Chapter 25 - Ivan
The news of Rurik Kuzman somehow making contact with my wife despite supposedly being in lockup set off every alarm in me, and it led to the discovery that he had, in fact fled.
Somehow, some way, he managed to plant a rat in our ranks. They were able to break him out and slip beneath the radar, and I was furious that we had only just learned of it.
That meant he really had been steering the ship again, and we had no idea.
But since then, I bolstered Daria's security detail along with our main gigs in the hopes of deterring any Kuzmin-led ambushes, and we had eyes monitoring the situation as closely as possible.
Despite the concerning developments, though, I couldn't shake how Daria and I were making strides. She became a new constant for me through the chaos of everything else, and I found myself growing more grateful for that fact every day.
Once she came out and told me about Rurik's texts, it was like a new stage of trust had been reached, and we were able to let our connection continue as it should naturally.
Since we spoke and laid everything out, from our feelings, to what happened with Olivia, and the fact that she was pregnant, everything at home just felt better. Lighter.
Despite myself, I was delighted by the fact that she was growing new life inside her. That she was having our baby.
I never imagined myself having a wife or starting a family, but in the passing weeks, I knew I wanted nothing else more.
The slight tension between us was palpable while I guided Daria into the restaurant with a hand against her lower back, hoping the contact might soothe at least one of us.
While things between the two of us were better than they ever had been, I couldn’t say the same about her and my family.
If I didn’t care about their opinions as much as I had, then it wouldn’t have meant anything to me, and I would’ve carried on as I pleased. But it did matter. My brothers and sister were the pillars of my life for better or worse, and I didn’t want any problems between us.
Beyond that, I didn’t want Daria to feel like an outcast. Not while she was my wife.
The others were already waiting by the time we arrived, sitting at the private table with their drinks in hand and a few appetizers on the table. It didn’t take long for them to notice us approaching, and their eyes were soon on Daria and me.
She tensed slightly beneath my palm, surely bracing herself for the meal ahead of us. But with a light caress of my thumb against her clothed back, I did my best to silently ease her worries.
While I knew I needed to be something of a guiding light for her even I couldn’t deny the uncertainty that swirled in my chest. Even so, I wouldn’t let her know that.
Since there was nothing to hide anymore, I didn’t feel the need to hold her back from those family outings. She was with me, which meant everyone would have to work something out eventually, regardless of their personal feelings on the matter.
Aleks was the first to fully acknowledge us with a nod of his head. “Nice of you to show up.”
Silently telling myself to keep my cool and that they were still my siblings at the end of the day, I guided Daria to her seat and carefully pushed her in before finding my own beside her. “We had a scan late this afternoon that put us back.”
While everyone seemed somewhat cagey about Daria being at the table with us, the slight nudge towards her pregnancy seemed to cool off some of that tension.
Mila smiled as she sipped her wine. “That’s right…congratulations, by the way. Both of you. It’s hard to believe another one of my brothers figured out how to procreate.”
As a whole, we scoffed while she chuckled to herself, looking far too pleased.
Lev shook his head with a hint of disapproval. “Really? We just started our meal, you know.”
“It’s never too early or too late to get a few jabs in, especially when Mila’s around,” Nik added, amused by her antics.
“Don’t encourage her,” Aleks said, although his warning lacked any real bite.
She shrugged, not caring too much either way. “I have to stay sharp around you guys somehow.”
It was true that Mila often had her work cut out for her when it came to dealing with us, but at the very least, she was used to it.
As the ice at our table seemed to melt for the most part, aside from Olivia, who was silent and didn’t even look in Daria’s direction, the mood lightened, much to my relief. Our food eventually arrived, and it felt like a regular dinner before long.
I could tell that Daria was still on edge and likely felt out of place surrounded by my family, but I caught her pulling the occasional smile, and the others did their best to address her, asking the odd question to include her. Mila, in particular made sure she was heard throughout the meal, who seemed to take a liking to her.
It all felt a bit strange, especially knowing she was tied to me, and my siblings were all aware of it at last. Yet, I’d be the first to admit it felt good to not have anything left to hide. And to know that with time, it was bound to get easier.
Hopefully with time, even Olivia’s frigidity could warm up again.
By the end of it, Daria looked more relaxed while we said our goodbyes and returned to the SUV waiting for us. I caught her discreet exhale as we sat together in the back while the driver began for the house.
“That went better than expected,” I murmured, glancing to find her less tense expression.
Her lips pulled slightly with her nod. “It did…I can’t say I made any progress with Olivia, but everyone else was nice.”
“I’m glad you didn’t have an awful time,” I mused with the faintest tease to my voice while my hand found her half-covered thigh. My thumb ghosted gently across her smooth skin. “You seemed to handle everything well.”
Daria relaxed into my touch, seemingly soaking in the light affection. “I’m glad it looked that way, at least…I was freaking out on the inside a bit.”
Amused by her vulnerable claim, I grinned to myself and gave her thigh a gentle squeeze before using my free one to slowly run the back of my finger down her cheek. My eyes roved over her features, taking in how effortlessly beautiful she looked. “You looked as calm and cool as ever…and immaculate too.”
Her dark eyes softened at my words, and she gently leaned into me as if seeking out whatever comfort I could provide her. “It's the pregnancy hormones…”
Humming, I smiled at her and cupped her cheek. “They may play a part, but the base of that beauty comes from you alone. Either way, I couldn’t take my eyes off you…I still can’t.”
I wasn’t used to being so mushy and meaning it, but with her, it felt so easy. It was so simple, and I was addicted to everything that had to do with her.
With her gaze lingering on me, visibly affected by my proximity and touch, there was no hiding the faint shiver that coursed through her. “You’re shameless sometimes…”
Chuckling, I stroked her cheek and pulled her closer to speak against her lips, “For you, always.”
At the quiet hitch of her breath, I closed that small space between us and melded my mouth with hers. Eyes closing, I drank in how perfectly soft her lips always felt beneath mine and how easily she surrendered to it.
While my hand gently squeezed her thigh, her hand wandered to my neck, sending a ripple of sensations through me and down to my core.
That was all it took for my cock to stir in my pants, straining against the material while I angled my head to deepen the kiss further.
Her easy compliance and quiet hums spurred me on, fuelling more of my raw desire.
I knew I should’ve waited for us to get home, but having her against me, lip-locked and drowning everything else out, I didn’t care.
Not breaking the kiss, I blindly reached for the button in front of me and pressed it to bring the partition up.
The moment we were sealed together in the back, I groaned against her lips and unbuckled her. I pulled her closer until she was partially in my lap with my hand between her legs, nudging them apart. My fingers slowly glided beneath the hem of her dress until they reached the front of her panties.
Daria’s breath caught again in her throat, and I swallowed up the consequent moan while I slowly rubbed against her through the material.
She warmed up beneath me, faltering in the kiss and panting breathlessly while I teased her.
I grinned against her mouth and nipped at her bottom lip. It didn’t take long for me to feel the damp spot forming beneath my touch.
“Your body is always so honest with me,” I murmured against her before nudging her panties to the side and lightly running a finger through her heat. I hummed at the wetness I found there, waiting for me. “I love it…”
Daria tipped her head back with a soft moan, eyes closed in a way that seemed to say it all. Her body sank into mine, granting me the ability to do as I wished.
“That’s it…open up for me,” I hummed, pressing my lips against the column of her neck while I rolled my thumb against her clit and lightly probed at her slick entrance.
The combination of stimulation had her biting back those moans yet not saying anything to stop me. She surrendered to me completely while her pulse raised beneath my mouth.
A quiet gasp escaped her at the gentle push of my finger inside her welcoming heat, and she pressed her face against my shoulder while I slowly entered another before gently pumping them between her velvety walls.
Despite her being the one getting pleasured, I watched with an almost ravenous eye, gaining just as much satisfaction from watching her try to not fall apart immediately.
I hummed, keeping up that slow, deliberate pace while brushing against her sensitive nub every once in a while. “What a naughty little thing you are…letting me finger you on the way home…”
Daria moaned against my shoulder, maintaining that enticing blush on her cheeks. “Please…faster.”
Grinning, I wasn’t prepared to deny her. Not when she looked so pretty wrapped around my fingers.
“If that’s what you want…” I whispered in her ear, allowing my fingers to pick up the pace.
It didn’t take long for her to be writhing against me, hips twitching while she clutched my arm for support. Those panted, breathy moans left her with ease, and they only served to drive me crazier.
With a faint sound of appeasement in the back of my throat, I kissed her hard and continued stroking her soft walls until they fluttered against me, and her whole body tensed through the rush of her orgasm.
After squeezing against my fingers, Daria groaned into my mouth before relaxing again, boneless, while she broke the kiss to catch her breath.
Taking in her warm cheeks and wanton expression, I gently eased my fingers out of her and pressed a kiss against her temple before murmuring, “I hope you’re prepared for a long night, my dear…”