Page 30

Before, I never would’ve thought a genuine, well-balanced alliance would be possible between my family and two of the most notorious families in New York.

I assumed my attempts to smooth things over would be forever avoided, but in that moment, I could finally see that alliance before my very eyes.

There we all were, Pescis, Novikovs, and Levovs all gathered in the same place, all mingling and getting along.

It had been my idea to throw the event, but Alex offered to host at his place since there was more than enough room.

With some time and careful planning, everything came together, and all three families were under the same roof. There was no hostility, no need to be on edge, and I couldn’t help but take a moment to soak that in.

Walking through the main floor, chatting with anyone who caught my attention, I found myself smiling more than not and appreciating what seemed to be such a rare moment.

From across the room, I caught Gabriel’s eye while he talked to a few Levov guards. He gave me a respectful nod, which I returned with a smile and kept moving.

It was a huge relief to still have his loyalty through it all, and I knew I’d always be grateful for it. He had gone through three different leaders, and yet, he was still just as dedicated despite the changes I made.

Moving along, I caught the sound of Angel’s airy yet genuine laugh and found the three girls standing off to the side in their cute dresses while the twins spoke to them.

Yuri, ever the charmer, leaned against the wall while he went on about something, and he had their rapt attention. He seemed to be basking in it, too, almost like he finally found the right crowd to handle his antics.

Livia appeared especially enamored with him and Val, like she was hanging on to their every word.

I couldn’t help but laugh to myself at the sight, well aware of how interesting that dynamic was, and I was certain I’d be hearing many things about them from the girls moving forward.

Continuing through the gathering, I took notice of the contentment that filled my chest. My job as the leader of my family’s empire was far from over, but despite that and the risks that came with it, I was happy with how things were going.

I could breathe again, knowing I had Daniil and the others by my side through it all.

Despite everything, I was fortunate to have him as my partner and husband. Even if we didn’t start on the right foot, he became my rock, and no part of me could trade that for anything in the world.

Just as I began to wonder where he was, noting that I hadn’t seen him for some time, I felt a hand wrap around my wrist right as I moved by a doorway.

Breath catching, I hardly had the chance to see it was him before Daniil pulled me away and whisked me out of sight.

My brows pinched together in question while he took me into an empty hallway before guiding me up a staircase. Concern dripped into my words. “What’s going on?”

Daniil looked tense, not loosening his grip on me and hauling me up the stairs behind him impatiently. “Just come. Now.”

My worry deepened, afraid that something had happened and there would be some kind of splinter in the happiness I was trying to appreciate.

But before long, Daniil guided me down another quiet hall, covering ground faster due to his impatient steps. Then, he pulled me into a room and closed the door behind us.

“Daniil, what’s—”

Not saying anything, he was on me at once.

Back against the door, my breath hitched as I felt his hands on my hips and his lips pressing a near-bruising kiss against mine.

A surprised sound escaped me at the sudden affection, able to easily feel the heat behind it. Once I regained my bearings, I kissed him back, trying to keep up with it despite his unbridled need.

He was practically ravenous, devouring my mouth while his hands moved all over me. His palms glided up my sides before one cupped my jaw and the other pawed at my breast.

The desperate groping pulled a moan from me effortlessly, and I couldn’t deny how the burning desire in his actions sent heat through my entire body. My lower belly warmed as the friction from his body against mine made me shiver.

Daniil angled his head and licked at my lower lip, pushing his way into my mouth. Growling low in his throat, he explored every inch of me hungrily, almost like he’d never get the chance again.

Eyes closed, I let myself get lost in it for a moment before I regained some of my senses and broke the kiss.

Impatient, Daniil let me catch my breath while he kissed the expanse of my neck, running his lips over and grazing his teeth against my skin.

Another breathy sound escaped me as I swallowed hard. “Babe, the party…”

He groaned against my skin, gripping the nape of my neck with one hand while he ravished my skin, unable to get enough. “I don’t care.”

Panting quietly, I could feel that mutual want moving through me despite knowing better. Despite knowing it wasn’t the place.

“Our families are down there…the Levovs, too….”

“I don’t think you heard me,” Daniil muttered, leaving my neck to hover above my lips while his warm breath fanned against my mouth. Then he pulled my bottom lip between his teeth, making me shiver. “I. Don’t. Care.”

Another overwhelming wave of lust hit me the moment I caught that determined gleam in his eyes, and I knew there was no telling him otherwise—and I didn’t want to, either.

With unbridled want in his eyes, Daniil kissed me hard again, groaning against my lips while his hands kneaded my hips. In between kisses, I murmured, “What’s gotten into you?”

“This dress,” Daniil uttered, letting go of another impatient sound from within his chest while his hands shoved the material up my thighs. “This fucking dress…it’s driving me crazy.”

Satisfaction surged through me at the acknowledgment, realizing I was entirely the reason for his suddenly feral demeanor. A thrill ran down my spine the moment I registered his fingers toying with the waistband of my panties.

“Jesus Christ,” he murmured, dipping beneath the lace to feel the increasing dampness between my thighs. He brushed over my clit before running his fingers through my heat experimentally. He hummed against my lips, leaving another kiss against them before teasingly prodding at me. “You’re soaked already…who’s the eager one now?”

I shuddered at the sensation, feeling as every exciting jolt of pleasure from his touch coursed through me. Eyes closed, I tipped my head back and moaned softly for him, allowing his exploration to continue. “Shut up.”

Daniil hummed his amusement against my neck, fanning his breath against my skin while he continued to caress me before dipping his fingers inside with a languid pace. “Only if you make me.”

A needier sound left me then, able to feel and hear just how worked up he had already made me, and I silently cursed how he could pull me into his deviance.

We were hosts—we were supposed to be down there with everyone else. But feeling how he curled his fingers inside me, I couldn’t care less.

“Damn it,” I mumbled, pushing against his shoulders to send him back a step.

Daniil gave me a questioning look while his fingers slipped out of me, almost silently asking if I was pissed at him.

But that worry dissolved the moment I started working the buttons of his silk shirt undone, and with a hint of relief, he also reached for the material clinging to my body.

In a fiery rush, we pulled each other’s clothes off in record timing between kisses, discarding everything onto the floor carelessly.

Through the quiet bathroom, our panted breaths filled the space, and before long, I was spun around with Daniil moving up behind me. He gripped my hip with one hand while the other pressed against my lower back to ease me into an arch.

“Hold the sink.”

Too worked up and impatient to argue, I grabbed the edge of the bathroom vanity while he nudged at my legs, prodding them open.

“Be as quiet or as loud as you want, I really couldn’t care less,” Daniil said from behind me, letting out a hushed moan while he took himself in his hand and guided his hips closer. “But I still want to hear you.”

A shudder moved through me as I felt his aggravated head pressed against me. I swallowed hard. “You say that now, but—”

The words died in my throat as Daniil pushed himself inside me without warning, easily filling me to the brim. My eyes rolled back as I gasped, gripping the sink harder to brace myself.

“Fuck,” Daniil growled behind me, stilling for a moment to pull himself together. Then, he gripped both my hips and slowly started moving. “Hold it tight.”

Whimpering, I couldn’t fight the moans as they fell from my lips immediately as he built up a brutally impatient pace.

Every thrust and hard grip of his fingers around me spoke volumes of just how far gone he was, lost to need and eagerness. But despite his demanding movements, not wasting any time getting after what we both wanted, there was still an undertone of care to it all.

Daniil could be rough and ruthless when it came to indulging himself, but never past a point I couldn’t handle. He knew how to read me, and he knew I wanted it as badly as he did.

From that angle, he hit every perfect spot in the most delicious way possible, making it impossible for me to string together any coherent thoughts. With a haze in my head and heat burning through my skin, I felt completely oblivious.

Just when I thought the pleasure couldn’t get any more intense, he pulled me up, wrapping both arms around me while one hand gripped my breast and toyed with my nipple as the other dropped to the apex of my thighs.

I was seeing stars behind my eyes the moment he rubbed quick, deft circles against my clit. Moaning a bit louder despite the guests downstairs, I couldn’t stop myself from giving in completely.

“That’s it…you’re close already, aren’t you?” He murmured in my ears, keeping up his ministrations along with his brutal yet perfect pace inside me.

Groaning and angling my head back against his shoulder, I nodded, my voice coming out breathlessly. “Yes…please…”

“Good…I can feel you clenching around me,” Daniil uttered, nipping at my neck before dropping the hand from my breast to grip my hip again, thrusting into me with several harder movements. “Come for me.”

Losing my mind, several overwhelmed moans fell from my lips at the next deep and deliberate thrusts while my legs shook, and before I could stop it, I was tightening around him. My moan escaped me with an almost whiny note as my eyes rolled back and I hit that blinding state of pure, uninterrupted pleasure.

Daniil cursed against my neck at the constriction around him, and with a few more thrusts, he wrapped his arms around me to steady himself while he finally came undone. Groaning, his whole body stiffened with his release before easing into a more relaxed state.

While regaining his bearings, he held my trembling body close, allowing me to brace myself against the vanity. He pressed his lips against my shoulder and hummed, “If I haven’t told you enough times today…I love you.”

My heart squeezed at his words while I panted quietly, reaching to cover one of his hands with my own. A soft, content smile spread across my lips. “And I love you…even if you just pulled me into the bathroom for a quickie.”

A rough, haggard chuckle escaped him. “Especially then.”

I snickered at that, able to find the situation amusing despite how reckless it was. “Your brother will kill us if he ever finds out what we just did in here.”

With a breathless huff, Daniil pressed a kiss against the side of my neck and gave my hips a gentle squeeze. “The less he knows, the better, right?”

He was definitely right.

And even if we should’ve, neither of us had any shame about it.

*****

THE END