Chapter 22

Clara

 

“You look gorgeous! I think you look better than the bride,” A woman I’ve never met before in my life tells me as I stand next to Alexei. The wedding was nice, very expensive and extravagant. Not something I would have pictured for myself, but I am not one of them either. It was mainly in Russian and I couldn’t understand most of it, but it was beautiful to watch the way the two of them smiled at each other.

“Thank you,” I tell the woman and watch as she walks away.

“She’s telling the truth. You look exquisite,” Alexei leans down and whispers in my ear. A shiver races over my skin as his warm breath dances over me. He notices, letting out a chuckle.

“Alexei. How nice to see you,” the man walking toward us says. Alexei instantly tenses beside me. I glance up at him and see the hardness in his eyes. This isn’t someone that he wants to speak to, that much is clear.

“Uncle,” he responds tightly. Uncle? Why does he look as though he’d rather murder him than speak to him if they are family?

“Clara, would you mind going and grabbing us a drink? I need a private word with my uncle,” Alexei says pressing his lips to my ear. “Don’t go far.” I nod my head and smile as I walk away and head toward the table of drinks. That’s when my heart stops beating. The man I hadn’t planned on seeing stands in the corner, a glimmer in his eyes. He watches me intently before motioning me to him. I hesitate for only a second before my feet move in that direction.

“What are you doing here?”

“You look awful cozy with Mr. Pavlov,” he says a grim look in his eyes.

“Shouldn’t I be? That was the job was it not?” I hiss feeling the roar of anger seep through my body.

“You were to kill him, Zia! You were to get in there and take him out! That isn’t what you appear to be doing!” I cringe when he calls me by my first name. I’ve always hated that name.

“How would you know what I appear to be doing? I haven’t seen or heard from you in months. How dare you leave me to that vile pig to rape me,  then speak to me the way you are,” I hiss under my breath. My father’s smile brightens but it isn’t a friendly smile. It’s full of hatred and rage. He reaches for me, grabbing my arm and jerking me toward him.

“I always knew you were weak. I never wanted a child. A son, perhaps. Women are weak. They can’t do the job set out for them.”

“Since when is it the woman’s job to be the assassin? You could have always done it yourself. You hold no rank, father. That’s what this is about, isn’t it?” His eyes flash deadlier than I’ve ever seen them.

“You are speaking to me in the wrong way, Zia. You want to play house with the enemy?”

“I’m not playing anything. I’m doing as I was told. I am getting in with him, getting him to trust me. You wanted it all, yes?” Tilting my head, I glare at him. Hate courses through my veins as confusion wracks my brain.

“Ah, yes. And do you think that you can get it all and kill him?” He raises an eyebrow and I nearly laugh in his face. I don’t know what’s running through his head right now. I just want him to leave, I want him as far away from me as I can get him because the fact of the matter is, he left me to Timur to be raped and abused. I understand why he sent me to be taken. The whole point was for Alexei to find me, but I thought my father would have placed some kind of protection orders for me. The fact that he didn’t has me reeling inside.

“I can handle it.” I spin on my heel and head back toward the drinks just as Alexei looks up. Lifting two glasses in my hands I head back toward him, offering him one. He takes it and smiles.

“You look amazing, Clara. Truly amazing.” I smile and look down at the pale blue dress that he had brought in for me. I have to say that it does look good with my pale skin.

“You are too good to me. Why keep buying me things and taking me places?” I ask curiously. Alexei takes a drink from his glass, his throat bobbing as he swallows.

“I have found that I enjoy your company. Is that a problem for you?” I can see the way he looks at me and my body temperature rises. The heat in his gaze unnerves me. It’s so intense.

“Not at all. Although I do prefer the comfort of your place over all these people,” I admit mainly meaning my father. He’s the last person I want to be around right now.

“Then we shall go. We made our appearance,” he says finishing off what was left in his glass before setting it on the table near him. I do the same with mine when he reaches for my hand. Tugging me along, we head out of the room and down the hallway.

“I’m having a truly hard time not fucking you right here, воробей.” Heat fills me from the inside out, but Alexei just keeps walking as if he didn’t just say that. We grab our coats and are out the door to the waiting limo. As soon as I climb in, Alexei is on me. He grabs me roughly, yanking me onto his lap. His lips crash against mine and heat pools between my thighs. I lower myself so I’m sitting fully on him feeling the hard length of him pressed against me. He growls into my mouth and I nearly lose all control. His hand skims under my jacket over the bare skin on my back causing bumps to form.

“Alexei,” I whine his name like it forever belongs on my lips. His teeth sink into my neck and I cry out in pleasure and pain. He knows what he’s doing to me. He knows what I need and that sends my mind spiraling. I know who I am and what I’m to do. How can I possibly do that now after I’ve had a taste of the man that can bring me to my knees.

“Get the coat and panties off,” he huffs shoving me from him. He moves to unbuckle his slacks as I shrug out of the jacket. He watches me as I lower my panties down my legs and toss them to the side. His cock is fully hard, pre-come glistening on the tip as he strokes himself. I watch the fire building in his eyes when he lifts my dress and I drop between his legs. Alexei tilts his head to the side watching me with fascination. I lower my lips to the tip, twirling my tongue over it, tasting him. His flavor explodes on my tongue. I wrap my lips around him and bob my head, sucking him into my throat. My tongue tickles a trail up and down his length as he groans. His hand finds my hair, tugging and jerking as he wraps it around his fist. The searing pain in my scalp is a welcome one. Alexei raises his hips, pounding his cock further down my throat. I gag, and spit runs down my chin, but he doesn’t stop. When I glance up at him through the tears forming in my eyes, he looks feral. An uncaged animal that seeks its prey. His eyes dance with amusement as he looks down at me. Further and further, he thrusts into my throat. After a few more, he jerks my head away from him.

“Get up here and ride me,” he growls. I climb up, wiping my hand across my face to remove the spit as I lift my dress, bunching it at the sides. Alexei watches me but doesn’t make a move to touch me. I straddle his lap, grabbing his cock in my hand and lowering myself down his length. I gasp when I sit fully on him. Alexei’s eyes are on me, hard and unyielding. I roll my hips and take him inside me the way I want to, and he lets me. For the first time since I’ve been with him, he’s passing me a little piece of control. I rise and fall, rock and roll, loving the way he makes me feel.

“Almost home. You better finish,” he hisses but never touches me. I bring my hand down between us, finding my clit swollen and needy. Circling it a few times, my body tenses. Alexei grunts and groans as I take what I need, what I want, what I crave, but there is something holding me back. I’m frustrated, and he can see it. He leans in, grabbing my hips in his hands roughly. His nails dig into my flesh and then and only then do I find my release through the pain. We both come hard, him grunting and me moaning. It’s the perfect sound as I drop my head to his shoulder. His lips move over my skin, soft and gentle.

“Something is changing,” he whispers.

“What do you mean?” his laugh is dark and unhinged. I try to sit up, but he holds me in place.

“Soon you will see.”