Page 69 of Embracing the Dark Side

Adrik didn’t even know what he wanted to say or do. He just stared at her. He didn’t know if he loved her like Alexei did, but he did know that she felt like a tether to his chest. She kept him rooted in place, and she made him feel connected. The loneliness that’s been following him since Alexei died eased a little. He could breathe again, something that drugs and liquor hadn’t been able to help with.

Jolie gave an encouraging smile and awkwardly pointed to the blow-up poster hanging in the living room. Adrik suppressed his humor, but his lips twitched, nonetheless. Then he nudged his head, beckoning her.

Jolie stood, quick as lightning, and shifted through the people and furniture, following him down the hall. He didn’t look behind him and stepped into the kitchen, where his servants continued to move, bringing out more liquor and food. When she popped her head in, Adrik took her hand and pulled her through another doorway, further away from the party.

One last door, and they were in his newly appointed office. The lights were off, and only the moonlight illuminated the room. He pulled her in and shut the door. “Adrik—” His lips were on her. A kiss that he’d been dying for.

Jolie’s hands slipped into his hair. Her heart pounded intensely, making breathing difficult. She panted as his lips traveled down her throat. His touch had been missed and feeling him again brought her comfort. She attempted to talk to him, to tell him how sorry she was for Alexei and for working with the FBI. She tried to beg him to forgive her, but he heard nothing. He gripped the edge of her dress, yanking it down to reveal her breast. His mouth was already on her nipple before she could object. He sucked it, bit it, licked it while he pressed his hard dick against her.

“Adrik,” she whimpered. Jolie couldn’t let this continue. He wasn’t in the right headspace, and they hadn’t talked since he saved her from Vincent. She needed to hear her name on his lips, hold him as he cried, and comfort him. She had to know that her stupid secret hadn’t destroyed their relationship, that there was stillsomething concrete between them. Jolie gripped Adrik’s cheeks, and even as he fought, she was stubborn and wouldn’t relent. He snapped up, almost angrily, meeting her gaze. She gasped, the sight of his sadness knocking the breath from her lungs.

It was everything he was holding back, everything she knew he was suppressing. And he was silently pleading for her to ease his pain.

Jolie nodded dumbly, swallowing her words and all the things that distracted her, and leaned in and kissed him. Adrik’s passion drowned her. His lips were chaotic as his hands slipped up her dress, pulling the fabric to her hips. She reached for his belt and unbuckled his pants. Adrik slipped his hands into her underwear, cupping her bare ass cheeks, digging his nails into her fat skin with desperation. His lips traveled up her neck, his tongue slipping into her mouth. She pushed his pants down, and they dropped to his ankles. Adrik yanked her panties off, snapping the fabric against her skin. He tossed them on the floor before he grabbed her behind her thighs, and she wrapped her legs around his waist. He shuffled to the desk, nearly tripping, and sat her on the edge. Jolie tried to get some eye contact, but he avoided her, concentrating only on need.

Adrik spat on his hand and pulled his cock out of his boxers, rubbing the saliva along it before lining up to her vagina. He shoved in, hard. Her gasp of pain and pleasure was a beautiful fucking sound, and he wanted to hear it again. He pulled out, spat on the tip of his cock again, and slammed into her. She inhaled sharply, her nails digging into his arms. There was tension from the pain of his intrusion, but with each thrust, the ache dissolved soon enough. She threw her head back and letout a small, suppressed whimper. He buried into her neck as he fucked her. The desk rattled, and random objects fell and rolled on the floor. Her heels pressed into his ass, begging him for more.

Adrik pulled out of her, and her legs dropped to the floor. He grabbed her hips and turned her around, ignoring how desperate she was for his gaze. He bent her over the desk as he pulled her dress back above her ass and then pushed into her again. She twisted to look at him, a hand on his chest, but he snatched that hand and then grabbed her other, pinning them to her back so the side of her face was flush against the papers on the desk. She groaned and moaned, meeting his thrusts. He pounded into her hard, making her take his dick, even if it was painful. Her pussy felt like heaven, and he wanted to soak in its holy haven.

With one final shove, he came inside her. He threw his head back, twitching, flinching, embracing the wave till it disappeared.

And when it was gone, Adrik hated her for it.

He stepped back, pulling out, panting, an overwhelming rush of misery nearly choking him. Adrik pulled his pants up and began buttoning and buckling them up.

Jolie recovered slowly, but as she looked behind her, Adrik turned away. “Adrik?”

He walked out of the room and slammed the door.

Chapter thirty-two

Afterparty

Jolie flicked her eyes around the room. Humiliation was building as the seconds ticked by, and Adrik didn’t return.

He had used her.

He used her like a whore.

His semen was dripping down her thigh, and she looked around for something to wipe it away. She ended up having to use her ripped underwear. After pushing her dress down and slipping her breasts back inside, Jolie fell against the desk and slapped a hand over her mouth.

She hated him for it, but she knew she deserved it. She just hadn’t thought Adrik was capable of treating her like that.

Jolie looked around the room, holding herself. Should she go home? Walk out the door and move on? Jolie rubbed the wetness from her face. She wasn’t the same girl she was six weeks ago. After staying with a monster like Vincent, Adrik’s actions weren’t the worst. She could even forgive it and toss it up as the byproduct of grief. But it was now clear to her that he had no more use for her. That fuck was a last goodbye.

Jolie strengthened her back and walked out the door. One of Adrik’s guards stood there. “Mr. Morozov would like me to escort you back to the party.”

“Why? To rub it in my face? I have more respect for myself than he thinks.”

The soldier took her arm, guiding her, and though she struggled against him, he continued to bring her back. She was angry and embarrassed and didn’t want to be here anymore. When a tray of drinks walked by, rebelliousness curled into her, and she snatched a glass. If Adrik wouldn’t let her leave, then she was going to piss him off in a different way. Last time she got drunk and had fun, he went on and on about ‘appropriate’ behavior. She’ll show him what’s appropriate.

Jolie went to the bar as she finished her first awful drink. She nearly gagged, the liquor more like gasoline, then juice. When the bartender asked for her order, she tried to remember what Katia had gotten them. Jolie had never been more drunk in her life, and she still hadn’t understood how she got so wasted in such a limited time. “Something fruity,” she answered. Thinking of that woman was never pleasant. Everything Katia had done had been strategic. And now that Jolie had so much time to think about it, she saw all the signs. It was a learning experience, one that will help her from now on. Trust needed to be earned. Jolie would have to be selective in those that she allowed in her circle.

The bartender put a pink drink with a blue umbrella in front of her and Jolie paused as she stared it. With Katia in mind, Jolie didn’t want to get back at Adrik. She didn’t want there to be a game of revenge between them. There would be no ‘keeping score’ on who hurt who more. That wasn’t the type of person she was.

Adrik came to the bar beside her, just a few steps away. He ignored her completely as he ordered a drink. He wanted only to let her know he was watching her. Shewas probably pissed by his actions, but getting even with her was the only thing he knew to make it better. Hurting her would help him forgive her. But now, Adrik felt a ridiculous amount of guilt he wasn’t used to. Hurting Katia was fun and kept the power in his hands. But with Jolie, he felt like he was ruining something he only wanted to protect.

Apologizing was out of the question. If Adrik could only talk to her, he could make it better between them, but talking about emotions wasn’t a talent he had ever acquired. Adrik dared to glance in her direction. Her cheek was healing. The bruising and swelling had gone, leaving behind a thin, raw pink scar. For the rest of their lives, that was going to remain, constantly reminding him how he almost lost her.

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