Page 26

I stand across from Maksim Letvin, my arms crossed and jaw clenched.

“So, Charlie's out then?” I ask, raising an eyebrow.

Maksim nods curtly. “He overstepped. Thought he could run things his way, but our family decided otherwise.”

Relief washes over me, but I maintain my stoic expression. “And you're in charge now?”

“That's what the family chose,” Maksim confirms, a hint of pride in his gruff voice. “Things will be different. No more sneaking around, no more underhanded deals.”

I give him a nod of gratitude. With Charlie gone, the threat to Quinn and my family diminishes. But I can't let my guard down completely.

“Good to hear,” I say, uncrossing my arms. “But I'll be keeping an eye on things, just to be sure.”

Maksim's eyes narrow. “You don't trust me, Zolotov?”

I meet his gaze unflinchingly. “Trust is earned, Letvin. I'll have my people watching, making sure Charlie doesn't try anything.”

“Do what you must,” Maksim shrugs. “But know that the Bratva stands united now. Charlie's days of causing trouble are over.”

I nod, my mind already racing with plans. I'll need to send out spies, gather intelligence. I can't risk Charlie resurfacing and targeting those I love. Quinn's safety is my top priority, and I'll do whatever it takes to ensure it.

“We're done here then,” I say, turning to leave. “Keep your house in order, Maksim. I won't hesitate to step in if needed.”

Just as I’m about to exit, I turn around. “But, Gavril and your help will always be remembered. Do reach out if we can ever return the favor.”

***

I return home, my thoughts still consumed by the need to keep Quinn safe. As I enter our bedroom, I find her sitting on the edge of the bed, her face pale and her eyes unfocused. A wave of concern washes over me, and I rush to her side.

“Quinn, what's wrong?” I ask, my voice tight with worry. I cradle her face in my hands, searching her eyes for answers. “Are you feeling ill?”

She looks up at me, managing a weak smile. “I'm just a little dizzy, that's all.”

But I'm not convinced. The sight of her looking so fragile sends a jolt of panic through me. “We need to get you to the hospital, now,” I insist, already reaching for my phone. “I'll call for the car.”

Quinn places her hand on mine, stopping me. “Mark, it's okay,” she says softly. “I don't need the hospital.”

“But you're not well,” I argue, my brow furrowed with concern. “I can't just sit by and do nothing.”

She takes a deep breath, her smile growing a little stronger. “It's just morning sickness, Mark. It's perfectly normal.”

Relief washes over me, followed by a twinge of embarrassment. Of course, it’s about the pregnancy. I should have seen that coming. I sink down onto the bed beside her, pulling her into my arms. “I'm sorry, I overreacted,” I murmur into her hair. “I just worry about you, about both of you.”

Quinn leans into me, her head resting on my shoulder. “I know you do, and I love you for it. But you don't need to panic every time I feel a little off. We're going to be just fine.”

I nod, holding her closer. The thought of anything happening to her or our unborn child terrifies me. But I know I need to trust her; she knows her body best. “You're right,” I say, pressing a kiss to her temple. “I'll try to relax, I promise.”

She looks up at me, a mischievous glint in her eye. “Good, because I'm going to need you to be the calm one when I'm dealing with swollen ankles and weird cravings.”

I chuckle, the tension easing from my body. “I think I can handle that,” I assure her. “As long as you promise to tell me if anything doesn't feel right, okay?”

“Deal,” she agrees, her eyes locked on mine. A gentle smile graces her lips as she moves closer to me. I’m drawn to her like a moth to a flame. I lean in, taking her lips in a soft kiss. The instant our lips touch, a surge of electricity courses through my body, igniting every nerve ending. I feel alive, my hunger for her intensifying with every passing second.

My hands explore her curves, reveling in the softness of her skin beneath the delicate fabric of her dress. I hold her cheek, my thumb brushing below her chin as I deepen the kiss. Quinn reciprocates with equal passion, her fingers twisting in my hair as she presses herself closer to me.

The urgency between us builds as I gently slide my hand beneath her neck and pull her down, laying her back on the bed with her feet still planted on the ground. I get off her, and she protests, “Mark!”

I get down on the floor and slide my hands up her legs, savoring the smooth expanse of her thighs. She shivers and trembles when my fingers clutch the hem of her dress, inching it higher as I graze the sides of her breasts. With deliberate slowness, I slip the dress off her body, rising with my movements, revealing her naked form beneath.

I stand above her, drinking in her beauty. Quinn's strawberry-blonde hair fans out on the bed, framing her face like a halo. Her skin glows with an ethereal light, and her body is shaped like an instrument to be played. “You are so beautiful,” I whisper, my voice rough with emotion. “You are the sexiest woman alive.”

Quinn blushes, a delicate pink spreading across her cheeks as she looks up at me. She touches her belly, a small smile playing on her lips. “I'll be showing soon,” she murmurs, a hint of vulnerability in her tone.

I shake my head, a smile tugging at the corners of my mouth. “You'll be all the more beautiful then,” I assure her, my hand covering hers on her stomach. “You're carrying our child, Quinn. There's nothing more incredible than that.”

She looks up at me, her eyes shining with unshed tears, and gets on her forearms, reaching for my shirt. Gently, I push her down by her shoulders. “You’re working hard enough giving me a baby,” I insist and stand up straight to quickly shed down to nothing but my boxers.

I watch her watch me and feel a flicker of pride as she bites her lower lip at the sight of my chiseled muscles.

I then kneel before her, my hands grasping her ankles as I spread her legs wide. Quinn's breath hitches, and when I look up, I see her green eyes darkening with desire. Slowly, I trail my fingers up her calves, relishing the smoothness of her skin. When I reach her thighs, I hook my fingers into the waistband of her panties and tug them down, exposing her glistening folds.

“Mark...” she whimpers, her hips lifting off the bed in a silent plea.

I lean forward, inhaling her intoxicating scent. “Shh, Baby,” I murmur, my breath ghosting over her sensitive flesh. “Let me take care of you.”

With that, I delve in, my tongue parting her slick folds. Quinn gasps, her hands fisting the sheets as I explore her most intimate places. I lap at her hungrily, savoring her taste on my tongue. My fingers join the fray, stroking and teasing as I build her towards her peak.

“Oh god, Mark!” she cries out, her back arching off the bed. “Don't stop, please don't stop!”

I double my efforts, my tongue flicking over her clit as my fingers pump in and out of her warmth. Quinn's moans grow louder, her hips rocking against my face as she chases her release. I can feel her tightening around my fingers, her inner walls fluttering with her impending climax.

“That's it, Baby,” I encourage her, my voice muffled against her flesh. “Let go for me.”

With a keening cry, Quinn shatters, her body trembling as waves of ecstasy crash over her. I continue my ministrations, coaxing every last bit of pleasure from her until her pussy stops convulsing around my fingers and she's a boneless heap on the bed. Until I’m sure the last of the wave has passed.

I rise to my feet, my own arousal straining against my boxers. “Get on your hands and knees, Quinn,” I command, my voice rough with need.

She complies eagerly, rolling onto her stomach and lifting her hips in the air. The sight of her, posed and ready for me, nearly undoes me right then and there and my cock groans in protest. Her back arches, accentuating the curve of her spine. Quinn's perfect ass is on full display, tempting me with its lushness. She looks over her shoulder at me, her lips parted and eyes heavy-lidded with desire.

I strip off my boxers in record time, the roar of urgency thundering in my ears. Joining her on the bed, I grasp her hips, aligning myself with her entrance. She’s soaking wet, her ripeness teasing my tip. We both groan as I slide slowly into her slick heat, her body welcoming me home.

I pause for a moment, savoring the exquisite feel of her wrapped around me. Slowly, I begin to move, setting a gentle rhythm as I tenderly make love to her.

“Mark,” she breathes, pushing her hips back to meet my thrusts. “More, please.”

I oblige, picking up the pace as I drive into her with increasing fervor. The room fills with the sounds of our passion—the slap of skin against skin, our mingled moans and gasps of pleasure. Quinn meets me thrust for thrust, her body a perfect counterpoint to mine.

“You feel so good,” I groan, my fingers digging into the soft flesh of her hips. “So tight, so perfect.”

“Don't stop,” she pleads, her words dissolving into a whimper as I hit a particularly sensitive spot.

I can feel the tension coiling within me, the pleasure building to an almost unbearable crescendo. Quinn's movements become more erratic, her breathing more labored, signaling her own impending release. The bed creaks, her hips roll, her ass bounces—all for me.

“I'm close,” she gasps, reaching back to grasp wrists since my hands are otherwise occupied, clenching onto her waist. “So close, Mark.”

“Let go, Quinn,” I urge her and tilt my hip, my thrusts becoming more forceful, more demanding. “Cum for me, Baby.”

With a keening cry, Quinn shatters, her inner walls clamping down around me like a vise. She trembles beneath me, her muscles convulsing and milking my cock. The sensation sends me hurtling over the edge, and I see lightning, hear thunder, feel that maddening pleasure erupt from the point of origin, and I bury myself deep as I find my own release, spilling into her with a guttural groan.

For a long moment, we remain locked together, our bodies trembling with the aftershocks of our shared climax. Slowly, I withdraw from her, gathering her limp form into my arms as I roll onto my back. Quinn nestles into my chest, her heart beating in sync with my own.

We lie entangled, our sweat-slicked bodies melding together, and a profound sense of contentment washes over me. Quinn's head rests on my chest, her silky hair spilling across my skin. I stroke her back with gentle reverence, marveling at the softness beneath my fingertips.

“I could stay like this forever,” Quinn murmurs, her breath warm against my neck.

“Then let's never leave this bed,” I reply, only half-joking. In this moment, the outside world ceases to exist—there is only Quinn, only us, cocooned in our own little universe.

She lifts her head, resting her chin on my chest as she looks at me with those mesmerizing eyes. A playful smile tugs at her lips. “As tempting as that sounds, I think we might eventually get hungry.”

I chuckle, tweaking her nose affectionately. “I suppose you're right. But for now, I just want to hold you close and never let go.”

Quinn's expression softens, her eyes shimmering with emotion. “Mark, I...” She pauses, seeming to search for the right words. “I never expected this, you know? When we first met, I thought you were just another arrogant playboy.”

“And now?” I prompt, my heart suddenly racing in anticipation.

She takes a deep breath, as if steeling herself. “Now, I realize that I was wrong. You're so much more than that. You're strong, protective, loyal... And somewhere along the way, I fell in love with you.”

Time seems to stand still as her words sink in. Love. She loves me. A wave of pure, unadulterated joy crashes over me, threatening to sweep me away.

“Quinn,” I breathe, cupping her face in my hands. “I love you too. God, I love you so much it terrifies me sometimes.”

Her eyes widen, a beatific smile spreading across her face. “You do?”

“Of course I do, you silly woman,” I tease, even as my eyes mist over. “How could I not? You've turned my world upside down and made me question everything I thought I knew. You’ve turned me into a believer, Quinn. I believe in true love because I know that’s what we have. The only thing I'm absolutely certain of is that I want to spend the rest of my life with you.”

Quinn surges forward, capturing my lips in a searing kiss that leaves me breathless. When she finally pulls back, her eyes are soft and sweet. “Well, I suppose it's a good thing you knocked me up then, huh? Now you're stuck with me.”

I laugh, a full-bodied, joyous sound that echoes through the room. “Many things scare me, but being stuck with you isn’t one of them, Sweetheart. You and this baby—you're my everything.”