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“Oh, my god,” Annika gasped.
“Mhmm. Tell me how it feels, baby,” he growled.
“I can’t st-stop coming,” she murmured, just clinging to him now for support as she gushed all over him. “It feels so, so fucking good.”
“That’s because you were made for me,” Mikhail grunted between clenched teeth. “I was always meant to be the man who made you come over and over again.”
“Yes, god yes,” she mumbled, seizing up for another climax.
“And I always will be,” he went on.
He was spearing up into her at a determined pace, just striking that delicious spot deep inside again and again until Annika was seeing stars. Finally, when she thought she might actually black out from the exertion and overwhelming stimulation, she felt him stiffen up around her.
“Annika,” he hissed.
His cock pulsed inside of her, pumping her full of his seed. Annika clung to him tightly, twitching along with him. He kissed her all over. His hands caressed her back, tracing soft circles. Annika let her full weight rest against him. She was safe in the knowledge that he could handle her; more than that, he was the only one who could.
They stayed wrapped together for a long time, foreheads resting together, eyes locked, as their hearts slowed down to a normal pace. There was no one around to rush them. Nothing to do but hold each other and come down, just in time to start the next round. They spent the whole night lounging and fucking, enjoying every inch of their temporary serenity, making love in the eye of the storm that waited for them back in the city.
CHAPTER17
MIKHAIL
A chandelier glitteredover the white-tableclothed table in the corner of an upscale restaurant on the strip. The scintillating crystals caught the light from the street outside and the flickering candle on the table. Waiters passed by at efficient speeds, all dressed in head-to-toe black-tie uniforms. They carried massive golden trays of the most sumptuous dishes and sparkly cocktails back and forth from the kitchen in the back. A small but lively jazz band played on the performance stage at the other end of the restaurant. They were strategically placed close enough to the entrance for the upbeat music to filter out into the street and entice tourists and locals alike to come inside the casino. Though, if they tried to visit the restaurant within, they would be swiftly disappointed by the months-long waitlist for a table or be turned away for not living up to the dress code there.
Mikhail, however, did not have to worry about waitlists or dress codes. Not when theShining Star Casinowas an essential part of the Sokolov property holdings. All it took to win a table at theStar’sexclusive restaurant, Cassiopeia, was a simple phone call. In fact, Mikhail knew that he could technically just show up whenever he wanted, dressed however he pleased, and the workers here would bend time and space itself to get him a spot. There was no diplomat, celebrity, or high roller powerful enough to take precedence over the new Sokolov Pakhan.
And he wasn’t dining alone. Across the table from him sat his stunning date, Annika. The restaurant and the casino overall were so gorgeous, so much to take in, with all the bells and whistles one would expect at a major Vegas establishment. But it all paled in comparison to Mikhail’s fiancé. People all around them broke from their conversations just to look at her. The wait staff, who were expertly recruited and trained to be formal in all respects, couldn’t help but double-take as they passed the table. The warm light of the chandelier made the young woman’s smooth skin glow, as though lit from within instead. She was radiant and eye-catching in her elegant gown and updo. Annika’s black hair had been curled, and most of it was twisted into a fancy spiral bun at the back of her head, adorned with sparkly hair pins and jewelry. Romantic tendrils framed her face in loose curls.
She wore a bottle-green dress made of the smoothest silk and edged with black lace at the hem and decolletage. The ruched cap sleeves curved around her shoulders, showing off her cleavage and elegant neck. A delicate gold necklace adorned her collarbone, and black, cloudy pearls shined in her ears. Annika had a dash of deep red lipstick, dramatic cat-eye liner, thick lashes, and just the faintest shine along her high cheekbones and the arch of her brows. Her cheeks were softly rosy, and Mikhail felt like a spotlight shined every time she smiled at him.
Mikhail was no slouch, either. Even though he knew he could get a table wearing stained, dirty street clothes if he wanted to, tonight was an opportunity to show off. He wore a perfectly tailored black suit with an elegant designer tie in the same shade of green as Annika’s fancy gown. The suit followed the powerful muscles of his body, clinging in just the right spots while allowing him plenty of range of movement. Even on an evening like this, it was vital for Mikhail to be in control. But that didn’t mean skimping on the luxury, either.
His cuff links and wristwatch probably cost more than all the pricey vintage bottles in the wine cellar at the back of Cassiopeia combined. His dark hair was swept back in a messy way and his face was smoothly shaved, a rare occurrence for a man like him. His cologne was imported from Italy, and the square in his pocket was of the highest-quality silk. Along with Annika, Mikhail was receiving plenty of interested looks this evening.
“Oh, my god. The wild bass crudo is incredible,” Annika gasped, her green eyes wide with excitement as she pointed to one of the many appetizer dishes between them on the table with her fork.
There was crudo made from wild bass from California, luxurious in a pool of aromatic citrus and herbs. They had a massive basket of house-made breads, a dish of steamed mussels in white wine sauce, prawn and goat cheese tartlets, flavorful bruschetta with the freshest of tomatoes, and a small charcuterie board adorned with the finest cheeses, cured meats, and pickled vegetables. They were on their second bottle of wine, sipping sparkling water in between for palate cleansing.
The two of them were in the mood to luxuriate for the time being. They had a lot to look forward to, with their wedding only fifteen days away now, and a lot to celebrate. They were together, they were blissful, and the future looked bright for the couple. Mikhail had never thought he would feel so connected and comfortable with any other human being, much less a sheltered young woman who tried to flee him at first.
But as he watched his fiancé gleefully devour a bite of bruschetta with one hand while gripping a wine glass in the other, he couldn’t help but grin. She was beautiful, she was exciting, and she was all his. He never expected to find his perfect match in her, but there she was. Time always flew when they were together, and Mikhail checked his gleaming wristwatch.
“We had better pay our bill,” he said. “It’s almost time for your appointment.”
“Oh, you’re right. Can’t keep my date waiting,” Annika giggled, setting down her empty wine glass and napkin. “I’ll freshen up in the bathroom and… meet you later?”
“I’ll be watching,” he assured her.
Teeming with excitement, she rushed off to the bathroom to tidy up and get ready for the next part of the evening. Mikhail paid the bill, tipped handsomely, and made his leisurely way to the main casino floor. He was immediately greeted by the chorus of slot machines, rolling dice, clinking glasses, and tipsy conversation. He took a seat at a slot machine facing the far end of the casino floor, so he could watch the lounge area without being noticed by the bar patrons.
Most of the staff here knew him on sight, since theShining Starwas a major asset of the Sokolov holdings, but to the average casino patron, he was incognito. Just another devilishly handsome man sipping a cocktail on the casino floor. He was patient and still, blending in as much as he could. He didn’t have to wait long for the show to begin.
Annika, still dressed to the nines in her gown and updo, came swishing up to the lounge area and sat at the bar. Mikhail smiled, watching all the men and women around her do double takes and stare. Annika ordered a drink and nursed it, peering around with wide eyes like she was waiting for someone.
Soon, that someone arrived. Her face brightened into a grin, her body language turning flirtatious and open when the old man came strolling up to the bar beside her. Mikhail felt a bristle of jealousy when the old man put his bony hand on her arm, but he kept focused. He recognized the man vaguely. They had to have run across each other over the years, though they hailed from different factions. But Annika knew the man very well, almost too well.
He was an advisor of Egor Baranov, a so-called friend of the family who had known Annika all her life. He’d watched her grow from a sweet little girl to a sexy young woman. Mikhail was disgusted at how easy it was to bring him here. This advisor, who had survived decades of rivalry and undoubtedly numerous attempts on his life, was willing to strut right into a known Sokolov stronghold like this, as long as the right carrot was dangled before him.
