Chapter 4
Chapter Four
WILLA
“ H oly crap.” And here I thought this boat was badass. Now he has brought me to a freaking yacht. I really have no freaking clue who Vasily King is. Yet I gave him my first kiss. My lips still tingle. I never would have accepted a kiss like that. He didn’t just kiss me. He took possession.
“You like?”
“I mean it’s nice, I’m just surprised.” My father always had money, but it wasn’t often we left the island. He kept us tucked away here.
I’d often wondered if he was hiding us from the rest of the world. He pretended we didn’t exist for the most part, and that worked well for us all. When he did give us attention, it was never good, and my brother was always quick to take the brunt.
“It’s only a boat.” He shrugs as if it’s no big deal. Vasily doesn’t appear to be a man who would own a yacht. Two men come out to help secure us so that we can get off the speedboat. They both give me curious glances. Everyone has been doing that. "Eyes on me," Vasily snaps at them. "One of you take the boat back to the dock for the others."
"Yes, sir." They both speak at the same time. Vasily takes my hand, his fingers threading through mine.
“You want something to drink, Princess?” He leads me down inside the yacht so we’re once again alone.
“You could live on this thing,” I say, taking it all in. We’re in the main area, reminding me of a living room. There is a bar, a few couches, and television. There is even a piano. It’s all very elegant and fancy, while Vasily is in all black with tattoos. It’s such a stark contrast, making him all the more intriguing to me.
“I have spent some nights here, but I have a place in the city.” He releases my hand to go over to the bar. There are a few empty glasses sitting about.
“Was there a party?” I ask. Vasily pours me a glass of champagne, handing it to me.
“Yes, some of my men had the night off and wanted to enjoy the fight.” My men . How many does he have? They are quick to take his orders.
“I’ve never drunk before,” I admit, taking the glass from him.
“I’ll keep an eye on you.”
“How do I know if I should trust you?” What’s the rule? Never take a drink from a stranger. I know he is one.
I barely know anything about him, but he doesn’t feel like a stranger. I’m also not as shy as I normally am with him. Then again, Teddy isn’t here to take the lead for me, not giving me much of a choice.
I really do need to get out and spread my wings. Maybe I have been believing I am who people want or think I am. I played into it. I was too afraid to venture out and discover the truth for myself.
“I have kept you safe this far, have I not? And I already had you all alone.” True, and not once have I been scared. If anything, I found comfort from him. I bring the glass to my lips and take a sip. The bubbles tickle my tongue, but I like it. He smirks, and I know he’s happy that I’m trusting him.
“Who are you?” I ask.
“Most know me as King.” Yes, but he wanted me to call him Vasily.
“Should I have known of you?”
“I’d rather you get to know me on your own.” He steps closer.
“Why do I get to call you Vasily?”
“You’re different.” He stares into my eyes, never looking away. If I’m different, then maybe he’ll tell me more. If he wants me to trust him, shouldn’t he trust me too?
“The fights. They’re not legal, are they?”
“No.” What has my brother gotten himself into and why? It’s not like he needs the money. We don’t want for anything and probably never will. At least our father did that much for us.
“Will Derrick end up sleeping with the fishes?” Vasily throws his head back and laughs. The sound is rich and sexy. It courses through my body like a jolt of electricity.
“I’m not in the mob, Princess. I make the bulk of my money through gambling.”
“Do you gamble?”
“No, I’m the bank and the house.” I don’t know much about gambling. I do, however, believe it’s something the government monitors.
“Illegally?” I ask again.
“Some, not all.” He answers me without hesitation and doesn’t appear fazed by my questions either. “I think it’s my turn to ask questions.” Vasily leads me over to one of the couches to sit down.
“There isn’t a lot for me to tell. I’m kind of boring.” In fact, I’m wondering why he’s taken such an interest in me. I’m sure he could have his pick of girls, and there were many options at the warehouse tonight. They weren’t girls either; they were women. Ones that have had their fair share of kisses and know what they are doing.
“You’re the most fascinating creature I’ve come across, Willa. Don't underestimate yourself.” His compliment has heat rising to my cheeks. “Now tonight, you came out for a reason. Why?”
“Like I said. I want to find myself. I have been filling out college admissions applications, and with each one I submit, there has been no excitement. No care if I get in or not.”
“And you thought you’d find what you’re looking for in a dirty warehouse?”
“No.” I snort a laugh. “Sorry.” I cover my mouth. Why can’t I have a sexy laugh like him?
“Don’t hide things from me.” He pulls my hand down from my mouth. “Especially that mouth of yours. I rather enjoy it.” If I wasn’t already blushing, I have no doubt I am now.
“That was my first kiss.”
“I know.”
“Oh.” I glance away from him.
“What did I tell you, Princess?” Vasily's hand comes to my chin, bringing my attention back to his face. “No hiding from me. I told you my secrets.”
“Were they secrets, though?”
“I suppose not,” he admits. “I don’t know if this is a secret because I’d admit it to anyone, but I’ve never told a soul.”
“What?” I, too, eagerly want to know whatever it is.
“I could spend my life only kissing you. Yes, I knew it was your first, and I greedily took it, and you gave it right back. Willa, you’re far from boring. There is passion right there under the surface ready to come out. You just need someone you’re willing to trust to let you show it.”
“And I can trust you?”
“You can trust I’ll let you spread your wings and keep you safe while you do that.” I lean forward, wanting to kiss him again but jerk back when I hear the sound of laughter. Vasily curses under his breath.
I watch as people enter the room—all talking and laughing. A few I recognize from the warehouse. I sit up straighter, now feeling out of place. All the girls are dolled up. When they see us, everyone stops talking. Even the men refrain from speaking.
“Maybe I should?—”
“Everyone, this is Willa.” Vasily stands. “She’s with me.” They all nod. A beautiful blonde steps forward.
“Willa, it’s lovely to meet you. I’m Mila.” She holds out her perfectly manicured hand for me to take.
“It’s nice to meet you.”
“I saw you at the fights. I thought I might see you again.” The woman is so beautiful it’s hard to look away from her. “And this is my husband, Anton.” He gives me a nod.
“Hi.” I smile back. No one else utters a word.
“Why doesn’t my husband get me a drink too so I can join Willa here?”
“All right,” Anton says, shaking his head. He slaps his wife’s ass as he passes her. Mila merely rolls her eyes. A few of the other girls follow Anton over to the bar.
“Mila,” Vasily says.
“I know what I’m doing, King.” Mila takes one of the chairs across from the couch. I sit back down and pick up my drink and take a sip. Vasily sits down next to me. I let out a squeak as he abruptly lifts me, and I’m immediately placed in his lap.
I turn my head to look back at him. He merely leans back, getting comfortable, wrapping an arm around my waist.
“Are you from the island, Willa?”
“Yes.” I turn my attention back to the woman. “My brother is Rich.”
“Oh wow, I never would have guessed that.” Anton sits down next to his wife, handing her a drink.
“Yeah, we don’t look much alike. But we are twins, believe it or not.”
“No kidding.” She laughs, and I fall into comfortable conversation with her. Mila is sweet, but the other women and men keep their distance, most even going outside to continue with the afterparty. I guess I’m not their cup of tea. I seem to be Vasily’s, for some unknown reason.
I'm not sure how long we sit and talk before someone alerts me to the boat's docking and people getting off. I glance out one of the windows and realize we're on the mainland, not the island.
“I think we’re going to call it a night.” Anton stands, offering his wife his hand.
“It was nice meeting you, Willa. I’m sure I’ll be seeing more of you.” Mila gives me a warm smile.
“It was nice meeting you too.” I wait for them to leave before I ask Vasily what is going on.
“You ready, Princess?”
“Are we heading back to the island?” I wiggle, trying to get up, but his hold on me only tightens.
“No, we’ll go to my place. It’s more secure than the boat.”
“Vasily.”
“Give me a kiss.”
“What?” That’s so not what we are talking about. I push my glasses up my nose.
"I want a kiss."
"So you order it?" I find myself laughing; he doesn't follow suit.
"I'm jealous, Princess. Now give me your mouth." His order should piss me off, but it doesn't. It ignites a heat deep inside me. One that has me wiggling in his lap. I suddenly feel something very hard pressing into my ass. “All for you.” Vasily grips my hips.
“Why are you jealous?”
“I wanted your attention for myself. Now don’t make me ask you again.”
“I don’t think you ever asked.” I laugh. It’s cut off when Vasily moves. One second I’m in his lap, and the next my back is pressed into the couch with him over me.
“You’re right. I didn’t,” he says before claiming my mouth all for his own.