Page 20

I am in a dangerous place with my emotions.

My heart is doing things it definitely should not be doing.

Yet, I am powerless to stop what’s happening.

I’ve made some bad choices in my life—and I’ve made some stupid mistakes. Instead of doing that again and assuming that I’m falling in love, I should just accept this for what it is— lust.

It can’t be more than that.

What kind of idiot would fall in love with the man who had her kidnapped—twice?

I huff loudly, slamming the book closed because no matter how many times I read that paragraph I can’t remember what it says.

All I can think about is Avraam.

I want to spend all of my time with him—but in the back of my mind the truth is taunting me—soon I will go home, and I won’t see him again. That scares me. My heart aches when I think about it.

My stupid, reckless heart.

“Ugh. I’m such an idiot,” I mutter to myself, standing up and leaving the comfort of the library armchair.

Well, I guess there is only one thing I can do.

Enjoy whatever time I have with him—and make the most of it.

It takes me a while, roaming through the mansion, before I find him outside on the patio.

He slides his phone into his pocket, just ending a call.

“Come clubbing with me again tonight?” I ask, walking towards him.

He tilts his head, thinking about my request.

“Mm. I think—you took me out last time—let me take you out somewhere this time.”

“You are going to plan something?”

“Yes.” He glances at his watch. “Be ready in two hours.”

I grin, wiggling my hips in excitement. I love a good surprise. I wonder if he is good at arranging surprises.

I guess I will find out soon enough.

I take my time getting ready, curling my hair in big ringlets and going through the new dresses Avraam bought me after we went clubbing. I select a long black dress that flows around my hips. Pairing it with gold accessories I look like an Egyptian goddess. Satisfied, I head downstairs to find out where we are going.

Avraam stares at me with his jaw dropped.

I spin around, enjoying the attention.

“Fuck me,” he says in shock. “You look incredible.”

“Thank you,” I grin, standing on my tiptoes to kiss him. “I’m ready.”

“Good, because the driver just pulled the limo around front.”

The limo is an elegant touch that I rather enjoy, but to my surprise, it is only the beginning.

We are taken to one of the buildings he owns in town, and he leads me into the elevator to the top floor and out onto the roof.

“Are we having dinner on the roof?” I ask, trying to figure out what is going on.

He laughs, “No, butterfly. Not here.” We round the corner and I giggle with excitement when I see the helicopter waiting for us.

Ducking low, he helps me into the back and the pilot nods in greeting.

We take off during sunset and instead of heading straight to where we are going, Avraam first spoils me with a tour around the coastline, and the best views of the sunset in the entire city.

He sits close to me, always touching me, always caressing me.

I feel myself slipping further into him. Falling for him. But I push the thought aside, denying it because it will cause me too much pain in the end.

After the pilot has flown around the coastline, he turns towards the ocean and my stomach churns nervously. “Doesn’t the need to land soon?” I ask, wondering how much fuel these things carry.

“We will be landing in a few minutes,” Avraam smirks.

“On the ocean?” I gasp in horror.

He leans towards the window and points into the distance. “On that.”

We fly closer and the magnificent super yacht drifts on a calm ocean beneath is. It is white and gold and glistening in the evening light.

The helicopter touches down on the back of the yacht and Avraam climbs out then turns to lift me out.

My dress catches in the breeze and as he lowers me to my feet, I feel like a movie star. He is my prince, and I am his princess. This is all too magical.

Avraam definitely knows how to arrange the perfect surprise.

We wait while the pilot takes off, watching him head back to shore.

“He’ll be back in the morning,” Avraam promises, letting me know we are spending the night on this beautiful yacht.

After a tour of the yacht, which I later find out belongs to him, he leads me to the top deck where the most exquisite dinner has been prepared for us by his private chef.

“Why did you buy such a big yacht?” I ask, as our first course of oysters and prawns is served alongside a pineapple and vodka sauce which is delightfully tangy.

“Because I always dreamed of sailing it around the world. Just leaving one day—and exploring everywhere.”

“Why haven’t you done that yet?”

“Because I didn’t find the right person to go with.” His eyes pierce into me, as though he is trying to say he has found the right person now.

But, of course, that’s just me being ridiculous again. I am nothing to him other than a little fun on the side. He probably wants a really fancy girl, a model or someone less feisty and argumentative. My brothers always warned me it would be impossible for me to find a husband who would put up with me.

I must not allow myself to think anything of this. It is what it is.

It isn’t love.

That’s for sure.

My heart clenches and I bite my lip. It isn ’ t love, Ruslana.

Beneath the table Avraam brushes his hand over my leg, gently caressing me, then pulls me closer next to him.

“I like having you right next to me. Don’t sit so far away,” he says sternly.

I grin, picking up an oyster. “Do you know what they say about oysters?” I say, slipping it into my mouth.

Instead of focusing on what my heart feels, I should focus on what my body wants. And my body wants him. If this is just lust that’s fine with me, but I am going to take full advantage of that.

Avraam chuckles, a warm laugh that rumbles from his chest.

“I don’t need oysters when I’m around you, that’s for sure.” He runs his hand up my back and it sends shivers through me.

All through dinner he is charming, gentle and sweet.

He doesn’t focus only on my sexual flirtations—instead he tells me I’m beautiful, and that he loves spending time with me. He tells me he has never felt this comfortable around anyone before and I continue to slip deeper and deeper into the hole of emotions I’m trying desperately to deny. I’m getting scared about how I am ever going to claw my way out when he is done with me—when all of this is over, and I am left with a broken heart and tears in my eyes—who is going to be there to pick up the shattered pieces of me?

“Dance with me.” His deep voice lures me in, and he stands up, holding his hand out towards me. I place mine in his and he pulls me to my feet, up against his broad, muscular chest.

Brushing his hand over my cheek, he tucks a stray curl behind my ear. “I wish you could see yourself through my eyes. You would understand how incredibly special you are.”

My cheeks blush red, my heart quivering at his words.

I can’t handle this anymore. If I don’t do something I am going to confess any second now. I’ll tell him I’m in love with him and look like a complete idiot.

This is just sex. Wild, passionate, really fun sex. Nothing else.

Slowly, I run my hands down his sides, grinning that naughty smile he recognizes. He knows exactly what’s on my mind, but this time I want to take control.

I drop to my knees in front of him and grab his belt, tugging it open. I want to taste him. I want to tease him as much as he teases me just by being close to me.

I can see his cock pressing against his pants before I tug the zipper down.

“Ruslana—“

His cock jumps free from the restraints of his clothing and I admire it for a moment, licking my lips as I glance up towards him. He is breathing heavily.

Gently I take his cock in my hands and wrap my lips around it and in an instant, whatever he was going to say—he forgets completely and groans loudly, rocking his hips forward to push deeper into my mouth. I savor the moment, pressing my hands against his hips to stop him from pushing too deep.

His hand wraps around the back of my head and I feel him shudder with pleasure as I suck, back and forth, letting my tongue run over the base of his shaft, over the patterned veins that are throbbing against my mouth.

If our connection is only lust, then I will savor it and enjoy it for what it is.

Sex for me is intimate, but this—this is just pure naughty fun.

Every time I make love to him I get more attached—I can’t do it again.

He can have what he wants. I’ll suck him until he explodes, and he won’t even give it another thought. He will be satisfied and I will have the pleasure of giving him that satisfaction. The more he gives me—the more he makes me feel—the more emotionally attached I become. This is safer for me.

His cock is pulsing in my mouth, I can taste him on my tongue, and he tastes divine.

I wrap my hand around the base of his cock, moving it in the same rhythm I am moving my mouth and he groans louder.

Then he tries to pull away and I grip a little tighter.

“I’m going to come if you don’t stop, little butterfly.” He says tensely, his hand stroking over the top of my head. His fingers threaded in my hair.

I look up at him with seductive eyes. “I know.” I grin.

He shakes his head, grabbing me and lifting me into his arms, wrapping my legs around his waist. “That’s not going to happen, I want so much more than just that.” He says with a dark suggestion in his tone. My heart beats faster, my breathing catching as he holds me in his arms. I’m pressed against his solid, broad chest and it feels incredible. His strength blows my mind. How he can lift me as though I weigh nothing at all. As though he could do anything to me and I would be powerless to stop him.

Dammit.

So much for the idea of just giving him a blow job and avoiding the very intimate connection of making love.

If we make love now I am going to fall deeper into this man. But I can’t say no to him. I want this more than he knows, and it means more than he might understand.

He carries me towards the front of the boat, laying me down on the pillows beneath a string of fairy lights that are glittering above us, looking like the stars above them.

I can hear the ocean, lapping against the side of the boat. We are rocking gently on open waters. Far away from land. Far away from the world. It’s just us and this moment. And he wants to be with me.

Avraam takes his time as he undresses me, he moves slowly as though he is savoring it, stroking his hands over my body as he drops my clothes to the ground. He pulls his own clothes off, standing and looking down at me. My eyes trace over every inch of him and my skin burns with desire.

He grins, watching me closely. He can see straight through me.

“You are beautiful, Ruslana. I wish you could see yourself through my eyes. You would be stunned to silence by your own beauty.”

Avraam lies down next to me on the pillows. He reaches over and dips his arm between my legs, grabbing my ass so that he can pull me towards him. My leg wraps around his side.

When he pulls me towards him I can’t help it—I completely melt against him—all I want is this. To be in his arms. To feel like we are the only two people in the world. I want to feel like I am his to do with as he pleases.

He kisses me gently across my shoulder, up my neck and then on my lips.

His mouth feels warm against mine. My heart is beating fast when he pushes my legs open, brushing his fingers over my pussy.

I’m holding my breath to stop myself from moaning too loudly.

He chuckles. “I want to hear your sweet sounds, Ruslana.”

He pushes his fingers deeper into me, then pulls them out and I whimper.

But I don’t have to wait long. I gasp loudly when he slowly slides his cock into me.

He pauses, letting it throb inside my pussy, letting me feel everything.

Then he starts to rock back and forth, my leg stretched wide over him, my pussy is spread open as his cock thrusts into me over and over again.

He moves as though he has all the time in the world.

His eyes are penetrating me with an intense stare when he whispers, “Ruslana, I don’t know what I would do without you.”

I bite my lip, too scared to say anything, for fear that he will find out how I feel. I can’t let him know. I don’t even want to accept it myself.

His cock slides into me and I feel closer to him than I have ever been to anyone.

He lifts me up and rolls over, pulling me onto his lap.

With the moon shining above us, and stars all around, the ocean waves lap against the side of the boat. He makes love to me, slowly and tenderly. His fingers drift up my back and his hand rests against me. He holds my face and leans forward to kiss me as he rocks me against his cock.

My body feels at peace, even though the undercurrent of desire is flooding me. I feel loved. Even though I know it is impossible.

My legs begin to shake a little, and he pushes deeper into me.

I wrap my arms around his shoulders, and he starts to rock me back and forth faster, his cock growing harder the tighter my pussy pulses over him.

My breath catches and I cry out when the orgasm slams into me.

He thrusts upwards and groans deeply, his arm around my waist and his lips pressed against mine as he explodes his own pleasure inside me.

***

For hours, we lie out on those pillows, whispering to each other, telling stories and laughing together. Lying in his arms, wrapped in a blanket beneath the stars, listening to the ocean—I have never been happier.

And in that moment I realize that I probably will never be happier. I will have to accept soon that this is all going to end—and then I will need to be really strong.

I will never meet another man like him.

And any man I meet in the future I am going to be comparing to him.

So I know—I will never be happy again—because I can’t be with Avraam.