Page 92 of Ruthless Lullaby

"You got it," Maurice replies. "I won’t let you down again, brother. Just wait and see."

I put the phone down and allow myself a smile, feeling a rush of anticipation. I know I mustn’t judge too quickly. Maurice still needs to prove himself, but this is a good start. And perhaps with the help of Tramoxine, I will be able to put him on the road to recovery.

The taxi comes to a screeching halt outside the grand hotel, and I toss the driver a wad of cash without even bothering to count. I shut the car door behind me and stride into the hotel lobby to take the lift to my penthouse suite. My head is still reeling from everything that happened today. The success of the Tramoxine trials and the promising conversation with Maurice are making me feel positive about the future.

I enter the suite and throw my jacket on the kitchen counter. Sinking into the plush couch in the living room, I feel a surge of satisfaction wash over me. For years, we've poured blood, sweat, and billions of dollars into Tramoxine, and now, it's finally on the brink of its launch. Sure, there's the alcohol issue, but we’ll deal with that. Nothing is ever perfect. All we need to do is put a giant fucking disclaimer on the label and we have our asses saved.

As for Maurice, I don’t know what to think. His attitude seems better than ever. A few weeks ago, he couldn’t even take responsibility for his fuckups. Now, he sounds like an adult who owns his shit. He even agreed to take Tramoxine to treat hisaddiction. But I guess we’ll have to see. Either way, he’ll be in my ass in the next three months, working alongside me on the launch. That way I can keep a close eye on him.

And most importantly, there’s Mindy. Finally, a woman I genuinely enjoy being with. Unlike my past relationships which were just temporary pussies to fuck and forget. Just thinking about her makes me feel lightheaded and rock-hard at the same time. It’s like my heart is pumping all the blood into my cock, bringing it to the brink of explosion.

Mindy is mine.

Only mine.

Life is good right now.

A flicker of unease runs through me. Where could she be? I've called her multiple times before I left for Moscow, but she still hasn’t called me back. It's not like her to disappear without a word. For a moment, I consider sending Pavel to look for her, but I push the thought aside. I've had enough of today. Besides, she's probably just thinking about the conversation we had last night and needs some space. She'll turn up eventually.

“Korolev, you need a fucking shower,” I tell myself. I’ve been in the same outfit since I left New York. I push myself up from the couch and take off my clothes. Naked, I walk to the drink cabinet. I grab a bottle of whiskey and take a swig, feeling the intense burn as I swallow it down. My thoughts drift to Mindy again. I wish she was here right now to join me in the shower. My erection is nearly painful as I think of her.

I take another sip of whiskey. The coolness of the bottle against my hand, the burning sensation of the alcohol in my mouth, and the heat inside me all come together as I stand therenaked in the dim lighting of my room. My heart races; I can't stop my mind from imagining what Mindy might be doing right now. I picture her soft curves, her supple skin, and ache for her touch. As I swallow another mouthful of whiskey, its smoothness burns all the way down, igniting something deep and primal inside me.

Dammit, Korolev.

I set the bottle down on the counter and reach between my legs, finding myself as hard as steel. My fingers brush against the sensitive skin at the tip of my shaft as I begin to stroke up and down, savoring the feel of my dick growing bigger under my touch. The sound of skin smacking against skin echoes in my ears each time I thrust into my palm. The scent of whiskey fills my nostrils while my cock grows harder and harder - a heady mix that ignites deeper desires within me.

Suddenly, memories flood back: our first kiss, her sweet moans when we made love... Everything about her feels so fucking right, too right for my world. Because my world is full of pain, blood, and chaos. All I know is that I have to find a way to keep her in it.

My thumb finds its way to the tiny slit at the tip of my cock; I begin circling it gently, imagining it's her tongue doing the work. My other hand runs across my chest to pull on one of my nipples while I continue stroking myself faster, growling softly as pleasure builds.

My hand moves up and down at an increasingly rapid pace now; soon enough pre-cum starts leaking from the tip onto my bare hands.I let out a low, guttural groan as I stroke myself faster and faster, my hips bucking involuntarily with each thrust.I lean against the counter for support, panting heavily as I lose myself in the feeling.

My breath hitches as I get closer to the edge, even my vision goes blurry. Every single one of my muscles strain as my pleasure reaches its peak until it finally comes crashing down on me with an overpowering force.

Lisichka.

With one last thrust, I cry out her name and release myself completely into the void. Hot liquid spurts between my fingers, mixing with the smell of sweat and whiskey.

It takes me longer than usual to come down from my high and regain my composure. Even minutes after my solitary release, my breathing is still heavy. It’s still hard to believe how much Mindy has gotten under my skin. There are thousands of miles between us and she still has a hold over me.

I finally walk into the bathroom and take a refreshing shower before heading back to the comfort of the main suite. The combination of jet lag, whiskey, and post-orgasmic haze leaves me feeling pleasantly drowsy. I collapse onto the bed, eagerly anticipating a good rest. Just three more hours and I will be back on the jet, flying back to New York City. But first, I’m going to get some sleep.

However, old habits die hard. I can't shake the compulsion to check my email one last time before I surrender to sleep. With a weary sigh, I reach for my phone on the nightstand. The bright screen momentarily blinds me in the dimness of the room. I blink, letting my eyes adjust to the sudden impulse. That’s when I see the email notification in the top corner of the screen.

It's a message from Mindy.

My drowsiness evaporates instantly as I tap to open the message. And what I see there, almost makes me jump up from bed and smash my phone against the wall.

"Maron,

I have reconsidered your offer and have decided to decline. Please consider the contract null and void. I am sure you will find someone better suited to your needs. I’m sorry if this comes as a surprise, but my decision is final.

Please do not attempt to find me.

Mindy."

Chapter Thirty-Five

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