Luca considers it before he nods. “Yes.”
“They’re not mine to give away. I am not their father. I’m more of a surrogate father.”
“I am well aware. But in our world, they are yours to give away. We’ll come to that day when they’re both old enough to be married. Until then, if we make this deal now, I expect you to treat me with respect and I’ll do the same in return. I don’t treat my coworkers like shit.”
“Neither do I.” I push the image of shooting Sasha and the other four men from my mind. They were trying to hurt Katya. That was different. If you don’t piss me off, then I’ll have no reason to kill you.
“We can talk over the logistics more another day. I have some business to attend to.” He offers me his hand. “I look forward to working with you.”
I shake his hand in return. I just offered up either Nina or Susanna to this man just to save my wife. The woman I kidnapped in my war with Dimitri.
Everything is getting fucked up.
But if it means saving Katya, I will do it.
Katya
With Alek gone for the day, I’m left all alone in the house. He doesn’t bother locking me up. I could leave the house if I wanted to.
I stand by the front door, contemplating running. Finding a way back to Dimitri.
But I can’t seem to get my legs to move. Alek is testing me. See if I’ll run or not. And I’m failing.
I can’t leave because… I’m not sure I want to leave. Alek lights a fire inside of me I’ve never felt before. It’s electric and makes me feel alive. Addicting.
But Dimitri is worried sick. I know he is and he needs to know that I’m all right. How can I get word to him that I’m fine without leaving the house? I’m still scared to venture out into the world on my own but with Alek’s help, it’s been getting easier.
I’ve been missing my room less and less the more I’m away from it. My room has started to become a distant memory.
I check Alek’s office for a phone I can use, even though I still don’t remember Dimitri’s number. I took it for granted inside my own phone, which I don’t have, since it’s back inside my old bedroom.
It’s pointless anyway. I can’t find a phone anywhere in the house. No way to tell Dimitri that I’m fine.
I find myself going back into the master bedroom. It’s safe in here but a lot larger than my room back at Dimitri’s. It’s a step in the right direction. I can breathe in this room. I don’t feel stuck here like I did back home.
Lying down on the bed, I can’t help but think of Alek and how he’s touched me. The pleasure he’s shown me. It’s something I’ve craved in the past. Having read a lot of romance novels, I would feel arousal. The urge to have someone hold me. But I could never get myself to leave my room.
Now, I’m here, with a husband, who knows how to touch me. I want to experience it again.
But since Alek isn’t here, all I have is myself. I push my shame aside as I slip my hand into my loungewear pants and push my underwear to the side. My fingers are cold which doesn’t help matters.
I ignore that though and focus on touching my nub. In the past, when I was in my room by myself, I would pleasure myself but sometimes it would be frustrating. Sometimes I wouldn’t be able to get myself warmed up enough to find any sort of release. But with Alek, he knows how to make me come without me having to think about it.
I roll my hips around, thinking of his touch, and press my fingers into my nub harder… but it’s not working. My own hand is not Alek’s. I need his commanding presence and his deep voice to light me on fire. My touch pales in comparison.
Still, I try. I rub my clit harder and harder and still… nothing.
That’s when the bedroom door opens and Alek walks in.
I startle so much that I let out a shout. I didn’t even hear him come inside the house, let alone walk to the door.
He catches me with my hand between my legs and his eyes darken. “What are you doing?” By his tone, he knows exactly what I’m doing and he’s just teasing me about it.
“Um…” I remove my hand from between my legs. My face is on fire.
Slowly, he stalks over to me like a hunter does its prey. “Because to me it looks like you’re touching yourself… without me here.”
I can’t say a word because what is there for me to say?
