She nods as I get my phone out and ask her for her details. When I find her, I quickly transfer ten thousand into her account.
“Let me know if you need more before you get paid again.”
When she sees the amount on my phone, her eyes widen. “That’s way more than you owe me for the month.”
“I gave you a hiring bonus.”
She looks like she wants to argue, but realizing the futility of it, she gives up.
“Now, the next time you go to the store, are you going to use your own money for anything?”
Her grey eyes narrow at the tone I’m using, and she looks downright feral when I step another inch closer.
“No,” she whispers, watching me and wondering what I’m going to do next.
I open the honey and squeeze some of it onto my finger and hold it to her lips.
“Don’t be shy now,kiska. You wanted it so badly before.”
She hesitates for only a second before her lips part. I bite back a groan when the wet heat of her tongue swipes along my skin. Her breathy moan fills the space around us as she sucks my finger into her mouth. Keeping her grey eyes on mine, she lets her teeth graze my skin, pulling a growl from me before I can stop it. The smirk she gives around my finger dissolves the last of my restraint as I close the distance and press my lips to hers.
Fisting her hair, I pull her head back and deepen the kiss. Our tongues meet in a hungry clash, both of us struggling for dominance, but when I fist her hair tighter and press the hard length of my cock against her stomach, I feel her body soften, gladly giving control over to me. Her breath falters as I run my finger over our tongues before sliding out and cupping her face, covering her skin with our spit. Sucking her bottom lip between my teeth, I give her a soft bite. My cock rages against my jeans, and every second I spend with her lips on mine and the sweet honey taste of her filling my mouth chips away at my restraint. Soon, I’ll be too far gone to stop.
Her hands fist my shirt, pulling me closer as she opens wider for me, so fucking hungry for more. I’m surprised by how badly I want to give it to her. I want to carry her upstairs and spend the rest of the day and night fucking her until she doesn’t even have the strength to lift her head, and then I want to fall asleep with her body tucked in close to mine, and that right there is the bucket of cold water I so desperately need. Giving her bottom lip one last suck, I force our lips apart, hating the hurt I see in her eyes, but a little bit of hurt now is better than what she’d be feeling if I let this go any further because I can’t be what she wants me to be. I’m not her happily ever after. I’m no one’s.
I’m still fisting her hair and cupping her face, and when I can no longer tolerate seeing the hurt in her eyes, I let her go and walk out of the house, needing to put some space between us.
Chapter 7
Maddie
Iwatch Volodya walk away, wanting to scream at his retreating broad shoulders. I’m getting sick and tired of him leaving me wet and wanting. Last night he’d put a damn knife to my throat and then told me to run from him. When I’d gotten to my room, it had taken one single swipe of my finger over my clit before I’d come so hard I’d actually fallen to my goddamn knees. I think he would’ve appreciated that had he been there to witness it.
By the time I get all the groceries put up, the anger has mostly subsided. The ache between my legs, not so much, but at least the rage is gone. I busy myself with housework for the rest of the day, and then pretend like I don’t care when Volodya isn’t back by suppertime. I fill the dogs’ bowls up and eat with them and then spend an hour playing and loving on them before I finally give up and haul my ass to bed.
The next few days pass by with me barely seeing him, and I’m pretty sure he’s avoiding me. I’m not sure what to do about it, but my mom gives me the perfect excuse to confront him when she calls me, telling me all about some foundation that’s gotten in touch with her, offering to pay for all her treatments. And if that wasn’t suspicious enough, the best oncologist in the city, the one I’d tried like hell to get her an appointment with but was never able to because her copay was too expensive, is out of the blue calling her to set up a visit.
My mom is so happy she’s crying into the phone, and my head is spinning too fast for me to catch up. None of it makes any fucking sense. The man who is scary as fuck, who I witnessed commit murder, is now paying for my mom’s treatments and getting her the best doctor available?
“Mom, that’s amazing,” I finally manage to say. “What’s the name of the foundation? Do you know who runs it?”
“They just said it was the Cubby Bear Foundation, and that all my future medical expenses would be taken care of, including any outstanding bills I already have. And Dr. Gibson, can you believe it?” I hear the relieved sigh coming through the phone. “For the first time in a long time, I actually feel like I can beat this damn thing.”
My throat feels tight at my mom’s words. I know she’s been worrying and that being diagnosed again was like a punch in the gut, but I hadn’t realized just how much of a toll it’s been taking on her. She’s always put on a brave face for me, and I hate that she’s been secretly worrying so much about this.
“Of course you’re going to beat it, Mom. You’re going to kick its ass again, and this time it’s going to be for good. When’s your first appointment?”
“This Monday at nine.”
“I’ll be there,” I promise her.
We say our goodbyes and now I’m more determined than ever to confront Volodya. Since it’s Thursday, I go into his room so I can wash his bedding. I haven’t been in here since he gave me the tour. I’ve been avoiding it. The room looks just as pristine as the last time I saw it. I start peeling off the blankets and sheets, ignoring the way his scent clings to everything. Bunching it all up, I carry it to the laundry room, but before I drop it in the washer, I press my face into it and inhale deeply, filling my lungs with the spicy cologne and the unique scent underneath that’s just him. It’s not my proudest moment, and I’d be mortified if he caught me inhaling his used sheets like a fucking perv, but I can’t help it. I take one more deep breath of him and then toss it in.
Not surprisingly, he doesn’t show for supper, but I don’t let it deter me. I play with the dogs out back and then bring them in so we can all wait together. I’m starting to learn their different personalities, so I’m not surprised at all when Graza jumps up on the couch next to me, laying his big, grey head in my lap. He loves cuddles more than the other two. They all three love to be petted, but Graza is the only dog I’ve ever known who loves to be hugged on.
I turn on the TV and pick a random movie, not really caring what it is as long as it keeps my mind occupied. When Volodya finally drags his ass through the door, the dogs and I are sprawled all over his couch and I’m two seconds away from falling asleep. His open floor plan allows him a clear view of us when he steps into the kitchen. I hear his heavy sigh from across the room.
“I don’t allow them on the couch,” he says, pouring himself a vodka. “That’s why I bought them the nice dog beds.”
