Page 42 of The Bratva’s Innocent Sold Bride (Fokin Bratva #9)

CJ was alive. Aside from a few red marks around her throat and a scratch on her cheek, which I would take into account when I was dealing with Anatoli, she was alive and well. Nothing else mattered.

It took a long time before I released her from my grip, needing to feel her warmth and her heartbeat close to me.

It had almost taken too long to find her.

There were two locations on CJ’s list that Anatoli had been to recently, this one and the one that we now knew was supposed to be an ambush to take me out of the picture.

My old tech specialist, Delta, thought we should head to the other one, since it was closer and there was no indication that there was anything out here.

CJ was my new specialist now. I made the last-minute decision to go with my gut and head out to this place in the middle of nowhere. It was like CJ was guiding me, calling out to me through the numbers on that screen.

Right now, Masha had her foot on a neatly zip-tied Anatoli while she called in the ambush to the team who were dispatched to the other site to cover our bases. Lev was poking around the underside of the old camper and stood up, facing me with a grim look on his face as he held up a small packet.

Explosives, probably rigged from the materials he stole from one of my warehouses. I gently set CJ aside and leaped across the sandy lot to ruthlessly kick Arcadi in the gut. That roused him from unconsciousness enough to sneer at me through the blood that ran down his face.

He was going to blow the whole place up if he didn’t get what he wanted. I was going to kick every last tooth out of his mouth. As I reared my foot back again, Masha ordered me to stop.

“He’s already in bad shape. We agreed we need info before we take care of him.”

She was right, and I growled for her to get him out of my sight before I decided whatever he could tell me about the rest of his organization wasn’t worth watching him die right now.

She and Lev hauled him to the car they followed me in, and dumped him in the trunk.

I returned to CJ’s side, where she stood frozen and staring.

“You’re not okay,” I said, pulling her close to keep her warm. “Let’s get you home so that dog can stop whining.”

She smiled slightly at the mention of Artem and rolled her eyes at my false irritation.

Leaning against me, we ambled to the car.

I wasn’t going to tell her about the explosives Anatoli had rigged to the trailer.

There was no need to know now that she was out of harm’s way. And she would stay that way.

In the car on the way home, she turned to me, reaching out to put her hand on my arm. “You found me.”

“Of course I did.”

“If I had been able to see that info sooner, Delta might have found this place before he even took me there,” she said.

I let my foot off the gas a little to turn to her in astonishment. Was she suggesting if I hadn’t fired her and taken her to LA to get her out of Anatoli’s reach, none of this would have happened?

I cleared my throat to keep from swearing. “And if you’d listened and stayed at home today, we wouldn’t need that information because you’d still be at home.”

I didn’t mean to sound so gruff. I was still shaken from the sight of that explosive device, waiting to blow my wife to pieces.

“I know,” she sighed. “I should have listened. I—I’m sorry.”

My mouth dropped open. What was this? Was her spirit broken? I couldn’t have that. “I wish you had trusted me.”

“I did,” she said, flapping her hands in her lap. “I believed you sent Garik to get me. I checked his ID and everything. I trusted you so much, and I didn’t know I wasn’t supposed to trust Terrence, or Anatoli, or whatever we’re calling him.”

“We can call him that asshole from now on,” I said, reaching for her hand.

She huffed a small laugh. I should have shared more with her from the beginning, or better yet, never put her on the project, foolishly thinking she’d be safe from such a man behind a computer screen.

And yet, she’d been pivotal in helping me find him and bring him down.

I was going to tell her all this because I wanted everything out in the open, including the meeting with her father, but we pulled in through the gates, and she was already tugging on her door handle to get into the house.

The dog leaped on her as soon as she was through the doors, somehow sensing she was on her way home. She fell to her knees, kissing his head and apologizing.

“Was he so scared?” she asked in the baby voice I found so enchantingly cute. “Poor, poor Artem.”

“It was a good thing this time, he was so scared. If he hadn’t stayed put, it might have taken longer to find him.”

She hugged him harder. “Is he a genius? Is Artem a genius and a good boy?”

The dog certainly seemed to think so, but I drew the line when he wanted her to go outside to throw his toys. I peeled her away and led her upstairs.

“Get some rest, no arguing.”

She stripped off her dusty clothes and climbed into bed in her pale pink underwear, holding her arms out to me. Her face was a mix of teasing and worry. “Only if you don’t leave.”

She was still scared, as brave as she was acting. I hurried to her side, climbing in beside her and cradling her close. Her skin was smooth and warm under my palm as I stroked her back.

“He’s done,” I said. “This is over, that I can guarantee.”

“There’s still so much more…” she started, then trailed off, looking at me with searching eyes.

I nodded, but leaned down to kiss her, putting the words on hold. “Just rest for now.”

When she awoke, I would tell her everything, no more secrets. I ran my hand up and down her back, smoothing it over her hair. She tipped her chin up, the fear gone from her eyes.

“One more kiss,” she said.

How could I deny her anything now that I had her back? The fear that I had lost her for good kept me holding her, kissing her more deeply than I should have.

“You need to—” I started.

She shook her head, her soft lips brushing against mine, her tongue darting out to wet them. “No, I need you. Right now.”

Well, I couldn’t argue with that, could I? She nipped at my lower lip, daring me to try. Her hand slid down my chest to the waistband of my pants, nudging her fingers under the button. I ran mine into her hair, gripping a handful of her soft strands.

“I must have cobwebs in my hair,” she murmured.

“You’ve never been prettier.”

She snorted, leaning back. “Liar.”

I shook my head. “You’re alive, you’re here, you’re not tearing me a new one. I think you’re beautiful, so there.”

Her laugh filled my heart, which had been aching with fear for so long. “Okay, I’ll take it.” She had worked her hand under my pants and gripped my stiff shaft. “I’ll take this, too.”

Growling, I rolled onto my back, pulling her on top of me. Straddling me, she ground against my cock, gripping my sides. Planting her hands on my shoulders, she looked at me for a long time, slowly teasing me with her sinuous movements.

“I only wanted to see you one more time,” she said, eyes clouding.

“You’re going to see me a lot more times,” I promised, pulling her down for a kiss to erase whatever flash of sadness crossed her face.

She pushed harder against me, making me groan. Gripping either side of her cotton panties, I tugged until the seams gave way, then yanked them off and tossed them aside. “That’s better.”

“A lot better,” she said, running her slick pussy up and down my length.

Giving me one quick kiss, she began to work her way lower, dragging her mouth along my collarbone, down my chest, gripping my sides as she wriggled even lower.

I reached for her hair, not wanting her to stop.

Twisting a handful in my grip, I groaned as she started unbuttoning my pants, pulling down the zipper painfully slowly.

Sliding aside my boxer briefs until my cock sprang free into her hand.

My eyes slammed shut under the onslaught of sensation as she slowly, slowly moved her grip up and down.

Her thumb stroked over my wet tip, her soft sigh close enough to feel her warm breath.

When her lips brushed against the moisture, my eyes whipped open, and my hand tightened in her hair.

The touch was feather-light, teasing. Pulling away, she glanced up at me, cheeks pink, eyes dark and glazed with lust. I nodded, urging her on, loving every second of watching my gorgeous wife suck my cock.

“Why have I never done this yet?” she asked, licking my length before taking me completely into her mouth.

“Damned if I know,” I groaned. “You’re definitely welcome whenever you want.”

Her teeth rasped along my tender skin. Out, in, her lips full and wet around my shaft. After a moment of playful teasing, she got down to business, almost rough, all the way fantastic. I held out as long as I could, finally dragging her up from under her arms.

“How about a different treat?” I asked, easing my hand between her thighs as she straddled me again. I found her clit, and she gasped, pushing against my fingertips.

Her head dropped back, her long hair sliding down her back in a tangled cascade. When her eyes opened and focused on me, they were a deep, dark golden, with only flecks of green. The most exotic gems I had ever seen, she focused on me as she writhed against my fingers.

Her sighs turned to moans, which turned urgent. With trembling hands, she grabbed my cock and pushed it toward her slippery opening as I continued to work her clit.

“Wait,” I said, even though my cock was throbbing to be inside her.

I watched her eyes, locked with mine, as she came, gasping out my name. Gripping her hips, I lifted her, bringing her down on my eager cock. She pushed forward, then back, taking every inch until her ass smacked against the tops of my thighs.

She was wild, furious, releasing all the tension of the last hours. I was more than happy to help, holding on tight as she slammed down onto me again every once in a while. Her pretty tits bounced as she rode me, and I reached for them, tweaking her nipples and making her cry out.

“More,” she said.

Wrapping my hand around the back of her neck, I dragged her down to claim her mouth, pushing my tongue inside.

“More,” she moaned against my lips, her hands moving to clutch at the sheets, twisting them as she pushed as hard as she could against me.

With my arms around her back, I sat up, flipping her onto her back. We were separated for a scant moment, but both of us growled like alley cats until we were once again. Pushing her legs high, I drove deep, dragging her toward me at the same time.

Raising her arms over her head, she grabbed the headboard, bracing her hands as she arched her back to meet my deep thrusts. I eased back, breathing out against her neck, tasting the salt on her skin, breathing her in as I slid inside her once more.

Letting go of her leverage, she curled her arms around my neck, murmuring into my hair. There was no more denying anything to myself anymore. I already knew this woman was my world, and I loved her. Would she believe me or think it was the throes of passion, or even relief, making me say the words?

I kept it to myself, but kissed her, soft and full. “CJ,” I said. Her name would have to be enough for now. “CJ, I want to feel you come.”

She shuddered at my softly uttered command. One more smooth thrust into her slick channel, and she cried out, pulsing around my cock.

“Your turn,” she whispered, her fingers digging into my shoulders as the orgasm took her.

I let loose, better than ever before, but only until the next time. She was mine, and I’d never let her go. Panting against my neck, she clung onto me, running her fingers through my hair as our hearts pounded in a steady rhythm together.

Eventually, I slowed, spent, and still not wanting to stop. Her arms fell to her sides, and she sighed, letting her legs fall from where they’d been wrapped tight around me. Little by little, I finally collapsed against her. Never letting go.

“I’m going to suffocate,” she said with a hint of laughter in her voice.

I instantly rolled away, still holding on. She rolled to her side and snuggled up in the crook of my arm, draping her leg over my side. Sweaty from exertion, the cool air felt good for a while, then after a long moment of contented silence, I pulled the sheets over us.

“Ready to rest now?” I asked.

Her eyes were half closed as she looked up at me, a soft smile playing on her lips. “For a little while.”

“I’ll be here,” I said.

“Promise?” she asked. “No sneaking out if I fall asleep? You’re probably itching to see what Masha and Lev are up to with your captive.”

I shook my head. Shocking as it was, even to me, they hadn’t crossed my mind since we walked through the door. I trusted my cousins to take care of Anatoli for now, and knew they’d leave the real interrogation to me. He wasn’t going anywhere, and CJ was safe.

Nothing else mattered.

“I’m home,” I said. “I’m not leaving.”