7. Irina
SEVEN
IRINA
As I walked into the office, the warmth of the morning sun kissing my skin, a sense of contentment washed over me like a gentle wave. Today felt different somehow, lighter and more hopeful as if the world itself was smiling down upon me.
But as I made my way to my desk, a cloud of unease settled over me. The hairs on the back of my neck prickled with an inexplicable sense of foreboding. And then I saw him—Octavio—his expression guarded and distant, his eyes flickering away from mine as if I were a stranger.
Confusion gnawed at the edges of my mind, a thousand questions racing through my thoughts like a whirlwind. What had I done to deserve this coldness from him? Had I said or done something to upset him without realizing it? I thought our date went really well and the kiss was magical.
Oh God, had I been foolish? Imagining everything was perfect when it wasn’t?
As I settled into my chair, the weight of Octavio’s distant demeanor pressing down upon me like a heavy burden, I couldn’t shake the feeling of hurt and confusion that gnawed at the edges of my heart. What had happened to the easy camaraderie we had shared? The warmth and laughter that had filled the air between us like a sweet melody? How had our date somehow ruined everything when it felt like the best night of my life?
As the day wore on, the weight of Octavio’s distant demeanor bore down upon me like a heavy burden, the silence between us growing more pronounced with each passing moment. I couldn’t shake the feeling of unease that lingered in the air, a palpable tension that seemed to crackle with unspoken words and unexplained emotions.
With a heavy heart and a sense of trepidation gnawing at the edges of my mind, I resolved to confront Octavio, seek out the truth behind his distant demeanor, and mend the fractured bond that had once bound us together.
“Octavio,” I began tentatively, my voice barely above a whisper as I approached his desk. “Is everything all right? You seem... distant today.”
Octavio’s gaze flickered away from mine, his expression guarded and unreadable. “Irina, I... It’s nothing, really. Just... a lot on my mind, I guess.”
The words hung in the air between us, heavy with unspoken meaning and unresolved tension. I could sense the distance that had grown between us, a gaping chasm of uncertainty and doubt that seemed to stretch on into eternity.
“No actually, you’re right, Irina.” The sharp change in Octavio’s mind left me whip-lashed. “We need to talk.”
My heart skipped a beat at his words, a sense of dread settling over me like a dark cloud. What the hell was going on?
“Okay,” I replied weakly, feeling jelly like in the knees as I spoke. “What is it?”
“Irina,” Octavio began gently, his voice tinged with sadness. “I know about the fake information you gave me. I found out.”
The words hit me like a punch to the gut, the weight of guilt pressing down on me like a heavy burden. I had known that this moment would come, had dreaded it with every fiber of my being. But now that it was here, I found myself at a loss for words, my throat constricted with emotion.
“I’m sorry, Octavio,” I whispered, the words barely audible above the rustle of the wind. “I never meant to deceive you. I was just... scared.”
Octavio’s expression softened at my words, a flicker of understanding in his eyes. “I know, Irina. And I forgive you. But we need to talk about what’s really going on. The truth. If we’re going to continue working together and… well, maybe more, then I need to know it all.”
The weight of guilt settled heavily on me as Octavio’s gaze bore into mine, his eyes searching for answers in the depths of my soul. I could feel the shame burning bright in my cheeks as I stood before him, my heart heavy with regret for the deception that had driven a wedge between us.
“I’m sorry, Octavio,” I whispered, the words tasting bitter on my tongue. “I truly never meant to lie to you. But I had no choice.”
With a heavy sigh, I gasped, knowing that there was no turning back now. It was time to lay bare the secrets that had haunted me for so long, to reveal the truth that I had hidden deep within the shadows of my past.
“I grew up in a world filled with darkness and deceit,” I began tentatively, my voice barely above a whisper. “My father... he’s a bad man. He’s a monster, a cruel and heartless man who would stop at nothing to get what he wants. He’s the reason I have always been afraid of wolf shifters… until I met you.”
As I poured out the painful truths of my past to Octavio, each word felt like a heavy burden being lifted from my shoulders, yet at the same time, it dredged up memories that I had long tried to bury.
“He’s... he’s Alpha of the Bratva, and he’s been trying to sell me off to Damien, one of their mobsters, to pay for a debt he owes.”
Octavio listened in silence, his expression a mask of unwavering attention as I recounted the horrors that had haunted me for so long. I could see the flicker of concern in his eyes, a silent acknowledgment of the weight of my words.
“The thought of being handed over to Damien...” I faltered, the memories clawing at the edges of my mind like a nightmare I couldn’t escape. “It’s... it’s like a nightmare coming to life. I can’t... I can’t bear the thought of it. I couldn’t stay, Octavio,” I confessed, tears welling in my eyes as the memories threatened to overwhelm me. “I had to run to escape from the darkness that threatened to consume me. And so, my mother and I… we ran, leaving everything behind in search of a better life.”
As I spoke, a sense of relief washed over me like a gentle tide, the weight of the truth lifting from my shoulders with each passing moment. Octavio’s presence beside me was a balm to my wounded soul, his quiet strength a beacon of hope in the darkness that had threatened to engulf me.
As the weight of my past spilled from my lips, I couldn’t help but feel a pang of guilt clawing at the edges of my heart. I had never intended to drag Octavio into the tangled web of my problems, and I never wanted to burden him with the darkness that had plagued my life for so long.
But as I braced myself for his reaction, I was met with a shock that reverberated through my very being. Octavio’s gaze burned with a fierce determination, his voice steady and resolute as he reached out to gently cradle my trembling hands in his own.
“Irina,” he said, his words a whisper in the wind, “I will never let anything happen to you or your mother. I promise.”
Tears welled in my eyes at his words, the warmth of his touch a balm to my wounded soul. I had never felt so safe, so cherished, as I did in that moment, with Octavio by my side, his unwavering strength a beacon of hope in the darkness that threatened to consume me.
But even as relief flooded through me like a rushing tide, a sense of unease lingered in the depths of my mind. I had deceived Octavio once before, had hidden the truth from him in a misguided attempt to protect him from the darkness that lurked within me. Could I truly promise to never do so again?
Octavio must have sensed my hesitation because his grip tightened on my hands, his gaze searching mine with an intensity that left no room for doubt.
“Irina,” he said softly, his voice tinged with a steely resolve, “I need you to promise me something in return. Promise me that you will never try to deceive me again. No matter how difficult the truth may be, we will face it together, as equals, as partners.”
The weight of his words settled heavily in the pit of my stomach, a reminder of the trust that I had broken and the wounds that I had inflicted on our fragile bond. But as I looked into Octavio’s eyes, filled with a fierce determination that mirrored my own, I knew that I could no longer hide behind the shadows of my past.
With a trembling breath, I nodded, the weight of my promise settling over me like a mantle of responsibility. “I promise, Octavio. I will never deceive you again. We will face whatever challenges lie ahead, together.”
And as our hands entwined in a silent vow, I knew that no matter what the future held, we would face it with courage and determination, bound together by a promise forged in the fires of adversity. One that I needed far more than I thought I did.
As Octavio’s words echoed in the air, a rush of relief washed over me like a gentle tide, soothing the raw edges of my frayed nerves. The promise of his protection, of his unwavering support, filled me with a sense of gratitude that threatened to overwhelm me.
Without hesitation, I leaned forward and pressed my lips to his, a silent expression of gratitude for the strength and courage he had shown in the face of my darkest fears. The kiss was tender and sweet, a fleeting moment of connection that spoke volumes more than words ever could.
As we pulled apart for the briefest moments, I realized that the kiss symbolized so much more than that.
It was as if we had finally caved to temptation and nothing could hold us back any longer.
Octavio’s body crashed against mine, and all of a sudden, we were kissing like there was no tomorrow. The passion soared between us, caused flames to lick all over my skin. I already knew that this strange, unexpected moment was going to be fucking phenomenal. The taste of him, the feel of him, all of him...
Octavio ran his hands down over my body, feeling every peak and dip through the silky material of the top I’d worn to work, but we both knew that it wouldn’t stay on for long. As soon as his fingers hooked underneath the hemline, I raised my hands upwards so he could whip it off. I might have spent a while trying to make sure I had the perfect outfit on for work like I always did, but I didn’t care that it didn’t matter. For all I cared, the best outfit I owned could lie in a crumpled heap on the floor. My eyes were too busy on him.
“Oh, Irina, you really are beautiful.” Octavio’s eyes lit up with delight. “You have no idea how long I’ve wanted to do this.”
Instead of responding with the whirlwind of emotions I was currently experiencing, I grabbed his jacket and shook it off him before gently unpeeling his buttons one by one. I did so tantalizingly slowly, making sure to keep my eyes fixed on him the entire time. I wanted him to see that I was just as worked up by him as he was me.
“God, you’re sexy, Irina.” His hands cupped my ass over my skirt and slowly worked up to my breasts. My bra was gone in a heartbeat. I didn’t even feel him taking it off. He was just that good. The groan that flew out of his mouth as he took my nipples between his fingers was primal and animalistic. It drove me wild.
And finally, the shirt was gone. I could feel those incredible abs of his. The man was blowing my fucking mind. Even after everything he had been through, Octavio had me so turned on that I could barely contain myself. I almost wanted to scream.
“Come here, you.” He lifted me from my feet, shocking me enough to actually squeal a little, and rested my ass on his desk behind me. Before I could say a damn word, his lips were all over me, working their way down from my throat, over my breasts, taking a moment to taste my nipple, teasing me until I could hardly breathe at all. My fingers knotted up desperately in his hair as that glorious mouth of his traveled down my body to where I needed him so badly I couldn’t stand it.
My thighs spread wide, making room for his thick, masculine body to fit between me. My skirt hitched up around my waist like it was merely a belt. I edged myself on the desk until I could feel the tickle of his hot breaths blasting against my core. I could feel him even through the thin, lacy material covering me. He was so close and yet so far. It was too much for me. I was pretty sure that Octavio knew what he was doing to me as well. He got a kick out of driving me insane. If only I could gather up my breaths now to speak... but I couldn’t.
Octavio’s hands gripped my thighs and moved upwards. Once he reached the outline of my panties, I braced myself, expecting him to pause to tease me some more, but he changed up the game. He slipped his fingers underneath the material and glided along my soaking wet slit. His movements were more careful than I had expected. He was sweet and passionate, which I really needed.
“Mmm, you feel so good.” I forgot everything as he plunged his fingers deep within me, shocking me with pleasure. It was like a lightning bolt slamming through the entirety of my body, nearly knocking me off the counter. “So wet, all for me.”
He kissed my legs. I leaned back on my hands to try and get myself some balance as his lips moved up to my panties. It was my turn to emit a guttural cry as his teeth gripped onto the waistband of my underwear, and he whipped them away. They dangled on my toe for only a second before I bent my foot to let them drop. I needed them to go.
“Can I taste you?” he muttered, his question of consent blowing against my exposed body. “Your scent is intoxicating.”
I couldn’t answer. I only had the strength to nod, which was all Octavio needed. He became a madman on a mission, desperate to coax the orgasm from me. The burning hot bliss was an onslaught, causing every single part of me to tingle and relax. I had to lean back on my elbows because I no longer had the power to hold on to myself anymore.
With my legs wrapped around his head, needing him there more than I ever could have thought possible, Octavio licked and tasted every part of me. He alternated between plunging his tongue deep within me and massaging me like how he had done with his fingers and tracing the most intense patterns over my clit. I wanted to keep hold of myself. The anticipation of what was about to come tightened around me, stiffened my spine, and bounded us together. I wanted to pause at the peak of the mountain for just a moment to savor this feeling, but I couldn’t. With Octavio, it was impossible.
He pushed me, shoved me violently over the cliff edge and into the abyss of pleasure. I screamed and writhed as the orgasm took hold of me, the tsunami of waves shattering through me again and again. I whimpered out his name over and over again because it really was too much. He really was too much. This Octavio was so much better than the one I had before.
“I’ve got you,” Octavio reassured me as I gripped tightly onto him. I felt myself drowning in the post-orgasmic bliss, which was lovely as I held him tight. “I need you.”
I knew what those words meant. He wasn’t done with me yet, which was just fine with me because I was nowhere near done with him. Just because I was a little bit sated, it was nowhere near enough. I needed him deep inside me. I wanted to spend the entire day with our bodies thrusting together until nightfall.
Octavio lay me back carefully, running kisses all over my face as he did. I propped up onto my elbows to watch as he peeled the rest of his clothing off, showing me everything about who he was. I was in trouble. I just knew it. It wasn’t just the orgasm fogging up my brain. I really did have a dangerous amount of feelings for this man. I so didn’t want to get hurt by him again...
But as he thrust deep within me, our bodies joined in the best way possible, I became utterly convinced that this was it for me. This was exactly what I had been looking for in life.
This man was it .