Everything happens so quickly I barely have time to react. My heart almost beats out of my chest as I hold back a scream.

"Don't make a sound, Elousha," Gleb whispers low in his throat.

I press myself against his back, gulping down breaths to stay quiet. I'm shaking so much I need to grab onto him for support.

The thud of footsteps echoes in my ears, and I nearly pee my panties.

I look behind me to see where I can run to. Except, before I can high-tail it out of here, Yuri calls out, "False alarm." He comes up, panting. "I followed the motherfucker. Turned out to be a fucking jogger."

Gleb releases a relieved laugh and holsters his firearm. "Thank fuck."

I stumble back a step, my legs wobbling. "You guys are something else," I snap, rolling my eyes. "Aren't you over reacting?"

Gleb whirls around. "We never over react," his voice is stern. "It pays to be vigilant."

Suddenly nervous, I pluck at the hem of my dress. "Can we go home now, please? I'd like to check on Kir."

"Right away, Kiska." He puts his arm around me and holds me close. "I'll phone Dmitry if you're concerned."

"Do it," I mutter, fear for my baby's safety breaking me out in a cold sweat.

Gleb retrieves his cell from his dress pants pocket and places the call. Within seconds he's reassuring me. "All is well. But we'll return asap to put your mind at rest."

Yuri fetches the Merc and soon we're heading up the mountain road toward Gleb's house. I sit next to him in the back seat, his arm still around me, and relax into his warmth. Against all reason, Gleb makes me feel protected, safe. I shouldn't feel this way, he's a freaking Vor for God's sake, on the verge of a turf war. Except, his big powerful body, firm abs and pecs, not to mention the strength of his muscular arms, are physical manifestations of the aura of safety surrounding him.

I sigh to myself. Gleb is the Beast, for sure, but I'm not playing the role of a Disney princess.

There will be no happily-ever-after for us; there can't be.

He said this situation is only temporary and I believe him.

Except it's too late now to guard my poor heart...

I bury my head into his chest; I've fallen for him so hard I need to remind myself to breathe.

How can falling in love feel like drowning, but at the same time be like the biggest high you could ever experience?

I inhale his sandalwood scent while he grasps my shoulders and kisses up my neck. "I'm sorry you were scared, Elousha. I'll do everything I can to protect you, believe me."

"I do believe you," my voice croaks as I fumble for the right words. "But I need to know more. I need to know your truth."

He leans away from me, his electrifying eyes questioning. "All in good time, my sweet," he lowers his head and whispers into my ear. "We'll talk soon, I promise."

Yuri brings the limo to a halt on the driveway in front of the house. "I'll just go check on Kir," I say to Gleb after we've gone inside.

I leave him at the door to our bedroom, then tiptoe into the room Mama is sharing with my boy. She's snoring softly, and my baby is fast asleep in the travel cot we brought with us. I kiss his soft warm head, and his bow-shaped lips make sucking movements, even though his pacifier has dropped on the pillow. I pick it up and place it in his mouth before kissing him again. "Good night, sinochek," I say softly.

Mama turns over with a grunt as I walk past her bed, but she doesn't wake up. My belling fluttering, I make my way to the master bedroom.

Hot steam is escaping from the ensuite; Gleb must be in the shower. Tingling all over; I reach behind to unzip my dress.

"Room for me?" I ask, pulling open the glass door.

"Fuck, yeah," Gleb's smirk is so goddam sexy I'm immediately wet for him.

He reaches for me, strong hands gripping my shoulders as he attacks my mouth with his hot tongue, his hard body pressing into my softness. He pulls me under the shower head and the warm water rains down on me.

I'm so freaking horny I feel drunk.

Intoxicated with want.

With a growl, he kisses me again. Fierce and demanding. I open my mouth and his tongue pushes between my lips. I wrap my hands around his neck. He maneuvers me against the tiled wall, wrapping my hair tight in his fist as he carries on kissing me. I release a moan, and he strengthens his grip, pulling back my head to suck and bite his way down my jaw.

"God, you're beautiful, Kiska," his voice is deep, rough and filled with lust.

He latches his lips onto my pebbled nipple and sucks hard, biting, sucking, then biting and sucking again, going from one nipple to the other.

I'm desperate for him, my pussy clenching and my clit throbbing. "Please," I beg.

"Please, what?" the words rumble against my heated skin.

"I need your cock," I rasp.

He chuckles. "And you shall have it." He drops his hand and fists his shaft, palming the head and tugging at his Prince Albert. "Think you can fit your pretty mouth around this?"

I gasp. I've never given a blow-job in my life. Never wanted to before now. A bubble of excitement wells up inside me.

I want this.

I want him.

"I'll try," I smile.

"Good girl," he moves his thumb from his cock and rubs it over my lips, then pushes down on my shoulders.

I kneel in front of him and he bends so his dick is level with my mouth.

"Open up," he hisses, and I do, taking in as much of him as I can. I have no clue what to do, but Gleb doesn't seem to mind. He slams into me, groaning when his pierced tip hits the back of my throat. I gag, my eyes watering as I peer up at him.

"I'm going to fuck your mouth," he grins down at me, grabbing the back of my hair. "Just relax and let it happen."

I do as he asks; he thrust into me over and over. His breath comes in short pants as he bucks his hips forward. He unleashes a final grunt, and I feel him tense, spasm and fill me with his thick, warm, salty cum. I swallow it down, feeling proud of myself for giving him this pleasure.

"You did good, Elousha." He reaches down and slides me up his hard body before kissing me quickly on the lips.

He holds me in the crook of his arm and retrieves a bottle of shampoo from the toiletries shelf. He squeezes some of the liquid into his free hand and starts massaging my scalp.

I close my eyes and lean into him, sighing softly as he lathers my hair down to the ends. He positions me directly under the shower head, and the water streams down my spine.

"Stand still." Before he's even finished speaking, he's soaping me, running his hands over my back, my shoulders and along my arms... everywhere he can reach. He flicks a switch, so the spray comes through a hand-held nozzle while he rinses me off.

He opens the door to the enclosure and picks up a fluffy white towel. He wraps it around me, then retrieves a second one for himself. "You're so beautiful, my sweet. I love it when you submit to me like this."

My heart flutters in my chest. I want to tell him that I love him, but I don't, of course. I can't trust myself to speak; I simply stand quietly while he towel-dries my hair and body.

He lifts me and carries me to our bed. I lie spread-eagle as he comes down on top of me. He kisses me, biting my lips then sliding his tongue around mine. He pulls back, and I suck in a deep breath. Our eyes lock, his blues crashing into my browns. "I'm going to fuck you, Elousha. Going to fuck you so hard you might not be able to walk tomorrow."

He rubs his monster cock against my slit, coating it with my wetness. I'm so damn wet for him I can feel a puddle under my butt.

With a single thrust he buries himself, filling me so completely I'm a part of him. I arch my back and grip his muscular shoulders. He presses me into the mattress, thrusting in and out. Leaning back on his arms, he stares at the place where we are joined together, his pelvis against mine. "So goddam beautiful, Kiska."

My cheeks burn, but I'm proud at the same time. "Gleb..."

"Ready?"

I nod.

He starts fucking me like an animal, faster and harder with each thrust. My cunt is stretched full of him, the piercing at the tip of his cock bruising my cervix. I mewl like a cat in heat, biting my lips to stop myself from making too much noise.

His dick is so deep inside it feels like heaven. I lift my hips to meet his thrusts, matching his pace as I push upwards, shuddering, bucking and grinding into him. I rake my hands up his back, clawing and digging my nails into his skin.

He groans and slams into me again and again, his hot breath caressing my skin. "You feel so good, Elousha."

My body tightens; I'm close. I stare up at him, loving him so much I could cry.

He shifts his weight onto one arm and rubs a finger over my clit, igniting the spark that tips me over the edge.

Wave after wave of warm, tingling bliss.

I shut my eyes; Gleb is still pounding into me.

But not for long...

He comes with a muffled bellow, and rests his forehead against mine, still sheathed inside me, his cock twitching. He kisses me, my brow, my cheeks and then my lips before withdrawing completely. I feel his cum trickling out of me; I'll need to change these sheets in the morning.

"Good night, Elousha," he whispers, turning us on our sides.

He spoons his body protectively around my back, and soon his regular breathing tells me he's asleep.

I play with his hand, whispering that I wish this could be forever, and that we could be a proper family. Then I lie awake for what seems like hours, my thoughts chasing each other.

Barely a month has gone by since my father sold me to Gleb. So much has happened since that I'm finding it hard to keep my head straight. A shiver runs though me as I think about what went down at La Maison earlier, how the Beast had gone into Vor mode and had drawn his gun.

He said he'll tell me his truth soon and I wonder what it is.

I'm in love with a killer who doesn't love me back; that's my truth. He might be protective of me and caring towards our son, but he hasn't said one word about loving me.

My vision blurs and my heart pangs; I'm so fucking fucked.