Page 14

I pull up to the warehouse, the gravel crunching under the tires of my black SUV. Natalia's excited energy is palpable beside me, her curvy figure practically bouncing in the passenger seat. It’s infectious really. For the past two days, she’s been keen to see everything. Today, I brought her out to see a new operation—one that’s joint between our families.

"Ready to see where the magic happens?" I ask, switching the car off.

She squeals and claps her hands. "Oh, you bet. I can't wait to uncover all your secrets, Denis Zolotov."

I chuckle, shaking my head. "The question is, can you keep a secret?”

“Weeell,” she sings. “If it’s too juicy…”

“Natalia!” I admonish her with a chuckle.

The moment we step out, I spot my brothers—Abram, Vladimir, and Mark—waiting by the entrance. Their expressions are a mix of curiosity and wariness. I can read their minds. They’re obviously confused by Natalia tagging along. I place my hand on the small of Natalia's back, guiding her forward.

"Brothers, Natalia’s very happy to be here today," I say, my voice carrying a hint of warning. They nod, offering polite greetings.

Inside, the warehouse buzzes with activity. Workers move boxes, operate machinery, and type furiously at computers. I start introducing Natalia to some key personnel, but she quickly takes charge.

"Hi there! I'm Natalia," she chirps, extending her hand to a burly man operating a forklift. "That looks like fun. Think you could teach me sometime?"

The man's gruff exterior melts instantly. "Sure thing, miss. Anytime you want."

I watch in amazement as she works her way through the warehouse, leaving a trail of smiles and laughter in her wake. Her natural charm and genuine interest in people shine through, breaking down barriers I've spent years trying to overcome.

"Your wife’s something else," Vladimir murmurs, sidling up to me.

I nod, my eyes never leaving Natalia. "That she is."

Suddenly, the door bursts open, and in walk Natalia's brothers—Nikolai, Dima, Fedor, and Artyom.

Natalia squeals with delight. "You guys made it!" She rushes over, enveloping each of them in a hug. I see her brothers, and mine, exchanging confused glances and hold back a laugh.

“Can’t believe our little sister is actually happy to be involved in our world,” Fedor muses incredulously. Nikolai gives him a warning glare before Natalia notices and an argument ensues.

Smart man.

As we gather around a large table covered in maps and documents, I'm struck by how naturally and delicately Natalia inserts herself into the conversation, without stepping on any toes. She mostly listens but adds valuable suggestions for alternative methods for laundering money, and even corrects one of Fedor's calculations.

"Where did you learn all this?" Artyom asks, clearly impressed.

Natalia shrugs, a mischievous glint in her eye. "Oh, you know, I was born into this world, after all. Let’s call it genetics."

In this moment, I feel prouder than I ever have.

As the meeting progresses, I notice the subtle shift in dynamics. Natalia's brothers are leaning in, hanging on her every word. My own brothers exchange surprised glances. And me? I'm fighting the urge to grab her and kiss her senseless right here in front of everyone.

I can't tear my eyes away from Natalia. She's leaning over the table, pointing out something on the end-of-year balance sheet, and her curves are on full display. My fingers itch to trace the outline of her body, to pull her close and—

"Denis?" Natalia's voice snaps me back to reality. "Are you listening?"

I clear my throat, trying to regain my composure. "Of course, Nat. Continue."

She quirks an eyebrow, a playful smirk tugging at her lips. "Sure you were. As I was saying…"

I force myself to focus on her words, not the way her lips move as she speaks. It's torture, pure and simple. How can someone be so sexy without even trying?

Suddenly, Abram's phone rings. His face grows serious as he listens, and I know something's wrong before he even speaks.

"There’s some trouble at the docks," he announces. "The shipment will have to be delayed and they need some help on the ground."

I sigh, running a hand through my hair. "How long?"

"At least another six hours."

"Fuck," I mutter. This complicates things. "Alright, I'll handle it."

Natalia steps forward, her chin raised defiantly. "I'm coming with you."

"Absolutely not," I say firmly. "It's too dangerous."

Her eyes flash with that fierce determination I've come to both admire and dread. "I'm not asking for permission, Denis. I'm telling you I'm helping."

We stare each other down, neither willing to back down. Finally, I relent. "Fine. But you stay by my side at all times, understood?"

She grins triumphantly. "Perfectly."

***

The warehouse is a hive of frantic activity as we arrive. The air thrums with tension, thick enough to cut with a knife.

"Boss, we've got a problem," Yuri comes over, looking distressed. "Customs is doing an unexpected sweep. We need to move everything. Now."

"Fuck," I curse under my breath. Turning to Natalia, I see the question in her eyes. "We need to clear this place. Fast."

She nods, standing straighter now. "What do you need me to do?"

For the next few hours, we work in a blur of coordinated chaos. Natalia proves herself invaluable, her quick thinking and attention to detail catching errors that could have cost us dearly. I find myself constantly aware of her presence, my body attuned to her every movement.

As the night settles in we finally secure the last of the shipment. Exhaustion weighs heavily on me, my muscles aching from the night's exertion. I look over at Natalia, expecting to see the same weariness reflected on her face. Instead, her eyes are bright, a small smile playing on her lips as she chatters excitedly with some of my men.

She doesn’t even realize how damn helpful she was today, does she?

"Ready to go home?" I ask, unable to keep the fondness from my voice.

She turns to me, her smile widening. "Absolutely! Though I feel like I could go for hours more. Wasn't that exciting?"

I can't help but chuckle at her enthusiasm. Even after a grueling night, she's still full of energy. It's both endearing and slightly maddening.

"Come on now, Firecracker, " I say, gently guiding her toward the car. "Let's get you home before you decide to take on another operation."

***

The dim glow of the dashboard is hypnotic as I struggle to keep my eyes focused on the road. My eyelids feel like lead weights, threatening to close with each blink. I grip the steering wheel tighter, willing myself to stay alert.

Besides me, Natalia listens to the soft music that’s on, happily looking out of the window.

I drive in quiet, trying desperately to stay focused, but within minutes, I begin to feel dull. My eyes close, darkness takes over and then, I hear a long, loud honk. I jerk awake with a curse just as a car suddenly swerves into our lane. My heart leaps into my throat as I turn the wheel, narrowly avoiding a collision. Tires screech against asphalt as I fight to regain control, finally managing to pull onto the shoulder.

For a moment, all I can hear is the pounding of my own heartbeat and our ragged breathing. My hands tremble on the wheel, adrenaline coursing through my veins.

"Fuck," I mutter, running a shaky hand through my hair. "That was too close."

I pull up to the side of the car, furious for what I was almost responsible for. I could have killed her.

I turn to Natalia, my heart still racing. "Are you alright?" My voice comes out rougher than intended, concern overriding everything else. She nods, but I can see the tension in her shoulders, the slight tremble of her lip. Without thinking, I reach out, cupping her face in my hands.

Once I see she’s got no injuries on her face, my hands move in frenzied motions across her body—scanning her arms, my hands graze her breasts, reach for her legs, check her neck. “Are you hurt? Are you in pain?”

Natalia's eyes lock with mine, her breath quivering. "I'm okay, Denis. Just… a little shaken."

I notice her slight shiver and frown. "You're trembling. Are you cold?" But as I study her more closely, I realize it's not just fear causing her reaction. Her pupils are dilated, and her breathing is quick and shallow. A familiar heat coils in my gut as recognition dawns.

My hands, I realize, are still one on her thigh and another at her waist.

"Natalia," I murmur, my voice dropping an octave. The air between us shifts, charged with sudden tension.

She leans into my touch, her lips parting slightly. "Denis," she whispers, and the sound of my name on her lips sends a jolt through me.

I'm acutely aware of every point of contact between us—my hand on her waist, her hips pressed against the center console. The desire to pull her closer, to claim those tempting lips, is overwhelming.

"We should… we should get going," I manage, though I make no move to pull away. "It's late and we’re in the middle of nowhere."

Natalia nods, but her eyes never leave mine. "Yeah," she breathes. "We should."

Neither of us moves. The moment stretches, taut with possibility, and I wonder how much longer I can resist the pull between us.

I can't take it anymore. The tension snaps like a rubber band stretched too far. My hands slide into Natalia's soft hair, and I pull her to me, crushing my lips against hers. She gasps, then melts into the kiss, her small hands gripping my shirt.

The taste of her is intoxicating—sweet and warm, with a hint of the coffee she had earlier. I groan, deepening the kiss, my tongue seeking hers. Natalia responds with equal fervor, her inexperience evident, but her enthusiasm making up for it.

"Denis," she breathes against my lips, and I nearly lose control.

"Natalia," I growl, nipping at her lower lip. "You drive me crazy, you know that?"

She giggles, the sound both innocent and seductive. "Good," she says, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "I like driving you crazy."

Her hands trail down my chest, igniting sparks wherever she touches, until at last, she cups my cock through my trousers.

“Fuck,” I groan into her mouth, my hands now untucking her shirt, tracing up her skin to the outline of her bra. I force my hand through, flicking her nipple with my finger. She mewls—a sound straight out of a medley.

I find myself bursting at the seams, the desire to shed all my clothes taking over now. But as much as I want her—and God, do I want her—it can’t happen like this. She arches her back, her luscious breast filling my hand, and she tries to unbuckle my belt.

God damn it. If I don’t stop now, I won’t stop at all.

With a groan, I pull away. She watches me, dumbstruck and confused, her lips still parted. I cup her face, my thumbs stroking her flushed cheeks.

"It's time I got you home, Nat," I say, gently brushing a strand of hair from her face.

Natalia's eyes widen with disappointment. "Already?" she asks, her voice small.

I nod, firmly but kindly. "It’s late, and this is a dark and dangerous road.”

She sighs but doesn't argue. We untangle ourselves and straighten our clothes and I put the car into drive. This time, I drive wide awake, hyper-aware of every move she makes beside me, impatient to get home as fast as I possibly can.