Page 19 of Deadly Knight

Ya lyublyu tebya.The words had tumbled from his lips as she’d come for him, riding his cock to chase her own pleasure without regard for his, and he’d loved it.Loved her.Kostya didn’t regret saying it, either. He knew that it was true. He was sure in everything he did, whether physically or emotionally, and he would not cloud his judgment with doubt. When he’d spoken those words, he’d meant them, and he refused to take them back.

Maya slipped from him and curled up in bed by his side. He kissed the top of her head and got up to remove the condom, returning quickly to her side. It was late afternoon, but he had no desire to do anything, much less leave London like he’d originally planned. With her here next to him, he had no incentive to leave the bed at all.

Without a word, Kostya closed some of the space between them and kissed her sweetly. She returned his affection, and soon enough, gentle kisses turned into exploratory groping. Maya’s underwear found its way to the floor. The tender affection they shared in the aftermath of sex bloomed into slower, more passionate lovemaking. By the time they’d finally exhausted each other, it was getting late, and Kostya knew that Maya had to be exhausted. It had been one hell of a day.

As the sun set and the room was plunged into darkness, they lay together and appreciated the quiet. Then, Maya spoke. “Kostya?”

“Yes?” He turned his head to look at her, only to find that she’d sat up and busied herself with something on the bedside table. When she was done, she turned back to the bed and handed him a piece of paper. There was an address written on it.

“Yesterday, when you saw me getting distressed in my office, I was listening to a message from my father. He has made no attempt to contact me in years, and yet, he called me out of the blue to say that he knew I was with you, and for me to remember who I really am…”

Kostya looked from the paper to Maya, instantly alert. “Your father?”

“He’s here in London,” she said softly. “He called from a local number. My father has a lot of enemies, so there are only a few places he could go if he went into hiding, and in London, there’s only one address I can think of. You should find him there.”

Kostya looked at the paper, then back at her. The light had gone, and stolen with it the nuances of her expression, but he could still see the troubled look on her face.

“I don’t want any more bloodshed between our families,” Maya said. She settled back among the bedsheets, her face partially obscured by the pillows. “I want you to keep your end of the deal and not kill him, but I know that if I let my father walk free, there will never be peace for us. I trust you, Kostya. Maybe that’s a stupid thing for me to do…but I feel like you will honor me. I feel like you’ll make sure this turns out right.”

Kostya looked down at the address. He didn’t know London well at all, but using minimal resources, he could figure out where he needed to go without involving Viktor. He could go there tonight and have everything wrapped up in a few hours. He could avenge his father and be done with the Popovs once and for all.

But staying here with Maya felt more important. More right.

Kostya reached over Maya and set the paper down on the bedside. He stroked the length of her bare arm once he’d settled back down beside her, hoping to soothe some of her concern. “You can trust me,zolotse. I am a man of my word, as are all Sokolovs.”

She closed her eyes and snuggled against him.

What would he do to protect her? Could he bring himself to go back on his word if it was necessary? The Svodnik was a dangerous man, and while Kostya was confident in his skills, he couldn’t be sure what he was up against, or what he’d need to do to take Anatoly down once and for all.

“Rest now,” he told her. “There will be other days to worry. For now, you need to take time to yourself. Don’t let your fear poison this. I’m here, and you’re here, and that should be all that matters.”

Maya hummed. Her breathing slowed. Kostya was confident she’d fallen asleep.

Part of him itched to get out of bed and go to the address on the paper—to make sure that the woman he loved would always be safe from the man who would never allow them to be together—but the other, more sensible part told him that he needed to stay in bed and rest. With her. Maya wasn’t the only one who’d had a hell of a day.

Besides, he was here with Maya. It was their first night sharing a bed. He couldn’t defile such a precious moment.

Kostya closed his eyes and tucked his arm around her protectively. He refused to let her come to harm. In the morning, when he was rested, he would figure out what he was going to do. Until then, he was hers. All hers.

Nothing would push him to leave.

* * *

Morning came, and Kostya opened his eyes to find Maya tucked against his chest, blissfully asleep. He smiled, kissed the top of her head, and then carefully untangled himself from around her and got out of bed. He showered, dressed, and helped himself to the address on her bedside table.

Sleep had brought clarity. Clarity had shown him the way.

He would protect what was his. He would make sure that no ill ever befell his family—or Maya—again.

Kostya left Maya’s apartment and headed into the city. It was time he got back to work.

CHAPTER17

Maya

In the liminal space between sleep and consciousness, Maya cuddled the blankets closer to her chest and stretched out her legs, pointing her toes toward the foot of the bed. All of her muscles were loose, and her skin tingled like she was laid out before a sunny window. Spending the afternoon and the night with Kostya had been exactly what she’d needed to shake herself free of her fears. Together, they were going to find a way through this mess. Kostya would make sure of it.

“Mm,” she murmured, reaching lazily across the bed to find Kostya and cuddle closer to him. But her hand found the sheets empty. Maya opened her eyes to confirm what her hand already knew—Kostya was gone. “Kostya?” she called out.

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