Chapter 23Ivan
CHAPTER 23
IVAN
T he elevator doors slide open, revealing the opulent interior of my penthouse. Jenny steps out first, her shoulders tense, and her movements hesitant. I follow closely behind, resting my hand lightly on her back. The adrenaline from our narrow escape still courses through my veins, making every sensation more intense.
“Are you all right?” I ask, studying her face. Her skin is pale, and her eyes are wide with lingering fear.
She nods, but her voice trembles slightly. “I’m fine. Just...managing everything that happened.”
I guide her to the living room, where the windows offer a breathtaking view of the Atlanta skyline. Jenny stands before the glass, arms wrapped tightly around herself. I want nothing more than to pull her into my embrace and shield her from the dangers that threaten to tear us apart.
Instead, I move to the bar and pour two drinks. The clear liquid splashes against the crystal, and the sound is unnaturally loud in the quiet room. I return to her side, offering her the glass intended for her. She takes it with a grateful smile, brushing her fingers against mine.
“Drink,” I say softly. “It will help calm your nerves.”
Jenny raises the glass to her lips, taking a small sip, and some of the tension leaves her shoulders. I down my own vodka in one swift motion, welcoming the familiar warmth that spreads through my chest.
“I thought...” Jenny breaks the silence. She turns to face me, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears. “I thought we were going to die back there.”
The vulnerability in her voice makes my heart clench. I set aside my empty glass and step closer, cupping her face in my hands. Her skin is soft beneath my calloused palms, and I’m struck once again by how delicate she is. How precious. “I would never let that happen. Do you understand? I will always protect you, Jenny. Always.”
A single tear escapes, trailing down her cheek. I brush it away with my thumb, marveling at how such a small gesture can feel so intimate. She leans into my touch, closing her eyelids briefly. “Why?” she whispers. “Why do you care so much?”
The question hangs in the air between us, heavy with unspoken truths and long-buried emotions. This moment could change everything. “Because I love you. Not just desire or obsession. I love you, Jenny. Completely and irrevocably.”
Her eyes fly open, and she looks shocked. “Ivan...”
I press on, needing her to understand. “Everything I’ve done, every measure I’ve taken to keep you safe... It’s all been because I love you. I know I’ve made mistakes. I’ve frightened you at times, but please believe me when I say you are the most important thing in my world.”
I watch her face intently while she processes my declaration of love. Her eyes widen, and for a moment, I fear I’ve said too much.
Then her expression softens, and she takes a shaky breath. Her voice is thick with emotion. “I love you too.” My heart soars at her words, but she’s not finished. She places a trembling hand on her stomach, never looking away from me. “And...I’m pregnant. With your child.”
The world stops spinning for a moment. I stare at her, processing this revelation. A child. My child. Our child. A rush of emotions floods through me—joy, fear, excitement, and protectiveness. I pull her closer, cradling her face in my hands. “A baby.” I grin. “Our baby.”
She nods. “I want to be with you, Ivan. I want us to be a family.”
I press my forehead against hers, overwhelmed by the depth of my love for this woman. “Nothing would make me happier, moya lyubov .” A thought occurs to me, and I chuckle.
Jenny looks at me quizzically. “What’s so funny?”
I gesture to the glass in her hand. “The drink I gave you is tonic water with a splash of lime juice. I had a suspicion you might be pregnant, so I didn’t want to risk giving you alcohol.”
Jenny’s eyes widen in surprise. “You knew?”
I shrug, a sheepish smile on my face. “I suspected. You haven’t had a period since you moved in, and we certainly haven’t been all that careful. I didn’t want to say anything until you were ready.”
She shakes her head, laughing softly. “That’s pretty perceptive and surprisingly sensitive from you,” she says with a wink to ease the sting.
I pull her close again, reveling in the warmth of her body against mine. The violence and danger of our world fades away for a second. All that matters is Jenny, our unborn child, and the future we’ll build together.
Our lips meet in a fervent kiss, and I pour all my love and hope into the connection. I stroke her body, memorizing every curve and every dip. Jenny responds with equal passion, tangling her fingers in my hair. I groan, deepening the kiss.
Her scent surrounds me, intoxicating me. I could drown in it and die happy. She smells like home, like safety and comfort, but she also smells like desire, and it drives me wild.
I break the kiss, trailing my lips down her neck. Her pulse flutters beneath my tongue, and I can’t resist biting down gently. She gasps, arching against me while I suck on her delicate skin. She tastes sweet and addictive, and I want more.
She clutches my hair, holding me against her until I gently ease away. “I want to see you, touch you, and taste you.” I want everything with her, and tonight is the start of that. A new benchmark in our lives.
She shivers, eyes darkening with desire. “Then take me.”
I growl, capturing her mouth in another searing kiss while I reach behind her to undo the zip on her lovely velvet Christmas dress. “I’m sorry you didn’t get to go to the party you worked so hard to set up,” I say, pulling back before nibbling on her neck as the red velvet pools at her waist. The white fur trim brushes my hand, and I use it to tease an exposed nipple, since she wasn’t wearing a bra with it.
“It’s okay,” she says, squirming under my touch. “I’d rather spend this time with you now that our enemies are dead.”
“You’re so brave,” I murmur, cupping her breast and squeezing gently. “So beautiful.”
She moans, pressing herself against me. “Please, Ivan, I need you.”
I grin, sliding the dress down her hips and tossing it aside. She’s left in only a pair of red lace panties and matching garter with nude stockings. I run my hands over her smooth skin, admiring her curves. “You’re perfect, dorogaya .”
She blushes, looking away shyly. “Ivan...”
I cup her chin, forcing her to meet my gaze. “I mean it. You’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.”
Jenny smiles, reaching up to caress my cheek. “And you’re the most handsome man I’ve ever met.”
We share another kiss, this one slower and sweeter while I ease her back onto the sofa. There’s no chance we’re making it to the bedroom right now when we’re both in this state—high on adrenaline and desire.
I strip off my jacket and shirt, tossing them aside. Jenny watches me hungrily, licking her lips. “Your body is amazing. I could look at you all day and never get tired of it.” She frowns at the bandage around my ribs though.
I chuckle, flexing my muscles for her. “Like what you see, dorogaya ?”
“Very much, though I don’t like that you’re injured. Are you sure you’re up for this?”
I thrust my pelvis suggestively. “Very sure and very up.”
She shakes her head but laughs. “You’re still wearing too many clothes though.” She licks her lips again when I kick off my dress shoes. “Keep going.”
I oblige, removing my socks and pants. My cock strains against my boxer briefs, and she reaches out to touch it through the fabric. I groan, thrusting into her hand. “That feels so good.”
She smirks, stroking me teasingly. “I bet it would feel even better if these were gone.”
I growl, tearing off my underwear. My cock springs free, standing proudly erect. She stares at it, transfixed, and reaches for me again, but I push her back onto the cushion. “I want to taste you first.”
She whimpers as I spread her legs, exposing her glistening pussy. I inhale deeply, savoring her scent. Then I dive in, licking and sucking her clit. Jenny cries out, bucking against me while I grip her hips, holding her in place so I can devour her.
The taste of her arousal is intoxicating, and I can’t get enough. I could eat her out forever, but she needs more. Sounds of pleasure spill from her lips as I work her toward climax. When she comes, screaming my name, I lap up every drop of her juices.
I stand up, wiping my mouth. Jenny looks utterly debauched, sprawled across the sofa with her legs spread wide. Her cheeks are flushed, and her eyes are glazed with pleasure. It’s the hottest thing I’ve ever seen.
“Ivan...”
I stare at her still-pulsing pussy, watching her juices dribble out. I’m tempted to lick them away, but my throbbing cock insists I should be inside her—and no need for protection this time, since she’s pregnant. That makes me pause for a moment to touch her belly. “How are you feeling, kotik ?”
“Good,” she says, smiling dreamily. “Really good.”
I return her smile, leaning down to kiss her softly. “I’m about to make you feel even better.”
With that, I line myself up with her entrance and push inside. We both moan as I sink into her wet heat. She’s so tight and perfect, and I swear I’ll never get enough of her or her amazing pussy. “You feel incredible,” I say, starting to move slowly.
“So do you.” She wraps her arms around me, pulling me closer. “Don’t stop.”
I pick up the pace, thrusting deeper and harder. Our bodies move together in perfect rhythm, like we were made for each other. The room fills with the sounds of our lovemaking—moans and groans and the slick glide of skin on skin.
It’s intense and intimate, and I lose myself in the pleasure. Jenny arches beneath me, meeting my every thrust. I can feel her getting close, and I won’t last much longer either. “Come for me, dorogaya ,” I urge, driving into her relentlessly. “Let go.”
She does, crying out as her orgasm crashes over her. My cock pulses when her inner walls clench around me, and I spill my seed deeply inside her. It’s pure ecstasy, and I collapse on top of her, spent.
We lie there for a long moment, catching our breath. Finally, I roll off her, pulling her into my arms, pressing a kiss to her forehead. She snuggles closer, resting her head on my chest.
I run my fingers through her hair. “I want you to know something.”
She tilts her head to look at me. “What is it?”
I prepare myself for what I’m about to say. “I’m going to build a future for us without the Bratva . A safe future for you and our child.”
Jenny’s eyes widen. “Ivan, are you sure? I know how dangerous that could be...”
I nod, my resolve firm. “I’m sure. You and our baby deserve a life free from violence and fear. I won’t ask you to marry me until I’m completely free from that world, but I promise you, I will do whatever it takes to make that happen.”
Tears well in her eyes, and she presses a soft kiss to my lips. “I love you, Ivan.”
I pull her closer, marveling at the twist of fate that brought this incredible woman into my life. Lying here, basking in the afterglow of our lovemaking and the promise of our future, I silently vow to do whatever it takes to keep my family safe and happy.