Alex kneels above me. The sheen from the sweat on his naked body entices me to touch him, taste him. Our bodies still joined makes it difficult for me to reach my head forward so I can start the process again.
Peering into the darkness, searching for my reaction, Alex moves his legs so his body is resting next to mine. Breaking our physical contact but not our intimacy. Our eyes level, I can see the concern circling his features.
Quietly Alex says, “Do you forgive me, Isla?”
“There’s nothing to forgive, Alex. Although if that was your way of saying sorry, I may have to think twice about forgiving you. You may have to say sorry over and over again.” I chuckle to myself.
My head and heart feel a lot lighter knowing that Alex is here. Forgiving him is a no-brainer. My body wants him, my brain wants him, every particle within me wants him. I need to trust his words and his actions. Like we vowed to do days ago.
His hand touches my hair, smoothing it between his fingers. The shadows casting across his face reveals a troubled man, not the light-hearted, carefree man from Las Vegas and the previous week. My fingers skim across his tattoo, close to his cock, which seems to be recovering at a speedy rate.
Goody…
“What do these five rings mean, Alex?” Laying together, talking, it seems the perfect time to ask about these, since I didn’t have the courage last time I saw them.
Alex takes a deep sigh and places his hand over mine. He lifts it up, placing it over his heart.
“The five rings are a symbol of loyalty. Each of my family members have this symbol on them. We would do anything for each other. If one of my brothers needs help, we are there, no questions.”
“You have brothers?” I ask, genuinely eager to hear about them.
My hand still rests on his heart, his hands pull me closer to his chest, nestling me closer to him.
His voice sounds calm and reverent.
“Isla, I have no genetic brothers, just Sarah, but the brothers I speak of are my family, my extended family from Italy. Uncles, cousins, men that give their lives for each other.” His intense eyes never leave mine. “Our family has a very long history of helping each other when there is danger. We only fight to protect what is ours. If enemies try to take something of ours, we join together to bring that evil down.”
The love he has for these men is evident in his tone. The same look he had when he asked me to trust him those few days ago is now upon his face.
“Seth, Liam, and Jared are part of this family, Isla. I would die for them, just as they would for me. It’s that simple. We are all highly trained in specialized areas and, I guess, lethal when we need to be.”
I try hard to not make a sound, letting Alex reveal more of himself to me, but this information doesn’t sound realistic.
Although who would have thought the Russian Mafia exists…and in my life?
“What does this mean, Alex?” My head swims from his words. I have enough danger in my life, and now I’m adding more? Pulling my head back to I can see his complete face so I understand the enormity of what he is telling me.
“This means you’re protected and safe, Isla. The family is working around the clock to plan Sokolov’s end. It will happen. But we will need the element of surprise when we strike.” The carefree Alex from moments ago leaves. Alex has a serious look on his face. “That is why I’ve been asked, rather told, to stay away from you and my men. Sokolov is no fool and he will be tracking our whereabouts continuously.”
“Alex, he kills people. I can’t have you or your family hurt because of me. I will work this out on my own. I have to.” I try to move so I’m resting on my elbows, so he can see my sincerity, but he holds me tighter and closer.
“I don’t think you will ever get how much of me belongs to you, Sweetness. If you’re hurt. I’m hurt. I am yours. I’m not going anywhere, trust me when I say it.” He kisses me reverently on my head. “You entered my life out of nowhere and have meant the world to me ever since. I can’t explain it. But it is real, and you will be free of Sokolov and his hold on you as soon as we can safely make it happen.” Kissing me, passion pours out of his lips as his arms envelop me, filling me with hope.
Maybe I will get out of this mess…
Realizing that I haven’t uttered a word for a minute or two, caught up in my own thoughts, Alex moves away marginally. I stretch my hands out, recapturing his firm body, pulling him toward me. Showing him my gratitude is something I want to do. Words fail me, but actions speak louder than words anyway. Noticing the clock on my stand says 3:16am, plenty of time to start round two.
I sit bolt upright. Conversations, facts, words flood my head. Wife…living with me…by my side… loved ones can be hurt…heir!
I’m to become Mrs. Isla Sokolov… In three months…
Trembling takes over my body.
“Shhh… It’s all going to be okay.” Alex tries to shield my body and mind by caressing my back and shoulders, nipping and sucking on my neck. But he doesn’t know… He blows a gentle wind across my ear, sending shivers throughout my entire body. My nipples are at attention. Heat is building below. Fuck, how does he make my body respond so rapidly to his? I can’t let this go on… No more lies.
“Alex. I’m to be married to Dimitri.”
I. Will. Kill. Him…
Heat surges through to my head. I’m sure a demon just entered my body, sending me to purgatory.
Over my dead body…but I guess that will probably be on his list.
I have handled many negotiations, mergers, security issues and dealt with underworld activity when it has been asked of me, but personal, intimate issues regarding my heart and soul have never been tested. It’s never entered my radar, but hearing those words quietly spoken from Isla’s mouth is sending my mind into a raging abyss.
My hands stop caressing her shoulders and I see the agony in her violet eyes. Is she telling me this because she wants to be with him? I won’t let it happen. I left her for a short time, but it was for her own safety. She can’t want this…
“Isla, don’t ask me to go. Because I won’t. You have my heart. You belong to me.” My eyes are wildly fixed on hers, my hands have closed around her tiny ones. My breathing speeds up with fury.
“Never!” Isla cuts in. “I will never ask you to leave me, Alex, even though I know I should, I can’t. I’m stupidly selfish because I know you need to leave me alone. I know that we will possibly end up damaging each other’s hearts.” Wiping her hands over her face, she takes a breath. “I convinced myself in Las Vegas there would be no more you and me, but the reality is, even though Dimitri will try to hurt me and possibly try to kill you, I can’t ask you to leave. I’m going to need your strength and love to get us through this.” Her voice trembles and tears well in her eyes but she is saying exactly what I am feeling. Together we can fight this. We will we make it through hell to our heaven.
“But if you chose to leave, Alex, I won’t blame you.” Her sincerity is my undoing. I wish I could explain to her how her voice makes my heart skip a beat, how making her smile makes me feel prouder than anything else I have accomplished, and how being with her makes me complete.
“You are mine, Sweetness. Sokolov may think that you will be married to him. But let me make it crystal clear, it will never happen.” My voice is certain and commanding. We have an enormous task ahead of us, but we both know, one way or another, we will be together.
Holding her closer now, flesh on flesh, we are bare to each other and nothing feels more right. Safe guarding Isla and ultimately myself is top priority for the foreseeable future.
Whispering next to her ear, how she is mine, how we fit together perfectly, how our day will come where we don’t have to hide, lulls her psyche, pushing us toward our dreams and future.
Her delicate pale skin illuminates slightly as the curtain moves in the breeze allowing the moon to shine on us momentarily as the cloud wafts past it. Slowly urging her to lay back, my cock is at full attention. Her hands fondle my balls, stroking along my length with her nails, repeating it over and over, sparking my hands into action. Using the slightest touch, I float my fingers over her body, swirling my fingers over her full breasts down to her cleft. She is soaking wet. Teasing her, dipping my fingers inside of her, exploring her beauty, she murmurs my name, it’s my heaven. Wanting to make love to her, but the anger roaming my veins is making that impossible.
“I’m going to be rough, Isla.” Swiftly I spread her legs wider, not taking my eyes from her body. She is my future, my world, my universe. No. One. Will. Take. Her. From. Me.
I line my cock up and ram into her. No one will ever have her again. Her body is all mine.
My hips slam into her at warp speed. There’s no control, only a made man staking his claim. She arches her back, lifting her clit, achieving the desired amount of friction to drive us both out of our minds. My body takes on a life of its own, I have no control as I slap into her, her noises spurring me on to go faster and deeper. Her glorious squeezing starts as she bucks underneath me, grabbing my shoulders with her nails, delectably digging them in to my skin, no doubt piercing the skin, fuck how that turns me on… Crushing, pulsing, more squeezing around my cock pushes me into one of the most intense orgasms ever. The noise escaping my mouth is of pure ecstasy.
Mine…
Resting my forehead upon her chest, her breathing is slowing down, as is mine. Her eyes are drowsy, while she smiles her sweetest smile at me.
“You are mine, Isla. Don’t ever forget it.” The resolution in my voice is very clear.
“Yes, Alex. Only yours.” A small yawn escapes her mouth as I roll onto my side.
“Sweetness, you need to sleep. And I need to leave before Sokolov’s men arrive to watch you. I have left you a phone on your dresser. It has my number in it, plus Seth’s, Liam’s, and Jared’s. If you need me, day or night, use this phone. It’s been set up so it can’t be traced back to us. My men are watching you every minute of the day, Isla. You are safe.”
“Knowing you are still with me, Alex, gives me renewed courage and strength. We will find our happiness together soon, my undercover angel… Soon…” Drifting off, her dark hair lays across the pillow. I run my fingers through the silkiness of it, running them down to her cheek and neck, cupping her face, tilting her lips to mine, kissing her, worshipping her.
Tucking her blanket around her delectable body, I stare at her image before I leave her room, slipping into the darkness, leaving my Sweetness.
Her undercover angel, for now…