Chapter Sixteen

 

The meal Darya had cooked was amazing and I couldn’t believe how hungry I was. I wondered if it was the cold that had increased my normally low appetite. But then perhaps it was sitting around a table with Vadmir and his family that had done it. I’d enjoyed passing bowls of food around, sipping wine and admiring the twilight view from the kitchen window—Sokol illuminated by streetlamps with the meandering river weaving through the center was incredibly pretty.

Ruslan had also joined us for the meal, feeling strong enough to move from the bedroom to the dining area. Vadmir had wheeled the heavy cylinder through and Ruslan ate with the small plastic cannula beneath his nose, still delivering the much needed oxygen. He wasn’t full of conversation but I guessed that was because of the effort it had taken to move from the bedroom for the first time in weeks.

“So how was Ivan?” Darya asked Vadmir as she scooped up the last of her dinner with a wedge of bread.

“He was good,” Vadmir said. “He doesn’t change, always wanting more from the team, always pushing.”

She tipped her eyebrows. “He did that to you and now look where you are.”

“Yes, you are right.” He took a slug of his drink.

“And, Samantha, did you enjoy watching or were you cold?” She shuddered. “I always get so cold when watching Vadmir play.”

“Yes, it was cold, but I enjoyed it. I’ve never seen a real live hockey game.”

“You haven’t?” Vadmir said, turning to me and looking surprised.

“No. I don’t get much time off and when I do I prefer warm leisure pursuits.”

“Pursuits?” Darya asked frowning.

“Yes, pastimes, things to do.”

“Ahh,” she said, nodding her understanding of the new word.

Zoya leaned across, touched my arm and held the wine above my empty glass.

“Yes, please.” I smiled.

She topped up my drink and studied me as I took a sip and gave her an approving nod. She seemed fascinated by me still, and watched my every move like a hawk. It wasn’t unsettling, just a little weird.

“So tell me about these pursuits,” Darya said. “What are they?”

“Well, I’m based in Orlando at the moment. I was renting a place with my friend, Harmony, but the lease came up and we decided not to renew because we didn’t like the landlord. So I’ve been using one of the long term rental rooms at the airport, the airline keeps a bunch, until we find somewhere else.” I shrugged. “Which will hopefully be soon, I don’t like living out of a hotel.”

“Somewhere else in Orlando?” she asked.

“Yes, for now, while I do this particular international route. It may well change, that’s why I’ve never bought.” I paused, “Well, I haven’t bought property but I’ve bought plenty of other things on my travels.” I grinned.

“Oh, tell me,” she said.

“Well, clothes, handbags, shoes, makeup, jewelry, you know, nice stuff.”

“Designer?”

“Yes, lots of designer. I’m a sucker for a nice label.”

“And where do you buy your…stuff from?” she asked.

I smiled and set my knife and fork together in the center of my empty plate. “Paris, Milan, New York, Cape Town, all over the world. Tokyo is great for shopping, too, and last year we were in Sydney for a long weekend.”

Her eyes went a little dreamy. “You have such a wonderful life,” she said. “All those glamorous places.”

“It is fun.”

“Hard work, too,” Vadmir said, studying me and holding a small glass of vodka near to his lips. “When you are in the air.”

I’d already told Darya all about my job and she was equally envious of that. Quizzing me as we’d sat in the living area the evening before.

“I guess so, but I like it.”

“Serving passengers?” he said. “You like that?”

“That’s part of my job, yes, but the safety of our travelers is my first priority.”

“I bet passengers forget that and get cranky,” he said.

“Some are crankier than others.” I set my gaze on his, tipped my head and suppressed a smile. “And some don’t do what they’re told when I tell them to.”

“Really?” He feigned surprise and also looked as though he was trying not to grin.

“Yes, some go into the galley when they shouldn’t, that’s out of bounds for passengers.”

“And what do they do there, these bad passengers?” he asked.

“Get in the way, harass the crew and…” I swallowed, remembering my shock at him appearing in the galley, grabbing me and then kissing me. It seemed like weeks ago now, not just days.

He knocked back his shot and set the glass down. “What else do they do wrong, Sammy?” He licked his lips. “Tell me?”

“Well, when I eventually get them to return to their seats, they just sit there, silent, brooding, sulking, thinking about…” I let my words trail off. He’d told me he’d sat on the plane thinking about bending me over, fucking me, fucking my ass. That he’d liked my tight skirt and wanted me, wanted me badly, badly enough to consider fucking me in the galley as I looked down at the earth miles below. But I couldn’t exactly say that now, not here.

His eyes sparkled. He knew exactly what I wanted to say.

“That’s what they do,” I said, “the badly behaved passengers. They sit there and watch and think.”

He shifted on his seat and pulled in a breath.

I hoped he was remembering what he’d been thinking about and then doing it later that night at the hotel. He’d shoved me against the wall and made me boneless with the strength of my climax. Afterwards he’d carried me to the bed and took what he’d wanted, sliding his cock into my darkest hole and making me come all over again then releasing his pleasure deep inside me.

He ran his finger around the collar of his roll-neck sweater and swallowed.

I smiled, and continued to study his face the way he was studying mine. Oh yeah, he was picturing it all and I’d bet my last ruble that he was as hard as yesterday with every bit as much of a problem going on in his pants.

“Would you like me to help wash up?” I asked Darya as she stood and gathered the empty bowls she’d been stacking.

“No, no, I will do it,” she said with a smile.

“Please,” I said. “I’d like to help. I could dry.”

“Well…okay, thank you. Mother will be helping my father now so I would be glad.”

“Vy mozhete peremeshchat' kislorod seychas,” Zoya said to Vadmir, standing and brushing breadcrumbs from her ample chest.

“V odno mgnoveniye.”

“Why can’t you move the oxygen now?” Darya asked, lifting Vadmir’s plate from in front of him and throwing a scowl his way. “Mother just said she needs it in the bedroom.”

“I will, in a minute.” He reached for the vodka and poured another shot with a frown creasing his brow.

I gave him a knowing smile. He couldn’t stand because he had an erection, it was plain as day to me, though thankfully not everyone else.

He narrowed his eyes at me and bit on his bottom lip.

A thrill went through me. There was something carnal about his expression, something that made me think if we got a moment alone, I’d pay for making him think about us fucking when we were at the dinner table with his family.

Excitement tickled its way through my body, making my nipples tingle. I’d like to know what he’d do to me, what erotic punishment I’d get.

If only we could have some time alone together. To release some of this tension.

But that didn’t look likely to happen. Not with Zoya watching my every move.

 

* * * *

 

I slept soundly again, like I had every other night I’d been in the Arefyev home. There was something safe and calm about the apartment, not to mention the bed was warm and comfortable. I might not be catching up on the shopping I’d intended for my week off, but the sleep debt I owed my body was back in credit.

“Sammy,” Vadmir said, knocking on my door. “Are you ready now?”

“Almost.” It was the third time he’d called for me, but I’d decided to wash my hair that morning and it took an age to dry with Darya’s old Babyliss, and I didn’t dare go out into the subzero temperature with it damp. My head would freeze.

Vadmir had announced at breakfast that he wanted to go furniture shopping and would I help him pick some pieces out. I was more than happy to; it would make up for the lack of retail therapy.

I plaited my hair in two long bunches that fell over my shoulders. It wasn’t a normal style for me but it would work with the furry hat and it was a nice change from the tight up-dos I often wore for flying. My skin was still a little tanned so I applied just a sweep of powder and flick of mascara and a hint of Benefit Ultra Shine in Spiked Punch.

Quickly, I straightened the baby pink sweater I’d opted for that morning and then, after plucking some fluff from my black pants, I wandered out of the bedroom in search of Vadmir.

The apartment was quiet. I noticed Darya’s purse missing from the hook she kept it on in the kitchen. She was at work. Ruslan’s door was closed and I guessed his nurse was visiting. Zoya was more than likely also in there.

I found Vadmir in the living area, standing by the window with his hands on his hips. He was looking out at the snowy landscape that stretched into the distance.

My gaze was drawn to his ass as I walked over to him. I couldn’t help it, there was some kind of magnetic thing going on with me and his cute butt. Today he wore dark, almost black denims and a deep burgundy sweater that stopped just below the waistband of his jeans.

My palms tingled and I had the urge to touch him. It was strange thinking that we’d touched each other so intimately and now we had to keep a distance. Sneak a grope through clothes or snatch a few minutes in the car to satisfy an urge. Not that my urges had been satisfied since we’d arrived in Sokol and I wasn’t sure they would be, not when I was due to head back to Moscow tomorrow ready for my early flight the day after.

Before I knew it my hands were on his ass, sliding over the soft rise of his buttocks and exploring the shape of him through the material. Mmm, he felt good.

He stiffened for a second and then turned. “Fuck, I’m glad that’s you.”

I laughed. “I bet you are.”

He grinned and slid his arms around my waist. “Are you okay?”

“Yes, fine.” I slipped my hands up his chest and linked them at his nape.

“I like your hair,” he said, eyeing up my long plaits.

“Thanks.”

He lifted one and rubbed it gently. “Very pretty.”

I leaned into him, so that our chests touched.

He dropped his head and pressed a gentle kiss to my lips.

When he pulled back he poked out his tongue. “You taste sugary…delicious.”

I smiled and kissed him again. I adored this quiet side to Vadmir. This huge guy who spoke in such an unfathomable language, who’d made hard decisions for the sake of his family and was happy to fly around the world for them on a moments’ notice. He was getting to me, there was no doubt about it. Working his way under my skin the same way he’d traveled over it that first night we’d spent together. He was getting into every crease and corner, the very core of me. It was a shame I had to go so soon. That my time here had almost come to an end.

“Vadmir!”

My heart skipped at the sound of Zoya’s voice.

He broke the kiss but didn’t release me. “Dah mat'.”

“Chto ty delayesh',”

“What does it look like I’m doing?” he said, more to me than his mother. “I’m kissing a beautiful woman, the perfect way to start the day.”

 

 

We drove across the river to the freeway and headed for the larger town of Vologda. Vadmir kept the speed down as the blue skies had gone and in their place heavy snow clouds were dumping their load.

Eventually, after a long crawl in traffic, we reached a large furniture store that was painted blue and had bright yellow writing. As we approached I realized it was IKEA.

“Hey,” I said. “I’ve been in these stores before.” It was the first brand I’d vaguely recognized since leaving Moscow.

“Yes, it is very good.” He turned into the covered parking lot and the snow finally stopped slapping against the windscreen.

“So what are we looking for today?” I asked as he found a space and pulled to a halt.

“New seats for the living area.”

“What, like a couch?”

“Yes, new couch and a new big chair for my father. He needs a straight back to help him breathe. Also a new table and some bookshelves or something.”

“Okay, anything else?”

“A bed for the room I sleep in. I think it is still the one I had when I was growing up. I need something else, my feet are sticking out of the end.”

I laughed. “Oh dear, you should have had my bed. It’s huge.”

“Yes, it was bought with the house, all of the guest room furniture was because they had nothing to go in there. We’ve never had a guest room before.” He switched off the engine and studied me. When he spoke again his voice was lower, husky even. “I wish I had been in that bed with you this week. It’s driving me crazy knowing you’re in there, just feet away, all warm and soft and naked and I’m not with you.”

I smiled. “I haven’t been sleeping naked in your parents’ home.”

“You would be if I was there.”

“You think so, Russian boy?”

“I do.” He moved closer, so close I could smell his cologne and feel the sleeve of his jacket brushing mine. “And that little stunt last night,” he said, “at the dinner table, if I’d been in that bed with you later I’d have made you pay for that.”

“What stunt?” I feigned shocked innocence. “There was no stunt.”

He pressed his hand to the base of my neck, thumb stretched wide from his fingers, then smoothed it up the column of my throat until he cupped my chin. He smiled wickedly, as though a whole pile of dirty thoughts were romping through his mind. “You know exactly what you did, Sammy.”

“No I don’t.” I stared into his eyes and tipped my chin.

He held my gaze. “Teasing me and making me remember fucking you. Fucking you hard against the wall and then in bed up your tight ass. You made me think of doing that, of your hot pussy around my cock, your trembling desperation for me to sink deeper, go higher, take your ass and make it mine. Make all of you mine.”

My heart beat faster. His dirty words thrilled me. “You remembered that all on your own.”

“No, you reminded me, and getting hard with my parents in the room is not something that is fun for me.”

“Maybe it is for me.”

He squeezed my cheeks, just a little. The hold was dominant and possessive and set up a chain reaction of excitement within my body. “I’d like to turn you on,” he whispered. “Get your nipples hard and your juices flowing. I’d like to tease you, take you almost there, but just when you feel like your body is about to fly I’d leave you hanging.” He licked his lips then brushed them over mine.

I was struggling to breathe. I wanted him to do that, all of it. Hell, my nipples were already tight and my pussy dampening. Heat traveled up my neck and my face burned.

“You’d be tied up,” he said, leaning back a fraction and looking at my no doubt flushed cheeks. “Tied to the bed with black silk around your wrists so you wouldn’t be able to finish yourself off. Your control would be gone, Sammy, and I don’t think you’d like being teased, because you want the power, don’t you?”

I couldn’t deny that I wasn’t embarrassed to take what I wanted when it came to sex. Power in the bedroom was something I was used to.

“You want to take what you want when you want it.” He slipped his hand down my neck again, reached for the zipper on my jacket then slowly, very slowly he undid it enough so that he could slide his hand in.

He glided over my right breast, cupped it and squeezed.

I gasped as sensations shot around my chest and my nipple peaked.

“When we go to Miami,” he said, his voice deep and breathy, “That is exactly what I’m going to do. We’ll stay in a place with a big bed and I’ll have you spread out like a cross so there is nowhere for you to hide. I’ll fuck your mouth, your pussy, your ass…”

“Vadmir,” I said, pressing myself into his touch. “I…”

“You want it?”

“Yes.” Boy, did I ever. Except I wanted it now. I wanted him. “Perhaps we should forget the furniture shop and go find a hotel room.”

He smiled, leaned forward and kissed me, slow but deep. As our tongues tangled he fondled my breast, tweaking my nipple through my clothing.

Eventually he pulled back, refastened the zipper on my jacket and straightened my coat. “No hotel, we have shopping to do.” He pulled the keys from the ignition.

“Tease,” I said with a frown.

He tipped his head back and laughed. “I haven’t even started yet.”