Page 9 of Auctioned to the Bratva

Irina opened her sparkling eyes and stared at me. “Why would she hide documents from you?” she asked quietly.

“Well, these documents we found were about our father,” I said, feeling a lump forming in my throat. I swallowed hard and grinned as I continued. “Anyway, my brother, Roman, came out here a couple of years back after meeting our father. He met his wife here and decided to stay. So, now I am here visiting.”

“Roman?” she asked as she sat up abruptly. Her eyes filled with what appeared to be shock as she turned away from me.

“Yes, my twin brother’s name is Roman,” I said, shifting upright so I could see her face as she turned further away. “He lives here with his wife; they want to incorporate our company with the family business.” I continued as I watched her closely. I wasn’t sure why I was still talking as she was clearly not interested.

Irina got out of bed, hugging the robe as she moved. “I’ll be right back she said, glancing back at me as she headed out the door.

I sat amazed at the sudden change in her when I mentioned Roman. Even with her being from Russia, I had not considered the fact that she might also be part of a Bratva family. Maybe I did, I thought as I considered my reaction at the bar. But seeing the effect his name had on her now made me ponder on this.

As I rose and headed for the minibar in the living area, my mind kept going over the shock on her face. She wasn’t in the living area and I noticed the bathroom door was closed. Did she know Roman? Was she part of our Bratva family? My head just went spinning with that thought.

She couldn’t be; I was sure of it. I had met most of our family and heard about all those I had not yet met from Roman. Her name had never come up before, so why did she seemshocked? I stared at the bathroom door for a moment unsure what to make of the situation.

I took two bottles of water from the small fridge and went back to the room. I placed one on the table next to her side of the bed and sat back down opening mine. I took a big swallow, emptying half the bottle as I heard the bathroom door open. Even if she was family, it wasn’t like we were getting married or having kids. We were only having fun. Plus, I am only half related to Oleg’s family, and nothing has even happened yet.

Irina came through the door completely composed. There was no sign of shock or anything else on her face as she got back into bed. She picked up the bottle, smiled at me, took a couple of sips, and placed it back on the bedside table.

Watching her aroused me, her luscious lips forming around the opening of the bottle. Her silky-smooth neck pulled taut as she lifted her head. I fought the urge to jump on top of her. I needed to know more about her first.

“I’m sorry,” I started as she turned to face me. “Do you know my brother; did I say something wrong?” I tried to read her face as I spoke, but it was blank.

“No, I just had something in my eye,” she replied calmly and lay back down. Her hair spread across the pillow tempting me again.

I reached out, taking her hand in mine, “I’m sorry if I said something that was out of place.” Irina blinked but did not reply, and I was sure her smile was now plastered on. It appeared to pull her cheeks up but didn’t seem natural.

There was something here, but what, I could not determine right now. I decided to leave it, I would ask her again in the morning. I pulled the covers over us as I lay down next to her.

“Irina,” I said as I stroked her arm, and she turned her head toward me. “Thank you for tonight, I had a good time.”

She nodded, “So did I. But I think we should get some sleep.” she replied as she turned on her side facing away from me. There was a hint of fear in her voice, which made me uncomfortable.

I stared at her for a while, not sure if I should also turn away or hold her. She was different from the girls I usually go out with. There was something about her, but I could not put my finger on it. It made me want to hold her close and protect her.

Did she need protection? What was she hiding from me? Maybe I should ask Roman if he knows her.

Finally, feeling sleep calling me, I decided to move closer and softly placed my hand around her. She did not move or stir as I gently pushed my arm in under hers and hugged her to me. I lay holding her, feeling her chest move with every breath.

I closed my eyes, absorbing her honeyed aroma. My mind traveled back to my house and my toys. I smiled as I played with her there until I drifted off.

Chapter 6 - Irina

I felt him move closer and place his arm around me. I didn’t dare move. I lay waiting for him to fall asleep. The odor in the room was clean but I could still smell that strange leathery aroma. Was this his natural scent I wondered as my mind restarted the evening.

My mind wandered to our first encounter at the bar and how he looked so much like Roman. But I dismissed that thought as he wasn’t Roman. I thought he would be safe seeing as he was not raised in Russia and could not be part of Bratva. But Bratva appeared to have longer fingers than I had imagined.

Even though he was raised in Los Angeles by his mother, his father was Oleg. I met his brother Roman once. It was when I was still assisting Oleg, and that is why he looked so familiar. I should have asked him if he had a brother before anything started. But how could I have known? I didn’t know Roman had a brother.

This evening had started with so many different feelings and ended pretty much the same. That was before we entered the room, before he started talking.

My body had betrayed me. I wanted sex with him but now I was glad I decided to wait. I came here hoping to start over, wanting to get out, I just can’t stay. He may say he wants nothing to do with it, he may even believe himself.

But growing up with it, I knew better. At some time, it becomes part of you, especially if you are family. True blood can’t escape it. I was lucky, but Sergei doesn’t know yet. Family is family.

As I waited, I felt his arm going heavy, and I slowly shifted to my back. Sergei closed his hand around my arm, andI stopped moving. His breathing was shallow but not enough for him to be completely asleep. So, I waited some more.

I didn’t want Bratva in my life anymore. He was a charming man, and I was sure he could be what I was looking for, but I couldn’t stay, could I? I contemplated this while I lay wide awake.

---