Chapter 16
Chapter Sixteen
Riley
I twisted the lock and pushed the door open with a creak.
The old chandelier, worn laminate floors, and drafty windows came into view. A paint-chipped TV hung on the wall, and the whole place smelled damp.
Honestly, I never imagined Matvey would show up here. His expensive suit and shoes looked completely out of place in this cramped, rundown rental.
My sister and I had been in New York for over a year now, living here the whole time—shabby, sure, but the rent was cheap. I was fine with it, but Matvey clearly wasn't. He'd been frowning since he walked in.
"You live in this dump?" He looked around, brow furrowed. "People actually live here?"
I took a deep breath and hung my bag on the hook behind the door.
"You had me investigated, didn't you? You should know where I live."
He dropped onto the worn fabric couch, his large frame making the cramped space feel even smaller.
"I already paid Evelyn's medical bills," he said. "The company's paying you enough to afford something better than this, isn't it?"
His casual assumption stung. Yeah, he'd paid the medical bills. But there was more to my life than medical bills.
"Yes, you paid the bills. I'm grateful. But rent costs money. Food for Evelyn and me costs money. Every dollar has to stretch."
I kept my voice steady.
"After Evelyn got sick, she couldn't work anymore. I'm just an intern. Money's tight enough without upgrading to some fancy place."
The exhaustion and frustration I'd been carrying for so long rose up, making my voice shake.
"Matvey, you're always so high and mighty. You have no idea what it's like for regular people just trying to survive."
"Why didn't you tell me?" He stood suddenly, his tone sharp. "Not just the apartment—I can fix everything for you."
Nice words. He could fix everything? Right now, he was my biggest problem.
"Forget it." I shook my head, the corner of my mouth twisting bitterly. "What right do I have to ask you for anything? You're getting remarried, so I just want to give back all your stuff..."
Before I could finish, Matvey's breath caught. Two strides and he was in front of me.
"Give back my stuff?" His tone was teasing, deep, almost wrapping around me. "What about my heart? You took it from me. Ever think about returning that? Or do you enjoy watching me lose my mind over you?"
What was he saying?
Before I could react, he had me pinned against the wall, kissing me. His lips were still soft, his breath's cold fragrance nearly overwhelming my senses.
I knew I shouldn't. Shouldn't hold any illusions about him anymore. But my body gave me no choice. The moment his lips touched mine, my body responded without permission.
His tongue pried my teeth apart, stealing my breath. I felt like I was melting. I closed my eyes, tears stinging. My feelings for Matvey were undeniable. I liked this man down to my bones. I couldn't refuse anything he gave me.
I don't know how long it lasted, but by the time he finally stopped that aggressive kiss, my lips were numb. The crushing embrace finally loosened.
"Riley." He was breathing hard, his lips at my ear. "Trust me."
"No." I pushed against his iron-solid chest.
Trusting him only brought pain.
"It's not what you think." His tone darkened. "When the time's right, I'll explain."
My mouth filled with a bitter, salty taste. What couldn't he say now? I wasn't a three-year-old... I even knew he was pakhan. What else couldn't I know?
I struggled, trying to break free from his arms, but it was impossible. The strength difference between us was too great.
"Let go of me!" I twisted, my shoulder pushing against his arm, glaring into those gray-green eyes. "I don't believe a word you're saying!"
"Give me a reason." His voice turned hard, veins standing out on his arms. "Or I'll never let go."
A reason?
I finally stopped. He immediately moved closer.
"I don't know what you think you can explain." I turned my head away, avoiding his gaze. "Veronica already told me everything about you two. I'm not delusional enough to compare my place in your life with the woman you love."
His muscles went rigid. With just a little force, I pushed him away.
See? Just mention Veronica and he changed completely.
I turned toward my cramped bedroom, pulled open the closet, and dragged out several shopping bags with luxury logos—filled with clothes he'd given me.
The heavy bags weighed on my arms. As I turned to leave, I ran into a wall. Matvey had followed me into the room. The space was too small—his presence sucked all the air out.
"Take these." I shoved the bags against his chest. "I don't need your stuff."
When I pressed the clothes against him, his eyebrow twitched, his gaze turning cold. Did that insult him? He looked pissed. Who cared? He'd hurt me enough. He should know what rejection felt like.
He glanced at what I'd given him, then back at me. Then he set the clothes on the nearby dresser.
"I don't take back what I give." He walked toward me, his tone dangerous.
Each step landed on my heartbeat, the pressure throwing my rhythm off. I backed away until my calves hit the bed edge. He kept coming. His knee pushed between my legs, his chest blocking my entire view, and finally, he stopped.
"What's that?" His gaze moved past my head to the unmade bed.
There lay the black lace underwear I'd forgotten to put away that morning. Damn it. Why that?
"None of your business." I bit down, trying to ignore his mocking look.
But the gleam in his eyes practically burned me—he was enjoying my reaction. I forced myself to glare back at him.
"What do you want? Walking into someone's room without permission—is that what the CEO of Bykov Group does?"
"You're my employee." His eyes had darkened. "At least for now."
"So what? Doesn't mean it won't make the news."
He laughed softly, the sound sliding over my skin like a touch.
"At most, it'll be tabloid gossip. What I'm about to do to you, I mean."
Heat pooled in my lower belly, like my body heard something my brain hadn't caught up to yet. My gaze dropped to his lips.
"So, you want to push me away?" The corner of his mouth curved into a wicked smile. "Prove it to me, Riley."
I froze, looking up at him. "What?"
"Prove it to me," his long fingers tucked a strand of hair behind my ear, his voice honey-sweet. "That you can walk away like nothing happened. That you don't want my touch."
"Tell me when that little pair of panties is soaked through, you can refuse me taking you to bed. Look me in the eye and say you can do it."
God, I knew I couldn't. I'd thought of so many ways to refuse him getting close, but when he showed up, it was all useless. My body always did this—didn't consider whether I wanted it, just felt intense desire for Matvey.
He clearly read my thoughts, that infuriating smile on his face making me want to punch him.
"Nothing's over yet, little liar."
As he spoke, a rumble came from his chest. I was pressed against him as he pulled me down onto the bed. The old frame groaned.
He kissed me again. This kiss wasn't as forceful but still burned with desire. He sucked my lower lip, teeth grazing. His tongue swept across my lips again and again. For the first time, what I felt from him was hunger, not restraint.
He held me, hands sliding from my back down to my waist, pressing down hard. My lower belly pressed against him.
He undid the buttons at my chest. My breasts—burdensome when I walked—sprang free. His hands cupped them, kneading freely. I had the odd sensation I wasn't lying on a bed but on a cutting board.
His thumb dragged roughly across my already-hardened nipple.
"Ah, don't, Matvey..." I arched my back, sounds escaping my throat.
He knelt on one knee, his fingers sliding under my skirt, pressing through the thin fabric precisely on my most sensitive spot. Shame and frustration washed over me. That was him—knew every sensitive spot, knew exactly what would make me moan, make me beg.
"Riley, when will you learn to be honest?" His fingers slid up and down, satisfaction in his voice. "You're this wet already."
The slick sounds reached my ears. My face must've been bright red.
"That's two different things!" I tried to close my legs, but he forced them apart.
"To me, it's the same thing." He suddenly bent down, kissing my lower belly.
In that instant, my tense body relaxed. I knew I shouldn't feel this comfortable. We'd just been fighting... yet one move from him and I completely surrendered. It was absurd.
He yanked my underwear off, exposing me completely. Then his lips moved lower, settling between my legs.
"God... no..." My hands clutched the sheets.
His warm, agile tongue lapped at my clit, pleasure shooting through my entire body.
I'd fantasized about this powerful man doing this to me. Fantasized about those thin lips that issued cold commands, what heat they'd bring to my most private place. But reality was far more intense than imagination.
He devoured me like I was a dessert. He licked away every drop of my wetness, feeling my honest trembling under his palm. My hips moved on their own, meeting his mouth and tongue.
"Tell me, Riley." He looked up from between my thighs, gaze burning. "Did you fantasize about this? About my tongue fucking you, sucking you dry."
"I..."
"Don't lie to me."
His eyes saw through everything. I could only nod.
"Say it, Riley." Glistening liquid still clung to his mouth. He was too fucking sexy. "Say you want my tongue."
I felt stripped bare, humiliated, yet wrapped in secret satisfaction.
"I want your tongue, Matvey," I shouted.
"Dirtier." He wasn't satisfied.
"I want your tongue to fuck me like your cock does. Give it to me, Matvey." I was nearly crying.
"Good girl." He praised me in that low voice.
God, I loved when he said things like that in that sexy voice.
He cupped my ass with both hands, lifting me higher. His tongue returned to my clit, swirling lightly, occasionally grazing with his teeth.
Slick wetness kept flowing from me, and he licked it up immediately. When his tongue pushed inside me, I felt my soul shake. It was completely different from his cock—rough yet soft. But both could make me feel incredible.
I grabbed his dark brown hair, moaning. Those slightly wavy strands were too soft to belong to such a dangerous, composed man.
"You like me serving you like this, Riley?" He murmured indistinctly between my legs.
"Enough, Matvey—" My abdomen tightened, white light flashing before my eyes.
He finally pulled away, reaching to unbuckle his belt. I could see his hard outline even through his pants.
"Riley, you want me." He said it with certainty.
"I..." I didn't know how to answer.
My body was going crazy wanting him, but honestly, I couldn't keep going. As long as he didn't actually enter me, I could still pretend I could refuse him.
"You do." He wasn't accepting any other answer, pushing straight in. "Say you want me."
I didn't speak. But him inside me—filling me completely—also brought a deep emptiness. He stayed still inside me. It was driving me insane.
"I... I want you." I bit my lip and finally said it.
"That's it?" He raised an eyebrow, not letting me off.
He was too much! I lifted my body, trying to make him move. He didn't budge. All clarity evaporated in that instant.
"Matvey, I want you." I gave up all resistance. "I want you to fuck me. I need you so badly..."
A pleased growl came from his throat. "I'll give you everything, Riley."
The old bed frame creaked rhythmically with his forceful movements.
Right now, I could do nothing but follow my body's instincts.