Chapter 8 Valeri
Valeri
Evie makes me feel like I’ve been knocked on my ass every time I see her.
Even with her coveralls and glasses and no makeup, she’s the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen, but tonight she’s gone all out, and I’m speechless.
I cup her face, feeling the heat of her blush against my palms and tilt her up to me as I bend down to kiss her.
Her hands grip my forearms, squeezing me as she opens her mouth wider for me, letting me in so I can taste her.
She’s all I’ve thought about since I left her early this morning, and she doesn’t know it, but there’s no way in hell I’m letting go of her again.
This morning was the last time I’m watching her walk off, the last time I’ll be left wondering if she’s safe or if her dad is drunk and in a bad mood.
When I pull back, she’s breathless and her light brown eyes are glazed with lust. I watch her, memorizing every damn detail.
“Happy birthday, Evie.”
“Thanks.” Her smile is adorable, the perfect mix of innocence and arousal.
I run my fingers over her upper chest, pulling the top of her shirt down just enough to show me the bruise I left on her skin the other day at the beach.
My thumb grazes the hickey, reminding me that soon I’ll be claiming the rest of her.
This body is going to be covered in my marks, but none of them will be from anger.
Every single one will be from love, because there’s no denying it.
I’ve fallen completely in love with her, and my need to possess every inch of her is unlike anything I’ve ever known.
“Come on, baby,” I tell her, wrapping my arm around her shoulder and guiding her towards the car. Once we’re both in, she gives me a huge grin.
“I’m so excited to see what this club is like,” she says, killing any plans I had to gently nudge her in a different direction for tonight.
I can’t take this from her. All I can do is hope it goes smoothly.
I grab her hand and kiss it while heading downtown.
The club is already packed with a long line out front, and when I park right in front of the building, she darts her head around in confusion.
“Is this a parking spot?”
I hold back a laugh and say, “It is for me.”
She looks at the long line and then back to me, trying to figure out what’s going on. I kiss her hand again and then turn it so I can kiss her inner wrist, running my tongue over her skin before letting it go and smiling at the breathy moan that escapes her parted lips.
“I want you glued to my side in there, lapochka. Do you understand?”
“Yes, well, not really,” she admits. She eyes the large, black building in front of us. “Is it that big in there?”
I laugh and give her inner wrist another kiss before letting her hand go. “No, baby, I want you close to me because every man in there is going to try to hit on you, and if I see one of those bastards put their hands on you, I can’t promise I’ll be able to control myself.”
She lets out a breathy “okay,” and then nods her head when I tell her to wait for me to come open her door.
I eye the line as I walk around the car, grateful that I don’t recognize any of the women that I can see.
Ignoring the smiles and waves, I open the passenger door and hold out my hand for Evie, pulling her body tightly against mine as soon as she’s out.
Keeping my arm around her shoulders, I lead her to the door.
The bouncer on duty gives me a nod and steps aside so we can pass.
“Evening, Mr. Medvedev,” he says, giving Evie a polite nod as well but being damn careful to keep his eyes off her.
Evie gives me another confused look when we walk inside and bypass the woman collecting cover charges.
“Why didn’t we have to wait in line? And how did he know who you are?”
I pull her into a corner so she can hear me over the pounding music. Bracing my hands on either side of her, I lean down and ask, “Do you remember I told you my brothers and I own a few places in the city?”
Her eyes widen in surprise. “You own this club?”
“With my brothers, yes.”
She laughs and shakes her head. “I feel like an idiot.”
“Don’t feel like an idiot. You were so excited about coming here. I didn’t want to ruin it for you or make you feel like we couldn’t come.”
“What else do you own?”
“A few other clubs, a couple of restaurants, and my oldest brother and his wife own a women’s shelter not far from here.”
“The cute yellow one?”
“That’s the one.”
She thinks for a second and says, “That place looks really nice. They’ve done a great job with it.”
“They have,” I agree. “I hate to spring it on you, but you’ll probably meet them tonight.”
“Really?” I can tell she’s starting to panic, so I lean down and kiss a line across her cheek, pressing my lips against her ear. “There’s no pressure, baby. They’re just really excited to meet you.”
“Why?”
I laugh and give her earlobe a soft suck. “Because you’re the only woman I’ve ever told them about.”
“Really?”
“Yes, really. Now come on, birthday girl, let’s get you a drink.”
I grab her hand and keep her close to me as we weave our way through the packed club.
The waitresses all smile at me, along with several of the women around us, but I ignore every damn one of them.
At the bar, I pull her in front of me, pressing my chest up against her back with one arm wrapped firmly around her upper chest. I’m making it very clear that we’re together, and so far it’s working.
I lean down so she can hear me and ask, “What do you want to drink?” while my thumb lightly grazes her skin.
“What are you having?”
“Vodka,” I say.
“I’ll have that too.” She puts her hand over mine and tilts her head closer to me. “I’ve never drank before. I’ve always hated it because of my dad.”
“Would you rather not? I don’t give a shit about having a drink, Evie. We can just stick with water or a soda.”
“No, I want to try it. I’ll have a vodka with you.”
I kiss her cheek and hold up two fingers for the bartender.
He knows me well enough to know what I’m asking him for and soon two drinks are on the bar in front of us.
I grab them and hand one to Evie. I down mine quickly and set it back on the bar for a refill while she takes a hesitant sip and then coughs.
“Wow,” she says too low for me to hear, but it’s easy enough to read her lips.
She takes another small drink, and when that goes down better, she quickly tosses back the rest. Her eyes water, but she doesn’t cough, and the triumphant smile she gives me has me laughing and kissing the top of her head.
“Another?”
When she nods, I set her glass next to mine, and then turn my head when I hear a familiar voice yell my name. With a groan, I hurry up and down the next shot because I’m sure as hell going to need it.
“My brothers are here,” I tell Evie, who quickly reaches for her second shot as well.
Vasily’s hand smacks my back before Nina gives me a quick hug, and then Volodya wraps an arm around my shoulders and gives Evie a little wave.
“You must be Evie,” he says, letting me go so he can pull Maddie in tightly against him.
“Hi,” Evie says, looking at all the new faces.
I point everyone out one by one and introduce them, and then say in Russian, “Please don’t scare her off.”
Volodya laughs and starts ordering drinks, handing a Dirty Shirley to Maddie and a bottle of water to Nina.
“Oh, what’s that?” Evie asks.
“The best drink ever,” Maddie quickly says. “It’s a Shirley Temple with Vodka. Nina got me hooked on them.”
“I think I want to try one of those,” she says, looking up at me. Then she looks at Nina, “You’re not having one?”
Nina laughs when Vasily picks her up before she can answer.
“My baby won’t be drinking for a while,” he says with a proud smile on his face.
Evie looks down at Nina’s stomach, noticing the small bump that the darkness of the club had hidden from her just a few minutes ago.
“Congratulations,” she says with a laugh, giving Nina a hug when he puts her down and then taking the Dirty Shirley from me. “I forgot that Valeri mentioned you were pregnant.”
Nina smiles and pats her baby bump. “Thanks, we’re really excited about it.”
When a slow song starts, the deep, throbbing tune vibrating along the floor, Vasily picks Nina back up and says, “I’m going to go dance with my beautiful, pregnant wife.”
Volodya grabs Maddie’s hands and starts to pull her to the dance floor. She laughs and chugs the rest of her drink. “You know I have two left feet, Volodya.”
He laughs and pulls her closer. “I know, and it’s so fucking sexy to watch you try and dance.”
She tries to look pissed but fails horribly. He drags her out onto the dance floor as I step closer to Evie. I raise a brow at her. “What do you think? Want to go and dance with my insane family?”
“I like them,” she says with a laugh. “I feel like I should warn you that I also have two left feet.” She downs the last of her drink and then fishes out the cherry with her straw so she can eat it.
I smile and lean down so our lips are almost touching.
“I bet we can find a rhythm together.” I lick her bottom lip, tasting the sweet cherry, groaning at how badly I want her.
Grabbing her hand, I pull her to the crowded dance floor because I know if I start kissing her, I’ll never stop.
I force a path for us, ignoring all the grinding bodies around us, and when I’ve found us a small patch of dance floor, I pull her to me and wrap my arms around her, moving my hips to the music while she blushes and darts her eyes around.
“Eyes on me, lapochka,” I tell her. “No one else but me.”
She nods, and I feel her body relax. When I slide a thigh between her legs, she wraps her arms around my neck, smiling when I bring one hand down to cup her ass. My other hand slides up her thigh, my fingers grazing along her bare skin.
“You look fucking amazing in this skirt. I love seeing your legs.”