Page 29
I can’t stop trembling, even though everyone keeps telling me we’re safe now.
Dimitri walks into the room, and my pulse settles just enough for me to breathe easier.
I’m perched on a plush chair in our newly refurbished sitting area, unsure how to feel about returning here.
The Barkov estate used to make me feel trapped—now it’s become a refuge I never expected.
Everything looks the same, but in my mind, it all feels new.
He approaches cautiously, as if he’s gauging the distance between us. “Are you comfortable?” he asks, pausing a foot away.
“A bit overwhelmed, but I’m getting there.”
Dimitri lets out a long breath. “I want to make sure you have everything you need. You’ve been through more than anyone should endure.”
I glance at my abdomen. The baby remains a secret no more.
Ever since we shared that revelation at the old resort—my father’s final stronghold—I haven’t stopped thinking about the future.
The idea of having a baby is both thrilling and terrifying.
“To be honest, I’m still trying to wrap my head around what comes next. ”
He lowers himself onto the ottoman facing me.
“We’ll take it one day at a time.” He lifts my hand and studies my knuckles as though each one holds a story.
“I spent so long thinking about how to shield you from danger that I forgot you have your own voice, your own strengths. If I had listened sooner, maybe we would’ve avoided the worst of it. ”
“Don’t blame yourself. I made my own decisions. At times, I stormed off without explaining how frustrated I was. That didn’t help anything.”
A knock interrupts our conversation. Grigor stands in the doorway, and a trace of concern lines his expression, but he softens the moment he sees me. “Feel up to visitors, or should we come back later?”
“Come in,” Dimitri replies, beckoning him forward.
Grigor steps inside with Seraphina trailing behind him. My sister’s presence brightens my mood in ways I can’t fully articulate. She moves closer, and we exchange a quick embrace before she steps back and eyes Dimitri and me. “Are you two alright?” she asks, voice hushed.
Dimitri nods. “We’re fine. Still adjusting, but fine.”
Seraphina’s focus lands on me. “I’m just glad you’re out of that nightmare.
Every time I picture what might have happened if no one arrived in time…
” She presses her lips together, halting the thought.
“Anyway, I’m staying here now, if that’s all right.
Grigor insists. He’s convinced the estate is the safest place for all of us. ”
I grasp her hand, relieved. “Of course it’s all right. I want you here. We need each other, especially now.”
Grigor crosses to the window and looks out at the grounds. “Yes, we have some leftover concerns regarding Kovalev. I’m not letting anything catch us off guard again.”
Kovalev. The name triggers a memory of conversations my father once had, drifting through locked doors.
He might have been forming alliances, or maybe just sowing trouble.
Either way, it’s a loose thread we can’t ignore.
“We have to address it, but not tonight,” I say, glancing at Dimitri. “We’ll handle it carefully, right?”
“We will,” he confirms. “He’s not an immediate threat at the moment. But I won’t wait until he circles back.” He takes a breath, as if bracing for more responsibilities. “For now, let’s settle in. Let’s allow you both to rest, and then we’ll plan.”
Seraphina sets a small wrapped box on the coffee table.
“I brought a little gift,” she says, looking shy.
“I found it while I was going through some things at our father’s house.
It’s something from our mother. She had this old locket.
I want you to keep it, Cecily. Maybe it’ll bring you comfort, or at least a reminder that our family wasn’t always consumed by war. ”
I pick it up and turn it in my hand. “This is from the days before Father started unraveling everything we knew.” The chain feels cool against my skin. For a second, my throat tightens with too many emotions colliding. “Thank you.”
Grigor clears his throat. “We’ll give you two some space,” he says, guiding Seraphina from the room, though not before she squeezes my hand once more. As I watch them leave, a slight hint of hope builds in my chest. They’re safe here. We’re all safe, at least for this moment.
Dimitri lets a pause linger, then he angles himself to face me fully.
“There’s something we should discuss. We have a child on the way.
That means everything changes—how I approach Bratva business, how I handle your involvement, how we define day-to-day life.
I can’t just keep you locked away or hide you from everything.
That wouldn’t be fair, and it wouldn’t be a good example for our child. ”
“I don’t want to be barred from what matters. But I also don’t want to charge into shootouts, especially now.” My hand drifts to my abdomen. “I need to stay safe for our baby.”
“Exactly. We need to find a balance. You want a role in the business? That’s fine, but it should be behind the scenes. Intelligence gathering, strategy—those are the kinds of work you’ve shown a knack for. My family agrees it’s better to use your insights than to dismiss them.”
“I’d like that. I want to do my part, but I can’t handle the idea of risking myself—or the child—out there on the streets.”
He reaches for my hand again, fitting his fingers between mine. “I know it was never your dream to become part of the Bratva, but you are. And I promise I’ll make it something we shape together, not just an empire I run while you watch from a corner.”
“Thank you. And for what it’s worth, this might not have been my plan, but I’m realizing that it doesn’t have to be terrible. You and I, we can do more than just survive. We can create something good despite everything.”
“We will.”
Dimitri dips his head, bringing our mouths together. Our lips brush, and the warmth spreads. I close my eyes and sink into the kiss, allowing the world to fade. It’s the kind of kiss that feels like a vow, like the promise of a future.
But quickly, it turns to more. The hunger awakens, and suddenly, my husband isn’t close enough. I crave him with a force I can barely contain. With the fear and tension ebbing, the need takes over.
My fingers find the front of his shirt, tugging. The buttons snap open, revealing the hard muscles of his chest. He growls softly and scoops me off the chair. I gasp as he carries me across the room and deposits me on the bed, but before he can climb on top of me, I push myself upright.
“Cecily?” he murmurs, concern flickering in his gaze.
“Just let me look at you for a minute.”
He stands in place, waiting. His body is a work of art—the smooth, rippling muscles, the chiseled jaw, the way his pants hang off his hips. His dark hair falls forward, framing his face, and those intense, pale gray eyes stare back.
“Do you like what you see?” he asks, his voice low and husky.
“Very much.”
I reach for him, dragging him close. His lips land on mine again, and this time, the kiss is more fervent.
A fire rages beneath the surface, and the flames spread the moment we touch.
I fumble with the waistband of his trousers, and he tears his mouth away from mine, kissing a trail along my jaw, down my throat.
“You’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen,” he whispers, slipping his fingers under my dress. The fabric gathers around my waist, and a chill prickles along my exposed skin. I’m not wearing anything underneath, and the hungry way he stares at my body makes my stomach clench.
It’s tempting to just fall back and surrender, but tonight, I want to take control. I want to savor every inch of his body, to explore him and claim him the way he’s claimed me.
His cock is rock-hard already, pressing insistently against the fabric. I tug his trousers down, freeing his length. His shaft is thick and long, and when I wrap my hand around it, he sucks in a sharp breath.
“Fuck,” he hisses, watching me stroke him. “That feels good, Baby.”
“I know.” I flash him a wicked smile, then lean in, running my tongue over the head.
He groans, and his hand comes up to tangle in my hair. “You’re such a tease.”
His cock is smooth and velvety soft, and when I take him into my mouth, he groans again, and the sound is almost pained. His grip tightens in my hair as I bob my head, taking him deeper.
“You look so fucking sexy right now,” he rasps.
His words only spur me on. I keep sucking and licking, enjoying the way his body shudders. His cock is throbbing in my mouth, and when he pulls me off him, I can’t help but let out a frustrated sigh.
“You keep that up, and this will be over far too quickly,” he says. “And there’s no way in hell I’m coming without being buried deep inside you.”
He pushes me back, and I scramble to get out of my dress. It hits the floor, and then he’s on top of me, with his naked body pressed against mine. The weight of him feels delicious, and when he rocks his hips, his cock slides between my folds, but I don’t let him enter me yet.
I push him over and roll on top of him. His hands come up to cup my breasts, and his thumbs flick over my nipples. “I could look at you like this all night,” he says as his eyes roam over me.
“Oh, yeah?” I tease.
“Mmhmm.” He grins. “You’re so fucking gorgeous. Your tits, your ass, that perfect little pussy.”
The dirty words make me even hotter, and I can’t resist the temptation any longer. I guide him to my entrance and sink down, moaning as his cock stretches me.
“Fuck,” he growls. “You feel so goddamn good.”
His hands move to my hips, and he urges me to move faster, thrusting up to meet my motions. Our bodies crash together, and my eyes drift closed as I lose myself in the pleasure. It’s so fucking good, and knowing that he wants me, needs me, makes it even better.
“Look at me, Baby,” he demands.
My eyes open, and I see the hunger burning in his gaze. It’s so intense, so powerful, and it sends a jolt of heat straight to my core. I bounce up and down, taking him deep and grinding my clit against him. The friction is perfect, and I can already feel myself climbing toward the edge.
I lean forward, bracing myself against his chest, and the new angle makes his cock hit just the right spot.
“Fuck,” I gasp.
He keeps moving, and the pressure builds. His hands roam over my body, exploring, claiming. I can tell he’s getting close, and the thought of him coming inside me, filling me, pushes me closer to the edge.
“Cecily,” he rasps, and the sound of my name on his lips is almost enough to send me over.
I ride him harder, chasing the release. His body tenses beneath me, and when his cock starts pulsing, I fall over the edge with him.
Wave after wave of pleasure crashes over me, and I cry out, shuddering. Dimitri grips my hips, holding me in place as he fills me, and the sensation sends aftershocks through my body.
When we’re both spent, I collapse on top of him, panting. His arms come around me, and the steady thump of his heartbeat lulls me. We lay there for a long time, breathing each other in.
Eventually, he rolls us over, keeping his body close to mine. He cups my cheek and gazes down at me, and the intensity in his expression makes my heart stutter.
“You are everything to me,” he remarks. “I love you, and I’m going to spend the rest of my life making sure you’re happy.”
Tears threaten to spill over, and I blink them back. “I love you, too,” I whisper.
I’m safe, loved, protected. And even though I once feared this would never be possible, it is. No more threats. No more worries. Just peace and Dimitri. The man I never planned on marrying, yet the one I can’t imagine living without.
The man who saved my life.