"Look at your excitement. For my Katya, snow trumps a private jet. Horseback riding trumps jewelry. Singular creature."
Pleasure still coursed through me whenever he called me his Katya.
"I don't know how to ride, but I don't care." Laughing, I said, "Shove a helmet on me, Ruso--let's do this."
He was grinning. "We will go together. They ride Western here, so I'll put you in my saddle."
"Where are we headed? To an igloo? To the North Pole? To a place where St. Bernards serve brandy?"
He laughed, looping an arm around my waist. "Not far. I'll give you a taste, or else your thighs will be sore all weekend."
I quirked my brows. "Don't hold back on my account. I've been riding you like Seabiscuit at least twice a day for over a week."
The stable hand, a bearded older man, chose that moment to appear.
He cleared his throat, even more red-faced than I was. Oh, but he was leading the most striking chestnut horse! "What's her name?" I crossed to pet her.
The man said, "Chestnut, ma'am."
"Of course!" Love!
Maxim talked with the guy about the trail and some sights; I wasn't listening, too busy petting the horse and crooning to her: "Poni bonita. Mi yegua castana. Yeguita . . ." Pretty pony. My chestnut mare. Horsey.
Maxim turned to me. "Are you ready?" He grabbed my waist. "Up you go." He lifted me, helping me into the saddle (which felt much higher up than I would've expected!), then mounted right behind me. Snug fit.
He put his arms around me, grasping the reins. With a click of his tongue, we started from the stable. I was officially riding a horse! I savored the scents--Maxim's sandalwood, the leather of the saddle, the new-to-me smell of horsehair.
He directed Chestnut along a path, leading even deeper into the forest.
I stroked the horse's mane, telling Maxim, "You're really comfortable with this."
"She's a very gentle mare for a leisurely ride. At my estate in Russia, I have a stable full of spirited mounts. There are many horses to pet."
Why tell me things like that? "And you have a closet full of blow-up dolls--by your own admission. Pervertido."
He nipped my ear. "Smart-ass."
"I can't believe I'm on a horse. In Jack Frost's hood."
"You could almost make me enjoy winter again," Maxim said. "Horseback riding and snow, two firsts of yours I get to claim. You claimed another of mine earlier."
"How?"
"I was about to fight a stranger over a woman. I was very jealous when those men ogled you. I've never known jealousy like I continue to feel over you."
My toes curled in my snow boots. "They look at every girl they pass the same way."
"Not like that. And they have no idea what you're like. If others knew the pleasure you bring a man, I'd spend all my days fighting over you."
I was glad he couldn't see the wide grin that spread over my face. "Well, I'm sure you're going to be very popular with the women this weekend."
"I'll smile at them, and you'll see how it's different from how I smile at you."
When a deer bounded across the path, I cried, "Oh, look! Admit it, you paid to have that deer run in front of us. Come clean."
Sounding furious, he said, "I cued the deer ten minutes ago. What kind of outfit are they running?"
I burst out laughing, sinking back against him.
"I like hearing that sound. You laugh like you do everything else--wholeheartedly." He rested one of his gloved hands high on my thigh, and I could have sworn the heat of his palm burned through our layers.
I was growing aroused for him, though this was not the time or the place. We were horseback riding! In snow! I adjusted my seat, which made it worse.
Yet then he tucked me even closer to him, and I felt the unmistakable outline of his erection.
"Ohhh." I was about to schedule un cafecito for when we returned, but we emerged from the trees, coming upon a covered bridge. I'd never seen one up close. "Lindisimo! So cute!" The structure was small and narrow, stretching over a frozen creek. The roof had a coating of snow atop it, and the walls were roughhewn. "This is like a ride at Disney World! Are we going inside?"
"We should take a break. Get out of the wind."
"What wind?"
"Work with me."
"Ah! I'm freezing." I leaned forward, wriggling my ass against the ridge of his dick. "Must go . . . inside for . . . warmth."
He snatched me hard against him, grinding me. "Little witch. That's the last time you'll tease me before I fuck you."
The horse's hooves clipped over the wood, echoing in the enclosed space. Halfway through, Maxim hastily dismounted and tethered Chestnut, then held his hands up for me. As he lowered me, he clamped me close to him. His lips covered mine, cool compared to his flicking tongue and the breaths we shared.
Only when I moaned did he set me down and release me. With that intent look in his eyes, he removed his gloves.
"Aqui, mi amor? In front of Chestnut?"
He peeled down my pants and thong to my upper thighs. "Here." He turned me toward the wall.
I heard his zipper going down, and my body grew even wetter with anticipation. I spread my legs as much as I could.
He covered me, bending down to wedge his cock against my entrance. When he straightened his legs, his shaft surged upward into my wetness. "Unh. My Katya's always ready for me."
He drove me up on my toes. "You devil, you make me this way!"
"I'm the only one who gets to." As he thrust, his bare hand cupped my mons. When he covered my lips, his cock moved between his fingers. "This is mine." He jostled me, and I whimpered. "It belongs to me." His grip was like iron, the heel of his palm grinding against my clit. "I own this. I own you."
Possessive, primal.
I melted for him.
As he worked my body with short snaps of his hips and that hot, possessive hand, he nuzzled my ear. "If I were a cunning man, I would've trapped you with my child." His other hand flattened over my belly. "I imagined it. You big with my babe. These breasts full of milk." He squeezed one, then the other. "My cock grew so stiff, I came in three strokes."
"Maxim!" He'd masturbated to that fantasy about me? The mere idea made my sheath tighten around his length. "Dios mio, Dios mio." With a cry, I ground my clit against his iron grip.
He bucked into me and jostled that maddening hold on my pussy. "You're close, aren't you? I want you to come hard for me."
He removed that palm--"No! I need that, Maxim!"--only to return it with a cupped slap.
"Oh. My. God!"
"There you go. . . . That's it, baby. I can feel your wet pussy readying." SLAP.
The sound echoed around us as I tumbled over the edge. As heart-stopping pleasure coursed through my veins, I drew a breath, needing to scream lungfuls.
He put his other hand over my mouth. "Scream for your man."
I did. Again and again and again.
"Greedy as ever!" He fucked harder and harder, shafting me with savage, animalistic thrusts.
He yanked up my scarf to bare my neck. A bite at my nape made my eyes roll back in my head. Right when I felt his heat spurting inside me, he snarled against my skin, "Belong to me!"
Violent shudders wracked his massive body. One after another. Until he'd spent all his cum in me. . . .
With a last groan, he lowered his forehead to rest atop my head. He lazily stirred himself in our wetness, wrapping both arms around me. He squeezed me hard, but I loved it.
Slowly we caught our breath. "En un sueno."
"A dream?" Nuzzling my ear again, he murmured, "You're falling for me."
My core quivered around his semihard shaft.
A low laugh. "You can't hide that, can you? What are we going to do about this?" He'd said nothing about his own feelings.
I swallowed. "Get through this weekend?"
"Then we'll have a long talk. Agreed?"
"Agreed." Wait, what was I agreeing to? My head was still in the clouds.
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"This is going to pain me, but I suppose we can't be late for the festivities." With another groan, he pulled out.
A shock of cold hit my pussy and ass. "Oh! Oh!" His damp dick must be freezing, but he sweetly tugged my ski pants and thong up before tucking himself back in.
He gave me a swat on my ass. I swatted his in return. He helped me into the saddle, mounting behind me. When his arms wrapped around me again, I lazed back, sighing in contentment. "Me podria acostumbrar a ti." I could get used to you.
"This is why I'm in such a hurry to learn your language. You speak Spanish in my ear during and after sex."
And he spoke maddening Russian.
"Even when you sleep, you murmur in Spanish."
I talked in my sleep? Mierda! "You're learning too fast. I'll have no secrets before long."
"That's the plan."
I bit my lip, feeling like a countdown clock had started. Again, I thought, What if I trusted Maxim? Maybe I wouldn't be calling Edward down upon me. Maybe I needed to recognize a superstition for what it was.
Might it finally be time for me to recruit a teammate? A partner? Could any man be more qualified than Maxim to take on Edward?
By the time we'd reached the stable, I began to relax again. I didn't have to decide anything for two days, and I was determined to enjoy this man, this place.
After we'd returned Chestnut, we walked back to the lodge hand in hand. As we approached the entrance, he said, "In case those farmers are still hanging around, I'll show them who you're fucking." He grabbed me, tossed me over his shoulder, and carried me inside.
I was squealing with laughter, pounding my mittens on his back, when I heard a man say, "Maksimilian?"
CHAPTER 28
With a laugh, Maxim turned, which put my ass--in tights--on display. "Ah, Aleksandr."
His brother? "Down, Ruso!"
He let me slide down him, then pulled me around with my back to his front. He draped his arms over me, possessiveness in full force.
Aleksandr was as tall as Maxim and had similar features, that strong jaw and chin, the proud nose and broad cheekbones--though Aleksandr's eyes were amber to Maxim's blue. And Aleksandr had tattoos on his fingers and closer-cut hair. Definitely rougher around the edges than Maxim.
Aleksandr stared at his brother as if he didn't recognize him. "You look . . . changed."
Maxim's hair was ruffled, his skin tanned, his bright blue eyes hooded with relaxation. He appeared younger and was grinning--an authentic smile. His brother's shock clearly amused him.
Yet I could detect currents of strain between them, as if Aleksandr remained on guard.
"You brought a date." Aleksandr turned his attention to me. I must have looked like I'd just gotten jackhammered in a covered bridge.
"Katya, this is my brother Aleksandr. Bratan, this is my woman, Cat Marin." There was an undertone of say something, I dare you to his words.
"It's a pleasure, Aleksandr," I said. "I can't wait to meet your bride."
The man frowned down at me. "You're from Miami?"
Maxim laughed. "Yes, this is the girl I held prisoner. But as you can see, she's an overjoyed guest here. Aren't you?" He squeezed me.
"I'm here to keep Maxim in line. There'll be no mischief while I'm on watch, or I'll kick his Russian ass."
That got Maxim to laugh, while Aleksandr just looked baffled. Finally he said, "Natalie is going to like you very well. And please call me Aleks."
After another couple of stilted exchanges, Maxim and I started back to our room.
As we made our way up the stairs, I asked him, "Why was he so shocked?"
"He's never seen me like this."
"Happy?"
Maxim paused on a step, seeming as shocked as Aleks had just been. "Happy," he repeated, as if he were turning the word over in his mind, tasting it. "I suppose I am."
"You enjoyed his surprise. It amused you. Is my presence here solely to screw with people?"
"Though I was perversely pleased by Aleksandr's surprise, I brought you here because I want you with me. Simple as that." He leaned down to say, "And already, you're glad you came. In both senses of the word."
I was attending a Nebraskan dinner in a countryside lodge as the date of a Russian mafiya sex god. What exactly did one wear to an occasion like that? I hoped I'd picked the right outfit.
My simple black pencil skirt accentuated my ass without being too tight. But my copper-colored blouse was a work of art. It was a cold-shoulder design with a scoop neck and long blouson sleeves that were cut out to reveal my arms from my shoulders to my elbows. The back dipped low, almost to my racy new bra, and was held in place by a string (which I hoped Maxim would spend all night thinking about untying). My black, strappy heels were high--because of my date's height.
Saving the pearls for the ceremony, I wore the lock-and-key earrings. I left my hair down, curling loosely. All that time by the pool had highlighted strands to a caramel color, and I wanted to show them off.
My makeup was understated, a touch of tawny eye shadow, mascara, and a bit of shimmery blush. The burnished gloss on my lips picked up the play of light on my blouse. My black clutch had a small copper medallion in the center.
Holding my breath, I walked out of the dressing room to join Maxim. "Te gusta? You like?"
"Me gusta," he murmured, immediately frowning. "I'm usually smoother than this, but you have a habit of making my mind go blank." He crossed to me, wrapping an arm around my waist. "I could not be prouder to show you off."
I petted the lapel of his black suit. The lines were so classic and crisp, he looked like he'd stepped out of a magazine ad. "When you burn through all of your money, you can be a model."
With a grin, he said, "It's good to have a backup plan."
"How much did your suit cost?"
"The price of this one gave even me pause." And he would wear it once. Sometimes his wealth blew my mind.
He grazed his forefinger against one of my earrings. "The lock-and-key ones. Do they make you think of me?"
"Only every time they kiss my neck." Oh, I could tell he liked that.
He offered his arm. "Come, let's go. Before I say to hell with this and take you to bed."
His smoldering look made me very aware that I wore garters and stockings for him later.
I took his arm, and we headed downstairs toward the Grand Hall. As I'd dried my hair, I'd studied the fire escape plan to note exits, a habit born of self-preservation. I now knew the layout of the lodge.
In the reception area outside the hall, dressed-up people mingled. At the outskirts of the room, men in understated suits stood alone, near all the exits. I recognized two of them from Miami. I just stopped myself from waving.
"I see your security, Maxim. Is Nebraska a hotbed of mob hits?"
"Better safe than sorry." He covered my hand on his arm. "The Sevastyans have much here that is precious to them."
"Where's Vasili?"
"Overseeing everything. He excels at this."
We'd barely gotten downstairs before a redhead intercepted us, almost as if she'd been lying in wait. "So you're Maksim's mysterious date! I'm Natalie."
She was my height, with flawless pale skin, flame-red hair, and a sexpot figure. The green-eyed billionairess PhD student was a knockout. Because that wasn't intimidating or anything. Her engagement ring had a diamond the size of a meteorite.
Aleks joined her. "This is Cat Marin. She's actually with Maksim."
I stepped forward, offering my hand: "Hi."
Natalie hugged me. "Oh, you're freaking gorgeous!" She was sweet on top of everything?
When my cheeks heated, Maxim appeared charmed. In social situations like this, I tended to be more demure at first--a far cry from how I behaved with him. "Thank you," I told Natalie. "I can't wait to see your dress. You're going to be the most beautiful bride." Having met her--and knowing her past--I hoped she had the WOTC, wedding of the century.
Another girl our age slinked ov
er. Must be Jessica. She looked like a runway princess with her svelte frame and cropped black hair. She wore a clearly expensive outfit: a red miniskirt, thigh-high boots, and a silvery halter. No bra. The girl raked her blue eyes over me. "OH-la, fineness. I'm Jess. Why are you sober, hot mami?" She shoved one of her two drinks into my hand. "This ought to take care of the issue. Don't say I never gave you anything."
I couldn't help but laugh. "I'm Cat Marin. Nice to meet you."
"What kind of name is that?" she demanded. "You and Pussy Galore hang out? You sound like a cat burglar."
"Thief of hearts, yo."
Natalie cracked up. Aleks half-smiled. Maxim chuckled, wrapping his arm around my shoulders.
Jessica's red lips curled, and she lifted her cup to me. "You and I are going to have rocking chairs next to each other. It's a done thing."
Maxim said, "Jessica, it's a pleasure to see you again."
She gave him a chin jerk in greeting. "Are you really keeping this one prisoner in a Miami penthouse?"
Everyone grew quiet.
"He did keep me against my will," I said airily. "Then he stopped being un cabron hijo de puta, and I decided I'd let him hang out with me."
"No wonder you like her," Natalie said to Maxim. "She doesn't put up with your bullshit!"
His eyes were lively. "She lets me get away with very little."
Aleks said something in Russian that made Maxim tighten his arm around me. Natalie murmured something to Aleks that made him incline his head. Ah, the interplays. What I wouldn't give to speak Russian!
Jess asked me, "Hey, mami, with an accent like yours, you speak Spanish?" I nodded. "I guess I'm the sole monolinguist. Which either means I know a single language, or I'm committed to eating one box. In any case, it's rude to speak another language in front of me."
I belly-laughed at that. Had I actually thought these people would be stiff?
An older couple walked up then. The woman had shining brown hair and glasses. The man had similar glasses. Definitely a married pair.
The lady said, "Dinner's about to start." Then she turned to me. "Maksim truly did bring a plus one? I'm Natalie's mother, Rebecca. And this is my husband, Tom, Natalie's stepfather." They both struck me as good-natured. "We're RVers."
I checked my mental acronym databank for RVer, came up empty. Good money said they must do RVing. "It's nice to meet you. I'm Cat Marin. And RVing sounds exciting."
Whatever I'd said was the exact right thing. "Oh, it is! I can't interest Natalie. But I have oodles of pictures."