Chapter 23 - Nikolai
I thought I would surprise Anoushka in bed with breakfast. When I enter, I see her exiting the bathroom, her hair wet and a towel wrapped around under her arms. My gaze passes over her beautiful figure as she flicks her hair over her shoulders.
“You made me breakfast?” she asks, a smile on her pretty face as I lay down the tray on the bed.
She immediately sits beside me, smearing cream cheese on a slice of toast and taking a bite. “Mmm,” she closes her eyes, licking her lips. “I’m famished.”
"You're looking energetic this morning," I say, brushing a stray curl behind her ear. She’s been so tired the last few days that I decide we shouldn’t waste today. "Get dressed. We're going out."
Her eyes widen in surprise. "Where are we going?"
"It's a surprise." I tap her nose playfully. "Now hurry before I change my mind."
She squeals and jumps off the bed, racing to the closet. I shake my head, unable to hold back a grin. Her enthusiasm is infectious.
***
We drive down a winding road, the sun filtering through a canopy of trees. Anoushka chatters happily beside me, her hand resting on my thigh. I nod along, only half-listening. On the street before, a car turned in behind us. I take another turn, and the car stays right behind. Are we being followed? I glance in the rearview mirror, searching for any sign of danger, but reveal nothing to Anoushka. The last thing I want is for her to worry. Instead, I focus on making small talk.
I slowly speed up, noticing the car on our trail. I clutch the steering as tight as I can until, at last, we take the turn for a luxurious small bed-and-breakfast-type hotel nestled amidst lush greenery.
"Here we are," I announce as we pull up. Anoushka's eyes widen in delight, and I can't help but smile at her reaction. I look back and find that there’s no one behind.
I finally breathe a sigh of relief. Maybe it was all in my head. People can follow the same routes, after all.
“Oh my god!” Anoushka gushes, looking around herself. “It’s beautiful!”
I glance up at the gorgeous villa nestled among cypress trees. "A spa getaway. Just for the two of us."
Her eyes shine with delight. "You shouldn't have."
"Nonsense. You deserve to be pampered." I squeeze her hand and help her out of the car, leading her up the path.
A friendly receptionist greets us inside, and Nikolai tells her who he is. A glimmer of awe crosses her eyes, and she jumps right into action. "Welcome! We've prepared your private suite. Everything is in order and Emma here will guide you through your day. Please enjoy a full day of treatments on us."
"Thanks." I nod in thanks, guiding Anoushka toward a set of arched wooden doors that our therapist, Emma, takes us through.
This will be a perfect escape for Anoushka. She deserves all the rest and pampering she can get. After all, a happy mother births a healthy child.
***
We are first taken into a suite room with two massage beds. As enticing as the suite looks, I have unfinished business to attend to. I take Anoushka’s hands, squeezing them gently. "You settle in. I'll be back soon."
Her brows furrow slightly. "Where are you going?"
"Just some arrangements I need to make." I brush my lips over her knuckles. "Relax. I’ll be back soon. You need to rest."
She searches my face as if sensing I'm not telling her everything. But after a moment, her expression softens. "If you insist." She stands on her toes, kissing my cheek. "But don't be long."
"I'll be back before you know it." With great reluctance, I leave Anoushka to enjoy the spa. But my mind is racing, thoughts of our mysterious tail swirling as I make my way down the hall.
I find the spa receptionist and give her a warm smile. "Did you notice anyone else arriving shortly after us?"
Her brow furrows, shaking her head. "My apologies, but you were our only guests this morning."
"I see." I rub my jaw, gaze sliding to the windows. The villa is secluded and sheltered by a canopy of trees. But that also provides ample cover if someone wanted to spy unseen.
My hands clench at the thought, a surge of protectiveness rushing through me—no one spies on Anoushka. No one threatens what's mine. I stride toward the front entrance, scanning the winding road outside.
There. A glint of light in the distance, the sun reflecting off a car window. I narrow my eyes, heart pounding as I glimpse a hooded figure behind the wheel.
Watching. Waiting.
My jaw hardens. It seems I have a rat to flush out.
I pick up the phone and call my security, letting them know where we are. “I need a tail on us at all times,” I say. “Be at the location I’m sending you by tomorrow morning to follow us home.”
And then, I head back to our suite.
***
After Anoushka finishes getting a head massage, our therapists, Emma and Lyra, help us into towels and onto the massage beds, face down. The lights are dimmed, the scent of massage oils takes over, and with the sensation of deft and firm fingers on our backs, we drift off to the sound of gentle, soft music in the background.
Just before our massages are over, we are woken gently and led to a different part of our suite, where we find a spacious stone room with arched windows letting in streams of golden sunlight. A large jacuzzi bubbles in the center, with scented oils and petals floating on the surface.
Our therapists leave us here, stating they shall wait outside our suite, should we need them.
Anoushka gasps. "It's lovely!" She turns to me, eyes sparkling as she throws down her towel and stands in front of me, completely naked. "Join me?"
Heat flickers in my veins at the invitation in her voice, at the swell of her breasts. My gaze slowly dances down her body, at the sharpness of her collarbones, the pink stubs on her breasts, the gentle curves of her hips, the parting of her lips, and I find myself wanting to throw her against the wall, claim her as mine.
But, she carries my child. I can’t risk hurting her or the baby.
For now, the Jacuzzi will do.
I drop my towel to my feet and she walks over, her curves moving gracefully, as she takes my hand and turns to lead me to the water. Honestly, I’m completely awestruck by the perfectly shaped apples of her ass, and reach forward, gently grazing them with my thumbs. I feel her shudder under my touch, and she arches into me, turning back to give me a sultry look, her hair falling down her breasts.
“Into the water. Now,” I growl.
She giggles, and I hold her hand as support while she gets in, her divinely naked form hiding under the swirling mist.
I slip into the jacuzzi right after her, pulling Anoushka onto my lap.
"You're in a mood," she murmurs, tracing my jaw. Her fingertips leave a trail of fire in their wake.
"Just thinking of how I'm going to have you all to myself today." I capture her mouth in a searing kiss, and her soft moan goes straight to my groin. I grip her hips, grinding her against my hardening length, but never really entering. I feel her gasping, panting, trying to part her legs for me. "Maybe I'll keep you all to myself forever."
"That’s not the worst idea," she teases, nails scraping down my chest. I groan, desire and possessiveness warring within me. I want to lose myself in Anoushka, in the haven of her body.
I crush my mouth to hers, reveling in her soft cry. She straddles me now, sitting on my ever-hardening cock, and I slide my fingers through the back of her hair, pulling her head back as I bend deeper into her kiss.
We move together, the water lapping around us, steam rising in wisps and coils. The outside world fades away. In this moment, there is only Anoushka.
And then, she pulls away from the kiss. I watch, entranced, as she takes both hands to push back her hair, her tits rising out of the water and droplets falling off her nipples.
I bite my lower lip, a desperate need to just fuck her making me feel like every cell in my body is trembling with anticipation.
But again, she’s pregnant.
I’m about to tell her we need to stop when she places her hand on my chest and taps another on the cemented base around the jacuzzi.
I look at her inquiringly.
“Sit,” she taps at the seat again.
Curious, I perch myself up on the ledge of the jacuzzi, my legs still dangling in the water, when I feel Anoushka’s long nails digging into my thighs as she parts my legs and makes space for herself between them.
I suck in the air as I look down at her beautiful face, those blue-green eyes staring right up at me. She licks her lips hungrily, and my heart pounds in my chest as desire courses through me.
She then positions herself between my legs, her hands gripping my erection, her eyes never leaving mine. She spends a moment adjusting herself, and then she finally takes me into her mouth.
I let out a low groan, my hands coming to rest on her head as she takes me deep into her throat, her mouth moving up and down with purpose. My eyes flutter closed, my thighs trembling as she sucks me off, her skilled tongue flicking and teasing, her hands gripping my length.
“Fuck,” I moan, as she pulls back her mouth and then slides her tongue across the vein beneath my cock. Then, she licks the bottom of the head and slams my dick back into her mouth.
I look down at her sucked-in cheeks, at how her breasts squeeze together between her arms, at how deep she’s taking me, and in a selfish move, I arch my hips, digging my cock into her mouth until it hits the back of her throat.
I bit down gently on the inside of my cheek to stop from groaning too loud. This place is supposed to be relaxing, but it’s hard to focus when you have a woman who knows exactly how to please you just a few inches away from you.
Anoushka’s eyes met mine as she sucked me deeper, her hands moving up and down my shaft and her lips wrapped tight around me. I couldn’t help but let out a soft moan. She seemed to be reading my mind, slowing down her pace and pulling back, her lips teasing the tip of my erection.
"More," I whispered, my voice hoarse. "Fuck, Anoushka. Make me cum."
I thrust my hips, meeting her mouth as she takes me deeper. Her hair, slick from the water, brushes against my thighs, creating a sensual tug that heightens my desire. My mind, foggy with lust, is completely overcome when she takes her hands and begins to play with my balls.
“Fuck,” I moan, clenching her hair in my hands and forcing her deeper over my cock. I hear her choke and look down to see tears streaming down her face, yet that devilish smile remains.
I pull my hand back, not wanting to push her too far, and instead reach for her breasts. They feel full, divine in my hands. She sucks in air in short, rapid bursts, squeezing the tip of my cock at the back of her throat.
“Oh fuck!” I almost scream, pinching her breasts, my impending orgasm taking a life of its own, dictating every move I make.
"Cum, Nikolai!" Anoushka rasps, her voice hoarse from the suction of her mouth around me, eyes locking onto mine as she takes me as deep as she can.
I feel my body shuddering, my heart pounding, my mind going blank. I can't contain it any longer, my orgasm exploding with a roar as I thrust into her mouth, my hips pumping uncontrollably. Anoushka’s mouth, skilled and unforgiving, takes it all, swallowing my climax with an unparalleled hunger.
As my orgasm subsides, I feel her release my cock from her mouth, and she wipes the corner of her mouth with her fingertips, a small satisfied smile crossing her lips. I release her hair gently, my heart pounding in my chest as I gaze at her.
"That was… incredible," I murmur, my voice hoarse.
Anoushka smiles, her eyes gleaming with affection, "I'm glad you thought so too. Now, get back into the water,” she pulls me back in like nothing ever happened.
***
We bask in the afterglow in the bedroom of our private suite, Anoushka curled against my chest. I run my fingers through her damp hair, massaging her scalp. She hums in contentment, the vibration soothing my frayed nerves.
"I could stay like this forever," she murmurs.
"We have all the time in the world," I press a kiss to her forehead, a fierce surge of affection nearly overwhelming me.
"Do you really think so?" Anoushka lifts her head, searching my face. "That we have forever?"
I cup her cheek, gazing into her eyes. "Forever is only just the beginning,” I place a hand on her stomach and look down, leaning forward to kiss her belly. “This is the start of the rest of our lives.”
Her eyes shine with tears as a radiant smile lights her face. "You're going to be an amazing father, Nikolai."
"With you by my side, I wouldn’t dare be anything but the best. You might whip me if I falter,” I joke, and she playfully smacks my arm. I laugh and brush my lips over hers, tasting her joy and wonder.
“Well, I might whip you soon enough,” she says through our kisses.
“Oh?” I ask, worried now that I did something wrong.
“I’m starving,” she exclaims at last, pulling away and lying back on the bed with a blush on her face. Then, I hear her stomach rumble.
“Of course,” I chide myself for being so short-sighted. “You’re eating for two now, after all.”
I pick up the cordless phone, and call for some tea service.
***
The next morning, as we prepare to leave the spa, a prickle of unease crawls up my spine. My instincts have been honed through years of surviving dangerous situations, and right now, they're screaming that we're being watched.
I scan our surroundings discreetly, not wanting to alarm Anoushka, but catch no obvious signs of surveillance. Still, the feeling persists, like an itch I can't scratch.
"Are you ready to go?" Anoushka asks, mistaking my tension for eagerness to leave.
I force a smile and take her hand. "More than ready."
We make our way to the exit, and I note the locations of each security camera and guard along our path.
“You called for your security detail?” Anoushka looks up at me, worried. She’s quite smart, and has figured something must be off for me to have called for back-up.
“Was feeling lazy,” I explain nonchalantly. “Didn’t feel like making the drive back to the city.”
She nods and, fortunately, doesn’t ask more questions. Everyone appears relaxed and unconcerned, yet my heart pounds with each step.
By the time we reach our car, my mouth has gone dry. I glance over my shoulder before helping Anoushka inside, but the lanes around us are empty.
Once I'm seated beside her, I draw a steadying breath. I could be reacting to nothing more than my own paranoia. Anoushka's safety is my priority now, and I won't subject her to undue stress without cause.
"Did you enjoy yourself?" Anoushka asks, resting her hand on my thigh.
I place my hand over hers and squeeze gently. "Every moment with you is a gift." It's the truth, even if not the whole of it. I enjoyed our time at the spa, watching movies all night, ordering in, and getting another massage this morning, but my enjoyment was tempered by the gnawing sense of being watched.
As our convoy drives us away from the spa, my eyes remain fixed on the rearview mirror, searching for any vehicles that might be following us. While no vehicle does, I believe I see a figure disappear into the shadows by the trees. Could I, perhaps, be mistaken?
I can’t risk not taking this seriously, even if it is just paranoia. I have a child on the way. In my mind, I'm already calculating our next moves to determine if we're actually in danger or if this is a false alarm. The safety of my family depends on my ability to distinguish between the two.
And besides, it’s better to be a scared chicken than a dead duck. No matter what, from this point forward, the security around Anoushka and my entire family, god damn it, will be ramped up.