“Does that feel okay?”
I raise my eyes to Smith, the querier of my question. “It feels a little weird.”
“The device or your head?” Rocco asks on a laugh, shocked by the slur of my words. I don’t know what Smith used to numb my arm, but it has my head convinced I guzzled a fifth of vodka with my dinner.
“A teeny bit of both.”
“Your dizziness will settle soon.” Smith rubs an alcohol swap over the nick in my arm before he places a Band-Aid over it. “If it doesn’t, I’ll give you another dose. It will have you sleeping like a baby within an hour.”
I want to sock him in the stomach but hold back the urge when I notice Dimitri’s narrowed gaze. He looks five seconds from killing Smith, and his oxygen-depriving protectiveness doubles the wooziness bombarding me.
“Thank you.”
Smith lifts his chin, acknowledging my thanks before he moves to clean up the mess he made in his makeshift hospital room. We’re still at my family’s ranch, conscious my booking for Dr. Bates’s clinic may have eyes placed on me earlier than my appointment. The shutters are closed, a beat-up Honda is in the driveway, and Smith has numerous jammers scattered amongst the dated furniture. To anyone outside of these walls, it appears as if Dimitri is still done with me. Only those in the know are experiencing his panic firsthand.
He’s been more reserved than usual today. He agrees our plan is smart, but he’s still cautious he’s making the wrong decision. I’ll do my best to assure him otherwise between now and my appointment tomorrow morning. By remaining fearless, he’ll soon realize just how much faith I have in him. He will keep me safe no matter what. I’ve never had more confidence in anything in my life but that.
After a lengthy debate this morning, we decided the go with the ploy Smith and I discussed while Dimitri was unconscious from a combined drug overdose and exhaustion. According to our plan, I called the private cell phone Dr. Bates scribbled across his business card when he endeavored to buy me outright, panicked out of my mind that my period was late and how Dimitri would kill me if he found out.
By staying on script, we learned that Dr. Bates is knowledgeable on parts of Dimitri’s life not many people know about. His voice didn’t waver in the slightest when I said Dimitri would be mad as hell if I fell pregnant at the start of our relationship like his wife did. It was as if he already knew their story. I wasn’t sharing anything new with him.
After ensuring me I’d be okay, Dr. Bates offered to clear his schedule so I could immediately come in. That threw me out of the loop for a couple of seconds. I hadn’t expected him to react so quickly. Although I was eager to get our ruse started—the quicker it occurs, the faster Fien will be returned—I knew Dimitri’s team needed more than twenty minutes to put steps into play to ensure Dr. Bates’s every move was being scrutinized.
I also perhaps needed more than a measly twenty minutes with Dimitri before his life is upended for the second time. We haven’t had a moment of quiet since he agreed to my offer. It’s been full steam ahead since then.
“Still nothing?” I ask after stopping at Dimitri’s side. I don’t know who he’s been trying to call the past six hours, but the tension on his face grows more obvious the longer his calls remain unanswered. I’m confident his worry doesn’t stem from his cousin. She left here earlier today with an armored fleet as impressive as the one they used to bring Maddox here for the night, but it’s clear he’s noticing their absence.
“He must be somewhere without cell phone service as he’s never not taken my call.”
As he slides his phone into the pocket of his trousers, I spot the name of the man he’s endeavoring to reach on its screen. Rico. He must be new to Dimitri’s sanction because it isn’t a name I’ve heard the past several weeks.
“Ask Smith to track his cell. If it’s turned on, he should be able to find it.” Keen to soothe the heavy groove between his brows, I add, “Even without a trendy microchip installed in your arm, it’s almost impossible to remain incognito these days.”
His smirk is only half what I was hoping for, but it’s better than nothing.
After a few more minutes soaking up his handsome face, I say, “I’m going to go lay down for a couple of minutes. My head is a little woozy.” I peer up at him with hopeful eyes. “Would you care to join me?”
Only weeks ago, I wouldn’t have been game to assume he wants to sleep with me. Now, it feels as natural as breathing. Even with his quiet taking up a majority of my focus today, I’ve noticed his heated gaze directed at me multiple times. He finally believes I’m on his side, and I’m more than willing to continue convincing him, especially if that can only occur while he’s naked. I’ve always been the more daring one of my friends, and now that I’ve discovered just how powerful sex can make you feel, I want to flex my muscles.
Either mishearing the innuendo in my tone or too worried to sleep, Dimitri replies, “I’ve got a few things to take care of first. I’ll join you once they’re finalized.” The drop of my bottom lip isn’t as noticeable when he lowers his voice to ensure his next set of words is only for my ears. “Sleep naked. I don’t want anything between us when I come to bed.”
“Okay.” Considering I only spoke one word, it shouldn’t be as breathy as it is.
After squeezing his hand, wordlessly assuring him he has nothing to worry about, I skip to my room, confident it’s the perfect location to ease his panic.
Many, many hours later, the creak of an old set of hinges wakes me from my slumber. My head is still a little woozy, but it’s more compliments to Dimitri’s delicious scent than the sedative Smith gave me. He strips beside the bed like he did every night we shared the same room before he slips between the sheets.
Unlike our last night together at his compound, I don’t cry into his chest when he pulls me into his arms. I moan. He’s thick, warm, and he smells like me since the only shower he’s had the past twenty-four hours is the one we shared.
A husky moan fills my ears when he curls my leg around his waist. For once, I’m confident it didn’t come from me. Dimitri is responding to my submissiveness in a way that ensures it will occur more often from here on out. I’m naked as he requested, and his scent alone has me the wettest I’ve ever been.
“Grip my shoulders like your cunt does my cock. If I go too fast, dig your nails in deep.” He bites my bottom lip, drags his tongue across the welt, then tastes the minty flavor of my toothpaste before he adds, “I don’t want to hurt you.”
“You won’t.”
A stretch of silence follows my promise. It’s a tense, beautiful moment occupied by Dimitri slowly sinking inside of me. I fist the sheets as big, extended breaths seep from my mouth. The feeling of being stretched so wide is wondrous, but it has nothing on the sensation that overwhelms me when our eyes collide. His earlier panic has receded. Now, nothing but pleasing me is on his mind.
When shudders commence rolling through me, I freeze. I can’t possibly be coming already. He’s barely rocked his hips four times.
