Page 31 of Bratva Daddies for the Single Mom

I understood his confusion. “She needs more time. Not every woman enjoys getting fucked with a knife handle or nicked with a blade.”

Ilya grunted and crossed his arms. “Next time. Viktor underestimates her.”

I agreed with his assessment but kept my lips sealed shut to better enjoy the sight of Annie and Viktor in the steamy shower. Being an active participant was an intoxicating rush, but I had also learned to enjoy being on this side, watching. Annie put on a show unlike any woman I’d ever known. I could watch for hours before feeling that desperate pull that demanded I join in. Next time, as Ilya said. We’d fucked her for hours already, the time spent here helping prepare her for Viktor’s true fantasy.

Viktor finished and motioned for us to join them. We washed Annie, then ourselves, and made our way back to the bedroom.

Annie sank into a chair, wearing nothing but a fluffy robe, her hair damp and curling softly around her face. She yawned and dropped her chin onto her fisted hand. “I thought we had chemistry before.” She fanned her face with her other hand. “This proved it.”

Her intensity was unmatched by any other partner we’d shared. I started to say so but hesitated at mentioning our previous dalliances. She’d asked questions about our wants, our desires. No one else had ever bothered. They took the pleasure we offered and walked away.

Annie’s curiosity intrigued me. She’d shown herself to be smart, passionate, and independent. And unlike anyone else, she’d asked about our life. Viktor told us about her questions when he picked her up, how she’d mentioned the Bratva with fear in her voice but curiosity cutting through like a beacon of light to lost ships.

“You must spend the night.” Viktor toweled his hair dry before reaching for his pants.

Annie sighed long and deep. “I can’t.”

Viktor’s brows furrowed. He wasn’t used to being denied. “Can’t?”

Her body stiffened, then straightened as she uncurled from the chair and stood, stooping to gather her clothes. Like Viktor, she pulled on each article of clothing with swift purpose. “I have to go home. You said one night.”

We all turned together to look at the clock declaring it well past midnight.

“I meant until morning.” Viktor closed the buttons on his shirt with careful precision.

I hurried into my clothes. “I’ll take her.” The offer came instinctively, not wanting an argument to break out after the night we’d experienced.

Viktor rounded on me. “What are you doing?”

“Making sure she arrives home safe.” I shrugged into my shirt and flew through the buttons. “She’s determined to leave. Perhaps she needs time.” In other words, stop pushing and give her room to breathe. I understood Viktor’s need to keep Annie close. We had dangerous enemies, but nothing ruined a relationship faster than one party feeling trapped by the other. Annie deserved her freedom to choose. “You promised her.”

“Technicality.” He eyed the clock again, wearing a deepening scowl. “One I will not make the mistake of repeating.” He faced Annie. “My apologies, Annie. Fyodor will see you home. We will talk again soon.”

Her lips quirked upward in a loose smile that sparkled in her eyes. “Sure. I look forward to it.”

Viktor and Ilya said their goodbyes with hugs and kisses to Annie’s cheeks. When they finished, I held out my arm and waited for her to loop her hand around my elbow in an old-fashioned show of gallantry and led her to the car I’d left parked in the circular drive. We all kept personal vehicles at the mansion since we never knew when we might need to take a last-minute trip. I helped Annie into the Ferrari's low seat and closed the door. Ilya mocked me for the flashy car, but it was my one indulgence I refused to give up.

Annie tapped the dash with one fingernail as I slid behind the wheel and started the engine. “Nice.”

“Not as nice as you.” I brought her hand to my lips and kissed her knuckles. She flushed, and I released her to start the car and begin the drive. I allowed a few moments of quiet between us, then started the conversation I’d been planning since I saw her leaving the apartment complex alongside Viktor and heard his hushed description of her reactions when they spoke in the hallway. I was sure he was filling Ilya in on the situation while I drove Annie home since he’d not had time earlier. “I would ask for a truth from you.”

“What kind of truth?” Her body language was open and inviting.

I stared ahead to keep from becoming intimidating. “You know what we are. Are you afraid to be with us?”

“Fyodor, the three of you just screwed my brains out in the best sexual experience of my life. If I were afraid of you, would I have done that?”

“That is not an answer.” I squeezed the wheel tighter and made the lefthand turn onto the street. Darkness invaded the car until we reached the main highway and delved deeper into Chicago’s downtown chaos.

“I don’t know. Some part of me worries that I’ll get hurt if I stick around.” She shrugged. “And another part tells that part to shut the fuck up because you can’t be all bad.”

We were responsible for many bad things. We hurt people when needed. But never innocents. Did I try to explain that to her? No. Words were cheap. She needed toseewho we were to understand. “You are precious to us.” I knew no other way to lead into the conversation. “I would like you to consider spending time with us. Not just in our bed, but with us as men. As Viktor said, we would like to take you on dates, to show you who we truly are.”

“Would that prove anything? People can pretend to be good but be rotten all the way through.” She clasped her arms over her stomach and hugged them tight.

“That is true. But they cannot hide forever. Sooner or later, the truth comes out. You will never fully know us without time.” I followed the map in my head, taking the twists and turns down dull streets where businesses covered broken windows with cardboard and into Annie’s neighborhood. If I had my way, we would take her from all this. Immediately. A quick glance at her face and I knew it would be pointless. Forcing her into our world would guarantee her hatred and desire to escape. We hadproceeded with caution thus far, and it had worked well for us. I would continue to do so. We were more than violent Bratva men. We loved, we longed, we ached for things not welcome to us. It was rare for us to find someone outside the family we had created, but once we loved, it was forever.

“You’re right. I don’t really know you.” Her breath fluttered around the car. “But I’d like to learn.”

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