Luernalayinbedstaring at the ceiling. Levka was asleep, wrapped around her like a cocoon, snoring lightly into her ear. She didn’t mind it. She actually loved the sound. It was so different from Rurik, who snored like a bear.
She was a cheater, officially, and without shame. For the first time after being screwed, she didn’t want to run into the shower and scrape off every touch or dissolve the scent of liquor and cigars. Levka smelled of sweet cologne. Even sweaty, it was a delicious scent that she curled into. Her movements sparked his own. He squeezed her tighter and kissed her shoulder before he rolled over onto his stomach, burying his head under the pillow. Luerna ran her hand along his back.
His skin was different. Rurik had moles and coarse white hairs, but Levka was smooth. She rested her cheek against his back to listen to his heart and to breathe when he breathed.
“Levka?”
When he didn’t speak, she nudged him. And then again. “You sleep like a dead horse,” she complained.
He popped his head up. “What? You okay?” Levka flicked his head toward her, noticed her laying naked still, and dropped his head on the pillow, relaxing. “You want to go again?” he mumbled slightly incoherently.
“No.” She rolled her eyes. “I don’t think my vagina can handle anymore.”
A smile twitched at his tired lips.
She ran her hands along his scalp, admiring him as he did her. She realized why he did it. Putting every detail to memory took time. “What does this mean for us?”
Levka rolled onto his back, groaning and holding his ribs as he did so. “Fuck, I need another pill.”
Luerna got him a cup of water before snagging the bottle out of his pants. “Oxy? This isn’t too strong?” She put one in his palm and handed him the glass. “My brother was addicted to it for a little bit. Promise you won’t.”
She put the glass on the table when he finished. Levka pulled her down into his chest. “Promise,” he whispered, trying to go back to sleep.
She pulled out, staring down at him. “Answer the question.”
He closed his eyes as he whispered, “What do you want it to mean?”
“I have kids, Levka. I can’t just abandon them. Rurik would hurt them or use them to hurt me. If I left, I’d have to take them with me. Can’t travel fast with five kids. And what am I going to tell them? RJ and Sofia are old enough to know what’s going on. They’ll know I left their father. Oh, god, how am I going to do something like that?”
Levka finally woke fully. He stacked the pillows behind him, helping him sit up. He rubbed his eyes, resting his head against the headboard. “You are looking at the mountain, Luerna, and not the steps. It won’t be a process that happens in a day. I’ve got it planned out. The only thing I’m waiting on is you.”
Luerna curled her legs into her chest, pulling the blanket around her. She was silent in her thoughts, trying to process what he was asking her to do. Leaving the family had never been the solution. She loved being the daughter of a powerful Mafia boss. She loved money. She loved being able to give her kids anything they wanted. Would they be broke if they left? Would they live in a shit trailer and pray there was enough money for food? She couldn’t live like that. Luerna expressed every thought and told Levka every fear, and he lay there and listened to it. Or tried to. Sleep kept coming at the worst moments, and she would poke his bruised rib to wake him.
“Oh, fuck,” he cursed, slapping her hand away. “Stop it.”
“Listen!”
“It’s four in the morning, sunshine. I’m doing my best.” It didn’t stop him from closing his eyes again.
Luerna growled. “You’re so frustrating. This is our future. Take it seriously.”
Levka opened his eyes and gripped her hand. “I’ve been working on our future for the past five years. All these questions you’ve asked, I already have the answer. You don’t have to worry.”
“I need the answers. I can’t just rely on you to fix it. That’s not how I work. I have kids to protect. So don’t tell me I don’t have to worry.”
He kissed her hand. “Alright. I’ll send you an email of all I’m doing. But for now, can we please go back to sleep?”
“I’m too wired to sleep.”
“Then come sit on my face, and I’ll relax you.”
Luerna snorted, yanking out of his hold as he tried to pull her on top of him. She stood in front of the balcony, looking at the Eiffel Tower, and for once, she found herself admiring its beauty.
Levka came up behind her, resting a chin on her shoulder as he held her hips. She could feel his cock against her ass, and her heart accelerated on the will of its own. She never thought she was a sexual person. She could go months without sex, without masturbating or even wanting to be touched. But Levka ignited something that made her feel alive for the first time.
His strong hands rose up her stomach and cupped each breast. His thumbs flicked over her nipple till they were erect. She leaned her head back, and Levka kissed her neck.
He whispered between each kiss. “I need you to focus on yourself. Take medications, see a therapist, whatever you have to do. I’ll take care of the rest.” She wanted to protest, but his hand sank down between her legs. A finger playfully teasing her clit. Luerna sighed against him, weakening as her legs opened a little wider. “I have an offshore account of four million. I have a house with five rooms bought in cash that no one knows of in Australia. I have a plane, one I learned to pilot, and it’s stocked with everything we’ll need. Including seven fake passports and birth certifications. I’m ready for you, Luerna. But now you need to be ready for me.” He slipped a finger in and groaned. “Almost there.”
