Page 13 of Devotion

A low growl escapes his lips as he lowers himself to the cold tile at my feet, droplets of freezing water trickling down his chiseled chest. His nipples are hard, his skin covered in goosebumps.

“Faster.” I glare down at him, matching his scathing gaze. Unable to resist any longer, I bend down, cupping his chin with my hand and leaning close to his ear.

“When you finish, you think of me, grinding my ass on you,” I whisper softly, biting his earlobe and pulling lightly.

“Ffffuck…”

Against my better judgment, my other hand trails down his front, encircling his manhood and stroking delicate fingers up his shaft. Right before I turn and stride from the room, my heart pounding.

Behind me, I hear a low grunt as he comes, breathing heavily. The sound rushes through my core, soaking my underwear.

I really mustn’t do such things.

Outside, the crisp air cools my blushing skin. A few deep breaths clear my head.

As a leader of my family, I should deny myself pleasures like these. Especially if I want to be taken seriously in a male-dominated culture. I must be twice as tough. Untouchable to their eyes.

Like my mother taught me, I can be their fantasy, a brutal ideal. But never attainable.

Not that I can’t have fun.

I love to dance. To drink. Occasionally I find a friend for the night.

But as Pyotr always says, appearances are everything. Keep what belongs in private behind closed doors.

In other words, every fucking Bratva man can fuck to his heart’s content, but a Bratva woman can’t. Double standard, old-worldyerunda.

“Towel?” he shouts from inside.

“In first locker. Clothes too. Hurry the fuck up.”

“Keep your skintight leather pants on, I’m coming.”

“Again?” I close my eyes, cursing softly. No one has ever gotten under my skin like him. And I have never wanted someone to want me as badly as I do him.

Glupaya devchonka.Foolish girl.

At least it will be interesting. We shall see how the Shakal handles this world, so different than his home. Regardless, he is not of that world any longer. He is one of us now whether he likes it or not.

For life.

“Ready?” He emerges from the bathhouse, flushed in the cheeks, an involuntary shiver quaking through him.

Despite my better judgment, I lean into him, sharing my warmth for a moment. A soft sigh from his full lips ruins the moment.

“You smell better, at least. Less like filthy animal.”

“You try showering in a frozen mountain shithole with twenty dudes who want to kill you.”

“If I wanted an easy initiation, I would. Mine was far worse.”

His eyes narrow, genuine concern flashes over his face. I change the subject.

“Do you like the outfit I picked for you?”

“Needs work. I’m definitely gonna need to go shopping as soon as I have some money to spend.”

“Priss.”

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