption from routine gave her a head cold. She tried for a week to muscle through classes, but by the time Thanksgiving break came, she was well and truly sick.
“Come on, let’s get you to bed,” I wrapped an arm around her shoulder and tugged her up the central staircase of the Vlasov Manor.
Voices fluttered behind us, and in a whirlwind, Cami was plucked from my hold by her grandmother.
“You go to bed too, dolcezza. I can’t have you catching whatever this is,” the signora tsked.
I bobbed my head in agreement, turned down the corridor, and climbed to the wing where Kolya had a suite of rooms. Since I’d come to live here a week ago, it became our space. I walked into the large open concept today to find the newest surprise.
Kolya installed an electric fireplace in our sitting area. It completed the nook, making the western ranch feel more cozy. I slipped my shoes off and ventured onto the faux cowskin hide that covered the floor. Everything was dark wood and rustic. With a sigh, I dropped to the couch and pulled out my phone. There was something I had to do and avoiding it wouldn’t make it easier later.
“Harley! I was just thinking about you,” Grandma’s cheery voice sent a burst of encouragement through me.
“I figured I would touch base about Thanksgiving,” I hedged. “I still plan on cooking with you, but I won’t be able to drive up until the morning of.”
“Well, that’s just fine, honey.” My grandma paused to listen to whatever my grandfather was saying. “No, Rodger, she has class Wednesday after all.”
“I could skip it. My attendance is perfect—” I began.
“Don’t you dare!” Grandma interrupted.
“And we don’t want her driving after dark either,” Grandpa called loud enough for me to hear.
“Right, we don’t want you driving back in the dark. We’ll see you Thursday morning. How’s it’s going?” Grandma asked.
I squeezed my eyes closed and let the situation tumble out. “Kole Williams is back in my life. We picked up where we left off, and things are good.”
Silence crackled through the line.
I pulled the phone away, looked at the screen, and then placed it back on my ear. “Gran?”
“What’d she say?” Grandpa boomed.
“She’s seeing that nice young fellow again,” Grandma said, voice thick with emotion. “Is it serious?”
Very. I’m crazy about him. “We have a few details to work out, but we’re committed to sorting through things. Kole won’t be coming with me to Thanksgiving, I’d rather not have the family pounce on him the first time I bring him home, but I wanted you both to know.”
One thing we would have to decide on was if we ever revealed Kolya’s real name. But that was a minor detail in the grand scheme of things.
“What’s she saying? Put that speakerphone feature on,” Grandpa puttered.
“It sounds like—” beep “—he’s really important to you, honey,” my grandma observed, voice becoming a fishbowl as she clicked the device to the speaker setting.
“I like him. Don’t know why you two split, but I liked that one,” Grandpa added. “But you tell him that if he isn’t serious this time, he’ll have to answer to me.”
Moisture pooled in my eyes. “Thanks, you guys, I’m glad you’re happy about this.”
Grandpa’s voice was full of caution. “Just take it slow.”
“Yes, what he said. You don’t need to rush,” Grandma added. “You’ll have him come visit first thing in December?”
I looked around the space I was living in. Time was fleeting; we’d moved in together pretty quickly out of necessity, but it felt right. Explaining that to my grandparents, however, could wait for a future conversation.
“Yeah, I’ll bring him for a visit,” I agreed.
“Good, now if that’s all, you get back to those books,” Grandma insisted.
We said our goodbyes, and after I hung up, I snuggled deeper into the couch and promptly fell asleep.
It felt like hours later when I startled awake. Someone was holding me. A sharp intake of air filled my lungs.
Arms squeezed reflexively around my waist. His voice was rough and gravelly as it rumbled against my ear. “Sshhh, go back to sleep, Harley.”
I snuggled into Kolya’s frame. “It’s a good thing you bought a wide couch.”
A deep chuckle vibrated through his chest. “Why do you think I chose it?”
Pressed tight between his front and the couch, I wriggled so that I could see his face. He was beautiful like this, relaxed and body still. A thrill ran through me. I was the one lucky enough to see him without his guard in place. It was one thing to know he was a beautiful, dangerous predator. But to have him at my mercy, to have him tame for only me, was a sense of profound joy.
I pressed my lips to his throat, sucking gently at the skin. His dark growl rattled around us.
Smiling, my lips pressed against his pulse, I ground against him.
“Just what do you think you’re doing?” He ran his hands along my side, feeling the slopes and curves of my body.
Moving quickly to strike and gain the upper hand, I threw my leg over his hips, straddling and pinning him under me. Kolya lifted his entire body, plus mine, so that he could roll completely onto his back and center himself on the sofa.
“I’m at your mercy, Harley.” He grinned sleepily. “There’s no escape for me.”
Between my legs, his hard and thick cock pulsed. I rocked against it, eliciting a hiss from his lips.
Those hard hands planted on my waist, forcing me back down as his chest rose and fell with heavy breaths. “Have mercy.”
I let out a devious chuckle. “Maybe I’m more interested in trapping you, keeping you my prisoner.”
“I’ll gladly be your prisoner,” he rasped. “Only, have mercy, Harley.”
Grabbing the hem of my sweater, I tugged it over my head. The red bra was something new I grabbed on our shopping adventure, before we were ambushed at the second little boutique. It was the only item I walked away with that day, and now to see the heat darken Kolya’s stormy eyes, it was well worth the money splurged.
“Off.” His finger hooked the waistband of my jeans and pulled.
Planting my hands on his chest, I made to move, but he shook his head.
“You’re not going anywhere.” Metal flashed as Kolya whipped out a knife.
I squeaked, backing up as he angled it toward me.
At the noise, he went completely still. “Harley, I swore that I’d never hurt you.”
“I know,” I gulped. “You just startled me.”
“Sorry.” He moved slowly, the knife still creeping toward me.
My eyes flared wide. “What are you doing?” I gasped.
“Getting you naked. Now stay put.”
“Oh, no-no-no!” I scrambled back, but he caught my wrist. The blade dipped under the strap, and a cry of anguish ripped from me. “Don’t hurt it! It’s new!”
Too late, he cut it off.
I pounded my fist against his chest. “I just bought that.”
“I’ll buy you another one.” He slid the knife along my jeans.
“Kole! You can’t go cutting off my clothing!” I protested but didn’t dare wriggle with that knife so close to me. “I don’t have money to buy new things while I’m going to school.”
The knife drew along my second leg.
“Here’s what’s going to happen, Harley. I’m going to marry you. What’s mine is yours.”
I rolled my eyes. “Thanks for the offer, but it’s a little soon, don’t you think? We just got back together.
With a tug, he yanked the cut jeans from my body. His fingers brushed reverently over my thigh tattoo, making me shiver. Once I was naked, a low whistle escaped his lips as he stared at the pretty red cotton panties that happily matched the new—albeit destroyed—bra.
“Fuck, babe. They matched.” Kolya brushed the tip of his finger reverently over the red panties hugging my ass. “Did you put these on this morning for me?”
“It doesn’t matter now, does it,” I sniped. I might be on top of him, but it was clear he was too powerful to ever truly be at my mercy.
His gaze lifted to mine. “Harley, don’t be mad.”
“How can I not be?” I raised my hands. “You drop a bomb that we’re getting married, that I can spend recklessly so you can tear my clothing off, and you expect me to be okay with it? You didn’t even ask me properly.”
“Marry me.”
I ground my molars. “That wasn’t a question.”
“It wasn’t, but it’s going to happen.” He rubbed the flat of the knife against my clit. “What can I do to make it up to you?”
“Isn’t that dangerous?” I panted, looking down between us.
“I said I’d never hurt you,” he whispered. “Look how wet it’s making you.”
It was.
I should have felt embarrassed to see my arousal glisten on the blade but I wasn’t.
“You can kiss me,” I rasped.
“Gladly.” He dropped the knife to the floor, where it clattered on the strip of wood between couch and rug. Lifting me, he held me easily over his face, kissing between my legs hard. There was nothing to grab and brace myself up here, so I balanced as best I could while he licked and tongued my pussy.
A soft sound of pleasure vibrated in my throat.
Kolya flipped me easily onto my belly, rolling aside before pressing against my back.
Before I could protest about the fairness of him still being clothed, he tugged his own shirt off before settling his weight on top of me.
“Do you need me to fuck you, babe?”
He slid a finger inside me.
“Kolya,” I groaned.
He slid in and out of me, before adding a second. “Yes or no, Harley?”
“Yes,” I choked into the sofa cushion.
This time, he added a third. Slowly, oh so torturously slowly, he slid in and out. I ground back into his touch, but it didn’t make him hurry.
“Yes…what?” he mused.
The man of few words sure was demanding when he wanted someone else to speak.
“Yes, Kolya, I need you to fuck me,” I panted.
He pushed my legs apart. His fingers disappeared. Before I could protest, he thrust into me.
I cried out, his name on my lips.
“Beautiful, you sound absolutely beautiful when you do that,” he chuckled, hot breath caressing my ear. “Now, let’s make you do it again.”
He did as he said he would. He fucked me hard. Each thrust pushed deeper. My body was made for his, enveloping his thick cock and shuddering as he pounded into me.
“And you’re ruthless when you do that,” I panted, bouncing up and down on his cock.
Kolya growled, picking up the pace and making me see stars. His hard touch was everywhere.
His voice low and dark, he promised, “I’m going to marry you, Harley. I’m not letting a formality come in the way of us being together.”
“You have to do it properly,” I croaked. “Ask my grandparent’s blessings. Get down on your knee. Give me a ring.”
“Or I could fuck you until you agree to marry me.”
Heat pooled between my legs. That shouldn’t turn me on as hard as it did.
“In fact, yes, I like that. I like that a lot,” Kolya murmured, sinking his teeth into the flesh where my neck sloped into my shoulders.
I whimpered. The pleasure nearly overwhelmed me. I wouldn’t give in, not on this. He wore me down, with each thrust.
“Come on, baby, give it to me,” I mewled. “Beg me to marry you.”
Surging up with a vicious growl, Kolya flipped me over and drove into me. “You’re going to marry me, Harley. There’s no other way.”
My body shuddered. I wrapped my legs around his back and held on for dear life as I fought not to succumb to the orgasm.
“Quit telling me what to do, and ask me,” I breathed, barely able to form the words.
Kolya roared. His body clamored for release. “Harley, little sprite, will you say yes already and free me of this torment!”
“Better.” I smiled.
He reached between us, pinching and rolling my clit. “I’m going to die if you don’t say yes. There. I said it. Fucking save me, my beautiful water sprite.”
“Okay, gargoyle, I’ll marry you,” I gasped, because at the moment the words slipped off my tongue, the orgasm shoved me over the edge with a force strong enough to make my entire body quake and shiver.
Kolya was right there behind me, emptying himself into me—bare, with nothing between us. His cock twitched violently inside me, ropes of hot cum filling me.
I pressed my forehead against his skin and relished the bliss of the moment.
“Harley, look at me?” Kolya murmured. His hand stroked the back of my head as I turned into him. “You carved a place for yourself in my life, and now you’re the center of my world. I’ll crumble if you’re not in my life, babe.”
Maybe it was the exhaustion from school or maybe it was the post orgasm haze, but my emotions took off on their own agenda. My eyes prickled, and moisture filled my vision.
He loves me. This stony, incredible man loved me. He didn’t have to use those words for me to hear them behind his every breath.
“Would you do me the honor of being my wife?” Without pulling his cock out of me, Kolya produced a glittering ring as if from thin air.
I gasped, moving my body in such a way that made Kolya groan. “That’s for me?!”
“Yes,” he said simply.
The simple gold band held a large oval stone.
“It’s perfect.” And now I was crying in earnest.
Kolya gathered me into his arms, tugging and adjusting us to sit. He pulled my left hand across his body. Slowly, his lips paid homage to each finger. “For better or for worse, you’re mine.”
“I am, and you’re mine,” I agreed. Reality trickled by, and we lost ourselves to the happiness surging between us. This was everything.