Page 3 of Thorns of Love

In one swift move, a shredding sound filled the air. A shaky breath escaped me as I met his gaze.

“The gazebo was nothing compared to this, Tatiana,” he growled.

The claim made no sense. I wanted to tell him that night in the gazebo was my fuel that kept me going. But before I could reply, he pulled the straps of my costume down and captured a nipple in his mouth. A white light shot behind my eyes. His hand squeezed my breast, while he sucked the other.

My eyes rolled back into my head, my pulse throbbed and I knew I’d orgasm soon. A seductive echo of a zipper. Crinkle of a condom. And he slammed inside me with a hiss.

I gasped, my eyes burning with tears. It felt different. This time it hurt. More than last time. Maybe after so many years of no sex, my virginity was back. Stupid thought. Stupid everything.

My thighs quivered. Our eyes connected.

“No more endearments?” I rasped breathlessly. I needed to adjust, remain still so the burning would ease.

“We’re both too old for those. But maybe you’ll be my rose.”

His grip tightened on my hips and then he started thrusting.

I panted. He groaned. I gasped. He growled.

As if he was proving something. He gripped my hips, bouncing me on his erection. My eyes burned. It wasn’t comfortable. I thought he might have confused my whimpers with moans. I needed him to go slower, he went faster. Confusion at the vast difference between my first sexual encounter with him and this one flabbergasted me.

He finished. I didn’t.

Disappointment.

Why was there disappointment that night? I finally got the man that I had been swooning over and dreaming about for years, only to be left with disappointment.

It had felt so different from that night in the gazebo. But, I’d finally got my wish that night. Adrian finally chose me. Married me a few weeks later. I was happy. Was he happy? Why was I questioning everything now?

I let out a heavy sigh. I couldn’t deal with the memories. I couldn’t deal with the triggers of this club. But my brother wanted me there. For him and Branka. He deserved his happiness.

“You have to tell Vasili you’re pregnant,” Isabella whispered softly. “That baby’s father is–” She trailed off. God, if she picked up on who the baby's father was then Vasili was sure to figure it out once he learned I was pregnant. “He’s important. You know it as well as I do, Tatiana. I don’t know if we’ll stand a chance against him.”

That was an understatement. Konstantin had the resources and backing to tear down several empires, never mind our families. Would he kill me like that woman in the video? Maybe he’d take my baby and then kill me. And then there were Illias’ words haunting me.You forgot me, Tatiana.

He sounded so mad when he uttered those words. I gasped at the images forming in my head, picturing him killing me right after taking my baby. Bile rose in my throat, threatening to empty my stomach again. Would he find another woman to raise my child? Jesus, hormones made me paranoid instead of mellow. I didn’t know which was worse.

“I-I…” My voice cracked.

Illias wouldn’t be so cruel. Would he?

“Tatiana?”

I swallowed hard, words failing me. The back of my eyes burned, but I blinked hard. Once. Twice. Three times.

No time for crying, Vasili’s voice whispered. It was never time to cry.

I inhaled, then exhaled. Crying was useless anyhow. It didn’t make anything right. The tears I spent on Adrian didn’t bring him back and they certainly didn’t save me. Adrian might have pulled me out of the car, like my brothers stated, but he left behind the whirlwind of secrets and danger. And no warning.

I couldn’t help but think back to the accident. If Adrian saved me, then why didn’t he save himself.

Images from the accident danced in front of my eyes. Adrian’s dead eyes. He pulled me out of the car so how did he die?

Distorted voices. I heard whispers that night that kept me going.

I’ll be back, moya luna. I’ll be back when you’re ready for me.

That voice. Deep. Dark. It reminded me of Illias’ voice, but it couldn’t be right. I didn’t trust my mind. My memory was unreliable when it came to that night. I was still missing key parts of that night.