Page 21 of Slipping into the Dark Side

He left her and didn’t look back.

Chapter ten

Collison

Tatianna sat on the ground for less than thirty seconds when one of her siblings jumped down the stairs, wanting all the sordid details of her encounter with Yakov Morozov, but Tatianna sprung to her feet and ran up the stairs. She sat on her bed now, staring sightlessly at the ground, feeling her lips because she could still taste the mint and nicotine that had been left behind. His touch was like a fire, spreading deeper into her gut.

She was gonna lose the fight.

Tatianna stood. She couldn’t let Yakov devour her, not from a stupid, passionate, erotic kiss. She wasn’t so pathetic to let physical wants kill all her drive.

After getting dressed, she hopped in the car. Her father wanted to know what had happened and asked her where she was going, but she drove away without looking in the mirror. She drove aimlessly, chewing on her nails, trying to fight the thoughts in her head, but eventually, she found herself pulling up to Fedor’s estate. All the lights flooded the property. It was beautiful and better kept. Demir Utkins had expensive taste, but that came with a price tag. Fedor had revealed to her just the other day that he was going bankrupt. He’d have to get rid of the property and find something more affordable.

She banged on the wooden door and all too soon, Fedor answered. He was in his pajamas, his initials on the front of his silk maroon clothes. “Tati?” He looked back at the grandfather clock against the wall. “It’s nearly midnight. What are you doing here?”

Tatianna threw herself at him. Her lips were desperate to feel something other than Yakov. He caught her in surprise, his hands gentle on her hips as he laughed into her mouth. “What is going on?” he questioned through her kisses. But he shut the door regardless and twisted her toward the living room. He smiled into her, adoring her touch. He kissed down her neck, holding her close to feel her breasts pressed against his chest.

Tatianna turned them around when they approached the couch, and she pushed him on the cushions, quickly straddling his waist with her knees. He held her close, watching every move she was making.

“What has gotten into you?”

“I want you,” she panted against his neck, her fingers traveling under his shirt to feel the layers of his abs.

“God, I want you too.” He had her lips tangled with his, his body shivering from every touch. But as her hand lowered to his groin, he stopped her, holding her hands tight against his chest. “We are less than two months out.”

Tatianna shook her head. “I don’t want to wait.”

Fedor clenched his teeth, resting his forehead against hers. “Don’t say that. It will kill me.”

Tatianna twisted her hand out of his and moved it to cup her breast. He moaned and licked his lips, his head falling back against the couch as he cursed.

“Come on, Fedor. I can feel you.” She wiggled her hips against his erection and watched his mouth drop open. “We don’t have to wait.”

With effort, Fedor pulled Tatianna’s leg and sat her next to him. He took a deep breath, ignoring her look of outrage. He kept his head down and explained, “I can’t dishonor your family like that. Your father trusts me.”

The rejection was a slap in the face. She stared bug-eyed, unsure where to go from here. She was embarrassed and full of pent-up desire that turned into shame.

Fedor grabbed her hand. “Tati, we agreed on this together, don’t you remember?”

To hurt him like he hurt her, she stated, “I saw you with another girl.” There wasn’t any malice in her words. She was empty at this moment, unsure what to feel. But she wanted him to know. She didn’t watch his reaction, if there was one, but she could hear the sudden desperation in his voice. It annoyed her.

“I didn’t have sex with her, I swear to you.”

She nodded, uninterested. She would call Fedor a liar if he was any other man, but she knew him.

“I’m sorry I let it go as far as it did. It won’t ever happen again.”

Tatianna looked at him finally. He sat depressed like a beaten puppy. “As long as you are friends with Yakov Morozov, it’s going to happen again.”

“You’re right,” Fedor agreed. “He’s a bad influence. But he can help my family. He’s taken an interest in our operation with ourproduction of vodka. He wants to finance our distribution to America. That could save my estate. Everything I have.”

“And what does he want in return?”

“It’s business, darling. I don’t expect you to understand. But Mr. Morozov knows what he’s doing.”

“Did you say that over your father’s grave?”

Fedor stood. “That’s not fair.”

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