Page 69 of Poisoned Roses

Ican breathe again. It’s as if I’ve been holding my breath since my father died and now I can relax. A huge weight has shifted from my shoulders and for the first time in a very long one, I am free. I’m still the head of the Romanov dynasty, but I’m no longer alone. I have a wife now and what an amazing one she is. I couldn’t have chosen better if I had that pleasure myself.

If anything, Boris did me a huge favor when he arranged our union and he would probably hate knowing that.

As we step into our private space, I close the door on the secretive, wicked, decadent life we live and tear off my tie as my jacket drops to the ground.

Tia stands like a model, a glittering star in the dark gloom and as my predatory gaze drifts over her, a huge burst of emotion grips me.

I drop to my knees before her, laying my head against her stomach and as I press a light kiss on it, I take her hand and hold it reverently and say with meaning, “I love you, Tia Romanov.”

Her eyes shine with happy tears and I stand and tip her chin to meet my eyes and whisper, “You taught me what that means. To place another above your own needs and to physically hurt if they are in danger.”

I kiss her softly on the lips and, pulling back, whisper. “I would do anything for you, malysh. I dedicated my life to you, and I meant every word I said in that ceremony. We may have started out as strangers, but not anymore. Now we move forward as lovers, best friends and husband and wife, and I will never keep anything from you. No secrets. Not in our world, because secrets have a habit of destroying souls.”

“No secrets.” She whispers as she gazes into my eyes and I can’t wait another minute. and slide my hand around the back of her head and kiss her deeply. This is my declaration to her, and this is my promise. She is now the most important person in the world to me and God help anyone who tries to get in the way of that.

Her soft moan causes the blood to surge through every part of me and with a wicked grin, I pull the dress from her shoulder, the sound of fabric tearing a welcome one.

I rip her dress away like a caveman and her shocked gasp gives rise to the devil in me as I bend my lips to her heavingbreast, easing aside the silk lingerie, before ripping that off her as well.

“Titus.” She groans as I bite firmly on her soft sweet flesh, the animal inside me now free from his cage.

I kneel down before my queen and part her swollen lips, plunging my tongue in deep and glorifying in her taste.

I am delirious with desire and not about to excuse my actions as I stand and sweep her off her feet, carrying her caveman style to my bed. Our bed where we will make many more lives.

I push her gently onto the silk sheets and tear off my shirt, dropping my pants, eager to be naked and inside this woman with no time to waste.

Her seductive smile lights my flame and I waste no time in dropping over her, pinning her beneath me. It’s a feral ache inside me that drives my passion. To conquer, to control, and to plunder.

“I’ll take it slower next time.” I hiss as I push inside her, desperate to lose myself in her hot, sticky paradise.

“Oh God, Titus.” She gasps as I thrust hard in and out, marking her inside. I’m not gentle, I’m out of control and I grasp her wrists and hold them hard against the sheets as I push harder, in deeper, with more force. Desperate to claim every part of her inside. To make her mine. To conquer her heart.

Her orgasm is hard, wild and unapologetic as she screams my name, her entire body shaking. My own erupts with fast fury and as I shoot deep inside her, it blinds me for a second. I only need her. I feel her and want her. There is nothing else in my life but this woman, and I’m guessing that’s what love does to a man. I would kill for my wife—hell, I have done already, and that is my dark promise to anyone who believes they can take what’s mine.

The night is long and I am insatiable. Tia will find it difficult to walk tomorrow, let alone dance. My insatiable lust for thiswoman cannot be contained and by the time we fall into an orgasm induced sleep, I have demonstrated every way she is now owned by me.

EPILOGUE

TATIANA

FIVE YEARS LATER

I love coming here. The sound of the ocean and the fresh salty air re-energizes my soul. I love how the cool breeze and thewarm sun work together to soothe and heal and the sand that curls between my toes is the most luxurious carpet.

Here any troubles are whipped away on the breath of a gentle sea breeze but most of all I enjoy uninterrupted time with my family.

“Mama!”

An excited high-pitched voice disturbs my peaceful moment, dragging a smile from my face as two small arms that are surprisingly strong grip my legs hard.

I reach down and run my fingers through his soft hair, and then pull him up into my arms, burying my face in his scent. The best one there is, my child’s.

“I love you Maksim.” I whisper as he struggles in my arms and pleads, “Come and build a sand castle with me.”

A deep chuckle alerts me to another intruder and, as always, my heart flutters whenever he is near.

I turn with Maksim in my arms and notice Titus strolling toward me, carrying Katya on his shoulders, Andrei not far behind chasing Valentin’s son, Erik.

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