The drive felt longer than previous nights, where I would sing along to the radio, not even mildly caring about my tone deafness because I was too damn happy with my current life to give a damn. I had Lev, and that was all I needed.
But after tonight, I asked myself which Lev did I have? There were two of them, I had discovered.
I required an explanation.
The silence was heavy and growing thicker by the second.
We made our way upstairs, undressing, and for the first time in a week, I dressed in my yellow pajamas. Lev noticed. The distasteful look in his eye as he glanced at the hideous ensemble said so. I sat in the middle of the bed, my legs crossed.
Standing in front of the bed dressed in nothing more than his black boxers, he let out a soft sigh, unable to meet my eyes. “I understand you’re confused.”
My brow rose and I let out a soft grumble of agreement.
His hand came up and he scratched at his chin. “There are things you don’t know about me, Mina.”
I laughed humorlessly. “I can see that.”
“He owes Sasha money.”
My blood began to boil.
Lev went on, “This is how business is dealt with when you’re a Leokov.”
I swallowed hard, anger causing my stomach to dip.
“The man you saw tonight owes Sasha a hundred thousand dollars.”
That was it. I’d heard enough. As my mouth opened, anger spewed forth, and something I hadn’t planned on saying came out. “Who cares if the guy owes him money? He offered me the same amount to leave you, dammit!” I scowled. “Money is clearly of no object to Sasha.” I snarled his name.
The moment I realized what I had just told Lev, my face blanched.
Lev’s jaw steeled and his cheek ticked. His hands curled into fists and his stomach tightened. His voice was low, dangerous. “What did you say?”
No, no, no, no, no, no, nooooooo.
What had I just done? Blood roared in my ears and I heard my pulse loud and clear. My mouth dry, I attempted to bring some moisture to my lips by licking them. I pulled a pillow over my lap and hugged it tight. “I didn’t take it, obviously.” My voice was small. Tiny.
His eyes narrowed, and he spoke again through gritted teeth. “He what?”
Shit on a stick. Now you’ve done it!
The look on his face told me he was about to do something brash. So I did the only thing I could think of.
Standing as quick as I could, I took the two steps to the edge of the bed and threw myself off it in haste. Before Lev could think about what was happening, my body collided with his midair and he wrapped his arms around me, holding me up, almost too tightly. My arms went around his neck and my legs wrapped high around his waist. I squeezed him tight.
He was still mad. “Mina, let go of me. Please.”
“Never,” I whispered.
It must have been the right thing to say at the time, because his strong arms loosened around me, holding me lightly, and he turned his head to rest his lips at my temple, one hand moving down slowly to cup my left ass cheek.
I couldn’t believe what I was about to say. “Your brother loves you, Lev. He might have a shitty way of showing it, but he does. Otherwise, he wouldn’t bother to do what he did.” I paused before adding on a squeeze, “I would kill to have a family that loves me. Don’t be angry with him, sweetie. He’s just looking out for you.”
That soothed the raging beast. He carried me over to the bed and, without extracting me from him, lay down on his back, taking me down with him. He looked up at the high ceiling and breathed in deep, uttering on an exhale, “I’m sorry about what you saw.”
Resting my chin on his chest, I spoke quietly, “Are you happy doing things like that?”
He thought about it a moment, his voice austere when he replied, “I don’t feel when I do things like that.”
It was such a sad answer that my heart ached for him. Turning my head to the side, I whispered, “You scared me tonight.”
“I’m sorry.”
So many apologies from this man. I wondered if he was sorry, or if it was just something to say to fill the void.
I lifted my face once more to search his face and pondered out loud, “Do you think you’d have told me if I didn’t find out the way I did?”
His heated eyes averted, he shook his head. At least he was honest.
“Why can’t you look at me, sweetie?”
Another shake of the head. His arms tightened around my back. What he said next broke my heart.
His voice hushed, he stated honestly, “I don’t know what I’d do if I saw disappointment there.”
My eyes shut and I squeezed them tight, holding in the tears I so badly wanted to shed. My lips lowered to his chest and I kissed him there, right over his heart.
I wasn’t going to get the answers I needed. Not tonight, and not from Lev.
I would have to go elsewhere.
Waking in the morning with a hot mouth on your breast, growling into the soft flesh, suckling hard, was indeed a fine way to be roused.
My good morning came out something like, “God, yes, honey. Suck harder,” as my arms cinched around the back of his head, pulling him closer.
Where did my pajamas go?
He removed his mouth, grinding his erection into my hip, and asked, “It’s over?”
I went blank. It was over already?
Well that was quick.
Sad face.
I couldn’t help but feel a twinge of disappointment. But then he asked again, clearer this time, “Your period, baby. Is it over?”
Oh!
You’re such a dick.
I almost snorted, but I was too busy panting and running my fingers through Lev’s sleep-mussed hair. “Yes, it’s over.”
The light spotting had ended three days ago, thank the Lord above.
His thumbs hooked into the waist of my silky white panties. They were yanked down with a harsh tug and I helped by kicking them off my ankles. He knelt above me. The light sunshine coming through the cracks between the curtains helped me see Lev’s cock jutting up and out of the waistband of his boxers.
He was as ready as I was.
He gazed down at me, taking in the sight of my nude body for the very first time. I was glad Nas had talked me into getting another bikini wax the week before. Although I kept myself neatly trimmed, I refused to go hairless. I just didn’t like it. And, right now, I was grateful for it. It kept me from feeling overly exposed as Lev’s eyes slowly trailed every inch of me.
It was making me anxious. I needed contact. Reaching up, I gently ran my hands down his arms, and when our hands brushed, he entwined our fingers, bringing my hands to his lips, pressing slow, precise kisses to my knuckles.
His hands released mine and then he was on top of me. We were caught in an embrace, and we were kissing.
These kisses were not wild or passionate or lustful. They were the warm, gentle, lazy kind. The dangerous kind. The kind that made me wonder why we couldn’t do this forever. Be this way forever. Be each other’s forever.
I had hope that it was possible.
His lips trailed my jaw, down to my neck, stopped to greet the valley between my breasts, and then skimmed my stomach, pausing just below my bellybutton to breathe warmly at the quivering flesh there.
The tip of his nose marked the journey down lower still, and then his hands were on my hips, squeezing as he buried his nose into the soft hair of my sex.
I swallowed hard. My eyes were wide open. The apples of my cheeks burning hot. I panted lightly.
He wasn’t going there…was he?
This was all so sudden. I didn’t have time to chose a sexy pose to present myself. I didn’t even know if I was ready for this. It was so much more intimate than intercourse. There was no hiding when you had a face all up in your love glove.
Then his hands were at my knees and he was spreading me wide open, peering down at my most intimate place. Part of me wanted to s
ee his reaction, but my self-conscious mind wouldn’t let me. My eyes snapped shut and my hands came up to cover my face.
I let out an embarrassed groan. That embarrassed groan quickly turned into a passionate moan, my hands falling away from my face as Lev’s tongue came out to swipe me firmly from ass to clit.
Slow and precise.
Deep and adoring.
Wet and warm.
His tongue was a weapon, and it was killing me in his leisurely attack.
He placed his mouth over my pulsating button and sucked it lightly, pulling back as he did. My hands tangled in the sheets as a ragged sigh was ripped from my throat. Lev knew how to pleasure a woman. There was no faking my reaction. It was raw and genuine and so blissful that it bordered painful.
His fingertips played at my entrance, rubbing and kneading, but never taking the plunge inside where I needed it most, leaving me feeling bereft. And just when I thought I was going to go insane from the sweet torture, he gave me what I needed. One finger slipped inside with excruciating slowness.
And my body lit up like a Fourth of July fireworks display.
No longer in control of myself, my thighs tightened around Lev’s head as I whimpered in need. I was so close.
He placed open-mouthed kisses on my pussy, lapping at me, eating me up. Every now and then, his tongue would stiffen and make the dive into me. There was no pussyfooting around. He did to me exactly as the act was termed. He was performing oral sex.
Well, no. Not quite.
He fucked my pussy with his tongue.
The thought drove me wild. The act made me senseless. Combined, I was lost.
My thighs clenching either sides of his head, my hands fisted in his hair, my head thrown back in uncontrollable ecstasy, it wasn’t long before I was grinding myself into his clever mouth. His hands slid under my body, lifting my hips clean off the bed.
He pulled me into him, groaning, the vibration doing wonderful things to me till I wasn’t entirely sure we were separate entities.
My body wrung tight, rigid in every way. My eyes shut of their own accord, lights dancing behind my closed lids. His mouth sent waves of pleasure up my spine to the point of no return.
I was lost to him. And he knew it.
“Come for me, Mina. Come in my mouth, baby. Give me that honey,” he growled into my inner thigh.
Oh, shit.
An explosion of light discharged through me. My heart raced. I was numb.
Then, nothing but bliss.
My pussy quivered and clenched, giving him exactly what he’d asked for. My teeth snapped together, gritted tight, and a long, low moan was pulled from me without my permission as my body fought for control through release.
Holy hell. Sweet Jesus. Sweet baby Jesus.
I was a limp noodle.
Panting softly, Lev kissed his way back up my body, gathering me up and holding me tight. My flaccid arms held onto him the best they could, but my eyes would not open. I held my face into his neck. “Wow,” I croaked. “That was…holy shit.”
His body shook lightly, but he remained quiet. When he spoke next, he spoke frankly. “I’ve never tasted anything like you. You’re mouthwatering. Ambrosia.”
I smiled into his collarbone, feeling sleepy. “And all yours, baby.”
He kissed my forehead, his lips lingering. His hand came down to knead my ass cheeks. “All mine, baby.”
Exhaustion took me soon after. I vaguely remember being cleaned up and tucked in. When I woke next, I woke completely alone, but sated and smiling.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Mina
The spring in my step was a sure sign that although I’d had an average and somewhat alarming night, I’d had a good morning. A very good morning.
As I made my way to Nastasia’s around ten, I was 90 percent sure she would be awake. If not, I’d just have to get my knock on. When I arrived on her doorstep, I lifted my hand to pound it on the door, but thought better of it. Instead, I pulled my cell phone out of my pocket and sent her a text.
Me: Are you awake? I have brownies.
The door was thrown open a minute later. Nas blinked down at me, awake, dressed, and wide-eyed. She smiled, but when she glanced down at my empty hands, she scowled. “There are no brownies, are there?”
I pushed my way inside and snorted a laugh. “No. That was all part of my dastardly scheme to get you to let me in.”
She sounded insulted. “Not cool, shorty. Not cool.” She watched me climb the stairs. “Hey. Where are you going?”
“I’m going to say good morning to my hubby.” I smiled to myself. “Do you mind?”
I opened the door to Nastasia’s room and let myself in. The curtains had been drawn and clothes were flung around the room. Vik was sitting up in bed, a sheet pulled up to his waist, arms folded behind his head, watching the morning news on the TV Nas had on the wall. The moment he saw me, he beamed. “Damn, wifey. You lookin’ good today. You’re all glowin’ and shit.” He grinned cheekily. “You got lucky, didn’t ya?”
I loved Vik. I actually had a hard time believing that he and Anika were made from the same sperm and egg, that they shared DNA. Sometimes I wanted to give him my condolences on the fact that his sister was a giant asshole.
Today, I smiled at him. “I’d come over there and hug you if I wasn’t so sure you were buck-naked under that sheet.”
He gave his hips a light thrust to show me he was indeed bare under there, and I held a hand over my eyes, groaning.
He was such a pig. A lovable pig.
Nas walked into her room with a tray of coffees and I took one from her, giving her waist a light squeeze. She knew me too well. She winked at me, and I took a seat on the farthest edge of the bed, while Nas sat cross-legged next to Vik. She handed him a coffee, and he leaned over and pressed a soft kiss to her cheek. And, God, it made me smile.
I loved how much he loved her.
“So,” Vik began. “How are you feeling about what you saw last night?”
Nas’ brow bunched as she trained an eye on me. “What did you see last night?”
Vik shrugged. “Business. Dealing with the Moretti prick.” Vik threw me a sympathetic look. “Mina saw Lev doing his thing.”
Nas’ shoulder slumped and she sighed. “Oh, Mina. I’m so sorry. I didn’t know.”
They acted like it was a simple misunderstanding. It was the kind of reaction I’d have expected if they’d made an appointment with me they had to break, like it was so easy to understand and forgive, and yet I was still so confused. I held both hands around my coffee mug, warming them. “I don’t know how I feel about it. Lev didn’t exactly tell me much when we got home last night. I’m just really confused. Which is why I’m here.”
Nas reached across the bed to place a hand on my knee. “I wish I could have warned you.” She looked disappointed with herself. “I’ve been wanting to for weeks, but held back. Then when you started dating Lev, I thought he’d tell you about it.” She rolled her eyes. “Yeah, as if he would, right?”
I didn’t get it. “Why wouldn’t he tell me?”
Nas looked to Vik and he answered for her. “You know, Lev’s no stranger to female company, Mina.” Why do I need to hear this? I scowled at him. He grinned and carried on quickly, “But those women were there for one reason, and he made sure he spelled it out for them. Something about you has him treating you differently. He’s never let a woman sleep in his room before. Not ever.”
Nas smiled at me. “Not until you.”
My heart beamed and my belly fluttered, but I kept my game face on.
Vik added, “You’re the only person he’s locked into a room with him since he was ten years old. I don’t know why, but he’s included you into his small circle of protection. You’re part of his sanctuary.”
“Okay,” I muttered, elated by the information, but still confused. “What does that mean?”
Nas spoke gently, spelling it out. “He didn’t tell you because he’s scared to
lose you, doll.”
I sipped my coffee, barely tasting it. “Right, okay. That still doesn’t explain what I saw last night.” I looked from Nas to Vik. “Either one of you want to enlighten me?”
Nas lifted Vik’s left arm and pointed to a tattoo there. A large, bold tattoo that read XAOC. “It all starts here, with Chaos.”
“What is that? Like a gang or something?” I asked carefully.
Vik chuckled. “Whoa there, small stuff. You call it a gang and you’ll get yourself shot.” He explained, “They call themselves a firm. We were a firm.”
Nas sat up straight. “Let’s rewind twenty-one years back.” She cleared her throat. “Bratva were the Russian mafia, the brotherhood. They’re still around, but they’re not advertising, you know. They’re a remote, private group. The only way to get in is to be the son of a member or have two of their members vouch for you. It doesn’t happen often. They don’t want people, cops namely, up in their business, so they started firms all around the world to throw off the scent of their business dealings. As far as the cops knew, the firms weren’t involved with Bratva.” She paused. “In come my father, Anton, and his brother, Ilia. Both men were members of Bratva, as their father and grandfather before them, but when they moved to the US from Russia, they were asked to start a firm, recruit some of the finest Russian-American crims known to man and do what firms did.”
I almost didn’t want to ask. “What did firms do?”
Vik pursed his lips. “The usual. Drug running, racketeering, extortion, arms dealing, fraud, smuggling.” He shrugged like it was no big deal. “You know.”
Nas went on. “So dad becomes president of the firm. Uncle Ilia became vice-president. Vik’s dad, Yuri, was account keeper. The firm was tight. The warehouse where they ran things was almost impenetrable. Then it comes time for the sons to be initiated.”
Okay, I was getting answers, but I had so many more questions. “What does that mean? Why did they need to be initiated?”
Vik smiled. “You say it like it was a bad thing, but to us, to the sons, it was an honor. We were enforcers. Me, Sasha, their cousins, Nik and Max, and their adopted brother, Asher. We all joined at the same time.” He grinned wickedly. “We were out of control. It was fuckin’ manic, baby. We had guns. We had women. We had money. Best years of my life.”