Part 38 (1/2)

”Im sorry.” His hands slipped to my waist, large but soft.

I opened my eyes, and the sight of him on his knees in front of me pulled my sadness forward. I wanted to run my hands through his hair, hold him to me, breathe him in, take comfort in just being with him, but that felt like a weakness, like avoiding. I needed to be strong and face whatever was coming next. I tried to stand and step away, but he tightened his grip. My heart slammed back to life and the force of the beating destroyed me, breaking me. All my strength drained as tears escaped me, flowing down my cheek.

”Stop.” He wrapped his arms around me, holding me in place. ”Stop. Im sorry about him. Im sorry things are all f.u.c.ked up, but nows not the time to be angry with me or to pull away. Babe, were in this together.”

I wiped the tears on my cheek, trying to get a hold of myself, but he pulled my hands away and rose to sit next to me. His arms kept me pressed to him. ”Itll work out if we stick together. Well get through this.”

I sucked in a shaky breath, fighting down the tears he didnt let me wipe away. ”Do you think they know? Is that why they want to meet with you tonight?”

He had told me it was Viktor who wanted to meet with him. That Viktor always set up meetings last minute and in code. But usually he had an idea of why.

His grip relaxed since I had stopped struggling against him, but he kept me wrapped in his arms and dropped his head to rest on mine. ”I dont know.”

I couldnt see his face, but the strain in his voice strangled me, and I pressed into his warm, bare chest.

”But d.a.m.n, I dont want you there tonight-”

”No.” I pulled back. I would have stood, but his hands still gripped me. ”You cant do that. You just said we would do this together. I can handle this.” I swiped at my cheeks, wiping away the tears that showed my weakness. ”I dont mean to cry right now, Im getting it together. I can handle this. I-”

”Stop. Let me finish.” He pulled my hands down onto his lap, drawing me close at the same time. ”Babe, theres nothing wrong with your tears right now. Its just us. This is when you can let it all out. Its honest. Thats what Im trying to be. Honest.” He dipped his head to capture my eyes, forcing me to look at him. Hear him.

But I didnt want to hear that I couldnt go tonight. I didnt want him going there alone, facing the danger I put him in. This was all my plan, all my fault.

He lifted my chin so Id look at him, and his thumb dragged over my slick cheek. ”I dont want you there tonight because I dont know what to expect, and I want to keep you safe. But I dont want to leave you behind either. f.u.c.k, I always want to have a plan, and right now, I dont have a f.u.c.king clue what to expect or what to plan for.” His other hand slid to the side of my face, fingers light on my skin, on my neck, my lips, in my hair. ”Go ahead and cry, babe. Ill be here for you. But I need you to be here for me. Youve got me more scared than anything else.” His fingers slid into my hair, gripping me tighter as his words deepened. ”Im even f.u.c.king scared to step into that bathroom without you, scared that youll be gone when I get out.”

I stilled, his words shredded me, stunning me. ”Im not going anywhere.” I slid my hands over his arms, getting close while still keeping eye contact. ”But I am coming with you tonight. Theres no way Im letting you go by yourself.”

He nodded. ”Im trying to be honest with you, but it goes against everything in me to take you there tonight. If things go wrong...”

”Its better that were together if things go wrong.”

He nodded and then leaned forward, placing a kiss on my lips. Too quick for me to respond to, but the warmth lingered there.

”Youll come tonight. Now lets get ready and shower.” He pulled me with him as he stood up.

On my feet, I tugged him back to face me. ”I wouldnt leave while youre in the shower. I wont run again.”

He dropped his eyes, making me unsure if he believed me. Then he stepped forward and kissed me again, arms circling my waist and pulling me to his chest. His lips were light as they moved to open mine, and his fingers lifted the bottom of my s.h.i.+rt. He broke away to slide my s.h.i.+rt over my head and tossed it to the floor.

”I know,” his voice was deep, sultry. ”But I still want you in the there with me. You hold me together. I need you. I need this.” He stepped towards me again, taking what he wanted. His lips covered mine. His hands pulled me to him and traveled over my hips and waist.

I gave in and let him lift me off the ground, wrapping my arms and legs around him. Because I needed him too, especially on the edge of danger. We both needed the rea.s.surance of each other. Of us.

We undressed each other, hands claiming every inch of skin, making the most of the time we had left. The only thing we were guaranteed, the only thing that was certain- this moment. In his arms, with his moans, his touch brought madness and sanity.

He turned on the shower but took me on the counter before we made it in. We were afire in the dark, and he burned away every doubt when he buried himself in me, sparking life into every cell. I struggled to meet each of his hard thrusts, but he kept me lifted to him, taking away my leverage to move myself. He owned me, my pleasure, my cries, they were all his. But he didnt take, he gave. Each slam brought me higher and pulled me under until I was lost to myself. His lips clamped around my nipples, sucking till I couldnt see, delirious with feeling.

He lifted me from the counter, his arms wrapping around me, pulling me to his skin slick with sweat and steam. The quick s.h.i.+ft and new angle pushed me over, and I held myself to him, clenching, wrapping my arms around his back, lips attached to his shoulder, biting as I screamed my pleasure. My body exploded, a million little pieces that were all his. And he kept going as I crashed over and over. He leaned me back on the counter, the cold stone a shock to my skin but only adding to the sensations that had me tingling from head to toe and beyond. His lips joined mine as he bent over me, shaking with his own release. His hands pulled my shoulders to keep me tight on him as the waves of our pleasure calmed and receded, leaving us in a haze of heartbeats and gasps that swirled in the steam around us.

And this is what we were fighting for. Us. Because even in h.e.l.l, we could find paradise with each other.

The umbrella over our heads couldnt keep us dry. The air was chilled and wet, the rain an icy mist. But I still preferred to stand in the cold than get into the limo that pulled up to the curb.

Gage ushered me in before closing the umbrella behind us.

I paused as I slid in. Cherry was the first thing I saw. She was sitting on the seat opposite me, against the divider separating us from the driver, and she smiled like a snake. I welcomed the burn of anger that rose in my chest, it gave me strength.

I a.s.sumed the suit clad man next to her was Viktor. He was older, dark hair streaked with silver at the temple, but something about the way he held himself showed strength or maybe that was power.

Gage confirmed my thoughts by greeting him with a nod as he slid next to me.

”Viktor.” Gage smoothed his own suit jacket, looking every bit the force that Viktor did, wet or not. His hand went to my leg. ”This is Regan.” His eyes flicked to Cherry and then back to Viktor. ”Whats going on, I thought it was just going to be us?”

My stomach tightened as the street pa.s.sed us by. I was unsure where we were going and feared what may be waiting for us.

”I didnt say that. I told you to come alone, but if you want her involved then Ill trust your judgment.” He didnt even glance towards me, his dark eyes stayed focused on Gage. ”For now the girls can stay. I have a business need that you and Katya could help with.”

”The club.” Gage stated matter-of-fact and his hand stayed on my knee, unmoving.

”Exactly. The Dollhouse isnt operational for us anymore. We need something new, somewhere new. This is a good opportunity to expand. I want you to open a new club in Miami.”

”What about Ian?” I could feel the tension running through Gage, in his fingers grip on my knee as he spoke.

”Its unfortunate, but someone had to take the fall.”

”Better him than you?” It was almost a growl.

Viktors laugh was short and fake. ”You mean you. Remember that could have been you, you turned over the club just in time. Who do you have to thank for that?”

”So you knew the bust was coming?”

Viktor cleared his throat and sat up, his cool control s.h.i.+fting to an icy anger. ”Not exactly. I wouldnt sacrifice any of my men directly, but you and I both knew there was an investigation closing in. So dont blame me for your mans shortsightedness.” He picked up a drink at his side and finished the clear liquid in it before looking towards Cherry. ”At least Katya had enough sense to protect our connections, and she protected evidence.”

”So you want Cherry to run the club?” Gages eyes slid to her and her red lips spread into a teeth-baring smile.

”I want her to a.s.sist you at running the club.”

”I can manage the girls.” She leaned forward and crossed her legs in a slow way that looked more like a show for us. For Gage. ”Hes talking about a big club, more volume than the dollhouse, more girls, more everything. Youll need help. And Mr. Kabinov,” she smiled at Viktor, and as we pa.s.sed under a streetlight, I saw the bruise on her cheek that I gave her that shed tried to cover with makeup, ”He knows Im good at managing them. Its not an option. Im part of the deal.”

”I know you two are effective when you work together. I need people I can trust to start this.” He focused on Gage.