I kiss my way down his cut abdomen, pushing his shirt up so that I can see more of his body. His erection springs free. I stroke its length and give him a naughty grin before applying my tongue to the underside. A low groan escapes him. He clutches my hair, tugging at the roots.
“Could you tolerate sex if I do all the work, or is that pushing it?” I ask when I can feel him getting close. I’m no longer sore and my pussy clenches around emptiness. I need him to fill me.
“I warned you not to throw yourself at men, printsesa.” He grins wolfishly. “But it’s alright for you to throw yourself at me.”
Quickly, I shed my jeans and straddle his hips. I sink down over his cock with a sigh.
“Shirt off, too,boginya. These should be free.” He squeezes my breast with his free hand. I’m quick to obey.
“It is nice to see you so accommodating for once.” His eyes darken.
“Don’t expect it to become a habit.” I toss my shirt aside and lift my hair, letting it spill across my shoulders and tits. “I’m sorry I left the church. I didn’t realize it would expose our location to your enemies.”
“Our enemies.”
“Yes, ours. I understand. All I wanted was a moment alone to think. You did kidnap me and say I had to marry you or die.”
“I haven’t a single regret,” he grits out.
“Yet,” I remind him. “It’s day two of our married life together and I’ve already gotten you shot.”
“You are worth dying for, troublesome woman. Although I hope I won’t have to.”
“I promise you won’t.” Need coils tighter and higher. His fingers dig into my hip as I ride him ruthlessly, speeding toward climax. Rafail’s dark eyes roam from my chest to my face, then down to the place where our bodies are joined. I come with a shattering wail, bracing my palm on his good shoulder to take my fill of pleasure. He follows me into bliss.
After, he falls asleep the way I should have let him do from the beginning. I tuck us both beneath the blanket and rest my head on his shoulder.
“Rafe?”
“You know I don’t like that nickname, right?” He sighs.
“Yes, but I’m going to continue using it anyway.” I boop his nose. He makes a face, then relaxes.
“I can get used to it,” he murmurs right before we both fall asleep.
EPILOGUE
RAFAIL
Hailey has been banging around in her closet for the past fifteen minutes preparing to go show a house for sale, last-minute. She has done very well for herself over the past eighteen months. I am surprised at how well she adapted to her new life as a bratva wife. My queen.
A fussy gurgle from the infant lying on a brightly-colored mat brings a smile to my face.
“Mommy is making a lot of noise. She has to rush over and show a house to a potential buyer. They are leaving tomorrow.” I wipe away a thread of drool from my daughter’s chubby cheek. Nobody told me that babies are as disgusting as they are cute.
“Ludmila will help you with the baby.” Hailey emerges, holding a pair of high heels in one hand and a necklace in the other. Her dress flaps open in the back as she strides to me. “Help.”
“Please,” I say in Russian. She rolls her eyes and butchers the wordpozhaluysta. Knowing she has places to be, I obligingly stand up and pull the zipper up her spine, pausing to press a kiss to her nape before closing it completely.
“Necklace,” she says, dropping it into my palm. Natalya, our daughter, fusses crankily. I drape it around my wife’s neck and work the tiny clasp closed. “Rafe! Look! The baby! She rolled over!”
Hailey drops to her knees and makes cooing sounds. I crouch beside her, staring in wonder at our baby’s milestone. A commonplace event in the grand scheme of things. Babies roll over every day. Yet this is the first timeourdaughter has rolled over. She doesn’t seem to be any happier on her back. Hailey, her shoes forgotten, scoops up Natalya and kisses both cheeks. “Yes, who is the smartest baby? The cutest baby? The strongest baby? That’s right, you are! Oh, shi—I mean, shoot, look at the time. I have to run.”
“At least you were here to witness it.” I take the infant and place her under the brightly-colored plastic toys suspended from an arch over the play mat. Natalya kicks at them, then grabs one and tries to stuff it into her mouth. Getting hungry. I’ll have to feed her while Hailey is out.
“True.” She sticks her feet into her shoes and wobbles over to me. “This dress is tight. Help me fasten my shoes?”
An indulgent smile touches my lips. I drop into the nearest chair. Hailey plants her heel in the center of my chest. Only a few inches away from where the bullet struck me. My injury is long since healed. No lasting damage. I was lucky. It could have hit my gorgeous wife instead.
