Chapter 30
Chapter Thirty
Elena
Morning sunlight streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows, casting soft shadows on the white sheets. I opened my eyes, and the first thing I saw was Igor's face.
He was still asleep, his handsome features softened by the morning light. I reached out and gently stroked his cheek, my fingers tracing his strong jawline.
His eyes fluttered, then opened, those deep green ones locking onto mine.
"Morning," his voice rasped, still thick with sleep.
"Morning," I said with a smile.
He pulled me into his arms, resting his chin on top of my head. We lay there, just holding each other, savoring the rare quiet moment.
It had been two weeks since that heart-pounding rescue. I still had nightmares—dreams of Stella crying in her cage, Natasha's insane grin, the blood and gunfire. Every time I jolted awake, Igor would hold me, whispering comforts, assuring me it was all over.
"What are you thinking about?" he asked, his voice rumbling above me.
"You," I answered honestly. "Us."
He went quiet for a moment, then sighed.
"Elena," he said, his tone heavy, "I need to apologize again."
I looked up at him.
"Why?"
"For back then," guilt filled his eyes. "For not having the courage to choose you, for letting you suffer so much, for—"
I pressed my finger to his lips.
"Stop," I said softly. "That's all in the past."
"But I—"
"Igor," I looked him straight in the eyes, "do you know what I was thinking when you showed up alone on that ship?"
He shook his head.
"I thought, this man is risking his life for me and Stella. He could have brought his men in, but he went in solo because he didn't want us getting hurt," I said sincerely. "In that moment, I knew you really loved us. You've proved it with your actions—you won't betray us again."
Igor's eyes reddened.
"I thought I'd lose you both," his voice choked. "Seeing you tied up, Stella in that cage... I've never been so scared. I'm not afraid of dying, but losing you..."
"You didn't lose us," I kissed the corner of his mouth. "We're right here. A family, together."
He crushed me in a hug, like he wanted to meld me into him.
"I love you, Elena," he whispered in my ear. "This life, the next—our souls will always be together. I'll love you forever."
"I love you too," I said. "Igor."
We held each other a bit longer, then his hands started wandering restlessly over me.
I pushed him away with a laugh. "Stella's about to wake up."
"Let her sleep a little more," he murmured, kissing my neck. "I want you."
"You just did last night—"
The bedroom door swung open before I could finish.
"Daddy! Mommy!" Stella burst in, wearing her pink pajamas, climbing onto the bed and squeezing between us. "I'm hungry!"
Igor sighed and let me go.
"Alright, little princess," he said, fondly tweaking her nose. "What do you want?"
"Pancakes! Chocolate pancakes!"
"Let's make them together, okay?"
"Okay!"
Watching them head downstairs, my heart warmed. This was the life I wanted—simple, cozy, full of love.
That afternoon, Igor got a call. He talked in the study for a long time, coming out with a grim face.
"What's wrong?" I asked.
He sat on the sofa and pulled me into his lap.
"It's about Salvatore and Natasha," he said. "You want to know?"
I hesitated, then nodded.
"Salvatore's locked in one of our safe houses," Igor said. "Waiting for a joint trial from both families. He broke the Italian family's rules and hurt our family. By mafia tradition, he'll be executed."
I didn't say anything. Salvatore nearly killed me and Stella—he deserved it.
"As for Natasha," Igor paused, "she's been sent back to Russia."
"Back to Russia?" I was surprised. "You let her go?"
"Not exactly," Igor shook his head. "She's gone mad. After we took her off the ship, she started raving. So I had her locked in a psych ward in Moscow. The doctors say her mind's shattered—no fixing it."
I didn't know what to say. Natasha had been so proud, so confident, so beautiful. Now she was a lunatic.
"You pity her?" Igor asked.
"No," I said honestly. "She almost killed me and Stella. I won't forgive her—what about you? How do you feel about her fate?"
Igor was silent for a long time.
"She tried to kill you and Stella, so she got what she deserved. I wanted to just kill her, but madness will make her suffer more. Death's too easy."
His darkness surprised me, but it didn't scare me. I hugged him tighter.
At dinner, the three of us gathered around the table. It was my rule—no matter how busy, we ate together.
Igor sliced his steak while Stella chattered about kindergarten.
"Today, Luca said his dad bought him a huge dollhouse," Stella said. "But I told him my daddy's better! My daddy's a superhero!"
Igor laughed. "Oh yeah? How's Daddy a superhero?"
"Because you saved me and Mommy!" Stella said seriously. "Like Superman in the movies!"
"What about Mommy?" I asked. "What's Mommy?"
"Mommy's a queen!" Stella said without missing a beat. "The prettiest queen!"
"And you?" Igor asked.
"I'm the little princess!" Stella declared proudly. "When I grow up, I'll be pretty like Mommy and brave like Daddy!"
Seeing her innocent smile, Igor and I exchanged a glance and laughed. This was what we protected—this purity, this joy.
"Who's Luca?" Igor asked, as if it had just occurred to him.
"My desk buddy," Stella said. "He always brings me yummy candy."
Igor paused mid-cut, then kept going.
"You ate it?"
"Yeah, it was super sweet!"
Igor set down his knife and fork, looking at me.
"Does the kindergarten let kids eat random food from outside?" His tone was calm, but I caught the edge.
"Igor," I said softly. "It's just candy. Kids share snacks all the time."
"I know," he nodded. "But I think we should check with the teacher about food safety. Stella's allergic to some things."
That was true. Nuts set her off; we were always careful.
"You're right," I said. "I'll mention it tomorrow."
"I'll swing by the kindergarten sometime," Igor said. "Talk to the teacher about Stella. See how she's doing."
"Yay!" Stella cheered. "Daddy, you can meet Luca! He's so smart; the teacher always praises him."
"Uh-huh," Igor said, digging back into his steak.
He looked calm, but I noticed he cut harder.
After dinner, it was Igor's time with Stella. They built blocks in the living room, her bossing him around, him following along. I sketched designs nearby and heard her mention Luca again.
"Daddy, Luca said he has tons of toys and invited me over. Can I go?"
"If you go, Mommy and Daddy will go with you," Igor said. "You can't go to strangers' houses alone."
"But Luca's not a stranger; he's my desk buddy."
"Even so, adults have to be there," Igor said, gentle but firm. "That's the rule, got it?"
"Okay," Stella said. "When can you take me, Daddy?"
"After I've met his parents and made sure it's safe."
I looked up and saw Igor on his phone, fingers flying. I grabbed it and saw he'd messaged someone to check Luca's family.
"Igor!"
"What?" He looked innocent. "I just want to know the kid's background. It's sensible, right? Elena, after the kidnapping, I have to make sure everyone around her is safe."
I studied him; his eyes were serious. He had a point. As parents, especially after that, caution made sense.
"Fine," I gave in, handing back the phone. "But just the background. Don't go overboard."
"I'm just protecting our girl," he said, taking it.
He sent a few more messages and set it down.
"Feel better?" I asked.
"As a dad, I'll never fully relax," he admitted, pulling me close. "But I can do what I need to. Elena, I know you think I'm overreacting, but—"
He paused, glancing at Stella playing with her blocks.
"I almost lost her. I never want to feel that again," his voice dropped. "So even if it's a five-year-old boy, I want to know who he is, what his family's like. It's not distrust; it's prevention."
I got it. The kidnapping had scarred us all. Igor knew this world's dangers better than anyone; he just wanted to shield us his way.
"I understand," I said. "But don't stress too much. She needs a normal childhood, friends."
"I know," he kissed my forehead. "I'll keep it in check."
Before bed, I lay there while Igor reviewed Luca's family file.
"Well?" I asked.
"The kid's family's normal," he said, setting it aside. "Parents have regular jobs, nothing shady."
"So you're good?"
"For now," he said, sliding under the covers and pulling me in.
I laughed, nestling against his chest.
"You're still going to the kindergarten?"
"Yeah," he said. "But just a regular parent visit. Nothing weird."
"Good."
In the dark, he murmured, "She's growing up too fast."
"What?"
"Stella," he said. "Already getting candy from little boys. In a few years, it'll be flowers, love notes..."
His voice held a hint of helplessness, a touch of sadness.
I took his hand.
"That's later," I said. "Right now, she's still our little princess."
"Yeah," he said. "Our little princess."
He hugged me tighter. I knew for Igor, protecting us wasn't just duty—it was his purpose. And all I had to do was show him we were here, safe.
I kissed him, brushing his eyes, nose, mouth. He savored it, then captured my lips in a deep, heated kiss.
When we broke apart, desire burned in his expression.
Igor's hands gripped my waist, lifting me effortlessly until I straddled his chest. His eyes darkened with hunger as he slid down the bed, positioning me right over his face. "I need to taste you, Elena," he growled, voice rough with need. "Right now."
Before I could respond, he yanked me higher, diving under my sleep skirt. The fabric tented over his head, and I felt his hot breath through my panties. "Fuck, you smell so good," he murmured, nuzzling against the thin barrier.
His tongue flicked out, pressing flat against the cotton, licking slowly and deliberately. I gasped, gripping the headboard as he traced my folds through the fabric, teasing my clit with firm strokes. "Igor... oh God," I whispered, hips rocking instinctively.
He didn't rush. He lapped at me steadily, soaking the panties until they clung wetly to my skin. The friction built, maddening and intense. "You're dripping already, baby," he said, voice muffled but smug. "Gonna make you come so hard."
Finally, he hooked his fingers into the waistband and tugged them down my thighs, exposing me completely.
Cool air hit my heated core, but then his mouth was there—hot, insistent.
His tongue delved in, swirling around my entrance before sucking on my clit.
I moaned loudly, thighs trembling as he devoured me like a man starved.
He gripped my ass, pulling me down harder onto his face, fucking me with his tongue. The wet sounds filled the room, obscene and intoxicating. Pleasure coiled tight in my belly, building fast. "That's it, ride my face," he urged, lips vibrating against me. "Come for me, Elena. Let me drink you up."
I shattered, crying out as the orgasm ripped through me, waves of ecstasy pulsing from my core. He didn't stop, licking me through it until I collapsed forward, panting.
Gently, he eased me off him, peeling away my sleep skirt to reveal my naked body. His eyes raked over me, appreciative and possessive. "So fucking beautiful," he said, shedding his own sleep clothes in seconds. His cock sprang free, hard and throbbing, already leaking for me.
"Give me another child, Elena," he said, voice thick with emotion. "Stella needs a sibling. A little brother or sister to grow up with."
I smiled, tracing his chest. "Pregnancy's tough, but... it's our baby. That makes me happy. So damn happy."
He grinned, dark and wicked. "Good girl." He flipped me onto my hands and knees, grabbing a pillow and sliding it under my belly for support. "This position's perfect for getting you pregnant," he said, positioning himself behind me. His cock nudged my entrance, slick from my arousal.
"Does it really help?" I teased, glancing back at him. "Scientifically?"
He chuckled, thrusting in deep with one smooth stroke. I gasped at the fullness. "Who knows? But we'll find out. Fuck, you feel amazing wrapped around me."
He started moving, slow at first, then building rhythm.
His hands gripped my hips, pulling me back onto him with each thrust. "Take it all, baby.
Milk my cock." The angle hit just right, sparking pleasure with every drive.
He sped up, pounding into me, the slap of skin echoing. "Gonna fill you up, put a baby in you."
I moaned, pushing back to meet him. Tension built again, and when he groaned, hot spurts flooded me deep inside. "Yes, that's it," he panted. "Take every drop."
He didn't pull out, just eased us onto our sides for a moment, kissing my neck. But he wasn't done. "One more time," he whispered. "Switch positions."
He arranged another pillow under my hips, rolling me onto my back. "Hold your legs to your chest," he instructed. I did, folding them up, exposing myself completely. My pussy splayed open, glistening and ready. Heat flushed my cheeks—it felt so vulnerable, so raw.
"Shh, you're perfect," he soothed, stroking my thighs. "Look at you, all mine." He slid back in, filling me inch by inch. "God, Elena, you're so tight. So wet for me."
He leaned down, capturing my mouth in a searing kiss while his hands kneaded my breasts, thumbs circling my nipples. "These tits are gonna be even fuller when you're pregnant," he murmured against my lips. "Can't wait to see you swollen with my child."
His thrusts picked up, deep and steady. One hand trailed down, fingers finding where we joined. "Look at that greedy little pussy," he said, voice husky. "Sucking me in, not letting go. You're devouring my cock, baby. So fucking hot."
I whimpered, the words stoking the fire. Then his thumb pressed my clit, rubbing in tight circles while he fucked me harder. Double the sensation—his thick length stretching me, his touch sparking electricity. "Come on, clench around me," he urged. "Show me how much you love it."
Pleasure exploded, my body arching as I came again, walls pulsing around him.
But he kept going, ramping up the pace. Fast, brutal thrusts that had me teetering on the edge once more. "I'm close," I gasped. "Igor, I can't hold back."
"Together," he growled, slamming into me. "Come with me, Elena. Now."
We shattered simultaneously, his release pouring into me as I convulsed. He stayed buried deep, rolling us so he could wrap me in his arms, still connected.
The afterglow faded slowly, leaving just our ragged breaths in the room.
"I love you," Igor said, holding me close, kissing my sweaty forehead.
"I know," I said, resting against his chest, listening to his strong heartbeat. "I love you too."
Outside, stars dotted the night sky. I soaked in the peace and happiness of the moment.