Chapter Ten

Viviana woke to warm lips trailing a burning path from the corner of her mouth across to her cheek. There were fingers between her thighs, teasing lines over the sensitive lips of her pussy, making her body feel alive and revving to go. The scent of stale whiskey and lingering cigarette smoke hung heavy in the air.

Ignoring the way her body wanted to respond to Anton’s touches was an impossible task. When her hips rolled into his hand almost involuntarily, and fingers slipped in between her folds to thrust up knuckle deep, her gasp couldn’t be contained. With skilled precision, he found her g-spot and curled his digits, making fluid gush between her legs at the touch. A thumb flicked up to press at her aching clit, rolling gentle circles over the nub and making her jerk into his body.

“Mmm, you’re so fucking wet and ready for me,” he hushed in her ear, burying his face into her neck. He suckled and kissed, teeth nipping with a faint sting determined to bring Viviana from her sleeping stupor. “Wake up just a little more for me, baby. Open those pretty eyes so I can watch them when you come.”

Unfortunately, the couch they’d fallen asleep on in his office wasn’t the most comfortable spot, considering something was digging into her back in the worst damned way. It made focusing on his motions and voice a little difficult.

“Stop.”

He froze immediately, withdrawing from her sex. “I just thought …”

Viviana’s eyes popped open at the barely hidden quake in his voice. More than once he’d woken her up in that very same way, heating her body to a fever, chuckling dark and deep when she shook and came so surprised and relieved. Their frustrations from the night before weren’t what urged her to stop him, but she could understand how he would misinterpret it in that way. She found his cheek pressed to hers, gaze trained downward, and those wet fingers of his were now grasping roughly to her thigh with a shake he couldn’t quite hide. Whatever he must have felt, it was a little more than disappointment at her refusal, and it probably tasted a lot like shame.

“No, that’s … I didn’t mean it like that.”

“You’d have every right to.”

Yeah, she probably would. If the night before was any indication of the kinds of arguments she could expect in the future, she hoped to hell she’d get a decent time lapse in between them. The physical tax it took was nothing compared to the emotional toll. In fact, while her scalp still stung from where he’d grabbed her hair, and every muscle in her body was screaming for a hot bath, none of that made a difference to the heavy weight on her heart.

“Look at me, please.” Those blue eyes of his lifted, but she sensed how hard it was for him to do it. The bloodshot gaze he leveled on her said he likely wasn’t feeling too well, either. “Do you even remember how much you drank or what you said? Did you mean it?”

He wet his lips, drawing her gaze to the bob of his Adam’s apple as he swallowed with an audible sound. “Mean what, because I said a lot of things.”

“Any of it. All of it. Give me something, Anton.”

The afghan blanket that covered them was twisted in his hands. He tugged it up around her shoulders a little tighter. Wrapping his naked legs with hers, it caused the hard length of his erection to press to her stomach, and made his morning desire known.

“A lot of my business is done under the influence of strong liquor with men who could drink me under the table. I try not to say things I don’t mean, even if I’m acting like a stupid fool. Otherwise, it could lead to nowhere good.”

“Try not to,” she echoed quietly.

“Yes, try. And most times I failed miserably, so I’ve taken to using one of Nicoli’s old tricks where my alcohol is watered down significantly without anyone else knowing. While others are stumbling drunk by the end of the evening, I still have my head clear when I need it most. It might break our code, but drinking too much often leads to guns being brought out when they don’t need to be, or fists flying. Makes for messy situations I only have to clean up later.”

Viviana wanted to smile at his admission, but the sadness in his eyes and tone rang clear. “But?”

“Mistakes happen,” he said. “Would you like to know why Nicoli began having his liquor watered down?”

“Shoot.”

“Exactly, shoot. Or, a shooting to be precise. One that took away his wife.”

Air caught painfully in her throat. “Oh.”

Anton hummed a miserable sound, frowning. “My grandmother used to enjoy being a part of whatever dealings she could that he would allow. Usually it was the loudness and Russian culture that kept her going with him. The atmosphere gets a little rowdy, especially with the older generation. He always said it reminded her of home.”

“You drinking out of anger isn’t okay. Especially if it’ll lead to another repeat of last night. You were hiding things and I let it go, but I expect an explanation Anton. Last night … that bothers me.”

It truly did. More often than she could remember, too much liquor led to issues in her own family. Everyone always felt things needed to be celebrated with some kind of alcohol, be it babies, dealings, or whatever. No one ever seemed to know their limits. Things were said that couldn’t be taken back. Grudges were held. Stupid, little things that led to bigger issues. Viviana didn’t want to handle that with Anton, too.

“I keep any social drinking at home, and only with people I most trust, like Ivan. Last night was brought on by something else entirely.”

“That’s not my point. And you didn’t explain yourself.”

“I know,” he replied, just as softly. “I understand what you’re saying. I’m telling you I hear you, Viviana. I need you to trust me when I say I will tell you. I’m not hiding it purposely, I just can’t right now.”

“I’m not okay with that, either.”

“I know, but it’s the best I can give.” Anton sighed before rubbing a hand over his face. “There’s also the issue of drugs, I suppose. They float in and out of my businesses more than water, but I haven’t touched a chemical in years, not since I was doing my rounds as a brigadier and in need of something to keep me awake and aware for Nicoli’s calls and nonsense. It didn’t matter, though, because every single time Nicoli noticed the high in my eyes, his disappointment was the first thing to be voiced.”

“Years?” Viviana asked, wanting his confirmation on that again.

“Like I said, chemical wise, no. Remember that night in Barbados with my smoke kissing your lips? You took my shotgun hits like a pro.”

Oh damn, just the way he voiced that old memory sent her lust in a tailspin. Viviana managed to nod; a little bit of weed was the last of her concerns. Something akin to memories and excitement skimmed over her skin like a dancing, rolling hum. That night was the first time she’d ever tried pot, but certainly not the last. Many of her firsts had been given to the man beside her.

“That’s a rare pleasure, and I keep it very private,” he said.

“I’m okay with that, on occasion.”

He grinned slyly and she felt her own form in response. “Good to know.”

“And thank you,” Viviana added, her voice above a whisper.

“Fucking hell. For what? After last ni—”

“For explaining yourself without making excuses. For telling me the truth about the rest. We could have just ignored what happened and went about it differently.” Without warning, Viviana found her body rolled over. Anton was behind her then, his steel hard cock sliding deliciously along the crack of her ass. “What—oh.”

Tender kisses started at the base of her spine while his hands rounded the globes of her backside. Eventually, his mouth moved upwards, hot breath touching down to her flesh as his tongue peeked out to lick and taste. Already, she wanted to beg; was so ready to plead for his cock and love; needed him to take her like only he could, despite the things hanging in the air like an anvil ready to fall.

“Yes, I remember exactly what I said to you last night, and I meant every word. I said I was sorry, and I am,” he murmured darkly against the blade of her shoulder. “I said I love you, and I do.” A broken sound tumbled from her parted lips as he brushed hair over her shoulder. “I was being a coward and did you wrong. Acted like a jerk when you couldn’t possibly understand because I wasn’t giving you a thing to go on. I’m not so much of an asshole that I can’t admit I have faults, Viviana. Some of them are sure to bleed onto you, whether I mean for them to or not.”

“Won’t you explain what brought it on?”

A kiss touched down to her cheek. “Eventually.”

That was enough for Viviana. It was more than enough. If Anton was anything, it was a man of his word.

With one hand gripping along the curved arm of the couch, her free hand found purchase on his bare thigh. Airless and wanting, she pleaded for his touch as his strong hand rolled over her back and shoulders. The most tender and fond words whispered in her ear. The tip of his cock rubbed along her slit, only entering her pulsing sex just enough to tease and stretch the sensitive tissues of the entrance.

When Anton’s hand hooked around her throat with the gentlest of grip, she felt his cock finally slip through the wet, swollen lips of her pussy and begin taking her like she so wanted him to. He took his time working her clamping muscles, thrusting in halfway before slowly withdrawing and plunging right back in to reach a bit deeper. Three sweet strokes and he fitted her to the hilt, the head of his dick hit her cervix in the best way—he had her filled so wholly, stretched her like no other.

Only him. It was only ever him that did that for her.

Viviana burned with pleasure, blood singing and nerves humming. Leaning over her back with an arm wrapped around her middle, he was close and covering, protecting and loving, but still not nearly close enough. Her arms trembled as she buried her face into the soft leather of the couch and cried his name when the slow moving rhythm of their hips began.

The sounds of his cock fucking her pussy filled the room, skin slapping, heavy pants turning fast and ragged. Anton pulled their bodies up, propped on their knees with her back tight to his chest. His hand still held tight to the base of her throat and sweat started to bead along her pebbled flesh. His hand around her middle moved up over her breasts, his calloused thumb rolling over her peaked nipples.

“Touch, Vine … My God, baby, touch and feel us.”

When she didn’t—because she couldn’t think to move—he was fast to force her hand downwards with his. Between her thighs spread so wide, their joined hands found her sensitive folds and his cock soaked with her arousal. The vein in his shaft pulsed at her touch, hips slammed a little harder, cock reaching her a little deeper.

There was unrestricted power in every thrust of his body. Viviana let her head fall to his broad shoulder, feeling his lips open and press to the side of her face with a shuddering exhale. It was too much and not nearly enough; her nerves turned into live wires that snapped with electricity ready to bite and sting and burn. Viviana was sure she was dying in the best way. His name in her mouth was a broken record on repeat. Every slow, measured stroke of his cock stretching and filling her pushed wanton, rolling cries from her lungs faster and higher.

“Goddamn,” he ground out as she felt her inner walls begin to clamp down. “Come on, give me all you got. Don’t hold that back from me.”

The orgasm had already sent her flying. A cattish cry ripped from her throat, leaving her feeling raw. Twisting against his hold, her body jerking from the force of pleasure and lust raging through her system, but Anton kept his hold on her throat tight. When his movements turned harder, more frantic and desperate, Viviana knew he was right there, too. The strangled groan he buried into the back of her neck was punctuated by his hips meeting her backside one hard, last time.

Tremors rocked, the ecstasy of bliss slowly washing away. Seconds ticked by, the cool air washing over her skin and making her shiver. Viviana needed a moment to breathe, and by the quick rise and fall of Anton’s chest, he clearly needed one, too. She could feel their mingling fluids dampening their fingers, but he didn’t make a move to release his hold or remove his softening cock from her body.

“Happy fucking birthday to me.”

• • •

Viviana rubbed Rocco’s belly, giggling a happy sound when his tail thumped a fast beat on the floor. Anton had been so preoccupied in his office that she had been left to her own devices for much of the morning and well into the afternoon. After a long, hot bath, warm breakfast, and a short walk to the park with her pup, she was finally becoming bored.

Some of her morning had been spent preparing part of her gift for Anton’s birthday. A gift that left her backside a little tender, but her body raging with anticipation. Given his distractions upstairs, she was grateful he had yet to notice her sudden aversion to sitting down. It was just one more first she wanted to give him, in her own way, and she was so damned thankful some of those things she ordered online came in packages that were purposely marked to hide the items within.

“You’re spoiling my dog.”

The deep voice came from the kitchen’s entrance. Viviana looked up at the sound, surprised to see Anton dressed in a sharp black suit that hugged his body handsomely. The top two buttons on the silk shirt had been left undone, exposing his throat and part of his chest. As he attempted to button the cuff of his jacket, Viviana laughed before deciding to help him with his plight. With the cuff done up properly, she patted his middle teasingly.

“I thought you said he was my dog so he could be whatever I wanted,” she mocked.

Anton raised a single brow. “You’re turning him into a puppy again. I already paid for his training once. He’s supposed to be an attack dog and now you’ve got him practically begging for snacks and tummy rubs,” he grumbled.

The dog in question was already on high alert as Viviana glanced back at him. With eyes sharp, ears pointed, and his tail straight, Rocco was in no way distracted. Anton was making a bigger deal out of it than it really was. The dog still took the lead when she walked into a room, accompanied her on all her trips away from the house, and she’d even taken to cooking his food the way his special diet required instead of having Clarissa do it.

“You’re just jealous that I get to spend all day with him when it used to be you he followed after.”

“Viviana, he whines to get upstairs with us at night.”

“He does not.”

Anton huffed a breath, making her look away guiltily. “More than once his chirping woke me up. I can’t help it that you sleep like the dead and I don’t.”

“You let him up into the bedroom that first night I was here, so that makes it your fault by default.”

For a moment, the man staring down at her seemed flabbergasted—totally speechless. The giggles caught in her throat were just barely held back. One of the biggest mob bosses in North America was wrapped around her finger. Viviana had to wonder if he truly realized just how much he let her get away with sometimes.

“Is this how I can expect the next seventy years of our life to go down?”

She smoothed out a wrinkle in the silk, white shirt he wore, cocking her head to the side with a sly smile. “Yes.”

“Great.”

He didn’t seem to mind all that much about it, especially when she felt her chin being tilted up in strong hands. His lips melded so smoothly to hers, and for once, Anton didn’t dominate the kiss like he usually did. Instead, she found herself probing gently against the seam of his mouth, wanting it opened. When it was, their tongues moved a slow, lazy rhythm, taking time to explore, taste, and feel the sweet kiss. The lingering taste of tobacco, mint, and heat danced from his mouth to hers.

“Happy birthday, Anton.”

The hum he sounded against her lips rocked Viviana straight to the core. “Thank you.”

“Do you feel any older?”

“Ancient. Three years off thirty. Arthritis and Alzheimer’s will be setting in soon.”

“Ah, you have jokes so you must be in a better mood.”

“A little.”

“And Daniil?”

Anton’s quiet sigh held both relief and sadness. “Better, too, but they’re keeping him sedated a lot while they continue to drain the remaining fluid from his lungs.”

“Are we going to the hospital?” Viviana asked, wondering why he chose to wear such a smart looking suit.

“No. I spoke to Mom for well over an hour a little while ago, and she was pretty insistent that I just let you enjoy the surprises in store for you today.”

“It’s your birthday.”

“Oh, well,” he replied with a wink. “Like I said, Sasha insisted.”

“I wouldn’t mind going.”

“I know, so we’ll visit first thing tomorrow morning. We have a lot to do today.”

“Just the party, right?” She assumed that was the surprise, considering she had yet to see one of his businesses up close and personal.

Anton’s grin had a whole lot hidden behind it. “Maybe a little more. I had something special brought in for you.”

“Something like what?”

“Something you don’t have yet, but need.”

With his forehead resting on hers, Viviana smiled as his thumbs rolled over the apples of her cheeks. “I don’t need—”

“You haven’t bought a single dress, baby. Nothing fancy. No pretty shoes to make your legs look a mile long. How on earth am I supposed to show you off tonight if you haven’t a thing to wear?”

Viviana eyed his suit. “I am feeling sorely underdressed standing next to you.”

“Well I need to fix that. Can’t have my fiancée feeling that way now, could I? Arrangements were already made for you in my office at Seven Lights. Nothing too big, but you’ll have a decent choice to pick through. You haven’t been to Brighton Beach in what, ever?”

“Something like that,” she agreed. “Wasn’t a smart move for the daughter of a Cosa Nostra boss to be slummin’ it in the Russian territory, or so I was told. We don’t mix well.”

Anton laughed. “We do now.”

Viviana caught his gaze traveling down to her fingers spread across his chest.

“And this …” Anton added quietly, a finger tracing where an engagement ring should have been resting, “…is something I need to rectify before tonight. You’re off the market, and I damn well plan on having everybody else know it, too.”

“I was wondering when you planned on doing that.”

“I was trying to not stress over it, honestly.”

Viviana suddenly felt a whole lot more nervous. “Do you have it?”

“Ah, now, now,” he murmured, smirking. “That is for me to know, and you to find out.”

Well, she could play that game, too. “Would you like your birthday gift—part of it,” she corrected, grinning wickedly. “The rest may or may not come later, depending on a few things.”

“Vine, you didn’t have to get me anything.”

A small palm-sized remote was placed into Anton’s hand before he could say another word. Staring at the oval shaped device, she was positive he was unsure of what he should say. It wasn’t like he could know what it was he was looking at. With a single power button, and two speed buttons, it simply appeared to be nothing more than a remote for a massager.

“Care to explain what this controls?”

Viviana turned quiet under his gaze. “You’ll figure it out.”

“I’d rather you just told me.” Heat flooded her body, a blush of pink reddening her chest and cheeks. “Viviana?”

“Like I said, you’ll figure it—”

Anton hit the power button on the small remote then proceeded to push the first speed button. A strangled cry escaped as the vibrating anal plug was suddenly activated, stimulating her freshly stretched tissues, and sensitive nerve endings with the most intense rush she’d felt ever.

Her fingers clenched into the lapels of his jacket, her knees damn near buckling as the gentle speed of the first setting hummed inside her tight hole. Viviana was straight up lost in the sensations traveling straight through her ass, into her pussy, and up the base of her spine.

“What—”

“Shit,” Viviana hissed, unable to speak much more than that.

The plug shut off, giving her just enough of a moment to breathe. The slight sting of pain was nothing compared to the sweet singing pleasure rocking her most sensitive area. Juices leaked into her thong, soaking the fabric. Anton breathed a heavy sound and when she stared up at him, she could see his eyes were slightly glazed.

The sound of her voice was high and airless, totally unknown to her, when Viviana said, “Try it again.”

“What did you do?”

When she wouldn’t answer, the sudden buzzing hum of the plug in her ass was turned on again, sending her spiraling right back into that gasping ache once more. Muscles clenched around the plug instinctively, holding the silicone toy inside. Anton pressed on the small of her back, driving lower until he’d reached the elastic waist of her sweatpants. A little lower under the fabric, and she knew he could feel the soft vibrations tickling against his fingertips when his mouth opened and another sexy sound rolled from his lips.

In one fluid movement, Viviana found herself turned, her chest sprawled over the countertop as her hands grappled to find purchase. The pants and black thong she wore were pulled down to her knees, making her legs tremble at the force of his roughness. Two of his fingers slid down the crack of her ass, and Viviana shuddered when he came in contact with the remnants of the lube she’d used to help insert the toy.

The plug was suddenly ramped up to the second speed, causing her shaking to increase. Teeth clenched as Viviana pressed her forehead to the granite counter. “Pl-please … Fuck, it’s … that’s to-too much.”

The toy shut off immediately at her words. Not a second later, the cheeks of her ass were spread and his fingers came in contact against the flat, silicone end of the toy. With the softest pressure, she felt him pushing against the plug, the tapered tip reaching a delicious spot that sent another soft cry forcing its way from her lungs. His teeth bit into the tender flesh of her ass. Viviana jerked in surprise when the vibrating began once more on the slower setting.

A growl formed in the back of Anton’s throat, echoing in the silent kitchen, making her body respond to the want in his tone instantly. “Oh, baby. How… why?”

When the toy abruptly stopped again, Viviana could finally speak, albeit still feeling a little overcome. “A healthy exploration of my own body.” She swore she heard him swallow behind her. “Lucky for me that certain stores allow their packages to come in the mail with privacy labels so that no one knows what I’ve bought.”

“I’ve never checked your cards or packages.”

Viviana chanced a glace over her shoulder, but his face was turned away. Even so, she could see the tension in his hands as he grabbed her ass and the tick in his tight jaw. If it were any other situation, she might have thought he was angry, but given his cock was hard and pressing into the back of her thigh, she knew he wasn’t.

Not once had he brought up the topic of anal to her, never mind approaching it while they were in the midst of something sexual. With her own private trials, Viviana knew it was something she might like, and she trusted Anton enough to give her that experience, if he wanted.

“I know,” she said, still trying to catch her breath. “I’ve never …”

Anton did look up then, his eyes piercing into hers with registering surprise and desire. “Never?”

“No one, ever. Like I said, a healthy exploration. I’ve tried some things, so I know what I like. And today, you’re the one with the remote.”

“I am, aren’t I? Shit.” He fixed her thong and pants before letting her stand up again. The remote was slipped into his pocket as she turned in his embrace. Viviana could see the battle raging in Anton’s eyes. “I don’t know what to say.”

“You don’t want that with me?”

“No … God, no, it’s not that.”

The quiet murmur of anxiety crept up her spine with a cold grip. “I just thought—”

“Shut up. Shut those pretty lips of yours right up,” Anton muttered, eyes flashing down at her in warning. “Of course I want that with you, yes. I just … damn. What happened to that innocent girl in Barbados who hadn’t even kissed a boy until she met me; where did that girl go? I’m not saying it’s not okay she grew up, but sometimes this is a serious mind fuck for me, okay?”

“Okay. I get that.”

“Not that I’m complaining, but where did she go?” he repeated, lips curving with the most sinful grin.

Viviana returned the gesture, letting her fingers dance up the silky material of his shirt before replying, “She wasn’t all that innocent. After all, she agreed to marry you.”