Chapter 11
Chapter
Eleven
KATYA
“ M y mother wants you to go to a tea function with her,” Anton tells me.
I look up from my new phone (since my other one got lost when Luca kidnapped me) and give Anton the most disgusted look I can muster. “Why in the world would I go to a tea function with her? I hate your mother.”
“Oh, I know you do, but she’s waiting outside for you right now.”
I glance toward the foyer. “Wait. Right now?”
“Yep.”
“Why is she here? Did you invite her?”
He scoffs. “Fuck no. She showed up, called me, and demanded you come with her to a tea function. She’s going to keep calling me until you go with her, so just go with her and get it over with.”
“I thought when you told her to leave that I’d never have to see her again.”
“Not with Katerina Volkov. Once she’s in your life, she’s in your life forever. So …”
I sigh and stand up from the couch. “I’m hurt.” I motion to my bandaged legs.
“Not hurt enough not to walk. Not hurt enough not to go to a tea function with my mother.” He gives me a smirk like he knows this is driving me crazy.
And it is.
This is another test. Anton is trying to see how far I’m willing to go again.
Well, fine. I just berated Dimitri yesterday about my relationship with Anton. I said I was trying to make it work. So, I guess trying to make it work with Anton also includes his mother.
“You’re just lucky my mom is dead,” I tell him. “So you don’t have to worry about these things.”
“You’re right. I am lucky. And think of this as an opportunity to make things right with my mother. It will make your life easier.”
“Do you want my life to be easier?”
The slow grin that spreads across his face makes me roll my eyes. “I just want you in my life, period. Whether it’s easier or harder is up to you.”
“Asshole.”
He grabs me around the waist and pulls me flush against him. I gasp. “Call me that again, and I might have to spank you.”
“You wouldn’t do that. Not when I’m still hurt.”
“Do you want to test me?”
I rest my hands on his chest—his strong, masculine chest that I can’t stop thinking about. In fact, I can’t stop thinking about all of Anton most of the time. It’s getting ridiculous.
“What do you want to do to me?” I whisper.
He makes a low growl in that back of his throat, sending tingles over my entire body. “I want to make you mine. Taste you. Fuck you.”
I inhale sharply. “Not without my consent?”
“Only when you want me to. The question is, why haven’t you wanted me to yet?”
“Because I still don’t fully trust you.”
“I saved your life. I think that earns me some brownie points.”
“Nope. Not even close.” I give him a peck on the lips before escaping from his arms. Anton looks at me like he wants to pounce on me, but he doesn’t. He’s holding back, probably because his mother is waiting for me outside. Screw Katerina. She ruins all the fun.
“Your mother is waiting,” I say.
“I know. But if she wasn’t, I’d have you naked underneath me by now.”
“No. Not without my consent, and I haven’t given it.”
“Yet. I can be very persuasive.”
My entire body wants him, I realize. It yearns for his touch. But if Anton and I take that next step, there’s no going back, and I’m not sure I’m ready for that yet. To take that next step would mean to fully accept Anton as my husband. It would make me his completely.
“I have to go,” I say quickly, turning on my heel and heading outside before I do something I’ll regret. Or I might do something I really, really want, and that’s scary.
Katerina is in the back of her car—the driver is in the front seat. Heaven forbid Katerina ever drive herself.
She scowls at me once I open the back door. “Took you long enough. I’ve been waiting.”
“I didn’t know you were coming. You could have called in advance.”
“I called Anton. That’s enough.”
“You know, Katerina,” I say, getting into the back seat with her, “I’m not at your beck and call. I have a life. You can’t just interrupt it.”
“What life? Lounging around the house and shopping? That’s no life. You have the time to spend with me.”
But I don’t want to . Make peace. I need to make the most out of my time with Katerina. She’s not going anywhere, that much is obvious, and a happy Katerina means a happier life for me.
“What can I do to make you like me?” I ask.
“You actually want me to like you?”
“It would make things easier. So …”
She sniffs, turning her nose up. I swear, she’s perfected that move. “Seeing as I don’t like you, nothing you could do would make me change how I feel about you.”
“So, then, why spend time with me?”
“Because it would be strange to not spend time with my daughter-in-law. The other Bratva women will talk about me if I don’t, and I don’t want that.”
“Oh, so this is a selfish reason for wanting me to join you at this tea function.”
“Of course. I don’t do things for other people, Katya. Especially people like you.”
My hackles rise slightly. “People like me? What does that mean?”
“Oh, you know,” she says, waving a dismissive hand.
“No, I don’t. I’m rich, just like you. I come from a powerful Bratva family, just like you. What’s wrong with me?”
“I heard a rumor that you’re not a virgin.”
I blink, then react. “Wait. What? What do you mean?”
“On your wedding night. You were supposed to be a virgin, but you weren’t.”
“Uh … who told you that?”
“The ladies. Vera. Angelica. They were all talking about it. How you’ve chased men. How you’ve been with men before Anton. That’s why I think less of you, Katya. You’re a whore.”
I gasp. My entire body goes numb as I look at my mother-in-law. The woman I’m supposed to get along with, but she consistently keeps making it impossible.
“I was a virgin on my wedding night. I still am, actually.”
She scoffs. “I doubt that. You and Anton have been married for weeks now.”
“Yeah, I know, and we haven’t had sex. I’m not ready yet, and Anton hasn’t forced me. So, for your information, Katerina, I’m still a virgin. I was a virgin on my wedding night. And I could have died a virgin after Luca kidnapped me. Virgin, virgin, virgin. Happy?”
She gives me a suspicious side eye. “I don’t believe you.”
“And you believe the women of the Bratva more than me? You believe Vera, who’s a notorious gossip?”
“Yes. Vera and I have been friends for years. I know she’s telling the truth.”
“How would she know? Was she there when I was having sex with other men?”
“So, you admit it!” The smug look Katerina gives me is insufferable. I’m so close to slapping her, but I clench my hands into my lap. I have to make the most out of my time with her. I have to, I have to, I have?—
Fuck! I can’t do this.
“Unless Vera literally watched me fuck another man, then she has no idea what I have and haven’t done. She’s making up lies because she finds it fun. You’re making up lies. You believe in how people perceive you, so why would you want people to think so low of your daughter-in-law? It only hurts Anton if people think I wasn’t a virgin before we got married.”
Katerina shifts in her seat, not meeting my eyes.
“Oh,” I say slowly. “You didn’t think how this would affect Anton.” A sharp laugh escapes me. “That’s rich. If you don’t want people thinking Anton is a fool, then you should be on my side. The next time Vera makes up rumors about me, shut them down. We can work together, Katerina. It would make both of our lives so much easier if we’re not always fighting.”
“Too bad I like the fight.”
“This is going to be a long day,” I mutter under my breath.
“What was that?”
I flash her a smile, but it only makes her scowl. “Nothing.”
We make it to the hotel hosting the tea function. The room is packed full of Bratva women. I swear, these women have nothing better to do.
Katerina beelines straight for Vera’s table. With a sigh, I follow her.
“Ah! Katerina,” Vera exclaims. “Katya!”
“I heard you made up a rumor about me,” I say, placing my hands on my hips.
“Did I?”
“For your information, Vera, I was a virgin on my wedding night. Dimitri never let me date. You know that. So don’t spread unbased rumors about me.”
Vera frowns. “I didn’t spread any rumors about you, dear. I was told by …” She turns to Katerina. “You told me she wasn’t a virgin.”
I look at Katerina hard until she has no choice but to look back at me with a slightly sheepish expression. “You made up the rumor? Oh, for god’s sake, Katerina, you’re the worst.”
I turn to leave when I stop in my tracks at the sight of Luca near the entrance to the restaurant. He looks in, and his eyes find mine. A slow smile spreads across his face. He’s going to hurt me, I realize. He’s going to kidnap me again. And this time, he might?—
Luca keeps walking by, away from the restaurant, until he’s out of view.
But it’s enough to rattle me.
I bend forward and suck in deep breaths, but it hurts too much. I can’t get kidnapped again. I can’t almost die again. My legs are a reminder of what happened, and I can never forget it. I’ll probably have scars there for the rest of my life.
I drop to my knees and rock back and forth, gripping my head. I can’t breathe. I can’t do this.
I’m panicking, I realize. A full-blown panic attack.
“Katya, are you all right?” Vera asks.
“I need to go,” I gasp out, clutching at my chest. Tears begin to spill down my eyes. More of the women are looking at me—judging me. This will give them something to talk about.
“Katya, get up,” Katerina hisses. “You’re making a fool of yourself.”
“I can’t,” I cry. “It hurts. I can’t.”
She makes an annoyed sound before she grabs my arms and hauls me to my feet. “Get up, you twit. Stop embarrassing me.”
“You think this is about you? God, you’re a bitch.”
“And you’re a disgrace to the name Volkov. My son should never have married you.”
I rip away from Katerina and bump into a passing waiter. We both stumble and fall to the ground, sending food spilling everywhere. I blink back my tears and stand up. Without another look at the waiter, I rush out of the restaurant.
I look around widely, but Luca isn’t there. Maybe he wasn’t there at all. Maybe it was all my imagination. But what I do know is that I can’t be here a moment longer.
“Katya!” Katerina calls out to me, but I’m already running away.
I make it down the street before my phone rings with a call from Anton. I’m tempted to throw my phone on the ground and smash it to pieces, but I force my heart to slow down and answer his call.
“What?”
“Is that how you greet your husband?”
“Anton.”
“My mother called me and told me you ran out of the tea function. That you were acting strange. What happened? You better not be thinking of running away from me again.”
“I’m not.”
“Oh, good. So, then, why did you leave?”
I look around, suddenly aware of just how alone I am. If Luca wanted to kidnap me again, this would be the time to do it. “I’m coming home. I’ll explain later.” I hang up on him before he gets the chance to say anything more.
Even though I desperately don’t want to, I force myself to go back inside the hotel and find Katerina. “I need to go home.”
“But we just got here.”
“Then you can stay. I’ll have the driver take me home, and he can come back and get you. How does that sound?”
“Not good. I invited you here. You need to learn to be a good guest. I will not have you acting rude again, young lady.”
“Katerina, I am not in the mood for you today.” I motion for our driver to follow me, leaving her alone. She can do whatever the hell she wants. I honestly don’t fucking care right now.
The driver takes me back to Anton’s, who’s waiting for me inside the house.
“What happened?”
“What did Katerina tell you?”
“That you were freaking out. That you ran out of the function like a madwoman. Now, I know my mom can exaggerate, so tell me what happened.”
I walk past him into my room. When I try to shut the door, he doesn’t let me. “Nothing happened. It’s not a big deal.”
“It sounds like a big deal if you acted how my mother described you. Did you act that way?”
“Maybe,” I admit.
He raises an eyebrow. “Maybe? You’re gonna need to give me more than that, baby.”
With a sigh, I slump onto the bed. “Fine. I thought I saw Luca.”
“Luca?” His voice is barely above a growl.
“I’m not sure if he was really there or if it was my imagination. But I saw him, and it … upset me. I panicked, ok? I had to get out of there.”
“Why did you panic?”
“Isn’t it obvious?”
He shrugs. Ok, clearly not to him.
“Luca almost killed me, Anton. He kidnapped me. You don’t just get over something like that like it’s nothing.”
“I do.”
“Of course, you do,” I mutter.
“I don’t let those things bother me. You can’t let them bother you either, Katya. They’ll eat you alive if you do. So, learn to let Luca go. I’ll keep you safe. You don’t need to worry about him again.”
“How can you be so sure?”
“Well, I’m not, but it’s the best I can do.”
A small laugh escapes me as I lie back on the bed. “So comforting, Anton.”
“Hey, it’s what you can expect from me. I’ve never had to comfort someone before. It’s new territory.”
I look up at my husband—so handsome and strong but also certifiably crazy. “There’s something I didn’t tell you. About Luca.”
“What?”
“He touched me.”
I see Anton’s body shift and tense into a predatory stance. “He touched you.” It’s not a question.
“Yes. My breast. He had his guard hold me down. I thought he was going to rape me. But he didn’t.”
“You’re mine.”
“That’s all you can say to me right now?”
“What else do you want me to say? I’m going to kill that fucker for touching you.”
“I was so scared, Anton,” I whisper. I can’t believe I’m admitting this to him, but I have no one else to talk to about this. Evie, Ava, and Luna can’t know. It would only break their hearts. “I thought I was going to be raped. When I saw Luca today, it all came back to me. I’m still scared.”
His eyes actually soften. I didn’t think he had it in him. Slowly, he sits on the bed next to me. “I don’t like seeing you scared.”
“Well, it’s how I feel.”
“I much prefer it when you’re brave. When you’re not afraid to tell me off.”
“I’m not afraid to do that. I’m just scared of Luca. What if he tries something again?”
“Then I’ll murder him. I’m going to do it sooner or later. I just need to find the bastard.”
“Can you really keep me safe?” I ask, staring into his dark eyes. They say so much, and yet they’re still a mystery to me.
“I don’t have any other choice.” He places his hands on my waist, and it lights a fire in my belly. “You’re mine now, baby. I’ll always save you.”
“Why are your hands on me right now?”
“Are they bothering you?”
I shake my head. “No.”
“Good. Because I thought of the perfect cure to make you forget about Luca.”
“What’s that?”
“This.” He bends down and kisses me. I let it linger a moment before pulling back.
“You really think a kiss will make everything all right?”
“Well, I hoped. But maybe I need to do something more drastic than a kiss. Take your clothes off.”
My heart skips a beat, and a flutter forms between my legs. Anton has a grip on me, and I’m powerless to stop it.
“Only if you take yours off, too.”
His grin tells me he was hoping I’d say that. “With pleasure. But only if I get to take yours off myself.”
“Deal.”
Anton helps me stand up and gives me a look that sends shivers straight to my core. I can’t deny that I want him to touch me. I’m not sure why I’m still holding back from him. I know that if I just give in to Anton, everything in my life will be easier.
I guess this can be the first step.
Anton grips the straps of my dress and slowly pushes it down my body, skimming his fingers along my waist as he goes, sending goosebumps over me in the process. My dress pools around my feet.
His eyes rake over my bra and underwear. “God, baby.”
“Why are you just staring? If you want to touch me, then touch me.”
He lets out a low growl and quickly undoes my bra and tosses it away. His eyes fall to my panties. “I have an idea. A way to make you forget about today.”
“What’s that?” My heart won’t stop pounding.
“Lie down on the bed, and I’ll show you.” When I hesitate, he lifts an eyebrow. “Are you too scared?”
“With you? No.”
“Then, lie down, baby.”
Slowly, I do as he says. Once I’m on my back, Anton grips my panties and rips them off me. His hands grab my thighs, and he pushes my legs open.
He’s already seen me here. Hell, he shaved me down here. I’m not shy about this like I once was. Watching Anton’s desire in his eyes as he takes me in makes me feel powerful.
“What are you going to do?” I ask. I can barely hear myself above the pounding of my heart.
“This.” He kneels before me and places his finger right to my sensitive nub. My hips jerk up, and a small gasp escapes me. “You’re a little wet, but I think I can turn you on even more.” He rolls my clit around, pressing and pulling back.
The sensation makes my hips react on instinct. It feels good. I’m not ashamed to say it.
Anton smirks up at me from between my legs, and I blush at the sight. “Getting wetter.” He slides his finger up my slit, making me gasp, and shows me my wetness. “But I want more.”
My thighs are trembling to remain open. Everything in me wants to close them around his hand and keep it there.
“More?” I ask. “What more is there?”
“This.” He removes his hand from between my legs and replaces it with his mouth. The second his tongue touches my clit, I know I’m done for.
“Oh!” I cry out, bucking my hips up. Anton places his arm over my hips to keep me in place. It’s not fair. He has all the power here. I want some for myself.
He runs his tongue over my nub, back and forth, and up and down. He goes fast one second and slow the next. The pace drives me crazy. It barely dawns on me that his mouth is between my legs, that this is really happening.
A low growl escapes him, and the sound rumbles through my own body.
My breath comes out in pants as my cheeks flush more. Never have I felt this kind of pleasure. Sure, I’ve touched myself before. Explored what I liked and didn’t like, but my own touch is nothing compared to Anton’s. With Anton, it’s like I’m waking up for the first time in my life.
He holds my thighs with both of his hands. The sight of his strong hands on my bare legs causes an intense hit of arousal through me. This is his first step in claiming me, and I’m letting it happen.
I’m tired of trying to fight how I feel. I just want to feel .
Anton runs his tongue down to my opening and dips it slightly inside me. I gasp and pant even harder. My head moves back and forth frantically since I can’t move my hips like I desperately want to.
He looks up at me, and his eyes are smiling. I can only look away.
“Keep your eyes on me,” he orders before placing his tongue back onto my nub.
I force myself to look at him.
He circles my clit with his tongue faster and faster. I think I’m losing my mind. It’s too much, too much, too?—
I gasp as my release hits me.
Right at that moment, Anton takes his finger and slides it into me. I clench down hard on his finger as I come.
My entire body trembles and shakes from my release. It’s nothing like the orgasms I experienced on my own. This one is much more powerful.
The moment Anton sits back on his heels and looks at me, I know I’m done for. I’ve given him a taste, and he’ll want more. What will happen when I fully give myself to him? Will we have a happy marriage? Or will he still play games with me for the fun of it?
But I’m not out of power yet. “You didn’t take your clothes off.”
“You’re right.” He stands up and gets naked. The sight of his erection makes my core clench. He’ll put that inside me one day, and I’ll let him.
But not today.
I close my legs and stand. If I’m standing, I won’t feel as vulnerable. “I want to touch you, too.”
“Then touch me.”
I let my fingers skim down his chest. Up and down. Each time I get close to his waist, I pull my hand back up. He doesn’t say a word about it. This must just be another game of his; another test to see how far I’ll go.
“Why did you do that?” I ask.
“Go down on you?”
“Yes.”
“Did it serve its purpose? Did you forget for a moment?”
I realize I haven’t thought about Luca since he touched me. “It did work.”
“Good. Never forget that.”
“How could I?”
His grin is full of danger, and for the first time, it doesn’t scare me.