29
Lucia
For the first time, I enjoyed a restful night. Nothing disturbed me, allowing me to sleep deeply. Even my nightmares left me alone.
No wonder it’s so late , I think, climbing out of bed and moving toward the window.
There’s no clock in the bare room but the sun is shining brightly over the vast grounds of Volkov Manor. With nothing else to do, I freshen up and wait for someone to bring me some food.
My gaze falls on the skirt I’m still wearing. A smile lifts the corner of my lips as I caress the light fabric and the silken embroideries that embellish it.
I look toward the tall boots by the door and my grin widens. Mikhail bought me everything my heart desired. Even though I ruined some of the evening by talking about Dad, we still made it up behind the diner’s dumpster.
My mind drowns me in the memories of the dimly lit corner and the shady man who drank and jerked off to us. A familiar throb starts deep in my core, taking me by surprise.
I need to go back to that diner with Mikhail. There’s a part of me that needs to know whether it was having sex in a public place or being watched that made me come so explosively. Or was it a combination of both?
These past days seem to have opened a floodgate to a different kind of self-exploration. The Volkov brothers tested both my limits and endurance. Each time I faltered, they took the reins, bringing me to heights of unimaginable pleasure.
The sound of the lock being opened reaches my ears. I whirl away from the window and wait for the door to open with bated breath.
“Hey,” Lilja greets, stepping inside.
“Hi,” I say, a smile blossoming on my lips at the sight of my friend.
Lilja’s long, pink-streaked hair is pulled into a high ponytail this morning. She’s wearing black stretchy shorts paired with a denim jacket. Her long legs are encased in knee-high black boots.
“And you hungry yet?” she asks.
“Yep, I’m starving.”
“Come on, then.” She gestures at me and walks out of the room.
Grabbing my boots, I pull them on and hurry after her.
“Mikhail and I have a surprise for you today,” she says as we walk down the hallway.
“Has he brought all the stuff from the fair we went to yesterday?”
“You call that bullshit biker camp a fair?” she asks with a snort. “Remind me to take you to a real one sometime.”
“What about Damien? He looked so mad last night. Is everything okay between you guys?”
“I told you not to worry,” Lilja says, throwing an arm around my shoulder and pulling me close. “My big brother’s all bark and no bite.”
He’s bitten me so many times though , I think silently as my fingers touch the light scars adorning my neck.
Still, it lifts my heart to know Damien is unchanged despite the pain and trauma he went through. He might be an ass to me but he’s still the same protective older brother to his siblings.
We follow the familiar path to the kitchen on the ground floor.
The smell of frying bacon hits me the moment I get closer. My groaning stomach makes me hurry toward the kitchen.
Dora is at the stove, stirring a smoking pot. Lilja moves ahead and goes to sit at the table. Michael is already seated there, smoking what is unmistakably a joint.
A haze of smelly smoke lingers over the table. Lilja swipes at the swirls of smoke Mikhail blows in her direction.
Mikhail’s teasing and Lilja’s annoyance make me smile. The day barely got started and they’re already fighting.
“Quit it!” Lilja hisses. “I don’t want my eggs smelling like pot.”
“Leave me alone,” Mikhail says, stuffing a couple of bacon strips into his mouth. “Damien was pissed last night. On top of that, I had to get up early to get Princess’s stuff from Ryder’s place.”
“So, that’s where you picked up this disgusting shit,” Lilja says, scrunching her nose. With a sudden move, she grabs the joint that Mikhail set down to help himself to some toast. He doesn’t even get the chance to protest before she steps on the smoking roll and stamps it out.
A frustrated growl escapes him. Picking up a fried egg, he throws it at her. The egg hits her squarely in the face.
A deep frown comes over her pretty face as she glares at her brother.
“Stop your fuckery right this instant!” Dora barks. The elderly lady’s frown makes both siblings quiet down at once. She slaps a dish of fried bacon with a huff and stomps away.
Taking a plate, I load it up with some bacon and eggs before they can start arguing and throwing things at each other again.
“Can you tell me about the surprise now?” I ask, hoping to distract them both.
“It’s more about showing you than telling you,” says Mikhail. He takes the whole dish of bacon that Dora left a minute ago and starts munching on them.
“Will Damien and Leon join us?” I ask.
“Damien’s not around,” Mikhail answers with a mouthful of bacon.
“And Leon’s still locked up with those bastards,” Lilja says with a dark expression.
Dora’s cooking is so amazing, that we fall quiet and devour our breakfast eagerly.
“Let’s show her now,” Mikhail says when I’m taking the last sip of my coffee. “Damien’s given me a job, so I can’t hang around for much longer.”
Dora comes to the table and joins us.
“Thanks for the breakfast, Dora,” I tell her. “Everything was delicious.”
She waves a hand at us, continuing to eat her meal.
Mikhail and Lilja lead me out of the kitchen. Following a familiar path, we reach the second-floor wing where Lilja’s room is located.
Instead of heading into her room, she comes to a halt outside a different door. Mikhail grins at me, making my heart dance in excitement.
“This is going to be your room from now on,” Lilja says, opening the door.
She steps away, allowing me to enter the room first.
Peering in, I find a room that’s similar to Lilja’s in proportion and décor. A nice, big bed, covered in luxurious sheets and pillows, is set in the corner. Dark mahogany furniture dot the place. I pass by a plush couch and stand before a desk in the corner.
Lilja sprints across the room and opens another door. “Check this out.”
Walking over to her, I realize she’s holding the door to a walk-in closet. The space is smaller than hers with a lot fewer clothes but I smile. The clothes I chose yesterday are all hanging in neat rows.
“This is amazing!” I breathe, glancing at Lilja. “Thank you so much for all this.”
“You should be thanking him,” she replies, gesturing over at Mikhail who’s leaning against the closet door.
“Really?” I ask, gazing at him.
“You’re going to be with us for a long time, Lucia,” he says in a deep voice. His silvery eyes are calm and sincere. “We might as well make you comfortable.”
I cover the short distance between us and throw my arms around his neck. Drawing my body against his, I whisper, “Thank you!”
His arms come around me, pulling me closer. Leaning in, he captures my lips in a deep, searing kiss.
I open up to him willingly, letting my tongue tangle with his. Pure heat floods my body as I hang onto him, kissing him back with the same fervor.
Lilja coughs loudly, making me jump away.
“I was going to tell you guys to get a room but looks like you’ve already got one.” She winks cheekily.
“I can’t believe this,” I say, walking out of the closet. “There’s even a TV here! Did Damien really allow all this?”
“You’re still going to be locked in here,” Mikhail says in a grim tone. “And, we’ll have people watching you.”
“Oh.” A sliver of disappointment hits me but I ignore it. At least, I’m going to have a TV to watch, some amazing clothes to wear and a proper bathroom. These upgrades will keep me comfortable and over time, Damien will see that he can trust me.
“I need to get going,” Mikhail says, pecking my cheek.
“When will you come back?”
“Not for a few days at least,” he says in a grim tone. Glancing over at Lilja, he adds, “Shit’s about to go down soon, so be extra careful.”
Her eyes widen like she hadn’t expected him to say that.
Mikhail walks out of the room, leaving us staring at each other.
“I need to find Damien,” she hurriedly tells me before locking me up in my glamorous prison.
I inhale a deep breath and look around the luxurious room. Just be patient , I tell myself as hope flares inside me. Damien, Leon, and Mikhail will trust you again.