I didn’t bother knocking, just barged my way into the room. The room was empty but the light was on in the bathroom. With the door wide open I leaned against its frame as I watched her.
Anastasia took her time washing and drying her face before turning in my direction. It was the first time she’d let me see the damage my brother left. Her eyes were red, her skin blotchy, but the deepening red handprint across her cheek was unmissable.
My teeth ground together as I turned away. I wasn’t strong enough to see that.
The urge to run outside and chase down my brother burned inside of me. I hadn’t realized the extent of the damage he’d done. Anastasia had been so strong, her mask had been impenetrable. I couldn’t see how badly he’d hurt her until now. I slumped down on the edge of the bed and whispered, “I’m so sorry.”
I still couldn’t look at her but I felt her crossing the room, closing in like the rumble of an avalanche. She stopped in front of me, her legs standing between mine. Her hand found mine, our fingers interlocking, she held on tight.
“What are you sorry for?”
“For ever letting him anywhere near you.” I looked up at her then, forcing myself to look at the red welt. It was a small form of punishment.
“I don’t blame you, Nikolai. I knew he was trouble but I let myself get dragged into his little game and in doing so, let this happen.”
“You shouldn’t have ever been put in that situation in the first place.”
“I promise, he’s been dealt with. He won’t be coming around anymore.”
“What’d you do?”
“The man I saw today, he’s not the man I know - he’s not my brother. I threw him out.”
“You threw out your brother, for me?”
“I disowned my brother for you.”
“Nikolai…”
“No one will ever hurt you, especially not my brother.” Tangling my fingers into her hair, I planted a soft kiss on her cheek, the uninjured one. Then another, and another. Working to cover her in gentle kisses. I wanted her to feel the love and sorrow that I felt for her. If only my actions could convey just how eagerly I’d take away her pain - if only I could. “You’re mine, Anastasia.”
My lips moved to slide over hers. My soft kisses were long gone as her lips parted. Anastasia leaned into me, her arms going around my shoulders as she held me to her body. I wrapped her up in my arms and leaned back onto the bed. I felt her yield, letting me support her weight, as she lifted her legs over mine so she straddled me as we kissed.
The weight of her above me was a comfort I didn’t know I needed right then. I had known before now that I loved her, but I hadn’t known the lengths I would go to keep her safe. I did now. I knew that I would do anything to protect her, to keep her safe and happy.
Suddenly, she pulled away, sitting upright on top of me. Her deft fingers undid the buttons of my shirt before I realized what was happening. She looked down at me, her assessing gaze taking me in as she pushed my shirt aside. She had seen me naked before, but this time she really took the time to drink me in. Her stare was addictive, only making me want her more.
She backed off my lap, the motion rubbing against my semi, and stood at the side of the bed. In a quick motion, she had her t-shirt and bra off and was untying the band of her sweatpants when she looked at me, eyebrows raised.
“Well? What are you waiting for?” She demanded, pushing her sweats and underwear down to the floor.
A bemused smile cracked my face in two. I huffed a laugh and sat up, pulling off my own jeans as I did so. She would never cease to surprise me in the best of ways. Freed of its constraints, my erection throbbed - I was so hard for her that it was almost painful.
“Get back over here,” I growled, reaching for her wrists. I remembered the first time I’d had a hold of her wrists. It was such an entirely different situation. She wasn’t trying to attack me this time. Back then I didn’t even know if we’d ever get to this stage of our relationship.
But now, she was as much mine as I was hers.
The sweet scent of her conditioner washed over me as I pulled her to me, our bodies colliding again. She was so beautiful to me. With my hands on her waist, I held her still.
I growled, taking in the sight of her before me. Anastasia smiled down at me, truly a goddess in the flesh. Possessiveness welled up from deep inside of my chest. She was mine, all mine, and she would forever be. No matter how much my mind repeated those words I still couldn’t fully grasp the truth behind them.
I didn’t break eye contact as I moved one of my hands from her waist to the soft mound between her legs. I cupped her in my palm as my fingertips found her clit. She inhaled sharply as I tweaked it with my forefinger. I moved my hand slightly and felt the wetness there, ready for me to taste it.
My other hand found one of her nipples, round and hard and perfect. I pinched it between my fingertips and twisted it gently. Nipping the soft skin of her breast with my teeth gently before taking the other nipple in my mouth and running my tongue around it. I worked my fingers around her clit, circling and tweaking as I felt it getting bigger and more sensitive.
As I looked up at her, I saw that her cheeks were flushed with pleasure. Good. This was only the beginning.
I nudged her away from the bed a little, so I could stand. “Lie down for me,” I told her, and to my surprise, she didn’t object. She sat on the edge of the bed, then lowered herself onto her back. I knelt between her soft thighs and dipped my head to her hot core, tasting the wetness there eagerly.
