Her cheeks go pink. “Only if you behave.”

Spoiler: I won’t.

I follow her into the shower, stripping my clothes off as she drops my shirt on the floor, and I step into the shower behind her. “Beautiful,” I murmur, pulling her flush against my chest. She’s short enough that my hard cock poking out of my boxer shorts nestles perfectly in the gentle curve of her belly. Just theidea of her body opening around me makes my pulse pound in my ears.

Sliding my hands down her naked body, I savor the supple warmth of her skin. I find her folds wet and wanting, her arousal mixing with the drops of water that mist across her skin.

“Vasiliy,” she breathes, leaning against me for support.

I bury my face in her hair, marveling at the easy intimacy. “Can I have you?” I hold my breath, waiting for her reply. I’m letting her choose. It’s up to her to decide whether to let me in or not.

Galina reaches up, tangling her fingers in my hair, and pulls me down for a fierce kiss. Whatever answer she wanted to say, the wet heat of her tongue against mine says enough. I grunt in approval, pushing down my boxers and lifting her effortlessly in my arms and guiding her legs around my waist.

The glass of the shower door is slippery beneath my palms, but I push forward until her back is pressed against the smooth tile. Groaning at the delightful wet pressure around the head of my cock, I guide myself inside her with a slow roll of my pelvis.

Galina moans, tilting her hips to take me deeper. She pants against my shoulder, tugging impatiently at my hair as we move together, finding a frantic rhythm. My eyes fix on the tantalizing slope of her belly, imagining how it will soon round out. Water and steam engulf us as we move together, lost in the sensation. The fierce tightening in my balls means I won’t last long. This quick union has all the urgency of a fight—all the raw, violent adrenaline of taking her for the first time. But instead of controlling her with fear and anger, we’ve found something new. A connection that takes my breath away.

I squeeze her thighs, urging her to hold on, then jerk her hips forward, thrusting deeper. With a broken scream, she clenches around me, flooding the shallow space between us with her arousal. Her orgasm sets off mine, and I finish inside her,grunting low curses in Russian against the slick skin of her neck. We slump together, holding each other up with trembling limbs as the water continues to cascade over us.

We finally pull ourselves apart. I turn off the water and reach for a towel, wrapping her gently before grabbing one for myself. She’s shivering, but there’s a softness in her eyes I don’t see often—unguarded, almost peaceful.

I guide her back to bed, pulling the heavy blanket over us as she curls into my side with a contented sigh. For a fleeting moment, everything feels still. Safe.

Then my phone buzzes.

Once. Twice.

I ignore it.

The third time, something shifts. A dull thud settles in my gut—instinct screaming louder than the device in my hand. I slip out of bed and snag the phone from the dresser, already bracing for what I’ll find.

“Everything okay?” Galina asks from the doorway, the towel wrapped tightly around her body.

Jaromir’s name lights up the screen. I open the thread, scanning the flood of messages—and ice hits my bloodstream.

“Fuck.” My voice cuts the air.

Her eyes sharpen. “What is it?”

I’m already pulling on my shirt, not bothering with anything else. There’s no time for suits or silk. “They’re coming back,” I say. “Rong and the cops. ”

“What?” she breathes. “Why now?”

“Doesn’t matter.” I head for the closet, grabbing weapons, keys, a clean pair of jeans. “We need to move the product. Again. And this time, it can’t stay anywhere near the club.”

She steps in front of me, trying to catch my eye. “Vasiliy?—”

“You can stay,” I cut in. “Or you can come. But I have to go now.”

Her jaw sets. “I’m coming. I can help.”

I nod once, tossing her last night’s dress. While she throws it on, I scroll through the updates from my men. Jaromir’s already mobilized everybody. Raffe’s in place. Backups are en route. But it’s not enough. It never is.

Moments later, Galina’s hair is pulled back, eyes clear, shoulders squared. She’s slipped back into her armor, quick and seamless. But I still see the woman from moments ago beneath it. I kiss her, slow and deep, a promise carved in silence.

She tastes like last night. Like surrender and heat and something terrifyingly close to hope.

“Ready?” I ask.