Page 6 of Cruel Bet

“Looking cozy there, Boss,” Endo chips in, flashing me a cheeky grin in the rearview mirror. “I can see what the fuss is all about, she’s a real looker and a right little spitfire.”

“Keep your eyes on the road,” I growl.

And off my woman.

Endo understands perfectly well the hidden command there. He chuckles to himself but doesn’t push it any further. I’m not sure where this sudden need to protect her has come from. She’s no one to me. Just another means to an end, a way to get back at De Luca and Lucchese. I have to remember that. She’s not my woman.

Endo is wrong though, she’s more than just a looker. She’s stunning. When I walked into her room and saw her in that wedding dress, for a moment I lost all of my senses. The corseted bodice hugged her curves showing off her perfectly full, round breasts and slim waist. The flowing skirt skimmed over her hips, and I couldn’t help but notice when she moved that the slit in it revealed a peek of her pale, creamy thigh. It’s a first for me, getting hard while on the job. But just the sight of her had me straining against my pants.

Luckily, I shot the henchman before I looked at her, or else the fucker might have gotten off a shot first. She’s a distraction. I can’t afford distractions in my life.

Her reaction to my arrival wasn’t what I anticipated. Arianna De Luca is an open book. She’s clearly not mastered the art of hiding her emotions, they’re written all over her face. The way she looked up at me adoringly like I was her saviorawakened something in me that I lost long ago. She looked like she trusted me. Wholly and completely. It felt as if she was the one who had come for me.

But then, in a flash, it was gone. Replaced by fear, shock, and revulsion at what I had done. Good, she should realize I’m not the hero type. I’m the villain. Though if I’d expected her to react like the shy, obedient Mafia princess normally would, I was wrong. This little dollhas spirit. She might have been afraid, but like hell was she going to show it. She didn’t scream or cry. She argued and fought like a little wildcat until I reminded her that she asked for this.

I’m going to make her beg for more. For me. I want her to plead for me to fuck her and own her and make her scream. To be mine.

Even as I’m telling myself that’s all I want, to fuck her and scratch this itch, part of me wants to protect her. To have those big, trusting emerald eyes look at me as though I’m the only one who can save her. To keep her safe. Without thinking, I reach out and tuck a stray strand of hair behind her ear, stroking the smooth skin of her cheek as I do. It’s the most tender thing I’ve done in a long time. Thank fuck she’s not awake to know it.

Chapter 5

Arianna

In my dream, Nikolai rescues me again, but this time, I don’t even notice the trail of death and destruction left behind in his wake. He strides in and our eyes meet, but this time I run to him.

“Arianna, my love,” he says enveloping me in his strong arms.

“Nikolai, you came for me.”

“I will always rescue you and keep you safe,kukolka,” he replies, leaning down to kiss me tenderly.

The kiss deepens and he picks me up with ease. He doesn’t throw me over his shoulder this time, though. I wrap my legs around his waist and his hungry mouth runs a trail of kisses down my neck. He lays me down on the bed, kissing me tenderly.

“Oh god, Nikolai, make love to me. Please, I want my first to be you, I’ve waited so long for you,” I beg, unbuckling his belt and releasing his manhood.

“As you wish,kukolka, I’ve waited for you too,” he says softly, kissing me once more, his tongue greedily exploring mine.

He enters me, filling me completely and I tremble in his arms, ready to burst just for the feeling of him inside me.

“You are mine,kukolka,”he growls, as our bodies connect and become one.

He continues to thrust into me, bringing me close until I reach climax, trembling into an earth-shattering orgasm.

“Oh yes, Nikolai, yes!” I cry.

But he doesn’t stop. He keeps going, gently caressing me while expertly delving in and out of my heat. I orgasm again while screaming out his name. And then…

And then I wake up.

I’m momentarily disorientated. Where am I? I smell his heady, intoxicating scent, masculine and woody like a forest on a summer’s day, first. Snuggling into him, I savor the feel of his strong chest beneath my hand and feel his heart beating, solid and comforting.

“Nikolai,” I murmur.

“Yes?” he replies more softly than I’ve ever heard him speak.

It’s at this moment I finally come to my senses. He’s really here. I’m not dreaming anymore. I’m awake and snuggled up to Nikolai Kuzmin, rubbing up against him like a bitch in heat. How mortifying, after the conversation we had before? I should hate him, not be cuddling up to him and having filthy, incredible sex dreams that rivaled anything in the steamy novels I kept hidden under my bed.

As if scalded, I spring away from him, finally looking at his face. A slight smirk tugs at the corner of his mouth, and he cocks an eyebrow knowingly. My cheeks flush scarlet. Oh my god, was I talking in my sleep? Did I say his name out loud?

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