Page 21 of Owned By Shadows

“Fuck, Dima. These are incredible,” I moan around a mouthful, and Roman’s hand lands on my thigh.

“Keep making noises like that, Princess. I dare you,” he rumbles low under his breath, and I look at him, my mouth agape, no doubt showing my half chewed breakfast.

“Roman Kent! You just came twice, spent the better part of the last, lord knows how long, inside me, and you’re threatening to what? Throw me on this table and have your wicked way with me? Again?”

He gives me a smile that I’ve no doubt would make a saint say fuck it.

“As I recall, you had your wicked way with me first,” he teases, and my cheeks flush, remembering the way he looked as he slept and I pressed his length inside me. “And I could spend the rest of my life buried inside you and still want more. I could come inside that sweet fucking cunt over and over again and it wouldn’t be enough.”

“Oh,” I reply weakly, my gaze darting away from him and at the other guys sitting round us. They have matching looks of hunger and agreement on their faces, all except Andrei, Bubby and Dima. Andrei gives me an understanding smile.

“Possessive men, am I right?” he asks, and Dima’s hand is suddenly on his chin, turning his face towards him.

“You wouldn’t have me any other way,shcenok,” Dima growls, holding Andrei’s gaze for a moment before letting his face go.

I laugh at the dazed look on Andrei’s face, recognising it as one I often must have on mine.

“Well, how about we eat and then we can talk about our next steps?” Hunt suggests, and I turn to look at him as he reaches for the coffee jug, pouring himself a mug. “After all, if anyone is punishing brats, it’s me.”

He looks up at me as he says the last part, and a small, desperate whimper falls from my lips, unbidden. Damn him all to hell. He knows that I rather enjoy his brand of punishment. “First order of business. I’m assuming Sergi still believes that Roman is dead. My question is what he thinks you’re doing in Russia, Sweetheart?”

Warmth pools inside my chest at the nickname Hunt has given Nik, my lips tugging up in a smile as I glance at the man in question to see him shiver slightly. Oh, he’s got it bad for Daddy.

“He believes that a rival Bratva group, led by the Volkov’s, is trying to muscle in on our territory, to take over our dealings in St.Petersburg,” Nik states, filling his plate with a selection fromthe table. “And that I am here to make them see the error of their ways.”

“Won’t he get suspicious when he discovers you’re not in the city?” I ask, taking another bite of pancake as Roman pours me a cup of mint tea, a favourite of mine that Nik must have shared with Dima.

“It’s why I’ll have to head back to the city today, show my face with our contacts and work on some of my own business,” Nik answers, and my chest tightens. He must see the way my face falls, because his eyes soften, his hand reaching out and grasping mine. “I’ll be gone a few days, but then I’ll be back, and Andrei will stay here to monitor Roman and make sure he’s healing as he should.”

“Promise you’ll come back?” I whisper, the question more of a demand. I just want more time with him, more time with them all as we build our family.

“I swear it,Malyshka,” he vows, bringing my hand to his lips and placing a kiss on the back of it. “Three days maximum.”

“And what will we do while you’re away?” Hunt asks, and I tear my gaze away from Nik to look at him. His body is rigid, his brows wrinkled as he stares Nik down. He’s worried. Concerned about Nikolai.

“Rest,” Nik orders, giving my hand a squeeze before releasing it, his gaze fixed on Hunt’s. “And enjoy the calm before the storm, because there is no doubt a storm is coming and we need to all be prepared for it.”

“UNWORTHY” BY VANCOUVER SLEEP CLINIC

HUNTER

Nik and Dima leave shortly after breakfast, and I fucking hate it. I hate watching him go, not being able to keep him with us and keep him safe. Because now that I know he didn’t kill Roman, some part of me couldn’t believe that he would ever hurt any of us. I know he is a part of this family that we have too.

And I keep my family safe.

You couldn’t keep Iris safe. Or Roman. Or Willow, for that matter...

I growl at the inner fucking bastard that is screaming about all my failures. How I just keep fucking up, keep allowing shit to happen to those that I love.

“Daddy?” Iris’ sweet voice breaks into the spiral which I know is happening, but I’m unable to stop. “Are you okay?”

I tear my gaze away from the driveway that Nik disappeared down, my muscles so tight I can feel a headache blooming. I look at her, at her stunning fucking face, so open and caring, and something inside me just snaps.

“No, I’m not okay,” I croak out, my voice breaking as the lump in my throat grows, the back of my eyes burning.

“Oh, Hunt,” she whispers, stepping into me and wrapping her arms tightly around my torso. “I want to try something, Daddy, that I think will help.”

“Okay,” I murmur, holding onto this thing that is threatening to overwhelm me with everything that I have. I can’t break, can’t allow myself to be weak, because then they’ll all be taken away from me again.

---