Page 54 of Unholy Tsar

I run my hand up and down his chest as I wait for him to start.

“I grew up in Russia. We were dirt poor, but I wasn’t afraid to work hard. My siblings, on the other hand, were far more interested in the payoff. Anything that could get them rich without having to work too hard. They got mixed up with a dangerous gang, which created a lot of chaos. I had to leave the country to save my own life. By some miracle, I found a way to smuggle myself into America. But it wasn’t until I arrived that I really got lucky. My hard work caught the eye of Rian Kilpatrick, the man who started this all—Bree’s grandfather. The man her cousin, Rian, is named after. He saved me. Gave me a purpose. I haven’t been back to Russia since.”

“What about your family? I never had any, so I don’t know what it’s like, but don’t you miss them?”

“Sometimes, Malyshka, it’s better not to have any family than to have a terrible one.”

I nod solemnly. That’s so true. “Did you have a bad childhood?” Despite how icky it feels, part of me wants him to have struggled like me. Maybe then I wouldn’t feel so alone.

Or maybe I just want to know about him. Even if it’s something simple. Were his siblings older or younger? Sisters or brothers? I want to know everything.

“I don’t like to think about it.”

“Bad parents?”

“My parents were okay when they were still around. They weren’t the problem.”

My curiosity gets the best of me. “Did your parents abandon you too?”

“No.” His arms tighten around me, his shoulders going rigid with tension. “They were murdered.”

My heart sinks. “I’m so sorry.”

“I don’t want to talk about it anymore.” His tone is final, and I nod, dropping the topic for now. “I’m just glad that no one in the Kilpatrick family has to deal with the shit I did. They have caring parents and loving siblings. They can trust and depend on each other. That’s all that matters now.”

“I don’t think they even realize just how lucky they are.” I rub my palm over his chest, and he slowly relaxes again. “Never having to worry about their pasts…”

“You don’t have to worry about the demons of your past anymore, either. I will burn them all away for you.”

I tilt my head up to give him a bittersweet smile. His words bring a sense of comfort, but deep down I know the truth. Nobody can end my problems but me. “That would be nice. But I’m not sure that’s possible.”

“Maybe, but how’s this for a start?” He drops his forehead and touch es his lips to mine. I melt into him as he cradles my face and deepens the kiss.

With every ounce of longing in me, I kiss him back.

There’s no denying it. There’s a softness this time. A tenderness.

Maksim twists until my back is on the bed. He hovers above me, our eyes locked in a passionate gaze. My heart leaps toward him.

“I promise to protect you,” he says, his fingers tugging at the hem of my shirt; I raise my hands and he slides it off, revealing my bare skin. “I promise to treat you right.” Slowly, he undresses me, his movements deliberate and full of care. Then, he takes off his own clothes. “I promise to give you everything you deserve.

The sight of him naked steals my breath away. He stands at the foot of the bed like a dark god. Glorious. Terrifying. Snaking lines of black ink crawl around his chiseled torso, up his chest, his stomach, and his arms.

Lost in admiration, I’m jolted back to reality when he kneels on the bed and spreads my legs apart.

“No,” I whisper, my voice barely audible. “Maksim. I want you up here.”

His eyes snag mine, and my heart swirls with emotion as he crawls up my body. “You want me here?” he murmurs huskily as he nuzzles my neck, his warm breath sending goosebumps all over my body.

I part my legs, making a cradle for him as I wrap my arms around his broad back.

That’s when I feel it. The raised, puckered scars. They’re everywhere. I lean in and place a gentle kiss on one on his chest, then on another. At first, he stiffens, but then he slowly relaxes, if only for a moment.

His hands drop to my head, guiding my lips back to his. My pussy flutters, growing even wetter as his mouth devours mine with a greed that ignites my own. As we kiss and kiss, his other hand trails down my body, briefly teasing my nipple before continuing its journey to my cunt.

He cups me firmly, the heel of his palm grinding against my clit, sending me into a state of pure ecstasy. I moan and melt into the bed, my wetness now soaking his hand.

“I want you,” I plead, unable to contain my desire any longer.