Page 68 of Bound to the Bratva
Her legs wrap tightly around my waist, pulling me deeper into her. Her nails dig into my back as her body thrashes beneath mine. She gasps, moaning my name, a sweet melody that drives me on.
“Aria,” I grunt. It’s a command, a plea. I want her to come undone under my touch.
“I’m... getting close,” she pants, her body trembling beneath me. Her beautiful eyes flicker up to meet mine, the raw need in them searing me to my core.
“Let go for me,” I growl, reaching between our bodies to find her clit and rub it in gentle circles.
The whimpering noises from her turn into full-on screams as I thrust harder and faster. There’s an animalistic need in me to claim every inch of her—to make sure she knows she belongs to me.
“I… Maxim!” Aria screams out my name as the orgasm hits her, rippling through her body in waves.
“???,” I whisper, the Russian word for 'mine' tumbling from my lips. Her body clenches around me, her walls pulsing and grasping at me.
I grunt, slamming into her one last time as my own climax wrenches through me. My vision blurs, my muscles tense, and I bury my face in the crook of her neck as I shudder and spill into her. We’re tangled limbs and sweaty bodies, shaking from the aftermath of our climax.
Collapsing onto her, I take a moment to steady my breath. Aria continues to tremble slightly beneath me, riding out the last waves of her ecstasy. She’s panting hard, breasts rising and falling against my chest.
Her fingers trail up my sweaty back, nails occasionally digging in slightly. An aftershock rolls through her body and she buries her face into the crook of my neck, letting out a content sigh.
I could do this forever, be buried inside her and have her this close. I doubt Aria realizes just how much I do care for her, but I’d say I’m falling in love with this mesmerizing woman.
Twenty-Three
Aria
The silence in my condo is deafening. I sit curled up on the couch, a thick blanket draped over my lap, eyes fixed on the muted television screen. My fingers fidget with the frayed edge of the fabric, mind still reeling from the events of the past week.
It’s been over a week since I killed Natalya, and I still can’t believe it actually happened. The image of her lifeless body flashes in my mind, the agonizing scream that tore from her lips echoing in my ears. I shudder, pulling the blanket tighter around me, as if it could somehow shield me from the weight of my actions.
Honestly, I never thought I was capable of such a thing.
A soft knock at the door jolts me from my thoughts. I glance up at Andrei. “Aria, your brother, Sasha, is here to see you,” he says, his deep voice laced with concern.
I furrow my brows. “Sasha?” My older brother has always been my closest confidant, but I’m surprised by his unexpected visit. Normally he calls me first, or at least sends a text. “Send him in.”
Moments later, Sasha enters, his brow creased with worry. He comes over and sits beside me, the couch cushions dipping under his weight. “Aria,” he murmurs, his voice softer than usual, “How are you holding up?”
He puts his hand over mine and gives me an encouraging squeeze.
I let out a shaky breath, meeting his gaze. “Honestly? I’m a mess, Sasha. I keep replaying that night over and over in my head, and I...” My voice trails off as the memory overwhelms me. “Sometimes I feel like I could have done things differently.”
Sasha’s grip tightens around my hand, his expression somber. “I know you do, but you did what you had to do. You fought for your life, Aria. I know you don’t like what you did, but you didn’t have a choice. Natalya was a threat, and you eliminated her to protect yourself.”
I nod slowly, swallowing the lump in my throat. “I just... I’m not a killer, Sasha. I never thought I’d ever be capable of something like that. Then again, I’m sitting here telling you I’m not a killer, but I killed her, so I guess I am.”
“You’re not a killer.,” Sasha assures me, his tone firm. “You’re a survivor. Natalya gave you no choice.” He pauses, his gaze searching mine. “You did what you needed to do to ensure your own safety. You can’t keep beating yourself up over it.”
I consider his words, feeling a slight sense of relief wash over me. Sasha has always been the voice of reason, the one who grounds me when my emotions are a bit too much. As much as I hate to admit it, he’s right, and I need to stop being so damn hard on myself. Natalya left me no other choice. It was either her or me.
“Thank you, Sasha,” I murmur, squeezing his hand. “Maxim’s been telling me the same thing, but I think I haven’t really been believing him since he’s my husband.”
Sasha nods, a small smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. “That’s what I’m here for, Aria. I’m your brother, and I’ll always be here for you, no matter what.”
I take a deep breath, bracing myself to recount the horrific events. “I don’t understand why it had to happen. That’s the part that I’m grappling with. Why she felt the need to go so far? She could’ve chosen another powerful man to be with. Maxim was no longer an option, and yet she was prepared to kill me so she could take my place.”
Sasha’s eyes widen slightly, but he remains calm. “Some people will do whatever it takes to get what they want, no matter the cost.”
I shudder, the memories still so vivid. I haven’t told Maxim, but I’ve been having nightmares about what happened. “I…I knew people were like that, but I never thought anything of the sort would happen to me. Hell, if I’m being honest I never thought our father would put me in this sort of position—marrying me off to a stranger.” My voice wavers, and I feel the sting of tears in my eyes.
