Page 23 of Love to Defy You (The Dark Love #2)

Willow

On Christmas morning, Alek, Mikhail, Anastasia, and I gather around the tree after breakfast. I hold a cup of coffee in my hands to keep warm. But there aren’t any presents under the tree, except for the ones I wrapped.

“We typically do a Russian-style holiday here at the chalet,” Alek explains. “We exchange gifts on New Year’s Eve.”

Mikhail laughs. “That’s when Ded Moroz brings the toys for the children.”

“Dead Morose?” I wrinkle my nose. “That sounds so... morbid.”

“Yes, well, we Russians are a rather broody people, aren’t we?” Mikhail leans back against the sofa and strokes his clean-shaven chin.

Alek leans closer to me and whispers, “But I do expect one Christmas present from you tonight.”

Apparently, Alek isn’t quiet enough, because Ana shrieks, “Ew! Get a room.”

He throws his arm over my shoulder and grins at his sister. “You’re almost seventeen and you’re still grossed out by sex? Did Mat’ not tell you about the pistils and stamens?”

I arch an eyebrow at him. “Is that what the cool kids are calling it these days?”

Mikhail’s face turns red. “It’s a Russian expression, like the birds and the bees.”

I’ve never seen Mikhail get shy or embarrassed about sex. As much as I’d like to tease him about it, Ana is even redder than him, and she looks ready to flee the room.

I turn to Alek. “But all the guests are arriving for the New Year’s Eve party. When will we have time to open gifts?”

“I have the perfect moment in mind.” He glances down at me, but his eyes hold a mischievous gleam I’ve seen many times before.

“What are you planning?” I ask in a low voice. “You still haven’t told me why you invited Enzo.”

“I did tell you. I’m keeping my enemies close.”

I scoff. “I don’t buy it. What are you really planning?”

He leans in and kisses the tip of my nose. “You’ll find out.”

I shake my head and turn away from him. “Ana, how about we ditch the guys and go skiing today? I’m ready for my first lesson.”

Her sapphire eyes light up. “Oh, yes! I’ll go change.”

Alek catches my hand when I stand up. “Are you mad at me, malishka? ”

His patronizing tone irks me. “If you want to keep secrets from me, then our conversation is over.”

I don’t know what he’s planning, but this dangerous game he’s playing doesn’t just involve Enzo. It involves me too, and I don’t like being kept in the dark. I need to be ready for what’s next, and to do that, Alek needs to treat me as his equal. Right now, we don’t feel like a team.

I stare down at him, waiting for his response.

“In that case, don’t fall on the slopes.” He releases my hand. “The only thing that will make you sore tonight is me.”

“Alek, shut up!” Ana screeches. “You’re so gross!”

I snort. “We’ll see about that.”

If he wants to play games, then I’ll play ball. Two blue balls, to be exact.

Six days. Six whole fucking days.

This is the longest Alek and I have gone without sex since we left Andarusia, although it’s not for a lack of him trying. It’s hard to resist when we share a bed at night and he sleeps naked.

He could force himself on me if he wanted. Consent isn’t exactly in his vocabulary. But as soon as I rebuke him, he just laughs and rubs one out in front of me.

Which means I’m the only one with pent-up sexual frustration between us.

I spend as much time out of our room as possible because I’m sticking by what I said. Our guests are due to arrive today, and I know they’re walking into Alek’s trap. I just don’t know what that trap is, which means I’ll be caught in it too.

I’ve spent a lot of time skiing or reading books by the fireplace, like I am now. I’ve been avoiding steamy romance, but even Prince Harry’s autobiography isn’t boring enough to cure my raging libido.

I feel a presence behind me and bristle. Alek’s aura radiates power, and I can sense when he enters a room without seeing or hearing him.

He rests his hands on my shoulders and starts massaging them. Fuck, that feels good, but I keep staring at my book, pretending not to notice him.

“Last chance, malishka ,“ he says in that sexy bedroom voice of his. “We could do it right here before the guests arrive.”

I resist the urge to press my thighs together. All it takes is one word from Aleksandr Kurochkin’s mouth and my traitorous body redirects all the blood to my pussy, but there’s no way I’m letting him know how much he affects me.

“Are you going to tell me what you’re planning before Enzo arrives?” I ask.

Alek slides a hand down the front of my shirt into my bra, and when he pinches my nipple, a moan slips past my lips.

Dammit.

“Don’t you want to come?” he purrs in my ear.

While one hand plays with my nipple, the other slides down into the front of my jeans. It takes every ounce of willpower I have not to buck my hips to meet his fingers when he brushes against my sex over my underwear.

“You think wearing panties will deter me?” He lets out a soft chuckle. “You’re so wet and ready for me.”

Fuck, fuck, fuck , this is really hard when my body aches for him. Sex with Alek is a drug, and I’m going through serious withdrawals for the sake of making a point.

What was the point again?

Oh, right. “Are you going to let me in on the plan?”

He drags his finger over my panties, tracing my quivering slit. “Tomorrow night is New Year’s Eve. I’ll tell you my plan before the clock strikes midnight.”

“And then what?” I say. “You’ll turn Enzo into a pumpkin?”

Alek nips at my neck from behind. “Perhaps.”

I guess a timeframe to clue me in is... something. It’s more than I’ve gotten out of him since Thanksgiving. Can I live with that?

He presses his finger harder over the damp fabric of my underwear.

Yeah. Yeah, I think I can live with that.

“Promise?” I rasp, pushing my hips up to meet his touch.

“I promise.”

The doorbell rings, and it’s deafening in the quiet living room.

Alek slides his hands out of my clothing, and I slump against the sofa cushions, gasping for air. Is it possible to die from sexual frustration? I’m on the verge of tears, and I’m about to take things into my own hands and ease the molten heat churning between my legs.

He leaves the room to open the door, and moments later, a familiar voice calls my name from across the room.

I swivel my head to look behind me so fast that I nearly twist my neck in the process. With a shriek, I bolt off the couch and cross the giant room in four leaping steps to hurl myself into Prisha’s waiting arms. “Oh my God! You’re here!”

Her long, thick braid of dark hair falls off her shoulder from the force of my hug. “I can’t believe how long it’s been!” she squeals. “I’ve missed you!”

“I’ve missed you too!”

Behind Prisha stands Alek, whose face is scrunched as he rubs his ears. “I think the entire Swiss Alps can hear you two wailing.”

I clutch Prisha tighter, which pushes her round glasses askew. “Who cares?”

We both burst into giggles.

“I’ll let you two catch up,” Alek says. “I’m going to find a quieter room.”

Alek excuses himself, and at last, I release Prisha. “Come on, I’ll show you your room. It’s right next to Henri’s.”

She quirks an eyebrow. “Who’s Henri?”

I drag her toward the stairs with a huge grin on my face. “The Belgian chocolate heir who’s going to take your V-card.”

While I put the finishing touches on Prisha’s makeup in my bedroom, a movement in the doorway catches my eye.

Josie raps her knuckles on the door. “Knock, knock.”

I set the eyeshadow down and gesture for her toward us. “Hey! Come in. Prisha, this is Josie. Josie, this is Prisha.”

“What a gorgeous name. Lovely to meet you, Prisha.” Josie strides in and takes a seat on the sofa in front of the fireplace. “Goodness, this room is stunning.”

“Right?” I glance out the window at the sunset, which casts an orange hue across the snowy mountainside. “This used to be Alek’s parents’ room when they stayed here.”

“It’s good to be king.” Josie grins. “Thank you for the invitation, by the way. Our room is lovely, although Mick managed to make a mess with all his dirty laundry thrown all over.”

I laugh. “Did you just arrive?”

“Yes, I rode up with Enzo and Birgitta.” She waves a lazy wrist toward the hallway. “They’re getting settled now before the welcome dinner.”

“Well, at least we’ll have a little entertainment tonight.” I glance at Prisha to elaborate for her. “Alek and Enzo don’t exactly get along.”

Prisha nods and twirls a lock of her dark hair around her finger. “Is, um, Henri here yet?”

“I saw him downstairs when we arrived,” Josie says. “Have you not met him yet?”

A tinge of pink appears on Prisha’s cheeks. “No, not yet.”

I lean against the makeup vanity, unable to hide the smirk on my face. “I’m playing matchmaker tonight.”

Josie’s eyes light up. “Oh, how marvelous. Seems like love is in the air tonight.” She turns to watch the first signs of snowfall, but her smile melts away.

We spend the next hour trying on dresses and finishing our hair and makeup before dinner.

Tonight, I’m not looking to draw attention—well, at least not Enzo’s attention—so I opt for a vintage cocktail dress with a sweetheart neckline.

It’s more tasteful than most of the stuff I own, although it still makes my boobs look fantastic. Burgundy is totally my color.

I haven’t had a girls’ night like this since a middle school sleepover. Female friendships were always harder for me to develop, and even though Prisha and Josie are polar opposites, the three of us fall into easy conversation and a comfortable atmosphere.

Seeing Prisha and Josie get along makes me wish that the rest of the night will run this smoothly. But who am I kidding? You can’t have Enzo and Alek in a room without the air crackling with tension.