Page 17 of Taken by the Bratva (Bychkov Bratva #1)

Aria

I wake up to an empty bed again, and this time, I make sure to sneak over to the guest room next door to use the bathroom and shower. Daniil opened up to me last night, and I don’t need him shutting down again because I see his scars again before he’s ready to tell me about them. Or, I should say, hope he’s ready to tell me about them.

After my shower, I look in the mirror at my neck and see the faint finger bruises Daniil left on me. They don’t hurt, and I kind of like seeing marks of his passion on me. And to prove to him I don’t mind them, I twist my hair up into a clip so they’re visible rather than hiding them.

I dig through my suitcase, not sure what I’ll find since Gia had no idea where I was going or what I would need, but it seems she threw together a mix of everything. Including a bikini. Perfect.

While I loved naked day yesterday, I don’t exactly want to remain naked for an entire week.

I slip a loose dress on over my suit and bound downstairs, a little extra bounce in my steps.

I rarely get to sleep in, so it’s nice not having to set an alarm, and simply wake when my body wants to.

In the kitchen, I grab a coffee cup to make an espresso, and find a container of sliced fruit in the fridge I’ll have for breakfast. With another beautiful sunny day, I enjoy my breakfast by the pool and lay out for a while before I start to grow bored. I don’t have a phone or laptop, which has oddly been a nice break, but I need something to look at. I haven’t read a book in forever, but I have the urge to pick one up now.

I find my way back inside, this time entering through the sliding door of the lower living room, and search the book shelves around the fireplace. There are a lot of classics, in many different languages, but it’s a red leather-bound book tucked away at the end of one shelf that my eyes are drawn to.

I pull it out and see that there isn’t any writing on the spine or cover. Cracking it open, I’m greeted to blank pages. It’s just a plain notebook filled with blank, unlined pages, and I can’t help but feel I was meant to find this. Holding it close to my chest, I race up the stairs to the kitchen and search through the drawers until I find the junk drawer and rummage through it for a few pencils.

Armed with my supplies, I make my way back outside and roam around the property until I find the garden I saw through Daniil’s office windows yesterday.

I almost think the yard comes to an end, but then I see a flat stone in the grass up ahead. I walk up to it, and through the overgrown bushes I see another one, so I push myself through and follow the stones under my feet until I find myself surrounded by the most beautiful bursts of colors and mix of greens.

Smiling, I turn in all directions, looking for the perfect spot to sit. There’s a bench under a small tree, so I sit on the grass in front of it and pull my knees up, leaning against the bench for support.

I can already feel his eyes on me, but I don’t look over at the windows to see. I like knowing he can see me out here while he’s in there working, and it gives me the perfect inspiration for my first sketch. I open to a random page in the notebook and pick up one of the pencils I dropped in the grass.

Daniil’s stern and hard-planed face is one that deserves to be gracing museum walls, with his hauntingly beautiful and lost eyes drawing people in to look longer and harder.

I wish I had my good colored pencils and markers so bring his eyes to life, but I can add that when I go home.

A twinge of regret pulls at my heart as I think that, but I need to keep reminding myself that I will be going home soon. I need that barrier between us.

The tree’s shade provides me protection from the direct sun, but not its heat, and I’m starting to feel rivers of sweat running down my back.

Straightening my shoulders, I stretch my stiff neck and close my eyes, listening to the peaceful sounds of the afternoon. I look down at my drawing of Daniil and smile. It’s him at the club, sitting in his chair like the king he is in his world, with a glass of his family’s vodka in one hand and the other resting on Rex’s head, who’s sitting dutifully by his side.

Turning the page, I start on a new sketch, wanting to capture Daniil in all forms. I’m working on the lines of his powerful thighs when I’m interrupted by the best distraction.

Rex comes bounding through the same hidden entrance I did and stops in front of me, bumping me with his nose.

“Hey, handsome boy,”

I croon, tossing the notebook and pencil aside to give him the attention he deserves.

“Were you off hiding with Daniil?”

I ask quietly, like the man himself can somehow hear me out here.

Rex jumps up and puts his massive paws on my shoulders. “Rexy!”

I exclaim, laughing.

“Okay, okay, I’ll give you all the scratches you want since you’re such a good boy. You want to sit with me for a while so I can sketch you?”

Rex lets out a little chuff and licks my face.

“I’ll take that as a yes. Lay down next to me, okay?”

He does as I say right away and I smile proudly.

“Good boy.”

I pick my notebook and pencil back up and get to work. I’ll finish my naked Daniil later. Maybe after a little more visual research on my subject.

It must be over an hour later when I hear the steady breathing of Rex and notice that he’s napping. I’m guessing he gets as much time to relax in the sun as I do. I put the finishing touches on his drawing and lean forward to kiss his head.

“You want to go for a swim, Rexy?”

I ask him softly, and he perks right up, alert and ready.

“But first, do you want to see your drawing?”

His tongue lolls out in a pant and I hold my notebook up for him to see. He tilts his head to the side and barks.

“You like it?”

He barks again and nudges my arm.

“Thank you, Rexy. Alright,”

I tell him, grabbing the extra pencils in the grass and standing on stiff legs. I definitely should have gotten up sooner.

“You lead the way.”

I follow Rex out of the garden and through the yard to the pool. I toss the notebook on the nearest table and shed my dress, covering the notebook with it.

Rex looks at me expectantly.

“You want me to go in first?”

I pat his head and then jump in from the side, the rush of cold water a jolt to my system.

Rex jumps in next to me and I squeal in surprise. I had doubts he’d actually jump in the pool with how strict Daniil is with him.

He swims over to the stairs and climbs out, only to run around to the side and jump in again.

Laughing, I swim around the pool as he entertains himself. I could stay out here all day, but I’m thirsty and starving.

“Come on, Rexy. Let’s go inside and get some food and water.”

He makes it to the stairs before me and I duck out of the way when he shakes the excess water from his fur.

I grab my dress and supplies, and carry them inside with me. The air conditioning has my skin pebbling in goosebumps within a minute so I grab my dress and head to the bathroom.

“Be right back, Rex. Stay here, okay?”

I take my wet bikini off and rinse it off in the sink and then wring it out. I lay it out to dry on top of a spare towel on the counter, and then put my dress back on. I have a feeling Daniil will like that he’ll find me naked under here.

Biting my lip, I shake my head free of dirty thoughts and go back into the kitchen to fill Rex’s bowls with food and water and make a salad for myself.

When I go to take a seat on one of the stools around the kitchen island to eat, I see a box waiting for me that I was completely oblivious to before.

The note on top reads:

Wear this for me.

A man of few words, Daniil is.

Smiling, I run my fingers over the dark green pebbled leather of the jewelry box, wondering if I’m going to find what I wore in the club inside. Those pieces were really beautiful.

Flicking open the latch, I lift the lid and my hand flies up to cover my mouth.

Oh. My. God.

Nestled within the black velvet interior is the most exquisite necklace I’ve ever seen. Picking it up, I turn it in the light to see the diamonds winking at me, and feel the smooth pearls between my fingers.

It’s a thick choker necklace, about three inches in width, with too many diamonds to count that are clustered together to make different sized flowers, with pearls as their centers.

It’s stunning.

Gorgeous.

A work of art.

My lunch momentarily forgotten, I hurry back to the bathroom and fasten the necklace around my neck, needing to see it on me. I turn from side to side to see it from all angles. It covers almost my entire neck, and then it hits me...

That’s the point of this. He’s giving me this to hide the marks on my neck.

I’ll fix it, he said to me, and I suppose this is his way of doing that. The most beautiful and expensive way.

If this is what he needs me to wear so he doesn’t look at me with those regretful eyes, then I’ll wear it for him.

I go back out to eat my lunch and tuck the note he wrote into the box for safe keeping.

When I’m finished, I put my dishes in the dishwasher and decide he’s done hiding in his office.

“Come on, Rexy, let’s go find your owner and see if he likes his present on me.”

Unlike last night, I’m not nervous as I walk to his office and knock on the partially open door.

“Come in,”

he says, and hearing his voice for the first time all day, I feel a blush creep across my face.

Rex pushes the door open with his nose and trots right over to Daniil.

“Was he good company?”

Daniil asks, those intense eyes looking up at me, but then zeroing in on the necklace.

“Did you send him outside to keep me company?”

“I did.”

He remains focused on the necklace.

“And you found the garden.”

“I did.”

I smile, looking out the windows.

“You were drawing.”

“I was.”

I nod, my blush deepening.

“Come here,”

he orders softly, and my feet carry me to him without thought. When I’m standing next to him, he lifts me up to sit on his desk and palms my bare thighs.

“What were you drawing?”

“It’s personal,”

I answer honestly.

“No secrets, Aria.”

I roll my lips between my teeth before admitting, “You.”

His eyes flare. “And Rex.”

“You were so focused out there.”

“I could feel you watching me.”

“But you didn’t look.”

I shake my head.

“You like teasing me?”

I nod.

“Like now.”

He pushes his hands up my thighs, taking my dress with him so my bare pussy is exposed to him.

“You took your bathing suit off and chose to stay naked under here for me, didn’t you?” I nod again.

“You wanted me to have easy access to you?”

“Yes.”

I lift my feet up to rest on the arms of his chair and drop my knees to the sides so I’m completely open to him.

Daniil’s nostrils flare as he inhales deeply.

“You smell divine, kukolka. Now, lay back and let me have my afternoon snack. Rex, go,”

he orders, and I hear his paws on the hardwood floor as he leaves us alone.

I lay back and he pulls me to the edge of the desk, his mouth on me in an instant.

“Yesss,”

I hiss, and Daniil presses my thighs down against the wood so I can’t move my hips. I have to take what he gives me, but he knows how to play my body so well that it doesn’t take long before I’m coming apart and clawing at the desk. My back arches and the necklace tightens around my neck with the amount of blood rushing to my head.

He murmurs something in Russian against my pussy before swiping his tongue through me one last time and then sits back in his chair. With his eyes half-closed and still between my thighs, he licks his lips and brings my foot that fell from his chair to his lap to caress my ankle.

“You should’ve come to me sooner so I could have you.”

“You should’ve taken a break from working and come outside to join me.”

“I don’t lounge by the pool.”

“Have you ever tried?”

“No.”

“Then you should join me tomorrow.”

Daniil sits up and takes my hand, pulling me to sit up too. He keeps ahold of my hand while the other comes up to skim around the base of my neck. He runs his fingers over the necklace where his marks lie beneath, and nods his approval.

“I knew it would look good on you.”

“You didn’t have to,”

I tell him softly, and his sharp eyes meet mine.

“But I love it. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome, kukolka.”

“Will you tell me what that means?”

“Not yet.”

“Fine,” I sigh.

“Come here, it’s time for your end of the deal.”

Daniil pulls me off the desk and onto his lap, and drags his laptop over in front of me.

“Shopping time?”

I ask excitedly.

“Yes. I just have one request.”

“That it be shipped to my apartment? I already figured that.”

“Yes, that. But I need one thing ordered to have expedited here.”

My brows furrow as I think.

“What one thing?”

He slides his hand up my thigh.

“A vibrator. I want to watch you fuck yourself with one now that I’ve fucked you first.”

My pussy clenches and I shift on his lap. “Yeah,”

he says seductively in my ear.

“I knew you’d like that idea.”

“I don’t need to order one. Gia packed mine. She thought I’d need it in case I held out on you.”

He squeezes my leg.

“Shopping first, then I’ll watch you fuck yourself.”

“Okay,”

I whisper, typing in the first website for my shopping spree. I think he’s going to enjoy this.

Daniil groans when he sees what I’ve chosen to shop for, and his hand tightens on my hip.

“Not a chance, kukolka. I’m not letting you buy lingerie that I won’t get to see you in.”

“You said anything I want.”

“No lingerie,”

he says firmly, and the truth is, I have no one else I’d wear it for anyway. It’d sit in my drawer until I did, and even then, would I want to wear lingerie for a man when it’d just remind me of the one who bought it for me?

Yeah, no, that was a bad idea.

“Alright, how about a new purse? I’ve had my eye on one for a while, but couldn’t justify the purchase.”

“Now you can. Let me see it.”

I go to the website and show him the bag. “Hmm,”

he hums.

“I like it. You know I have a thing for pearls on you.”

He cups my neck and fingers the pearls on my necklace.

“You need one of these made of all pearls too. I could cum all over you again and then have you wear my necklace afterwards as a reminder.”

“I’d like that,”

I tell him, turning my head to see his eyes grow hungry with need.

“Then I’ll order it when we’re done shopping.”

Biting my lip, I smile and turn back to the laptop to complete my first purchase.

I go from site to site, showing Daniil the various designer items I’ve had my eye on, and he encouraged me to buy all of them. There was one dress though, that he said no to because it showed way too much and covered way too little. He said he couldn’t handle knowing I had it on out in the world for every man to see me in when I didn’t have adequate security.

I didn’t buy it, but I fully plan on buying it when I get home. He’s right in that it’s very revealing, but I know it’ll look good on me, and when I wear it, it’ll make me think of him and be my own little rebellion when I’m back in the real world.

“I think that’s enough,”

I tell Daniil, after spending upwards of thirty grand. He didn’t flinch or bat an eye at my choices or the prices. He encouraged me to add more, even, but I’ve never been frivolous with my money. Do I like expensive things? Yes. But I only buy pieces I really love.

“Are you sure?”

“Mmhmm,”

I hum.

“I got everything that’s been on my wish list. Thank you.”

Daniil cups my jaw, rubbing his thumb back and forth over my bottom lip.

“You’re welcome.”

“You’re a man of your word. I almost thought you forgot.”

“You can always trust my word, Aria. I won’t ever lie to you or give you false promises.”

“Good,”

I whisper.

“Thank you.”

He brings my face down to his and says against my lips.

“You know exactly how I want you to thank me.”

Then he’s kissing me. He hasn’t kissed me much despite all we’ve done thus far, and it makes me feel closer to him. Like this is something real.

Because damn it, I feel it all when he kisses me. I feel it from my head to my toes, and even more so in my heart. It recognizes him in a way that isn’t meant for goodbyes.

“Go and wait for me on the bed with your vibrator. I’ll be up there in five minutes and I want you naked and waiting. Understand?”

“Yes.”

“Good.”

He lets me up from his lap and I hurry out of his office to get ready for him.