Chapter 13 – Emika #2
The entire mansion was in disarray. Guards were running around and mounting their positions. Maids stood helplessly at different sections of the house, fear and concern etched on their faces. Perhaps they thought I was hurt or something.
He pushed my door open and rushed inside, then quietly sat me down on my feet. “Can you stand?”
It was only after I nodded that he finally let go. Yet his eyes never left me. Even when I sat on the sofa, trying to process the whole thing, he towered over me as if consumed by guilt.
It was obvious that he wanted to comfort me, but he lacked the knowledge to do so. Adrik had no idea what to say or do, but I could still sense his anxiety.
“If you want, I can instruct the maids to help get you cleaned up,” he said, his voice softer than I’d ever heard.
“That won’t be necessary.” I glanced up at him. “I can manage.”
“They won’t mind.”
“I know. But I’ll clean myself up, thank you.”
He nodded, staring at me like he didn’t know what else to do. “I’ll…I’ll let you freshen up then.”
Silence.
He let out a quiet exhale and then left the room without another word. After the door closed behind him, I rose to my feet and turned to the woman looking back at me in the mirror.
She was sweaty and shaky with faint smudges of blood on her face. She had bags under her eyes from how long she cried. Her tears had ruined her light makeup, creating dark trails along her cheeks.
This woman had looked death in the eyes and survived. She watched her bodyguards drop dead while protecting her. She witnessed more death and chaos in one afternoon than she had in her whole life.
I couldn’t believe that woman was me.
With quaking knees, I walked over to the mirror for a closer look. And there, I could barely recognize my own reflection. Even now, within the safety of this fortress, I could still hear their screams and the gunshots that claimed their lives.
Their voices echoed in the back of my mind, a reminder that it should’ve been me. Not them. When I closed my eyes, all I saw was blood—their lifeless bodies sprawled across the ground.
How was I going to live with myself knowing that those men were people’s husbands, sons, and fathers? And they all died protecting me. Why? Why was my life more significant than theirs? Because I was privileged to marry their boss?
It didn’t seem fair to me, and I was going to carry this guilt for the rest of my life.
I wiped my tears with the back of my hand, then took my clothes off. I stared at my nakedness in the mirror for a moment, recalling the way Adrik had arrived in the nick of time to save me. If he’d been a second late, I wouldn’t be standing here right now.
The man was the reason I was still alive.
I walked into the bathroom, and under the cold shower, I washed the blood and sweat from my skin. For the next twenty minutes, I was in there, scrubbing and washing like it would somehow wash away my guilt.
Later, after I was done bathing and had changed into a clean white robe, I went to the balcony for some fresh air. I’d poured myself a glass of red wine and was sipping it while gazing across the horizon.
There was a knock on my door.
At first, I wanted to ignore it, but on second thought, I decided not to. I drained what was left of the wine down my throat, then returned to the room and set the glass down on the nearest table.
My feet padded softly against the floor as I strolled to answer the door. When I opened it, I was shocked to find Adrik standing outside. Not because I hadn’t been expecting him, but because he never knocked on my door. Never. He always just walked right in.
Not this time, obviously.
“Can I come in?” he asked politely.
I pursed my lips, then stepped away from the entrance.
He walked inside, the scent of his cologne filling the air. This evening, he was wearing a pair of loose black pants and a white singlet that hugged his rigid frame.
His hair was combed, and his skin glistened under the warm glow of the chandelier. He wasn’t the soldier in the street who saved my life. Mean and serious-faced. He was a clean, attractive man who smelled like something edible.
Something I’d love to devour.
“How are you holding up?” he asked, looking at me.
I sniffled and wiped my damp hair backwards. “I’m, uh…I’m fine, I guess.”
“Yeah?” he murmured under his breath.
“How’s Sergei?” I asked, concerned about the man’s condition. “Will he survive?”
“I wouldn’t worry about him if I were you,” he answered, his voice sweet and tender. “That man has been shot fifteen times in the last two years. Trust me, those two bullets are nothing compared to what he’s survived.”
A small smile tugged at the corners of my lips. “That’s a relief.”
Silence.
Adrik’s eyes were latched onto me in a way that set fire to my heart.
I cleared my throat, breaking eye contact. “What about the others? How many casualties?”
“That’s not your problem to worry about, Emi.”
“I just wanna know.” I shrugged my shoulders, fighting back the tears gathering behind my eyes. “Maybe it’ll….”
He stepped forward. “Help you sleep better?”
I blinked, struggling so hard not to break down again. “I…I can—I can still hear their screams, Adrik.” My voice cracked under the weight of the guilt jolting through my body. “I just wanna know how many of them survived.”
“Shhh.” He grabbed my hand and pulled me to himself. “You have to let it go.”
“But how?” Tears began flowing. “They’re dead, and it’s my fault.”
“Hey, listen to me.” He raised my chin, his gaze locked to mine. “This has nothing to do with you, okay? I need you to stop feeling guilty.”
I shook my head. “I can’t.”
“Yes, you can,” he blurted out. “Those were my men; they were out there under my instructions. Let me carry the burden as I’ve always done.” His thumb wiped my tears.
Silence.
He continued, “What happened was tragic. But what would’ve been more tragic would’ve been losing you in that incident.”
The sound of his voice and the sweetness of his tone fanned the flames ignited within me. It was clear now that I meant something to him, and that realization thawed something frozen inside me.
He slipped his hand to the back of my neck. “You’re alive, Emi. And that’s all that matters to me right now.”
My lips curled into a faint grin before my expression darkened slightly. “Can you do me a favor?”
His silence was my cue.
I continued, “Find who sent those men and send them to their maker.” My tone was laced with anger and venom.
He looked at me with a wicked grin, as if gladdened by my words. “They’re as good as dead.”
I let out a soft sigh and embraced him tightly. The intoxicating scent of his cologne awakened my desires with each passing second. He wrapped his arms around my waist, his hands caressing the soft fabric of my robe.
Discreetly, I pushed my groin against his, and my heart skipped a beat when I felt his erection. His cock was hard within his pants, tempting me to reach down and touch it.
The air was charged with something electric, and the longer I remained in his hold, the more I craved him.
Although neither of us said a word, the tension around us did the talking. I raised my head and met his gaze. The hunger in his eyes was clear as crystal—he wanted me as much as I wanted him.
We stared at each other for a moment, my heart pounding like a drum in my chest. I knew what was coming next. I knew there was no denying it this time. We were hooked by the flames of lust and desire.
In a heartbeat, our faces collided in the heat of passion. The kiss was fierce and fervent, leaving us breathless. I threw my arms around his neck, my tongue invading his mouth as our heads moved in sync.
He devoured my lips as though he’d been waiting forever to taste them. His hand grabbed my ass, delicately massaging my butt cheeks.
I broke the kiss and took a step back, my chest heaving with anticipation. He watched me in silence, wondering why I withdrew from him. However, before he could speak, my fingers had already begun loosening the knot around my robe.
Once done, I slowly shed it, allowing the soft fabric to drop to my feet. His brows raised, his eyes roaming over my naked body.
“Beautiful,” he whispered, almost to himself.
I watched him step forward while drinking in the sight in front of him. He placed his hands on my hips before tracing the gentle curve of my body. His touch drew moans from my mouth, making me tremble in fear and anxiety.
He reclaimed my lips while fondling my breasts and pinching my nipples. I dared to feel the length of his erection over the fabric of his pants.
It was big.
Fuck.
He whisked me into the air and carried me over to the bed, where he set me down on my back. He kissed my lips again, then the nape of my neck.
I moaned quietly, my heart swelling with desire.
He took my small breasts in his mouth, one at a time. The chill of his tongue sent shivers down my spine as he sucked them so deliciously.
His hands caressed the rest of my body, each delicate touch helping my muscles relax. The more he explored my curves and contours, the more I felt my anxiety dissipating into thin air.
He left my chest region and began sliding down. Lower and lower. He kissed my belly button and then glanced up at me before sliding his tongue along my wet entrance.
“Oh my God,” I moaned, biting my lower lip.
“Allow me to help you relax,” he whispered.
My breath ceased as he went down on me, licking and sucking. My fingers clutched around the sheets in an attempt to anchor myself to reality. I let out a soft purr, my toes curling in ecstasy.
I’d never felt more alive, never felt this kind of sensation coursing through me before.
He was excellent with his tongue and listened to how my body was responding to him. Adrik maintained the same rhythm on my swollen clit. He twirled his tongue in circles, performing crazy techniques that left me gasping for air.
“Adrik, oh, Adrik!” I moaned, my back arching in response to the magic of his tongue.