36. Aleksandr
CHAPTER 36
Aleksandr
I watch from the edge of the room as Anya showcases her recent submissive on stage. The woman’s wrists are cuffed in leather, a bar between them. Anya clips the restraints to the end of the stage, demonstrating how the contraption works, seeming all too pleased with the flogger she’s holding as she brushes it over the submissive’s skin.
Anya detaches the bar and clips it between the cuffs around her ankles, widening the submissive’s legs, and locks the bar in place so the audience can have a better view of the backside of the woman wearing leather lingerie.
The audience is watching intently, and I know it will bring in a good amount of money tonight .
“Mr. Ivanov,” Clay, one of Anya’s bodyguards, grabs my attention. “You have a guest.”
My eyebrows furrow. It better not be Cinita. I left Vance with her in the house because she’s driving me batshit crazy, but Will has assured me he’ll find the last man who hurt her any day now.
I want to hunt him down myself, but I’ve already wasted too much time being consumed by Cinita and making sure I’ll be the one to deliver the final blow to the men who put her in the hospital. I have other things I need to prioritize.
I stop short as I see the person who’s been on my mind is standing outside of Anya’s office door, waiting for me.
“Lena,” I call out, grabbing her attention. She seems nervous.
“I’m not here to dance,” she quickly blurts.
“Good, because I wouldn’t let you dance for any other man,” I reply.
Tension fills the space between us.
I hold my hand up toward the office door. “Let’s have this discussion privately.”
She swallows hard but says nothing as I push into her space and open the door. All I can smell is her fucking floral perfume, and I’m doing everything in my power not to take her here and now.
I close the door behind her, and she seems to idly look around.
“I had a not-audition this week. I’ve been offered a role in a Broadway show,” she says, watching me, hovering close to the wooden desk. It’s taking all my control not to take the two steps over to her.
Anya has chewed me out so many times, telling me I don’t have “tact.” Whatever the fuck that means, and I don’t think she knows either.
“Is the role not to your liking?” I ask. Because I’ll get her whatever she wants. I’ll set the world on fucking fire to make it happen.
She chokes out a laugh. “It’s an incredible offer, Alek. I just… I don’t understand why you did that for me.”
“Because I would do anything for you,” I say sincerely. “Whatever you want, I will make happen for you. You were made to shine bright on the stage as much as I was made to haunt the shadows.”
She sucks in a breath, and I can’t help but reach for her, take those two steps to fill the distance between us, because this woman… This woman has fucking consumed me.
“Alek. We can’t. I won’t be your plaything.”
“Who the fuck told you you’re just my plaything?” I demand, because I have every intention of killing them.
She seems confused. “Alek, I don’t know what you want from me.”
“You. I only want you ,” I say as I brush my gloved hand over her cheekbone, and she sucks in a breath, her breasts rising under the long yellow dress. Just like sunshine.
“You and I are not a good match, Alek.”
“We’re a fucking perfect match,” I correct. “Everything about you was built just for me. I refuse to be in denial about it. Aren’t you tired of lying to yourself, sweetheart?”
Her eyebrows scrunch, and tears spring to her eyes. “The things you do scare me.”
“And that won’t change. I won’t apologize for who I am.”
“I don’t want you to change. I just—”
Too much talking. I lean down, and she sucks in another breath, her tongue darting out along her bottom lip.
“Just us,” I tell her as I slowly trace her neck with my fingers and then wrap my hand around her throat. Her eyes go molten. “I’ll give you everything.”
“Aleksandr…” A tear slips down her cheek, and I fucking hate myself so much that I’ve made her cr y. That I’ve done this to her. I press my lips to hers, and she’s already open for me, melting into me as I pull her to me. Her warmth, her softness. Like fucking sunshine, and the voices don’t even put up a fight.
My sanctuary.
I lift her and wrap her legs around my hips as I devour her. This fucking woman who has somehow become my world. “Stop running away from me.”
“Stop being a dick,” she breathes.
I smile as I kiss her neck and place her on the desk. She grabs my gloves, ripping them off.
“I want you to touch me, Alek.”
Fuck. This woman.
I slip my hand under her dress, noting every touch and how soft she feels under my hands. I can’t stop kissing her, taking all that she’ll give me. Fuck, this is all I’ve been thinking about these past few weeks.
I feather my fingers along the edge of her panties and then push them to the side as I insert one finger. She gasps as I push in a second and watch her. Every hitch of her breath, every arch of her back as she grinds into my hand desperately.
“Ride my hand like the good little girl you are.”
“Fuck, Alek,” she says as she opens her eyes and stares at me. I insert a third finger, and those eyes widen in complete bliss.
“No one else can make you feel like this,” I remind her. “Only me.”
“Yes,” she breathes, riding my hand and the high.
“Come for me, sunshine.”
She grabs my arm for dear life, a quiver beginning to shake her as I smugly smile. “I haven’t even tasted you yet, and you’re already coming undone for me.”
“Shut u—” Her moan cuts off her words, and I kiss her, taking her cry and consuming it as her pussy clenches around my fingers.
I want all of it—day in and day out. I might not change, but I may have a reason to never leave the house if I have her there.
“Of course I’m going to buy more jewelry.” Anya’s voice breaks into the room as she opens the door.
“Oh my god!” Lena yells, pushing me away and wiping her lips. Her dress was covering everything already, but she’s quick to stand, red streaking her cheeks.
“Looks like you two have made up. I’d rather it not be on my desk, though,” she says, crossing her arms over her chest. Her gaze lands on my bare hands, surprised to see them ungloved. She doesn’t know Lena is the only one I’ll touch.
River is trying not to laugh behind her, and I have to shift myself uncomfortably .
“I need to go,” Lena croaks as she beelines for the door. I grab for her, but she’s already gone.
Anya stops me, and I try to push past her. “Before you go after her, you have a guest who has something you want.”
She looks over her shoulder, and a tall, blond-haired, blue-eyed man who does not look happy to see me, waits in the hallway. I remember him because I put a bullet in his shoulder the only time we met. When he was tracking me in Russia.
“Will?” I say.
“Hello, dickhead,” he replies in a proper British accent. “I have what you want if you’re willing to pay the price.”
I’m torn. I want to chase Lena, but once I get rid of Cinita’s last man, I can get rid of her. Truly put her to rest for both me and Lena.
I look him up and down. “Last time, I thought you were taller.”
He gives me an insincere smile. “Last time, I thought you talked less.”