Page 15 of Cruel Russian Monster (Safin Bratva #2)

After Vera fell asleep on the beach chair last night, I carried her to her room.

The villa was spacious, with two ensuite bedrooms, a living room, a kitchen, a back porch with a pool, and our own private beach.

She made it clear that things were casual between us, and I agreed to it because I told myself I was done being tempted by her.

Not only did I need to have her, but once I did, I wouldn't be tempted again.

But tasting her hadn’t satisfied the hunger; it only intensified it.

As she snuggled into me while I carried her, my cock hardened.

Once in her room, I tucked her under the covers. I wanted nothing more than to take her clothes off. I loved seeing her squirm under my hands. And when I told her she couldn't cum until I told her to? Fuck! She obeyed, no questions asked. It made me want her even more.

I dragged my hand down my face and sighed. It took everything I had to turn around and walk out.

After checking that the security alarms were set, I took a quick shower and slid into bed.

Sleep didn’t come easy, and when it finally did, it didn’t stay. I was awake again just two hours later, restless and on edge.

By five a.m., I was already out on the back porch, watching the waves roll in, and at seven, breakfast arrived.

Instead of waiting for her to come out, I carried the tray to Vera’s room.

She wasn’t in the outfit she wore last night. At some point, she’d gotten up and changed into a purple thin-strapped satin top and boyshorts. She was curled around a pillow, her mouth slightly open.

I sat next to her, unable to resist the urge to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear. She moaned softly in her sleep, and when I brushed the back of my hand along her arm, I watched her nipples harden beneath the thin fabric of her top.

A low growl rumbled in my chest.

I stood abruptly and walked out of the room. I didn't want Vera to think I brought her on the trip to just have sex with her, and we hadn't really spoken about what happened between us. The last thing I wanted was for her to regret what we did and make our little trip away feel uncomfortable.

In the kitchen, I grabbed the tray with my breakfast and ate quickly, trying to silence the fire sparked by touching her. A cold shower helped…barely.

When I stepped out of my room again, Vera was on the sofa, legs tucked under her. She’d changed into black shorts and a red fitted top with cap sleeves, her hair pulled back casually as she flipped through a resort brochure.

She looked up at me and smiled. “Good morning.”

“Morning.”

“So, I've been looking at a few things we can do today.”

I loved how her eyes lit up. I sat on the other end of the sofa, turning to her.

“Such as?”

“Okay, so I've got everything planned out for the next few days.”

I lifted a brow. “Go on.”

Over the next fifteen minutes, Vera ran through her five-day agenda of resort activities she wanted us to try.

When she was finished, she looked at me.

“Is there anything you want to add?” she asked.

“You mean add, or take away?”

She looked at me slyly. “No, I mean add. Because of everything listed, I will be doing. And knowing the type of man that you are, you won't let your wife do these things on her own, in a new place. Unless you don't mind my arms around another man's waist while jet skiing.” She smiled sweetly.

Hearing the term ‘your wife’ coming from Vera's lips activated every possessive bone in my body. Then, hearing her talk about her arms going around another man's waist unlocked an animalistic predator from within me. I knew she was baiting me, but I didn't mind.

“So, now you're my wife? I thought you were my hostage?” I asked with a smirk.

“A girl's gotta use them interchangeably to get what she wants.”

I chuckled. “As far as the plans go, I don't have anything to add.”

“Great!” she hopped up off the sofa. “The instructors will be here in…” she checked her watch. “Ten minutes. So go change.”

Fifteen minutes later, we stood on our private stretch of beach in life jackets while the instructors went through how to operate the jet skis.

I noticed Vera had slipped on her wedding ring. Not that it mattered, since one of the instructors was eyeing her like he didn’t give a damn that I was standing right there. He tried to be subtle about it, but by the way he kept adjusting his cock in his pants, he wasn't subtle enough.

Couldn’t blame the guy, though. Vera’s ass in those boyshort bikini bottoms had me two seconds from dragging her back inside and making sure those legs were locked around my damn waist.

After the instructors had finished, she walked over to me, grinning.

“Wanna take a picture together?” she asked.

I nodded. She handed her phone to the instructor, and we posed on the jet ski, my hand either wrapped around her waist or slanted across her chest.

After a few shots, she thanked him and took her phone back. Her fingers flicked through the images until she paused and shot me a look.

“Really? Not one smile, Jaroslav?”

“You asked for a picture,” I said, smirking. “Didn’t hear you say anything about smiling.”

She rolled her eyes and dropped the phone onto the beach chair, right on top of the towels we brought out.

Vera walked over to one of the jet skis and climbed on. I mounted behind her, my hand resting lightly on her hips, while one of the instructors took the second.

“You ever ridden one of these before?” I asked.

She glanced over her shoulder, grinning. “Nope. Afraid?”

“Not even close.”

She started the engine, and it jerked beneath us. After about a minute, she got the rhythm, her confidence growing with each passing wave.

By the time we made it back to shore, Vera spotted a group playing volleyball on the public side of the beach.

“Let’s go join them,” she said, already heading over.

She asked if we could jump in, and they said yes. Then they decided to split the group: girls versus guys.

The second that ball was in play, Vera turned into a different woman—competitive, and relentless, laughing one minute, growling the next. I hadn't known this side of her. Then again, there was a lot I didn’t know.

Back then, we’d barely spoken about anything that might reveal too much.

We stayed on the surface. And now I realized why she hadn’t fought me when we agreed to keep our relationship under wraps.

She had been keeping her own secrets. Like her being a Bratva princess.

She probably thought if I found out where she came from, I’d walk.

Just like I thought she would if she found out about me.

By the end of the match, the guys lost by two points.

One of the guys decided drinks were in order and offered to buy a round at the beach bar.

I held Vera's hand as we walked with the group, and at the bar, the conversation flipped from sports to cars to the Kardashians.

It felt nice to have a normal conversation and not have to be worried that the next thing to be said had to do with planning a strategy.

***

The next few days flew by like the first, with parasailing, a scavenger hunt, and even a bonfire night with live music. We bounced from one activity to the next, and if Vera saw someone doing something she hadn’t tried before, she was already signing us up.

I loved seeing this side of her. Happy. Laughing. Carefree. She was a people person, effortlessly charming everyone around her.

Even you?

Vera just made things…easier? Better? Lighter?

And it wasn’t just the way she looked in her sundresses or how her laughter sounded over the waves; it was the way she made me forget.

For the first time in years, I wasn’t thinking about who might be sneaking up behind us, or which man I’d need to interrogate next.

I didn't have to worry about looking out for Lev or my sisters.

I hadn’t realized how tightly wound I’d been since our parents died. Being underboss demanded all of me, my focus, my ruthlessness, and my control. Every breath I took was calculated to protect my siblings and our faction.

But with Vera, here and now? None of that existed.

At night, we’d sit by the beach, talking until she fell asleep with her head on my shoulder, and I’d carry her inside.

Other nights, we’d curl up watching some movie she picked, and she’d fall asleep tucked against me.

And I didn’t mind. Because I loved having Vera in my arms.

On our final day, we’d just gotten back from the resort’s souvenir shop. Vera disappeared into her room while I grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge.

She reappeared a minute later, holding a long black dress and a pair of red heels.

“What’s this?” she asked.

I took a sip. “Looks like a dress. And heels.”

She gave me a flat stare. “Okay, let me rephrase. What are these doing on my bed?”

“We’re going to dinner tonight,” I said calmly. “And I’d like my wife to wear what her very generous husband picked out.”

She held the dress up, narrowed her eyes. “I wish he’d been generous with the fabric, too. There’s no way I’m leaving this villa in this. It's way too revealing.”

I crossed the space between us and gently took her chin between my fingers.

“You have a gorgeous body,” I said, smoothly. “I bought the dress because I know you’d look beautiful in it. And because you’d be safe wearing it…with me.”

Her breath hitched, just a little.

“You will wear the dress, Vera,” I added. “Everything else has already been packed and sent to the jet. We’ll have dinner. Then we’ll leave. Be ready in an hour.”

I kissed her lightly and walked away without waiting for her reply.

An hour later, Vera and I were sitting in a limo on our way to a small restaurant I’d rented out for the evening.

It had just opened about a month ago. I’d had some of their food delivered nights ago while Vera slept.

After sampling it, I paid double their asking price and told them to keep everything private.

All I wanted was to give my wife a nice romantic evening, with great food and service.