Chapter 22
Twenty-Two
Maxim
The moment I heard what happened, my heart dropped. Aria—my wife—in trouble.
I rushed out the door, my mind racing, trying to understand why Natalya would be that insane. I know Natalya is very well dead, but I needed to get to Aria. I needed to have my eyes on her and make sure she was okay.
As I approached her office, the closed door was the last barrier we had between the chaos that was behind it.
I assessed the situation and got my wife out of there, knowing the clean-up crew I hired would dispose of Natalya’s body. She’s dead, so she won’t be causing us any more issues…but that doesn’t mean her family won’t try to avenge her.
Most know of Natalya’s crazed nature. She’s always been the kind of woman who would throw a fit if she didn’t get what she wanted…and this time it was me.
We’re in a secluded area of the hospital, alone, processing what happened. She looks up at me, her eyes wide with horror. “I can’t believe I killed her, Maxim. I didn’t think I could ever be capable of such a thing.”
I cup her face in my hands, forcing her to meet my gaze. “You did what you had to do to survive,” I say, my voice low and intense. “Natalya was going to kill you. It was her or you, and I won’t lie about this—I’m grateful it was her. Don’t you ever feel bad for doing what you needed to.”
Aria’s lower lip trembles. “I understand what you’re saying, but I’m not a killer, Maxim. I’m a healer. I save lives. I do everything in my power to keep my patient’s alive.”
I pull her close, wrapping my arms tightly around her.
“I know, sweetheart. I know. But sometimes, in our world, there are no easy choices. Sometimes, things aren’t so black and white.
You save lives here and I commend you for it, but when you leave this hospital our world is different.
We are the enemy to many people, and they’ll do whatever they can to try and hurt us. At home—you’re a fighter.”
She buries her face in my chest, her body wracked with sobs. I hold her, murmuring soothing words, stroking her hair, until a few minutes pass and the hallway begins to fill with people.
I wipe away her tears and she quickly composes herself, and we make our way to a stairwell. We walk slowly down the stairs, taking our time, both processing that she was almost murdered in her office.
We head out into the crisp night, her arm tucked into mine. All I want to do is tell her that everything will be okay, and it will, but I know she won’t believe it right now. I shoot a text off to one of my men and they bring the car around. I help her in and scoot on the seat beside her.
I need to be close to her right now. To feel her warmth under my hands. To see the rise and fall of her chest as she breathes. To know I’m here for her when an impossible situation rattled her.
She glances at me, vulnerability etched in the depths of her beautiful eyes. “I know this is our life, but Maxim, isn’t there something we can do to protect ourselves?”
There’s always a way to keep ourselves safe, but I doubt it will make her happy.
“We’ll figure it out,” I assure her, giving her hand a comforting squeeze as the driver begins to move forward. “For now, all we need to do is get home.”
She gives me a curt nod and leans against my chest. I wrap an arm around her and keep her nestled against me—safe, where she needs to be.
We drive in silence for a while, only the soft hum of the car filling the void. My mind races with thoughts of retaliation, of how to keep those who wish us harm at bay, and I wonder if Natalya was working alone, or if she has people who are loyal to her.
Suddenly, she starts sobbing, trying to grapple with what she did. I know how intense the first time you kill someone can be. It’s deafening, all consuming, and it makes you think twice about the kind of person you are. I’m sure Aria’s mind is going crazy right now.
As we drive back to our condo, silence fills the air. It’s so silent and I feel the need to say something after a while, so I glance over at her, my heart aching. “Aria, I know this is hard for you. But don’t beat yourself up about this. You did what you needed to do. That’s all.”
She turns to me, her eyes brimming with tears. “I’m scared, Maxim. What’s going to happen now? Will her family come after us? Does she have people who work for her? What happens?”
I pull her closer against me and press my lips to her temple. “Whatever happens, we’ll figure it out, together. I won’t let anything happen to you, I promise.”
Aria nods, but I can see the fear in her eyes. I know she’s afraid, but I will shield her from whatever the fallout of her actions will be.
Our driver pulls up to our building and after he opens the door for us, I usher Aria inside. My hand gently guides her. The weight of what she’s done is continuing to affect her, her shoulders slumped, her usual vibrant energy dimmed.
I lead her to our condo and once we’re inside, I guide us toward our master bedroom. My heart can’t help but ache at the lost, haunted look in her eyes. Carefully, I peel off her clothes, my fingers moving slowly, sure not to scare her.
“How about we get you cleaned up?” I murmur, turning on the shower and testing the water temperature. I peel off my clothes as well, tossing them into the hamper.
Aria stands mutely, her gaze downcast, as I help her step under the warm spray. Slowly, I begin to lather up a washcloth, my touch gentle as I glide it over her skin, hopefully washing away the horrible feelings plaguing her.
“I’m so sorry you had to go through this,” I whisper, my eyes never leaving hers. She has no idea how much I hate that she was put in harm’s way.
I never want any harm to come to her, but the fact is we’ll have to deal with situations like this. Now that Natalya has been dealt with, I hope it will dissuade others from attempting to do the same.
Aria's lips tremble, a single tear escaping to trail down her cheek. “I know I did what I needed to, but I didn’t want to. I didn’t want to kill her. She gave me no fucking choice.”
I nod, cupping her face in my hands. “I know, moya lyubov . In our world, there are no easy choices. You did what you had to do to survive. There is nothing wrong with that.”
She lets out a shuddering breath, her arms wrapping around my waist as she presses her face against my chest. I hold her, stroking her hair, offering what solace I can as she fully processes what happened today.
“Do you think...?” she begins, her words muffled against the wet expanse of my chest. The rushing water drowns out the rest of her sentence.
“What, darling?” I lean back slightly, tilting her chin up to meet my gaze, so pale and wide in the steamy shower.
“Do you think it’ll ever stop? The violence? People coming after us?” Her voice is a whisper barely heard over the cascading water. Her question hangs in the air, mingling with the steam.
“As long as there’s a hunger for power, people will do anything to take what’s ours.” I answer honestly, because she deserves at least that much. As much as I want to lie to her and tell her it will stop, I can’t.
“I wish...” She trails off again, her gaze dropping away from mine.
“Hmm?” I encourage softly, twining a lock of her dark hair around one finger.
“I just…sometimes I wish our life wasn’t so crazy. Granted, every bit of us being together hasn’t been normal.” she confesses with a sigh.
I press my lips to her forehead, letting my hands drift down to her side.
“Sweetheart, our life may not be normal in the conventional sense, but it’s ours.
And I wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world.
I’d rather deal with this bloody crazy mess with you than anyone else.
” I speak softly into her hair. Her arms tighten around my waist as she leans into me further, trying to find comfort in the midst of chaos.
Silently, we spend a few more minutes under the warm spray of the shower, allowing it to cleanse us, not just of the dirt and grime but also of some of our burdens and fears.
I scrub her body, every glorious inch of it and she does the same to me. When we’re done, we get out of the shower and I help her dry off.
But, there’s a look in her eyes that makes me want to ravage her like a wild animal. She’s so fucking beautiful. So perfect, and all mine.
As she slips on a silk robe, she catches me staring at her. Her cheeks flush bright red and looks away, but I can’t help but grin. I love how she can be bashful too. She’s the perfect woman for me—strong, fierce, yet has a certain innocence about her.
“Don’t hide from me, Aria.” I murmur, pulling her close and nuzzling my nose against her neck. “You’re absolutely breathtaking.”
The red tint floods her cheeks, but there’s a small smile playing on her lips. “I’ve wanted to hate you since the beginning you know. I tried hating you, but there came a point where you weaseled your way under my skin and into my heart. I have feelings for you, Maxim.”
My heart thunders in my chest at her words. “I have feelings for you too, Aria.” I admit, capturing her lips with mine.
The world around us is harsh—it’s full of cruel realities and consequences we’d rather not face, but have no option.
In this moment, I’m pushing all of the pressures of life away. Right now, I’m not the man who’s going to inherit the Bratva. I’m just her husband—a man who would do anything for her.
I keep my lips on hers, devouring her. The kiss deepens, her fingers clutching my skin, drawing me closer. I feel her pulse racing against my lips as I trail them down her neck.
She gasps, her eyes fluttering shut and it’s music to my ears. My hands find their way under her robe, tracing the contours of her body and she shivers beneath my touch.
“Maxim...” she breathes out, her voice shaky.
“Yes, Aria?” I reply, my voice a low growl.
“I...I need you. I need you now more than I ever have before.” she confesses, her voice almost a whisper.
My heart leaps at her words. It’s raw desire mixed with genuine emotion in her voice. Her confession ignites a fire inside me that I can’t control, and I’m not sure if I want to.
Effortlessly, I scoop her into my arms and stride toward our bed. The silk sheets feel cold to the touch as I lay her down gently.
“Then have me,” I say, my gaze locked with hers.
The moonlight filters through the sheer curtains, bathing her in an ethereal glow. I can’t help but marvel at the beauty below me. She’s mine, all mine.
I lean down, kissing her fiercely. She trembles under my touch, her hands threading through my hair. Her reaction to my touch only eggs me on. It fills me with an intoxicating sense of power, of ownership, connection even.
“Maxim,” she moans into my mouth, pulling me closer.
“I’m here, Aria,” I murmur against her lips, my hands roaming over her body.
Slowly, I peel her robe off of her, revealing the exquisite canvas of her skin. She’s trembling now, her breath hitching as I explore every inch of her with my hands and mouth.
Her hands claw at my back as she arches into me—a silent plea for more. And more is exactly what I intend to give. I want to claim her in every way possible tonight.
“Mmm, my beautiful wife.” Her body shudders against mine at the words, her eyes shining brightly in the moonlight as they meet mine.
“Yours,” she whispers back, a confession, a promise.
As I move over her, her breath catches in anticipation. I caress her cheek, lost in the feel of her skin under my fingertips. She’s soft, yet strong. And oh, so vulnerable.
“Maxim,” she murmurs, eyes pleading, full of that unmistakable desire that sends chills down my spine.
I dip my hand between her legs, feeling the softness I’ll be balls deep in soon enough.
She gasps in response, her back arching. This is power. Control. I want to savor it, to enjoy every moment of it.
“Aria,” I growl, burying my face in the crook of her neck. I can feel her heart pounding in her chest, matching the rhythm of mine. “Tell me you want this as much as I do.”
Her eyes find mine again, burning with intensity. “I want you, Maxim. I fucking need you, now.” she whispers.
“Good,” I say, pulling my fingers away from her pussy, I line my cock up at her entrance.
I enter her carefully. It’s a slow push and pull—an exquisite torment of pleasure and anticipation. She moans beneath me, her eyes squeezed shut as she bites her lower lip, trying to withhold the noises threatening to spill forth.
I take my time, enjoying every inch of her beneath me. Her shallow breaths and whimpers are like sweet music to my ears.
Thrusting, I pick up my pace, going as deep inside her as I can.
Her legs wrap tightly around my waist, pulling me deeper into her. Her nails dig into my back as her body thrashes beneath mine. She gasps, moaning my name, a sweet melody that drives me on.
“Aria,” I grunt. It’s a command, a plea. I want her to come undone under my touch.
“I’m... getting close,” she pants, her body trembling beneath me. Her beautiful eyes flicker up to meet mine, the raw need in them searing me to my core.
“Let go for me,” I growl, reaching between our bodies to find her clit and rub it in gentle circles.
The whimpering noises from her turn into full-on screams as I thrust harder and faster. There’s an animalistic need in me to claim every inch of her—to make sure she knows she belongs to me.
“I… Maxim!” Aria screams out my name as the orgasm hits her, rippling through her body in waves.
“ Моя ,” I whisper, the Russian word for 'mine' tumbling from my lips. Her body clenches around me, her walls pulsing and grasping at me.
I grunt, slamming into her one last time as my own climax wrenches through me. My vision blurs, my muscles tense, and I bury my face in the crook of her neck as I shudder and spill into her. We’re tangled limbs and sweaty bodies, shaking from the aftermath of our climax.
Collapsing onto her, I take a moment to steady my breath. Aria continues to tremble slightly beneath me, riding out the last waves of her ecstasy. She’s panting hard, breasts rising and falling against my chest.
Her fingers trail up my sweaty back, nails occasionally digging in slightly. An aftershock rolls through her body and she buries her face into the crook of my neck, letting out a content sigh.
I could do this forever, be buried inside her and have her this close. I doubt Aria realizes just how much I do care for her, but I’d say I’m falling in love with this mesmerizing woman.