14. Sofia
14
SOFIA
I shift in the plush leather seat, conscious of Nikolai’s firm grip on my thigh. His touch sends sparks through my body, reminding me of our passionate encounter at the gallery. My skin still tingles where he marked me.
“You’re quiet, malishka .” His low voice breaks through my thoughts.
I glance at his profile, admiring how the passing streetlights cast shadows across his sharp features. “Just processing.”
His fingers tighten possessively. “Having second thoughts?”
“No,” I reply. “It’s just that this isn’t like me.”
“Isn’t it?” His eyes search mine in the dim light. “I think this is exactly who you are. You’ve just been hiding.”
My heart races at his words. He sees through my carefully constructed facade with unnerving accuracy. The gallery encounter replays in my mind—how quickly my control shattered under his touch, how desperately I needed him.
The car glides through Boston’s streets, each mile bringing us closer to his penthouse. I study our reflection in the tinted window—his commanding presence next to my smaller frame, his hand claiming me. The contrast shouldn’t thrill me this much.
“Your pulse is racing.” His thumb strokes the inside of my thigh. “Are you nervous?”
“Yes,” I admit, seeing no point in lying. “But not scared.”
That barely there curve of his lips appears. “Good girl.”
Those two words send another shiver through me. I lean into his solid frame, breathing in his expensive cologne mixed with something purely masculine. His arm slides around my shoulders, pulling me closer.
The city lights blur past as we drive deeper into the heart of Boston. Each second draws me further into Nikolai’s world—dangerous, thrilling, and somehow exactly where I belong.
The car stops before a sleek high-rise stretching into the night sky. Before I can reach for the handle, Nikolai opens my door and offers his hand. Despite how roughly he took me against the gallery wall not even an hour ago, he acts like a gentleman. The memory makes me clench my thighs together.
The private elevator whisks us to the top floor, Nikolai’s hand resting possessively on my lower back. When the doors open, I catch my breath. Floor-to-ceiling windows showcase Boston’s glittering skyline, the city spread out below us like scattered diamonds on black velvet.
“Beautiful, isn’t it?” Nikolai’s voice rumbles close to my ear.
I nod, moving toward the windows in a daze. The Charles River snakes through the city, moonlight dancing on its surface.
“Drink?” He’s already at a crystal decanter, the amber liquid catching the city lights.
“Please.” My voice comes out scratchy. I need something to steady my nerves.
He hands me a tumbler, his fingers brushing mine. Even that small contact sends electricity racing up my arm. I take a sip, letting the smooth whiskey warm my throat.
Nikolai watches me over the rim of his glass, those alluring gray eyes dark with promise. The air grows thick and charged with anticipation. I shift my weight, hyper-aware of his presence, of how his suit jacket stretches across his broad shoulders.
“Come.” He gestures to the leather couch. “Sit with me.”
I perch on the edge, my skin tingling as he settles beside me. The space between us crackles with tension. I take another sip of whiskey, but nothing can dull the awareness of his body next to mine, the memory of his hands on my skin, the way he made me scream his name.
I melt into Nikolai’s touch as his strong hands work the tension from my shoulders. His fingers find every knot, every point of stress, breaking them down with practiced precision.
“You’re carrying too much tension, malishka .” His thumbs press into a particularly tight spot, drawing a moan from my lips. “Let me take care of everything.”
“The men who?—”
“My brothers and I will handle the bastards causing trouble.” His voice hardens. “You don’t need to worry about them anymore.”
I catch my lower lip between my teeth, processing his words. My research into Nikolai Ivanov had revealed enough—the whispered rumors, the mysterious disappearances of his enemies, and the iron grip his family holds over Boston’s underworld. I know exactly what “handle” means.
“What will happen to them?” I ask.
His hands pause on my shoulders. “Do you really want to know?”
I turn to face him, meeting those steel-gray eyes. “Yes.”
“They threatened what’s mine.” His grip tightens possessively. “There are consequences for such actions.”
A shiver runs through me—not from fear, but from the dark thrill of his words. I should be horrified. I should run. Instead, I lean against his chest, letting his arms wrap around me.
“Will you...” I swallow hard. “Will you kill them?”
His chest rumbles with a dark laugh. “Such direct questions, malishka .” His lips brush my ear. “Would that bother you?”
The honest answer surprises even me. “No.” They would have torn my business from me—the gallery I’ve worked hard to open and keep running.
His hands slide down my arms, leaving goosebumps in their wake. “Then yes. They’ll be an example to anyone who thinks of touching what belongs to me.”
My heart swells with emotions—gratitude, desire, and something deeper I’m not ready to name. Before I can overthink it, I turn in Nikolai’s arms and press my lips to his. It’s the first time I’ve initiated a kiss between us, and the significance isn’t lost on me.
Nikolai freezes for a split second, clearly surprised by my bold move. Then his hands tangle in my hair, and he takes control of the kiss, deepening it until I’m gasping against his mouth.
“Such fire,” he murmurs against my lips. His hands slide down to my hips. “Come here, malishka .”
He guides me onto his lap, and I straddle him, my dress riding up my thighs. The position brings our bodies flush together, and I can feel how hard he is beneath his tailored pants.
I roll my hips, drawing a sharp intake of breath from him. His fingers dig into my waist, encouraging the movement. The friction sends sparks of pleasure through me, and I do it again, harder this time.
“That’s it,” he growls, guiding my rhythm with his hands. “Show me how much you want this.”
I grind against him more insistently, my breath coming in short pants. The silk of my underwear is soaked through, sliding deliciously against my sensitive flesh with each movement. Nikolai’s steel-gray eyes are dark with desire as he watches me chase my pleasure on his lap.
His hands slide up my sides, thumbs brushing the undersides of my breasts through my dress. The touch makes me arch into him, pressing myself harder against his erection. The rough fabric of his pants creates the perfect friction, and I whimper, burying my face in his neck.
“Look at me,” he commands, and I straighten, meeting his intense gaze as I continue to move against him.
“Have you been a good girl for me, malishka ?” he asks, voice dropping an octave.
My breath catches at the implication. I’ve never done this before, never even considered it. Still, with Nikolai, I find myself wanting to explore these dark fantasies. I want to be good for him. I want to please him.
“Yes,” I reply, my voice husky with need.
“And do you know what a good girl gets?” His thumbs stroke the sensitive skin at the juncture of my thighs, making me squirm.
“Tell me,” I whisper, my eyes fixed on his.
“She gets rewarded.” One hand comes up to fist in my hair, and he tilts my head back, exposing the column of my throat. “But first...”
His lips claim mine in a deep kiss, stealing my breath away. His other hand strokes higher until he’s teasing the damp fabric of my panties. My body responds to his touch as he strokes me with deliberate slowness.
“First, she asks me nicely,” he murmurs between kisses. “She tells Daddy exactly what she wants.”
My core clenches at the word “Daddy,” a forbidden thrill rushing through me. I’ve never been so aware of our age difference, his status as a powerful man, and my submission.
“Please,” I whisper against his lips. “I want you, Nikolai.”
“Not enough.” He nibbles on my ear, his breath hot against my skin. “Be specific, malishka . Ask for what you desire.”
Heat floods my cheeks, but I force myself to speak the words. “I want your cock, Daddy. Please.”
His hand stills on my thigh, and he pulls back to look at me. In the dim light, his eyes blaze with satisfaction. “That’s my good girl.”
My body buzzes with excitement and a hint of nervousness. I’ve never been this sexually confident or vocal about my desires. But with Nikolai, I break all my rules, shedding my carefully crafted composure.
He reaches for the buttons of his shirt, slowly revealing his hard chest, and I catch my breath at the sight. Nikolai pauses, a corner of his mouth lifting.
“Kneel before me, malishka .” The command sends a thrill through me, and I do as he says without hesitation. “Now, be a good girl and set Daddy’s cock free.”
I swallow hard, my gaze flicking up to meet his. In his eyes, I see the same intense hunger reflected in my own. With deliberate slowness, my hand drifts toward the buckle of his belt. The leather slides free, and I undo the button and zipper of his pants, pushing the fabric down his thighs to release his straining erection.
The sight of him ignites a deep ache. His cock twitches as I take it in my hand, stroking gently. He’s thick and heavy, the tip already glistening.
“That’s right, malishka ,” he encourages, his voice rough. “Just like that.”
I lean forward, my tongue darting out to taste the bead of pre-cum on the tip. Nikolai’s hips buck, and he exhales sharply, his fingers tangling tighter in my hair.
“Suck it,” he demands, his voice strained. “Take me deep, malishka .”
I take him into my mouth, savoring his taste. My tongue swirls around the smooth head, and I moan softly at the vibrations it sends through him. His fingers tighten in my hair, guiding me as I set a steady rhythm, taking him deeper with each stroke.
The deeper I go, the more I want. I relax my throat, letting him slide further until my nose is buried against his pubic bone. His hips thrust gently, meeting my movements, and his fingers caress my scalp, praise through touch.
“Fuck, malishka .” His voice is rough, strained. “That throat of yours is sinful.”
I hum around him in agreement, my hands resting on his thighs for balance as I bob my head. My lips slide over his length, kissing and sucking, tasting every inch of him.
Nikolai growls and yanks me back, making me whimper at the sudden loss. But then he’s staring into my eyes, the raw desire in his face sending a jolt through me.
“You’re going to make Daddy come too quick using that naughty little throat like that.” His voice is commanding, but the slight wobble gives him away. This man has more control than anyone I’ve ever met, and I just shook that control, if only for a moment. The knowledge sends a surge of power through me.
My eyes flick down to his cock, still hard and throbbing in my hand. I give him a slow, leisurely stroke, watching his face.
“I want to taste you,” I whisper, my confidence surprising. “Let me take care of you, Daddy.”
His breath catches, and for that single heartbeat, I sense he will deny us both. Then he closes his eyes, jaw clenching. “You’ll be the death of me, malishka .”
Those words are all the permission I need. I lean forward, taking him deep into my mouth again. Sucking and swirling my tongue, I find a rhythm that has him cursing under his breath. His fingers twine tighter in my hair, guiding my movements, urging me on.
His hips start to move, sliding in and out of my mouth in a steady rhythm. I suck and lick, my own desire building as I focus entirely on his pleasure. The familiar tightening spirals through my core, but I ignore it, committed to my task.
Nikolai’s breath quickens, his fingers tightening almost to the point of pain. “Look at me.”
I lift my eyes to his, still sucking him, taking him deep. His face is a study in pure ecstasy—eyelids hooded, lips parted, cheeks flushed. I hollow my cheeks, sucking harder, and he bucks his hips, driving himself further down my throat.
With a hoarse shout, he spills himself into my mouth. I swallow, relishing the taste of him, the feel of his pleasure reverberating through his body. He shudders, his grip loosening, and I savor the moment, knowing I’ve taken him to places no one else has.
Pulling back, I offer him a wicked smile, my lips shiny and swollen from our encounter. Nikolai groans, drawing me into his arms.
“God, malishka . I wasn’t expecting that.” He presses a kiss to my hair, his breath still unsteady. “You never cease to surprise me.”
Nikolai kisses me, his tongue tangling with mine. The kiss is wild and untamed, sending a spark through my core.
I shift closer, my hands sliding under his suit jacket to explore the hard planes of his chest. That familiar stir of hunger sparks between my legs, and I glance down, my eyes widening at the sight of his erection, still impressively hard.
Nikolai chuckles at my expression, that predatory glint in his eyes. “You’ve only scraped the surface of what I can offer, baby girl.”
My breath quickens at the promise in his words. I’ve already experienced an intensity of pleasure I never knew existed, and my body is eager for more.
He whispers in my ear, sending shivers down my spine. “I want to tie you up, spread you out, and explore every inch of that gorgeous body.” His hand slides down my back, possessively cupping my buttocks. “Make you come for me, over and over again, until you’re begging.”
The image he paints makes my pulse race. Although I’ve never explored bondage, the idea of surrendering completely to him is thrilling. I tilt my head back, exposing the long line of my neck, an open invitation. “Yes.”
“But only when you’re desperate for it,” he continues, his hot breath against my skin making me quiver, “will I fill you with my cock.”
His words are like a lightning rod straight to my center, and I ache to feel him inside me again. “Please.” That one word carries all my desperation, impossible to mask.
Nikolai groans and lifts me in his arms, carrying me into the adjoining bedroom. My eyes are immediately drawn to the massive bed. It’s a stage for our erotic play, a blank canvas for the passion we’ll create.
Nikolai sets me on my feet, but before he can move away, I press myself against his chest and the hard wall of his body. I wrap my arms around him, my cheek resting on his shoulder, and breathe him in—his scent is a mixture of expensive cologne and raw male.
Nikolai’s hands come up to tangle in my hair, holding me gently. “My malishka , you drive me wild.” His breath stirs the hair on my forehead.
Nuzzling into his touch, I let out a contented sigh. At this moment, with his arms around me, I feel safe and protected from the dangers of the outside world.
I tilt my head up, seeking his lips for a soft kiss. “Everything we’ve done... it’s been so intense.” I hesitate. “You make me forget everything.”
He smiles a rare, genuine smile that transforms his entire face. “Let me take you away, if only for a little while.” His thumb brushes my lower lip. “But first, we need to establish a safe word. If things get too intense, just say ‘sunshine,’ and I’ll stop immediately.”
The seriousness in his eyes reassures me. Despite his dominating personality, he remains attentive to my needs and boundaries. “Sunshine,” I repeat the word, knowing it’s highly unlikely that I’ll use it. “Got it.”
His hands move to the buttons of my dress, slowly baring my skin to his hungry gaze. “I want to mark every inch of this flawless body. Make you mine in every way.”
The air shimmers with anticipation as he exposes my breasts, cupping them in his large hands. My breath catches at the sensation, and my body leans into his touch.
Nikolai chuckles, the sound warm and intimate. “Impatient, aren’t you, malishka ?” He bends his head, his tongue swirling around a nipple, sending sparks of pleasure through me. “Let’s see how many times I can make you come before you’re begging for my cock.”
His words send a bolt of desire straight between my legs, and I gasp as he continues his sensual torture, his hands and mouth teasing me to the edge of madness.