Chapter 7
Dmitri
The party turned out to be a great time, but I’m relieved when everyone finally leaves and it’s just me and Cara.
“I’ve wanted to do this for a while now,” I say as I walk into the living room where Cara is tidying up.
She adjusts the throw pillows on the sofa and glances over at me. “Throwing a party or choosing to spend the rest of your life with me?”
A light chuckle escapes me as I close the distance between us, my hands coming up to cup her face. I press a soft, lingering kiss against her lips before resting my forehead against hers. “The second one.”
Cara smiles and wraps her fingers around my wrists, her body gravitating closer to mine. “You caught me completely off guard.”
My smile wilts a little. “You didn’t think I loved you enough to ask you to be my wife?”
She chews on her bottom lip in thought for a moment before speaking. “After the night that you rescued me, it felt like you got distant. I thought you were still mad at me. We haven’t…been together in weeks. Not since the last time before you told me to leave.”
Guilt seeps into my soul as I pull back to look at her, seeing the nervousness written all over her face. She’s probably been sitting on these feelings for weeks now, too afraid to bring them up to me. I had no idea that’s what she thought was happening.
“I’m so sorry, milaya,” I tell her as I shake my head at myself. “I got so swept up in finding Ferro, finding all the people who did this to you. I didn’t realize that I had made you feel that way.”
“I appreciate your dedication to finding those men,” Cara assures me as she drifts her hands over my upper arms and shoulders. “But I miss you.”
“I’m right here and I’m not going anywhere,” I say as I wrap my arms around her, pulling her body flush against mine. “When I put that ring on your finger, I meant forever.”
“I believe you,” Cara replies before the corners of her mouth curl up. “But there’s something else that I miss.”
I raise an eyebrow in interest as one of her hands trails down my chest. “The only reason I haven’t touched you how I’ve been dying to yet is because I’ve been letting you heal, physically and emotionally. After what you went through, I didn’t want to rush you.”
“I need to feel close to you again,” Cara says before lifting up on her toes to press her lips against mine.
I help her out by grabbing the back of her thighs and lifting her, making her legs wrap around my waist. With ease, I carry her to my bedroom, our bedroom, and gently lay her down on the dark sheets, heat already coursing under my skin.
Cara smiles up at me as she pulls the thin straps of her dress off her shoulders.
I crawl over her and slip my hand under her back, tugging the zipper of her dress down until the fabric is loose around her body. I don’t hesitate to tear it off her, along with her strapless bra.
Cara drops back onto the bed, white lace panties hugging her hips. Does she understand how hard it’s been to resist her?
“You’re so fucking beautiful, milaya,” I tell her as my fingertips brush her soft skin, tracing the curve of her breast.
A pink hue adorns her cheeks as she gazes up at me with a shy smile. She then glances down at herself, the light in her eyes fading as she sees all the new scars littered across her body.
Of course, it’s hard for me to see them all. They’re a brutal reminder of what she went through, what she endured for weeks. But the scars don’t make her any less beautiful to me. They show how damn strong she is. How brave.
I lower my head, brushing my lips over a scar on her right rib. I feel Cara tense beneath my touch, but as I move to another scar closer to her hip, she gradually relaxes and exhales slowly.
She gently slides her fingers through my hair as I move all over her body, no longer just kissing scars. Kissing everywhere. Every inch of her. Her next exhale comes out shakily as my lips graze one of her nipples.
With heat ramping up within me, I take her nipple into my mouth and suck, eliciting a faint moan from her. Just hearing her and touching her makes my cock ache. I can’t believe I’ve gone so damn long without pleasuring her.
I knead her soft flesh in my hand, my mouth moving to the other nipple as I lick, suck, and tease.
She reacts beautifully, arching and writhing and moaning, more so than ever before.
She’s so damn sensitive tonight, and I fucking love it.
I gravitate lower, my fingers slipping into the waist of her panties to tug them off her hips.
Cara gasps and drops her head back as I bury my face between her thighs.
“Fuck, I missed your taste,” I murmur as I push her thighs farther apart, seeing how wet she already is for me. I drag my tongue over her clit, her slickness already coating my chin as I devour her.
Cara fists the bedsheets on either side of her, moaning and gasping as my tongue slides down lower to her entrance. “Dmitri…”
I tighten my grip on her thighs, anchoring her down as I plunge my tongue inside of her. Every writhe and moan drives me crazy, and the heated need within me makes me feel like I’ve been set on fire.
I’ve missed her so fucking much. Not just this part of her. There’s a gaping black hole in my life without her in it. I’m not sure if she’ll ever understand how much I need her by my side.
Right now, though, I want to make her feel good. Feel loved and cherished.
I slip a finger inside of her, replacing my tongue as it travels back up to her clit.
“Please, Dmitri!” she begs me.
I’m not teasing her tonight. She’s suffered through enough torture for one lifetime. I’m giving her exactly what she wants. Whatever the hell she could ever want.
I add another finger and thrust them deep, finding that spot that makes her thighs tighten around my head. The tip of my tongue strokes her clit until every muscle in her body tense as her orgasm thunders closer.
Cara suddenly cries out, her back arching off the mattress as pleasure consumes her. Eyes closed, she shakes uncontrollably from the intensity, her cheeks flushing redder.
I ease my fingers out of her to crawl back over her as she comes down, pleased with myself. “I can’t get enough of that sound you make.”
Cara smiles up at me, looking completely blissful. “We’ve got a whole night ahead of us.”
I lean down and kiss her, unable to stop a grin from crossing my face. “I love you.”
“I love you,” Cara says as she cups my face. Her fingertips stroke my stubble as her eyes darken once more. “Now, show me how much.”
She’ll be the death of me in the best way possible.
After I take off the rest of my clothes, I find myself back between her thighs, one hand planted on the mattress next to her head. I guide my cock through her wetness before I push inside.
Cara breathes in deeply as I fill her slowly. She clutches my arms, her nails digging into my triceps. “Oh…yes…”
I slide my fingers into her hair, holding the back of her head as I slowly rock in and out of her. Just feeling her body against mine is ecstasy but being inside of her and feeling connected to her like this is on a whole other level. It’s like nothing I’ve ever felt before.
“You feel so fucking good,” I tell her as my forehead drops down to hers.
Cara tilts her head to kiss me, her moans becoming muffled by my lips. “So do you.”
My heart aches as I thrust into her deeper, my pace gradually picking up as her hands move to my back. “I love you. So fucking much,” I tell her again.
Cara’s teeth graze my bottom lip as her nails sink into my back. She holds onto me like I’m the only thing anchoring her to the earth.
My tongue brushes hers as her lips willingly part against mine. I drink in every sensation. Every taste. Every sound. Every touch.
I want it all, and I want more.
I want her and only her.
Cara’s nails rake across my shoulder blades as I drive into her harder, her moans filling my bedroom.
Heat thunders through me as I increase my pace, my free hand trailing down her throat and squeezing her breast. The pleasure ramps up with each passing second, and as she claws me and arches, I know that neither of us will last. It feels too damn good.
I sit up a little more, pulling her legs around my waist as I rock into her. My thumb presses against her clit as I grab her hip in my other hand, holding her steady.
Cara tosses her head back with a sharp inhale, already writhing as friction collides with pressure. She grabs the sheets again, wringing them as the bliss heightens. “So close…Dmitri, please…”
“I’ve got you,” I promise her as I keep going, not daring to stop.
Not until she comes apart at the seams.
It doesn’t take long for her second orgasm to hit her. Instead of a cry, she lets out a broken whimper of my name as her entire body succumbs to violent shudders.
I thrust into her harder, drawing out the pleasure until I can’t take it anymore. I spill inside of her with gritted teeth, the intensity nearly dizzying me.
“Holy shit.”
Cara melts into the mattress, breathing heavily as she recovers. “Finally.”
I chuckle as I lean down to wrap an arm around her, holding her against me. “As good as you remember it being?”
“Better,” Cara replies as she combs her fingers through my hair. The motion is so soothing that it could easily put me to sleep, but I’m not done with her tonight.
“How about I order us food, and we take a bath?” I suggest as I brush her hair away from her beautifully flushed face.
“The best way to recharge,” Cara says with a knowing look on her face. She then leans up and pecks me on the lips. “I want pizza with mushrooms this time.”
“Whatever you want, milaya,” I tell her as a smirk teases my lips.
I climb off her, only to grab her and pull her into my arms to carry her to the bathroom.
Once I set her down near the sink and switch on the hot water for the bath, I kiss her on the forehead.
“I’ll go ahead and order the pizza. Our bath shouldn’t take too long. ”
Cara teasingly drifts her fingertips down my abdomen. “So you think.”
We’ve been engaged for barely a few hours, and I already know it’s the best decision I’ve ever made. That flirty smile of hers is impossible to resist. Cara is the woman of my dreams.
I can’t wait for the forever that we get to spend together.
The next morning hits like a freight train.
Even worse, I’m not being woken up by my beautiful fiancé on top of me.
Some asshole thought sunrise was an acceptable time to call me.
Cara stirs beside me, finally back in my bed, blinking her eyes sleepily. “Hmm?”
“Go back to sleep,” I murmur as I rub her back. After last night, we both need some extra rest.
Cara mumbles something that I can’t hear, but she relaxes.
I grab my phone and slip out of the bedroom, shutting the door softly.
Without even looking at the caller ID because I’m going to be pissed regardless of who is calling me, I hit the answer button.
“What?” I grind out. Sunlight knifes into my eyes.
“Do you think the legacy of the Bratva is a joke?”
I pause as I recognize Victor’s cold voice, my pulse quickening. “I take it you’ve heard my good news.”
“I heard that a fucking atrocity is happening! You’re marrying the Irish girl? Are you trying to destroy the Bratva’s alliances?” Victor questions me.
The fingers of my free hand tightly curl up. I can’t wait for the day that I finally punch this bastard in the face for all of the shit that he has spewed at me. It’s just a matter of time.
“I made peace with the Irish,” I say. “An alliance. It gives us more men, more eyes, more reach in Vegas. The Irish are a force to be reckoned with, and I think it’s better to have them beside us than across from us.”
“You stupid fool! Did falling in love melt your brain?” Victor growls. “You’re going to ruin the Bratva with your idiotic choices and lack of loyalty!”
“I’m loyal to what we’re supposed to be,” I snap. “Not to your fear. You’re just upset that I won’t kneel.” The only person I’ll ever kneel for is in my bed.
“You are a lost cause, Dmitri,” Victor tells me. “What are you going to do next? Become friends with the Albanians?”
A year ago, I would’ve cared about their approval. Back when Mikhail was alive and the rules still meant something.
Now I have Cara. I have a future I intend to keep.
The Council can stay a thorn in my side or they can try to become the blade.
I exhale once, slowly. “Stay out of my way, Victor. All of you. Or I’ll remove you myself,” I warn him before ending the call.
If they try to stop me from marrying Cara, they won’t have to worry about the Italians, the Irish, or the Albanians.
They’ll be at war with me.