17. Sisi
17
SISI
" W hy do people need so many profiles?" I ask, watching Vlad help me set up my social media accounts.
He looks up, shrugging.
"I don't use any," he replies, clicking some things on the computer until the profile is done.
"Why?" I tilt my head to study him. I'd read up on social media profiles, and I'd made a list of the ones I wanted him to help me set up. I'd looked into the matter extensively, because according to some people, if you don't have a social media presence then you don't exist.
"I'm not exactly an exemplary citizen," he smirks. "I don't need that type of exposure. Especially since nowadays you can track everything."
"What do you mean?"
"See this?" He shows me a picture I'd awkwardly taken to add to my profile. I nod. "Every picture has metadata that shows when and where it was taken." A few more clicks and he pulls up a new window.
"That's Marcello's address," I say, my mouth hanging open in shock.
"Yes, it is. It only takes someone who is a little skilled with computers to get this. Every picture you post has the potential to give vital information to enemies. There are other tricks too, since everything you do online leaves a signature," he continues to explain, and I'm listening attentively. He seems to know a lot about it and as he's talking, his features show the barest hint of excitement.
"But I don't have enemies."
"You don't. But your brother does. And I do." He looks at me intently for a second before turning his gaze back to the computer. "Luckily for you, I'm going to set up everything neatly and install some safety mechanisms as well," he says, already getting to it.
I watch him work his magic, and I mentally go over my rehearsed lines. Since he hasn't tried to kiss me in a while, I feel I may need to push him into it. After all, the articles online had mentioned that men enjoy being the aggressors.
"Done!" he says, handing me back the computer as he scrolls through the different profiles.
"There's one more platform," I add, and he raises an eyebrow, looking at me expectantly. "This." I open the tab for him, all the while surreptitiously watching for his reaction.
"A dating site?" he asks in disbelief, looking back and forth between me and the screen. "Why do you need a dating profile?" he repeats, narrowing his eyes at me.
"Doesn't everyone?"
"No. I don't." He glowers at me.
"But you don't date," I reply with a feigned huff.
"And you won't either!" He quickly exclaims, his eyes widening at his own outburst.
"What? Of course I will. I'm young, I've finally started living, and I need to think about dating at some point," I lie, closely studying his expression.
"No," he decrees, folding his arms over his chest and looking at me defiantly.
"Excuse me?" I ask in faked outrage.
"You can't!" He takes my laptop from me, quickly punching some keys.
"What are you doing?" I frown at his unusual reaction. I'd only wanted to give him a little push to kiss me again .
"There," he hands it back to me, "I blocked all dating sites from your computer," he says smugly.
"Why would you do that?" I push, needing at least an explanation. If he's not going to kiss me just yet, I'll settle for a small admission that he doesn't want me to date.
"It's not safe," he quickly answers, a small scowl appearing on his face. "Besides, when would you have time to date? I occupy most of your time," he reasons, looking mightily pleased with himself.
"You do, don't you?" I probe, a smile playing on my lips.
"Exactly," he replies, "why would you need a boyfriend when you have me?"
The reaction is delayed as he realizes what he just said. He blinks twice, his mouth half-open as he undoubtedly must be thinking of ways to correct his mistake.
Instead, he amazes me when he continues. "That's right, I found you first. Finders keepers," he declares proudly, placing the laptop on the table in front of him. Out of nowhere, his arm darts out, his fingers grabbing onto my chin as he tugs me into a bruising kiss.
"There you have it," he speaks against my mouth, "sealed with a kiss."
I can only stare into his eyes, the pupils so big they almost overshadow his irises. He doesn't seem to wait for my approval as he looks at me like a feral animal ready to devour its prey. Out of nowhere, his tongue sneaks out and he licks my lips with a long swipe.
I'm frozen in shock at his actions, because even in my sheltered mind this isn't normal. But the more I look at him, the more I realize that he isn't normal. He probably has no idea how to behave with a woman. Lord, I'm surprised he even knows how to behave with other people.
There's a savagery in him that can't be tamed by superficial manners. And no matter how expensive his suits, or how practiced his expressions are, he can't hide what he really is.
A beast.
A smile pulls at my lips, and I return his lick with one of my own.
He might be a beast, but I wouldn't be this drawn to him if he weren't .
His teeth catch my tongue, and he sucks it into his mouth, his palm fitted around my throat as he brings me into him.
"I prepared something for you," he whispers, his teeth nibbling at my lips.
"What?" I ask in a breathless tone. Already visions assault me, of us naked together, limbs tangled, mouths fused... Ah, my thighs clench together just thinking about that.
"The ocean. I'm taking you to the ocean," he says, and he's suddenly off me and righting his clothes.
"That sounds amazing," I answer, trying to keep the disappointment out of my voice. I barely got him to kiss me again, and he didn't waste any time in finding a reason to stop.
For a brief moment, I have to wonder if maybe he's not attracted to me. At his age, it's almost unheard of that he'd never kissed anyone before. I should know since I've spent exorbitant amounts of time researching men and relationships. So what if... he's not into women at all?
The thought makes me still, and when he takes my hand and leads me to the car, I have to force myself to smile.
The drive is quick as we get to Vlad's childhood home, which is only a few steps away from the beach. He's tight-lipped when I ask him more about his family, mainly commenting that they are all dead.
"So there's only Katya left," I remark as we climb out of the car. Vlad is carrying a couple of blankets so we can sit on the sand, and a basket with a few snacks and drinks. I'm actually surprised by the effort he's put into this.
"Yes... if she still lives, that is," he replies, giving me a half-smile.
Not wanting to ruin the moment, I quickly change the topic.
"You do realize this looks an awful lot like a date," I add cheekily as we take our shoes off, walking barefoot in the sand.
He turns to me, and a little pensively he comments, "You're right. It does look like a date."
Without adding anything more, he walks in front of me, setting the basket down and laying the blankets on the sand.
I shake my head at him, realizing he just can't take a hint.
It does look like a date ?
Would it have been that hard to agree it is a date?
I rub my arms with my hands as the chilly night air brushes against my skin. I didn't realize it would be this cold on a summer night, but I guess it's because of the ocean breeze.
"Done!" he exclaims, sporting a proud expression as he looks down at the little picnic he'd set up.
"Good job," I add drily, and his smile suddenly falls.
"You don't like it," he states, his expression downcast.
"No, I do," I quickly reassure him. "I love that you put so much thought into this," I add, and his face lights up.
"Perfect! I wasn't sure what girls like..." he says, scratching the back of his head. Suddenly I realize I'm not the only one who is confused.
The more I think about it, the more I can't control myself as I burst into laughter. Vlad looks at me like a lost puppy, as if his very life depends on my acceptance.
"Then why..." he trails off, and I want nothing more than to take him into my arms and shower him with kisses.
How is it that this practiced killer can be confident and deadly one moment and then become so timid and unsure of himself the next?
"I just realized that I've been going about everything the wrong way," I tell him, lowering myself to the blanket and patting the seat next to me for him. He sits down, his eyes big and full of curiosity as he glues himself to me.
"What do you mean?"
"I've been second-guessing everything that's been happening between us, thinking that maybe you don't find me attractive or..." I feel my cheeks heat up and for some reason I have a hard time bringing up the fact that I'd thought he wasn't into women, "Or that you didn't necessarily like women," I finally admit.
"You... thought..." A smile pulls at his lips before he also starts laughing. "Oh, Sisi, if you only knew..." he groans, bringing his face next to mine. Our noses are touching, our eyes having their own staring contest.
"I like women," he states bluntly, "one woman specifically," he amends, and my lips twitch in response. "But I admit I'm not the best at dealing with women since you're about the only one I've been around in a very long time."
"I think we've settled that neither of us is great at understanding the opposite sex," I mention jokingly.
His eyes darken and his gaze bores into me. Chills erupt all over my body as I soak in his intensity.
"Make no mistake, however," he whispers, his breath so close to my skin.
"Yes?" I ask breathlessly.
"I find you very attractive, Sisi. So much so that every time you leave I have to take a fucking cold shower. Is that what you want to hear? That just being near you makes me so painfully hard I'd like nothing more than to lift up your skirt." His fingers brush my leg as he takes the hem of my dress up in a tantalizingly slow motion, "And fuck you raw and bloody until we're both spent." His mouth nuzzles at my throat.
"Why don't you?" My voice comes out on a low moan.
"Oh I will, just not yet." He brushes his cheek over the skin right above my collarbone, "This isn't a race to the finish line, it's a marathon. And for the first time in my life, I find that I'd rather have patience." His lips press right above my heart, "And unwrap you bit by bit."
Suddenly, he tears his mouth from my body, standing up and taking his shirt off. My eyes widen as I take in his sculpted torso, the entirety of it a canvas for a myriad of images. There's barely any spot left untouched by ink.
"Wow," I whisper.
The corners of his mouth curl up, and he wastes no time in picking me up off the blanket and taking me into his arms.
"What?"
"I brought you to the ocean to enjoy the ocean ," he says in my hair as he dashes toward the violent waves.
My arms tighten around his neck as he plunges us both in the cold water.
We go down as he fully submerges us in the water. My hands tighten around him, but he doesn't let go of me, not even for a second .
"What?" I ask, sputtering when we finally come back to the surface. The water is incredibly cold, and I suddenly start shivering. "Why would you do that?" I demand, scandalized.
Vlad has a wicked smile on his face, and it doesn't seem like the cold does much to his body. No, his skin is still incredibly warm as I huddle closer to him.
"I needed a cold shower," he retorts, and I can only stare at him open-mouthed.
"You mean..." I trail off, pointing to his lower half.
He tugs me closer until my front is flush against his, and I can feel the hard outline of him.
God, he's huge!
"How could you think I wasn't attracted to you when you look like hot sin?" His hand trails down my neck, his fingers brushing the sensitive skin. "I only need to glance at your fucking tits and all the blood rushes down to my cock," he rasps, his molten voice the fire I needed to keep warm in the water.
"Then let me help you," I whisper, my hands already going to the front fastening of my gown, untying the knot and slowly slipping the material from my body.
My breasts bounce free from the confines of the bodice, and Vlad's gaze is immediately fixated on my puckered nipples.
"It's cold," I quickly make the excuse, but he cuts me off, shaking his head as he stares at them reverently.
His hand slowly moves lower as he explores the valley of my breasts, his touch hot and exciting.
"Fuck me," he curses under his breath on a whistle. One hand sneaks behind my waist as he prompts me to wrap my legs around him, bringing that hard part of him in contact with my center.
A whimper escapes me at the sensation, and I can't help myself as I keep on rubbing against him.
"Damn it, Hell Girl, you're driving me crazy," he says, bending his head and giving one breast a long lick before wrapping his lips around my nipple, sucking it into his mouth.
The warmth of his mouth contrasts with my cold skin, the effect on my body sublime. He follows the contour of my breast, laying small kisses on the scar right above my heart. At any other moment, I'd feel self-conscious of the many marks on my skin, but as he continues to worship my flesh like it's the eighth wonder of the world, I can't seem to muster the shame.
I tighten my legs around him, urging him on as I keep on grinding against him, his tongue doing marvels to my flesh. He takes turns between both breasts, sucking, teasing and licking.
"I could feast on you forever," he speaks, his hot breath making me gasp. Taking one bud between his teeth, he bites. Hard.
"Vlad," I half-moan, half yell as I feel a shot of lightning go straight to my core. "I'm so close," I barely manage to get the words out, but he seems to know exactly what I need as he continues to lavish the same type of attention on the other nipple, until I'm spasming in his arms. The cold of the water is promptly forgotten as I feel tingles spread through my entire body.
My body spent, my limbs almost numb, I barely realize when he's carrying me out of the water.
He lays me gently on the blanket, his eyes still hungry as he looks at my half-naked body.
Kneeling between my legs, he grabs me by the ankles, dragging me to him, his hands roaming up my calves.
"I'm glad you were hidden at Sacre Coeur until now," he admits, his voice gruff. I tilt my head to get a better look at him, his eyes glazed with desire as his fingers explore my body.
"Why?" I ask languidly, my senses still overwhelmed from the pleasure he'd wracked from my body earlier.
"Because you're for my eyes only." He uses one finger to lift the hem of my dress, pushing it over my thighs. I follow his movements closely, and just when I think I have his trajectory figured out, he surprises me by grabbing onto my dress with both hands and ripping it in the middle. The material falls away immediately, his strength amazing me once more.
The hands of a killer.
A quick intake of breath and I realize there's a change to him. No longer the playful rogue from before, he's now a predator on the prowl .
Why does it excite me even more to know that he has the power to snuff the life out of me? It would be so easy, hands around my throat, a snap of my neck, and he'd end me.
And why do I want just that?
I can almost imagine the way his fingers would dig into my flesh, just under my jaw, tightening his hold until I can barely breathe before letting go, granting me a small respite. There's this hidden part of me that wants him to dominate me until I'm begging for mercy, and it both scares and excites me.
"What are you doing now?" I'm dazed as I look at him, all ink and bulging muscle, his chest rippling with every small exertion. I want to spread my palms over his flesh, feel his hardness under me, and as I try to do just that, he stops me.
He shakes his head, amused.
"The moment you touch me, Hell Girl, I'll combust," he drawls, his fingers still drawing circles over my naked flesh. "I'm barely in control as it is. The moment my cock is out, or you, God forbid, place your hands on it, I'll lose whatever control I have left." His voice is thick and strained, and I can see he's trying to fight himself.
He trails the back of his hand over my damp panties, and my breath catches in my throat as he skims that extremely sensitive part of myself.
A part that no one but me has touched before.
A blush envelops my features at that train of thought, but I'd read enough online to know what to expect, and that knowledge only serves to make me even wetter, my pussy leaking out in an attempt to get him to give it the attention it craves.
"You're wet for me, aren't you, Sisi?" he asks, sliding the material aside to push his finger between my drenched folds, feeling exactly what his voice—his very presence—does to me. He moves slowly as he takes some of the moisture, coating his entire finger and lifting it up to his mouth.
I watch hypnotized as he opens his lips—those sensuous lips that should be illegal on a man—placing his finger inside and sucking.
"You make me like this," I answer breathlessly as he uses his tongue to lick every last drop .
What he doesn't know is that from the moment I first saw him, he made me feel like this. I may have failed to recognize it then, but the second he'd directed those black eyes at me, his hands on my throat as he'd lifted me in the air, I'd been painfully aroused, my entire being tingling from his nearness.
"Fuck, Sisi. You have no idea what those words do to me," he rasps, his eyes half-closed, a pained expression on his face.