Page 11

11

SAbrINA

The SUV hums softly beneath us, its tires grinding along the mist-slick mountain pass as dawn teases the edges of the horizon. Ivan’s behind the wheel, silent and focused, and Oleksi hasn’t left my side. He’s here—solid, warm, genuine—his presence the only anchor keeping me from unraveling completely. I stare out the window, but all I see are ghosts. The last five days loop in my head like a bad film reel: the cold tiles of my cell, Valeska’s voice whispering in the dark, Mikhail’s hands where they didn’t belong, his eyes devouring me

My fingers brush my throat, where Mikhail’s hand had circled it, and inside, it feels raw. I close my eyes, and I’m being slammed against the wall again with that big brute grinding himself against me. Suddenly, I feel like I need a shower. I lift my hands. The blood is gone. One of Oleksi’s men had helped me scrub it off with bottled water and hand sanitizer.

I don’t know whose clothes I’m wearing - they could be Syd’s or Nadia’s. Both women stand at least four inches taller than I do and have slightly larger frames. Clyde fashioned a belt for me so the jeans I’m wearing don’t fall off. The shirt hangs on me. But I don’t care. At least I’m no longer wearing those white scrubs, stained with Mikhail’s blood.

Nikolas is going to burn them and any items that Valeska and I were wearing when we escaped. My feet feel heavy when I move them, and I glance down. They are a pair of running shoes that are two sizes too big, but at least my feet are covered and not freezing. I snuggle against Oleksi’s side, and his arm tightens, drawing me in.

I tilt my head slightly to look out of the tinted windows. Mist swirls around us, thick and relentless, until the trees are nothing more than shadows, gray smudges on the edges of the world. The early morning stillness adds to the eeriness.

I don’t know where we’re going. All I was told was that we need to lie low until later in the day when we’re going to the next safe house. I’m trying not to think about the past week or earlier. The last time I saw someone get shot in the head… I suck in a shaky breath as an image of my father jumping in front of a bullet that was aimed at me when I was only twelve flashes through my mind.

Bile rises in my throat, and I give myself a mental shake to clear the images from my head. But they don’t want to go and make me feel like I want to climb out of my skin and leave it behind like a forgotten coat. I close my eyes, but the darkness there is no better. Memories flicker like a broken film reel, stopping and starting with every breath.

The road curves, and I feel the shift, the way the tires struggle to hold their grip. Ivan is unflinching, his silhouette sharp against the dull light. Beside him, Syd is sitting quietly and watching the world go by. No one speaks. But I don’t want to talk. I don’t want to think. I just want to sit and lean into Oleksi’s strength and feel relieved that I’m out of that hellhole.

Syd switches on the radio, and Oleksi pulls the blanket beside me over my body. Light music fills the large armored SUV.

I feel my body drift with the motion of the car, lulled by the soft music and the steady beat of Oleksi’s heart beneath my ear. My eyes grow heavy, and I start to drift off, but as I hit that plateau where my dreams usually whisk me away, I’m back outside the facility with Mikhail’s finger pressing cruelly into my throat.

I jolt awake, and Oleksi hugs me tighter. “Are you okay?” His deep voice rumbles through his chest, and I feel his lips press into my head as he presses kisses on it.

“Yes, I just had one of those falling dreams,” I lie.

“You’re exhausted and went through an ordeal,” Oleksi says, his voice filled with concern. “We’re almost there,” he tells me. “When we are there, you need to have a shower and curl up in bed.

I look up at him and smile seductively. I know what I need. I need to feel this man’s lips all over my body, teasing me, commanding me, pleasuring me. I need to feel his fingers swirling around my clit before he licks and sucks on it. Readying me to drive his long hard cock into me. Burying himself deep inside me as he pushes us over the edge of ecstasy. Leaving me sated and exhausted to sleep into a sleep so deep there are no dreams. Not snapshot memories of the past five days, or one of the most horrible nights I can remember having.

“I know what I’d much rather be doing than just curling up in bed,” I whisper huskily, my lips curling into a seductive smile as my hand brushes his already hardening member through his jeans.

He smiles and runs his hands up my inner thigh, stopping at the apex of my legs. I move my ass so I can press my pussy against his fingers and my arousal at his touch is instant. Electrifying. And a need the likes I have never felt before hits me like a sexual meteor, nearly splintering my control as the need for the release I know only he can give me burns through my nether regions.

Oleksi leans in and kisses my neck. I close my eyes and breathe as he starts to rub me through my jeans, and I can feel myself getting juicier as my arousal spikes.

“Does that feel good, baby?” he whispers in my ear, blowing hot air into it and sending goosebumps down my body, and turning my nipples into tight wanton pebbles. “Is your little pussy hungry for me?”

“Oh, yes,” I whisper back, my breathing becoming labored. “All she wants is to feel your fingers in her, teasing her, getting her ready to take your rock hard cock.”

“Oh, Christ!” Oleksi moans softly. “You are the only woman who has ever made me nearly lose control with a soft brush of my cock, that low hooded seductive glance you throw me across a room, or you provocative words.”

“While we’re confessing truths,” I whisper back. “You’re the only man who’s ever been able to make me cum without having to help myself.”

“That’s a true honor,” he teases, turning slightly so he can get better access to slip his hand down my waistband. His fingers run up my slit before disappearing between the folds. “You’re so fucking wet for me.”

“That’s because I don’t just want you, I need you—so badly right now.”

“Oh, baby, you have no idea how much I need you.” His lips crush mine and he dips two fingers into my slick pussy and starts to pump them in and out, curling them slightly to increase the pleasure.

“Oh, God.” I suck in a breath and bite my lip to stop myself from screaming, faster, fucking faster.

“I wish I could bury my cock deep inside you right now,” Oleksi growls. “I’ve missed you so Goddamn much.”

“I missed you too,” I admit, my breath becoming labored as he adds his thumb, swirling it and rubbing my clit with it, adding to the building pleasure.

“Do you want to come all over my fingers for me, baby?”

“You have no idea how badly,” I rasp.

“Not yet,” Oleksi commands, and he stops his movement, making me want to scream. “Slow down, baby.”

“No, no,” I breathe, turning my body towards him and kissing his lips. “I don’t want to slow down. Please, please, Oleksi, I… need the release.”

“Shh,” Oleksi uses his free hand to move the hair off my face. “You’ll get your release,” he promises me. Tapping my clit with his thumb. “But you need to earn it.”

“Mmm,” I mumble, moving my hips and pressing my hungry little clit into his finger. “How do you want me to earn it?”

“If I let you cum,” Oleksi smiles slowly as he talks, kissing and nipping at my lips while his hand on my pussy remains still, “you will owe me one sexual favor I can call whenever or wherever. No questions or backchat.”

“Mm,” I whisper, moving my hand up and down his cock that is now rock hard and straining to get out of his pants. “Your cock wants to come out and play. What if I help you cum in the car too?”

“My cock wants to be in your mouth, feeling that incredible thing you do with your tongue when you suck me off,” Oleksi’s breathing becomes deeper and I add a little pressure while dry humping him. “Then I want to bury myself so deep inside you we don’t know where I end or you begin as I drive us to a screaming orgasm.”

“Oh, God,” I reply. His words make my pussy walls contract around his fingers.

“Do we have a deal?” He starts to finger fuck me faster his thumb swirling my clit in time to the rhythm of them. My hips begin to buck, falling in with the rhythm, and I’m starting to feel my orgasm crest.

“You can have whatever you want,” I promise, pushing myself harder against his hand that’s working his magic fingers in and out of me, desperate to feel him touching me again. “Please… don’t stop. My pussy is aching for your magic touch to bring it release.”

His hand picks up speed and I can feel the wall of my pussy start to clamp around his fingers as he whispers in my ear, “Come for me baby.” He flicks my clit and thrusts his other digits hard into my channel pushing me over the edge and before I can scream his mouth clamps over mine swallowing it.

I buck and shake as the orgasm rips through me. Oleksi holds me and continues stroking and kissing me until I start to come down from the orgasm’s high, resting my head against his chest.

“Feeling better?” Oleksi asks, pushing some stray locks behind my ear as my breathing calms.

“A bit,” I tell him. “I wish we were there.” I sigh, and my eyes start to drift shut.

“Sabrina,” Oleksi’s voice seems far away. “Hey, sleepy head, wake up. We’ve arrived at the first safe house.”

I yawn and stretch sitting up and looking around. Low flood lights light the grounds that are surrounded by tall trees that are starting to become visible as morning is breaking through.

“How long was I asleep for?” I scooch toward the door Oleksi holds open for me.

“About an hour,” he answers, taking my hand. “Syd is testing the water to make sure it’s warm so you can have a nice soak in a tub.”

“Without being watched!” I breathe a sigh of relief.

“What?” Oleksi’s brow furrows.

“When I was in the RMSAD detention center, I was watched all the time,” I tell him and see him quickly school his features but it’s too late. I saw the flicker of anger over the indignity I had to suffer. I swallow. “But, I don’t want to speak about it.” I look into his eyes as we step into the cottage that is being warmed by fires started in the many fireplaces around the large cabin. “If you don’t mind.”

Oleksi’s eyes search mine and he nods. “When you’re ready, we are going to talk about it though,” he tells me. “Because I have a lot to tell you too.”

My eyes widen. “Have you found Tara?”

“I…” His jaw clamps. “No.” He shakes his head. “I’m sorry, baby, but I was so hell-bent on finding you…”

“It’s okay,” I smile as he leads me through to our room at the back of the cabin.

“This is us.” Oleksi pushes the door open.

We step in and there is a large wooden bed in the center, two nightstands flank it with lamps on each. A dresser lines the wall beside the door, and there’s another door open where I can hear water running so it’s not hard to guess where that leads to.

“It’s not fancy,” Oleksi says. “But it’s practical.”

“Compared to my accommodations for the past five days, it’s like a five star hotel,” I tell him.

“Aren’t you going to ask me about your mother?” Oleksi asks as I head for the bed to test it.

I stop beside it and turn toward him. “Yes, I want to know about my mother.” Of course I do. “Did you find her?” My heart lurches.

“We did,” Oleksi replies and I breath a sigh of relief. “We found her with my aunt, Nikolas, and Mark at…” He stops and frowns. “Sabrina… you mother…”

I hold up my hand to stop him. I have a feeling I know what he’s going to say and I’ve had the fact that my entire life was built on lies rammed down my throat for five days. I just want some time. Just a couple of hours to process it without having to be on high alert all the time. Without having to pretend indifference to having my world blown apart or being constantly tested, questioned, watched, judged.

“Not tonight!” I lower my voice. “Please, Oleksi not now.”

He gives me a tight smile and nods. Before I can say more there’s a light knock and the door which is still open.

We turn to find Nadia and Valeska standing there. Nadia has a small bag in her hand that she holds out to me.

“Shit the bath,” Oleksi mutters and rushes to the bathroom.

“Sorry, I know we’re not the same size, but Valeska is more your height and build,” Nadia says.

“So Nadia packed some of my clothes she has for you,” Valeska tells me. “Just some nightwear, clean clothes.”

“I bought you fresh underwear and a new toothbrush, hairbrush, deodorant, and other girlie products,” Nadia tells me.

While I’m standing there staring at the two women who were instrumental in getting me freed from the hellhole before I can control it and to my sheer mortification, I burst into fucking tears—again!

“Oh, no, baby…” Oleksi is by my side in a flash and glares at the two women. “Look what you’ve done.”

Nadia just rolls her eyes at him, steps past him and pulls me into her arms, holding me close. “It’s okay.”

“No…” I sniff and find the more I try the harder it is to control the fucking things.

“Stop it,” Oleksi growls at Nadia. “Maybe you should go, you’re upsetting her.”

“Oh, stop it,” Nadia snaps at him, making me laugh through the tears at the looks on his face being snapped at by her. “It’s her hormones you fool. I’m not upsetting her.”

“I think, what Nadia is trying to say,” Valeska gives Oleksi a smug smile, “is that Sabrina being upset is all your fault.” Her grin broadens. “After all, you’re the one who got her pregnant.”

My eyes widen as I stare at them then look accusingly at Oleksi.

“Don’t look at me.” He holds up his hands defensively. “I have no idea how Nadia knew.”

“I used to work at the hospital you went to the night you found out,” Nadia tells me. “My contact at the hospital called to tell me that Oleksi Mirochin was just in there with his wife and they are expecting their first child.”

“You worked at that hospital,” I sniff and swipe at my cheeks with the back of my hand.

“Nadia was a surgeon,” Valeska says proudly.

“Was?” My brow furrows.

“A long story,” Nadia tells me and looks at Oleksi. “He will fill you in on everything after you’ve had a hot bath, some nice soup that Syd is cooking…”

“What?” I look at them in alarm. “Syd is cooking?”

“And I’m a fucking shit hot cook!” Syd’s voice comes from behind Nadia and Valeska. “Excuse me.” She pushes her way into the room and a delicious aroma enters with her making my mouth water and stomach growl. “That does smell delicious.”

“Then sit and eat,” Syd commands, walking me over to the small table with two chairs near the large windows. I frown. I didn’t even see those there. Syd puts the tray down. “I’ll be back to fetch it when it’s done.”

“Thank you, Syd,” I smile.

“Of course,” Syd says, before leaving the room.

“We’d better go too,” Nadia says. “Nikolas is making plans for us to leave in a few hours.” She looks at me. “It was nice meeting you Sabrina. Take care and love Elena.”

I frown thinking that’s a strange thing to say, but a nice thing I guess.

“She’s my world,” I admit and feel the fucking tears start to well up in my eyes again. “What the fuck is going on?”

“Hormones,” Nadia tells me, walking over to where I’m standing by the small table, me trying not to salivate all over the place as the aroma of the soup beckons. “I will say goodbye now as you need to get your rest. You have a big day tomorrow.”

“Yes, doctor,” I tease with a smile, then hug her. “Thank you, Nadia. For helping Oleksi find me.” I look past her and hold out my arms to Valeska who gladly steps into them. “And you, Valeska. I have no words for how grateful I am. And I’m so sorry for doubting you in the mess hall.”

Valeska hugs me tightly. “Don’t worry about it,” she says, stepping back. “I get that all the time when people find out who I am.”

“Well, from today, you won’t have that problem,” I point out.

“No, I wont’.” Valeska smiles before they each give me one more hug and walk to the door turning to Oleksi.

“We need to talk before I go,” Nadia tells him.

“Come call me,” Oleksi tells her and she nods. They give me one last wave and leave.

I sit at the small table as Ivan comes to the door and gives a tray to Oleksi. “Here is your dinner, boss.”

“Thanks, Ivan,” Oleksi takes the tray and sits in front of me at the table.

We sit eating in silence for a few moments before I look at him. “Thank you for coming to find us.” My voice is soft and our eyes lock. I see his darken with emotion.

“I will always come to find you, Sabrina,” His voice is filled with convection and he reaches across the table taking my hand. “You and our child are my world.”

And just like that—the fucking waterworks erupt again!