Page 76 of The Councilor

“Yes. Yes…” I lolled my head to the side, gasping for air as the orgasm continued roaring through me, every nerve ending in flames. When he finally pressed the full weight of his body against mine, I let out a slow and scattered sigh. Then he wrenched my arms over my head, holding them captive, kissing me as if his life depended on doing so, hungrily and without reservation. I was taken aback by his aggressiveness, his need to devour every inch of me, but I’d never felt such utter bliss in my life.

I could tell he was just as insatiable. Together, we were explosive.

As he overwhelmed me with his tongue, thrusting it in and out, I realized I’d never felt so wanted or so alive. I struggled in his hold for no other reason than I wasn’t used to being treated so possessively, but his kiss continued to ignite the stoked fire deep within.

He lifted his head, holding my gaze as he’d done before, grinding his hips into me as his jaw clenched. His entire body was shaking, and I knew it was only a matter of seconds before he released deep inside, filling me with his seed, fulfilling another beautiful fantasy. I refused to blink, taking in every precious moment and when his hips began to jerk, he thrust even harder, stealing what was left of my breath.

He gasped for air, grunting as he threw back his head. As he erupted deep inside, I had never felt so fulfilled or satisfied in my life.

Seconds later, he pressed his forehead against mine, gasping for air, and I closed my eyes, falling into a dark abyss, a sweet golden haze that I prayed would never end.

My protector.

My lover.

Soon to be my husband.

CHAPTER 21

Aleksander

I held her in my arms as the storm rolled past. I wasn’t the kind of man who normally appreciated any level of passion after the intimacy had been concluded, but there was something about tonight that seemed to change everything. I couldn’t put a finger on it, except that for me, almost losing her was a rude awakening as to who I was and what could happen to anyone I cared about.

It shouldn’t matter given a business deal had been entered into, but it did. Maybe the storm was playing fighting games in my mind like it had done with Raphaella. She’d been utterly terrified when she’d come into my room unexpectedly. A part of her had to remain traumatized but our closeness was about much more.

Maybe I shouldn’t try to put a finger on it.

She scooted even closer, sliding one leg over mine. The power being off made me nervous even though the estate was crawling with men getting drenched in the horrific storm.

“You really have no idea who was behind the shooting?”

Her redundant question was understandable. “I wish I did. Don’t worry, my little lamb. I will find out. The entire Bratva is searching.”

She lifted her head and I didn’t need to have any light on in the room to sense her continued angst. “Could my father be behind the attack?”

I hadn’t wanted to mention my thoughts on the possibilities, the endless list that seemed to go on forever including her father, but I wasn’t going to lie to her. “Anything is possible because he was angry Vadim forced him into the agreement.”

“I’m sure he offered me up right away, a lamb to the slaughter.”

I hated hearing the words, but they were the truth. “He knew what he wanted to do right away.”

“Don’t sugarcoat anything. I know him too well. What are we going to do?”

I liked the term ‘we,’ as ridiculous as that sounded even in my own mind. “It’s not in our best interest to stay in this house. I never made it a secret, even with the number of criminal clients I had. We’re headed to the Brighton Beach location first thing in the morning. I can better protect you there. I’ll have a dozen or more soldiers assigned to protect us, more at my fingertips. Besides, very few people would have the balls to try anything in that location.”

“Brighton Beach. All Russians.” Her statement was strangely provocative.

“Yes. Most from the old country. There are generations here now, many of which chose not to leave.”

“But you did.”

I stroked her face, thinking about her comment. “I did but I never devalued the area. People are tightknit there, families very important. They will be our eyes and ears.”

I meant what I said to her. However, I’d left out the part that I hadn’t placed enough of a value on the people, the culture or the tightly knit group. There were soldiers everywhere, ones who’d been with Vadim’s father long before. They kept a firm watch on the area. Nothing ever got by them. Nothing.

“You should go back to your room. I need to make a few phone calls,” I told her.

“Which means you can’t sleep.”

---