Chapter 8 - Dmitri
Chapter 8 – Dmitri
Valentina's head rests on my chest, her breathing slow and even. My fingers thread through her hair, the silky strands slipping between them easily. After last night, the thought of letting her go feels impossible. Her presence here, in my arms, makes the rage and the pain bearable, even if only for a moment.
She stirs and shifts closer, her body pressing tighter against mine. The warmth of her skin ignites something deep within me. I swallow hard, feeling an unwelcome arousal stir. Carefully, I move her off me and sit at the edge of the bed, trying to clear my head.
Before I can stand, her voice, soft and drowsy, calls my name. "Dmitri?"
I turn to see her sitting up, the sheet tucked beneath her arms, covering her.
"Sorry for waking you."
"It's okay." She reaches out and touches my shoulder. Instinctively, I flinch.
Hurt flashes in her eyes, and guilt twists in my gut. "I'm sorry," I murmur.
Her hand drops to her lap. "I'm serious about helping you," she says, her voice steady despite the hurt lingering in her gaze.
I search her eyes for any sign of doubt but find none. Her determination mirrors my own—stubborn and unyielding. "Why?" I ask, needing to understand.
"Because I love you," she replies without hesitation.
In this world of chaos and revenge? It seems impossible, yet here she is—offering it freely.
I look away, unsure how to respond. Love is a weakness I've long since buried beneath layers of anger and resolve. But with Valentina, it's different. She makes me want to believe in something more than just vengeance.
She moves closer again, placing a hand on my back. "You don't have to do this alone," she whispers.
The sincerity in her voice breaks down some of my defenses. "It's not safe for you," I say quietly.
"I don't care about safe," she retorts gently but firmly. "I care about you. Dmitri." Her soft voice draws me out of my thoughts. "Let me help you."
Her plea hangs in the air between us—simple yet profound. For a moment, I'm torn between pushing her away for her safety or pulling her closer because I need her more than I care to admit.
Finally, I meet her gaze again and nod slowly. "Alright," I concede.
A small smile tugs at her lips as she leans in and presses a gentle kiss to my shoulder. Valentina's eyes hold a determined glint as she speaks. "I'm not sure about all the details, but my father is expecting a shipment soon. If I'm keeping track of the days right, it should be in two weeks."
I narrow my eyes. "What kind of shipment?"
"His largest shipment of cocaine," she says, her voice steady. "He's already got a buyer lined up. If you can intercept it, you'll hit him where it hurts."
The information is like a lifeline thrown into the chaos of my plans. I need specifics. "Where's the buyer meeting him?"
She bites her lip, thinking. "I don't have the exact address, but there are two possible locations. The docks on the east side or the warehouse on 34th Street."
I nod, mentally filing away the options. "I'll have my men scout both places."
She smiles, relief evident on her face. "Good."
As I rise from the bed, I gesture toward the adjoining bathroom. "Go take a bath and come down for breakfast."
Her hand catches mine, and she looks up at me with a mischievous glint in her eye. "Join me?" She lets the bed sheet fall, revealing her bare breasts.
I take her hand and tug her up from the bed, unable to explain the feral need rising inside me. Without a word, I lead her toward the bathroom, desperate to feel her skin against mine.
Turning on the faucet, I adjust the water temperature. Steam rises as the tub fills, and I step back, my eyes never leaving her.
"Get in," I order, my voice gruff with desire.
She steps into the tub, sinking into the water with a soft sigh. I can't help but stare as she takes a sponge and slowly rubs it over her body, her movements fluid and seductive. Her nipples pebble under my intense gaze, and my breath catches as she continues her slow, torturous caress.
I feel trapped in a haze of need. All my muscles are taut with restraint. My wound burns, but it's a distant sensation compared to the throb between my legs.
Her eyes hold mine as she rubs her body, trailing the sponge down her throat, along her collarbone, and then lower, past her breasts and over her flat stomach.
Valentina watches me, her breathing shallow. She bites her lower lip, and it sends a bolt of desire straight to my groin. With a trembling hand, I grip my cock, stroking slowly as I meet her gaze.
"Touch your tits," I command.
She obeys, her fingers skimming lightly over her nipple. The sight sends a jolt through me. "Play with it," I continue, stroking myself.
She pinches her nipple lightly, and a drop of moisture forms at the tip of my cock. "Squeeze it, harder."
She does as I say, tugging and twisting gently, her eyes never leaving mine. I can feel my own desire reflected in her dark eyes, and it fuels the fire within me.
"Now, use your other hand to touch your pussy."
She gasps softly at my words, and her eyelids flutter as she places her hand between her legs. "I— I don't know how."
"Find the bud first," I squeeze the tip of my cock, willing myself to hold on. "That's it, just like that. Now rub it gently."
Her fingers find the right spot, and she moans as she begins to move them in slow circles.
"Now, put your fingers inside."
She slides her fingers inside herself, and her mouth forms an O shape. "That's it," I encourage, even as my own breath quickens. "Keep going."
Her eyes close as she begins to move her fingers in and out, her breath coming in short gasps now. "Don't stop." My own release builds as I watch her pleasure herself. Fuck!
Her hips buck against her hand, and her eyes fly open, finding mine.
"Don't stop," I repeat.
With a strangled cry, she climaxes, her body arching in the tub. The sight of her pleasure sends me over the edge, and spurts of cum shoot from my dick.
Valentina opens her eyes, a shy smile spread across her face. She steps out of the tub, and I pull her toward me. She settles into my arms, her head resting on my chest.
I kiss the top of her head. This woman has the power to bring me to my knees with just a look. It's terrifying and exhilarating all at once.
She shifts, her fingers trailing lightly over the wound on my side. I hiss softly at the contact, and she pulls away. "I'm sorry," she murmurs, her eyes filling with concern. "Let me dress your wound."
I nod, unable to deny the comfort in her touch.
Valentina fetches the medical kit while I get dressed. Her hair is tousled, and her skin has a dewy glow when she returns. I wince as she peels back the old bandage, the wound still red and angry. Her touch is light, but it sends a stab of pain through me nonetheless.
"I'll try to be gentle."
I nod. When she finishes, I pull her onto my lap, cradling her head with my hand. She leans into me, and I breathe in the scent of her hair.
"Don't let me lose you again," she whispers.
I sit at my desk, poring over the maps and intel reports scattered in front of me. The docks and the warehouse are both viable locations for the shipment drop, but I need to be certain of the timing before we move. Too much is at stake to screw this up.
The door swings open, and Alexei strolls in with a cocky grin on his face. He drops into the chair across from me, propping his feet up on the desk with a thud.
"So, you and the little Makarov princess are getting pretty cozy, eh?" He waggles his eyebrows suggestively.
I shoot him a warning glare, but he just laughs. "What? I'm just saying, I heard some interesting noises last night."
Heat creeps up my neck at his implication. Alexei has always been the more outgoing one, never shy about expressing himself, especially when it comes to women.
"We don't have time for this," I growl, pushing his feet off the desk. "Valentina gave me intel on her father's next shipment. It's supposed to be going down in two weeks."
That gets his attention. He sits up straighter, the playful glint leaving his eyes. "You trust her?"
I meet his gaze steadily. "I do."
Alexei considers this for a moment, then nods. "Alright, so what's the plan?"
"She gave me two possible locations, the east docks or the warehouse on 34th Street. I need you to get some of our guys undercover at both spots to verify when exactly the drop is happening."
Alexei nods slowly, his face growing serious. "Yeah, I've got the guys ready to go. But do you have a plan for how to actually derail Sergei's plans?"
I lean back in my chair. "Sergei won't be there himself. He’s too smart for that. But he may send Rocker to oversee things."
Alexei raises an eyebrow. "Rocker? Who's that?"
I give him an exasperated look. "If you bothered reading the intel reports once in a while, you'd know."
He smirks and shrugs. "Why bother when you already have all the details memorized?"
Shaking my head, I explain. "Rocker is Sergei's right-hand man. He’s a ruthless fighter and a total psycho. If he's there, we'll have to be extra careful."
Alexei nods grimly. "Got it. With that shipment being so valuable, they'll have a lot of eyes out for anything suspicious."
"Exactly," I affirm. "We can't afford any mistakes on this one."
A sly grin spreads across Alexei's face. "Speaking of mistakes... how's your little frolicking session with the enemy going?"
I shoot him a warning glare, but he just chuckles. "What? I'm just curious if you've had time for anything other than—"
"Get out of here," I cut him off, unable to keep a hint of amusement from my voice.
Alexei rises from his chair, still grinning like an idiot. "Yeah, yeah, I'm going. Try not to get too distracted though, eh?"
With a final wink, he slips out of the room, leaving me shaking my head. Alexei's antics are juvenile, but they provide a much-needed moment of levity amidst the weight of our mission.