Page 67 of Den of Thieves

“Vlad, oh,” Karina moaned softly.

He brought tears to her eyes with his tender touch as he kissed and licked her lower lips. It was like he was apologizing for wearing her body out for more than the next couple of days.

“I love you, Solynchnka.”

“I love—” Her words cut off with a soft snore.

24. “Dishonor! Dishonor on Your Whole Family,”

-MUSHU, Mulan

Vaguely remembered last night. He fucked his wife too hard and too long. Especially after what she went through.

He woke up before Karina. Untangling himself from her warm embrace, he headed to the bathroom to draw her a nice, long bath; making sure to add the essential oils and bath salts that she loved.

“Solynchnka, time to wake up, moya lyubov’.” My love. He picked her up from the bed and carried her to the oversized, clawfoot tub that was original to the castle. She woke up along the way and wound her arms around his neck.

Karina sighed and stretched, letting the hot water soothe her aching muscles. Vladimir climbed in behind her. He held her tight as she snuggled closer to his embrace.

“Vlad?”

“Mmm?”

“I need to tell you something, but you have to promise not to get mad.”

He growled, not liking what her tone implied. “That is a fool’s promise, but I will try.”

Karina took a deep breath and spoke openly and honestly about what happened after she and Aksana left for the safe house.

Vladimir was angry, mildly pacified that Aksana killed that Anton fucker. As soon as he was out of the bath he would have Nikolai track down the rest of those bastards and have Talil waiting for them at his warehouse.

“Speaking of AK, I need to call her. She must be worried sick and experiencing a serious case of FOMO.” Karina chuckled, oblivious to his plotting.

“No need. Dimitri poked his head in earlier and said Aksana was out of her second surgery and doing well. She is fighting to be released from the hospital early so she can party. I pushed the celebrations back another week so she can rest.”

“What a good brother you are.” She kissed him and he felt his need grow once more.

“Careful Solynchnka. I could take you ten more times and not be satisfied.”

She laughed; the twinkling sound full of mirth. “Duly noted, babe. When do you think we can get the children back?”

“Soon. I’m sure they either drove Gustaf broke or crazy by now.”

“He’s so good with them. I didn’t know what to expect from a former king.”

“I never gave him enough credit for taking us in when we were young.” Vladimir mused, trailing his fingertips down her soft skin.

“What do you mean?”

“I figured he couldn’t bear to look at us for long because my father and him hated each other in the end. But I was also angry and filled with guilt about my part in their deaths.”

“But…you were just a boy.” She gasped.

“Sweet wife, the path behind us is filled with many thorns disguised as good intentions.”

“That’s poetic, even for you,” she said softly.

There was a long pause as Vladimir thought about his parents. He tried not to think of his early childhood because he was cold and hungry for so long, he thought the feeling was normal.

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