I bury myself as deep as I can go, grinding against him, and come inside him. Wave after wave floods his insides, filling him up until I’m completely spent and shaking and can’t give him anything more. I collapse on top of him without pulling out, gasping for air like I just ran a marathon. His arms wrap around me weakly, and he presses a sloppy kiss to the top of my head.
“I can’t feel my legs,” he says, his voice shaky.
“Same. My whole body is numb.”
I flip us without pulling out, and he ends up on top of me, my cock still inside him. He’s a weighted blanket made of exhausted Danya. He exhales long and slow, his eyes falling closed. My hands come up to his back and move in slow circles, tracing patterns across his skin.
“Are you okay?”
“That was amazing,” he mumbles, barely awake. “Don’t pull out. Keep me full. Please.”
His breathing evens out within minutes, and he starts to drift, body going heavier against mine.
My hand moves over the raised scars covering his back, feeling each ridge and line under my palm. Who would do something like this to a baby? It’s beyond messed up. It’s evil.
I hope whoever did this is still alive. Because when I find them, I’m going to take them apart piece by piece. I keep my palm pressed against his back until sleep drags me under too.
Chapter 13
Mikhail
Trees surround us everywhere, mostly pines. I can’t see past them, no roads or houses in sight. Just bark and dirt and silence stretching out. I was going stir-crazy at the cabin, so I suggested we hike to the lake nearby.
The ground crunches under my shoes, loud over the little stones and dry pine needles. Daniil’s footsteps follow with the same rhythm but lighter steps.
A few minutes later, his breathing turns ragged with that little wheeze he gets when he pushes too hard. Stopping, I turn around. He’s doubled over with his hands on his knees, sweating like crazy. His black hair sticks to his forehead in messy curls and his eyes are squinting.
“I’m going to die,” he pants. “Why did you make us do this?”
I snort. “Come on, drama queen. Get on my back. We’re close.”
He glares at me. “I can’t breathe. You’re carrying me the whole way back too. Otherwise, I’m throwing up. This is awful. Why do people enjoy this?”
Crouching down, I motion with my hand. “Hop on.”
He climbs onto my back without arguing, wrapping his arms around my neck and his legs around my waist. His head drops onto my shoulder, and he lets out this little breath. Makes me feel a bit like a dick for dragging him out here, but also not really.
We come out near a beach with families everywhere. Kids running around half-covered in sand, there’s a parking lot further up with some beat-up cars. The lake’s massive, trees circling the whole thing. Jet skis ripping across the surface, a couple boats floating further out. Off to the side is a small ice cream stand with a bright red umbrella, menu board, and a line of people waiting.
I let him down off my back and glance over at him, smiling. “Worth it. Let’s swim, then eat ice cream.”
He makes a face. “I didn’t bring my wallet.”
I hold up my phone. “That’s why you add your card to your phone so you can just tap.”
He looks offended and shakes his head like I just suggested something horrific.
I’m not going to argue with him about it. I don’t know why he refuses to set up mobile payments when tech is literally his entire job, but whatever. Pick your battles. This is not the hill I’m dying on today.
When we hit the sand, I kick off my shoes. It’s hot underfoot, soft but gritty.
There’s a group of girls on towels nearby, probably our age, wearing bikinis and sunglasses with their hair piled up. We walk past them, and one leans over to another girl while looking my way, her voice loud enough for me to catch. “Look at him.”
Glancing back at Daniil, I see his expression is tight, frown set in place. We stop at the edge of the water where the sand darkens.
“We can keep our things here,” I say, dropping my shoes. “Keep an eye on it from the water.”
He goes quiet, biting his lip while his eyes scan the beach. His fingers twitch at his side like he’s fighting himself internally.