Novels by Brookedavi

I wake to something almost unreal, Aleksei, sleeping in my bed. His chest rises and falls in a steady rhythm. I can’t believe it. It’s the first time.We’ve been together over a week, but I’ve never seen him sleep. I rest my cheek on my hand, just watching him. Asleep, he’s different, the guard is down. He doesn’t look deadly or sinful. He looks peaceful. Mine.I don’t want to wake him, but I can’t resist leaning in to kiss his jaw. Just once, I promise myself, then I give him another, closer to his lips than the last.He stirs. His lashes are longer than I thought, fluttering before going still again. I should let him sleep. Maybe even get him coffee for when he wakes.I start to rise, but his hand shoots out, and in a blink I’m on my back, staring at the canopy. One moment I’m facing the window, the next I’m pinned beneath him. His eyes are sharp, dangerous, then recognition softens them.“Claire,” he says, rough with sleep. A small, helpless smile tugs at his lips. “Sorry. I though

He bathes me. After sucking him off, all I want is to curl into his scent and sleep, but Aleksei doesn’t let me. He carries me like a baby into the massive bathroom, lowers us into the steaming tub, and begins washing us both at an unhurried pace. I must be more drunk than I thought, because I can’t stop babbling.“My parents are farmers,” I tell him loudly for no reason at all. “I used to milk cows and ride my bicycle to sell the milk, and I had twin braids down to my waist. All through high school they called me Claire the farmer girl.”“And you were offended,” he states, his hand smoothing down my arms, washing me or just touching me.I turn my head, eyelids heavy. “No, I wasn’t. It was when they called me dirty, smelly, and ugly, that’s what offended me.” My brows knit together, and I let out a long, weary sigh. “Well, you should have seen me. You’d have said the same thing.”“I wouldn’t,” he replies simply.I scoff. “I bet you’ve looked like this your whole life. You wouldn’t hav

My breath snags. He touches my chin gently and lifts my gaze to his.“Does it make it better if I tell you I killed them before they could kill me, Zayka?”His eyes bore into mine. I don’t answer. Because I know it doesn’t mean they had a gun to his head. Maybe they were just thinking about it. But that would be enough.“The guy. From the wedding…” I can't keep my composure. “Is he… is he dead?”I don’t ask if Alek did it. Even now, I’m protecting him. Just in case someone’s listening.“Yes,” he says, unbothered. “He’s dead. And he wasn’t the first. He won’t be the last.”Silence stretches. I feel the breath leaving me slowly, like grief.“Claire,” he murmurs, pulling me into his chest. His chin brushes the top of my head. “I’ve never killed anyone who was innocent. Only men in my world. Men who knew the rules. This is a kill-or-be-killed life. I can’t afford to hesitate. I can’t afford to be soft.”“Can’t you just leave?” I whisper. My lips are trembling now.He exhales. “I can’t. T

We’re walking. Actually walking. Like a couple. Not just having sex. We are holding hands down a quiet Moscow street.I’m trying not to squeal, but I can’t help it. I want to. Every time I glance at Aleksei, he’s already watching me. Oh my God. Is he in love with me or something?“What are you thinking about?” he asks, giving me a smile I’m sure I’ve never seen on his face before.Now that I think about it… Alek rarely smiles. But tonight, he’s smiled, multiple times. And at me.I feel like I hit the jackpot. Like I won some secret lottery every time he does it.It’s such a small thing. And yet, it makes me so happy.“Nothing,” I lie, walking barefoot now. My feet started hurting earlier, so I took off my shoes. He’s carrying them in his other hand, while still holding mine.I raise our joined hands, tilting the glittering sapphire ring into the light.“I was just thinking about that auction,” I say. “Why you went, even though you didn’t want anything.”His smile vanishes. Just like t

I help her, grab her ass and move her, work her up and down. “Yes. Just like that,” I murmur. She looks at me, dazed, eyes glossy with need.“Is it good?” she pants, lips kiss-swollen, mouth parted for air.I kiss her, brief and greedy. “Yes, Zayka. You’re doing so fucking well. Move faster.”Her legs tremble. I hold her up, steady her, even as her body wants to go wild. She wants to ride harder, faster, but if I flip her around and start pounding into her, it’ll be obvious what we’re doing in this booth.Right now, we just look like we’re kissing.But if I lose control, if I fuck her the way I want to, they’ll all hear.I don’t care. But she will. Claire, sober again, ducking her face in embarrassment, The image makes me smile.But I’m burning up. So I meet her thrusts, pushing up into her, slow but deep. My cock fills her completely, and the soft moans spilling from her lips drive me insane.“Shit.” I kiss her again, swallowing those sounds. I can’t lose control, Not here. Not now.

Fuck.She’s grinding her ass on my cock, rolling her hips like she’s done this before, like this isn’t the first time she’s teased a man in a place like this. Claire moans softly as I cup her breast, flick my tongue over one thick nipple, then suck it into my mouth. But I know her. She’s loud. If I start fucking her, there’s no way the people holding that auction below won’t hear.If only I could stop. If only I gave two fucks what those bastards think. But all I care about is that my hands are on Claire’s perfect ass, helping her grind herself against me. She’s getting desperate, her breathing picks up, coming out fast. Her hand slips between us, reaching for the zipper of my pants, fumbling to work it down, to free my cock for herself.I shift back to give her room, when I should be shutting this down. I should be able to stop this, to resist her. But fuck. She pulls me free, her hands frantic, stroking my hard, aching length. A guttural sound tears out of me. I lean in, mouth open

“Yes, Elena. I can’t believe it.” I let it all go, the shock, the ache, the confusion, and just feel. The joy of holding my sister again. The sound of her laugh, light and real in my ear.I am happy. God, I am. A weight lifts off my shoulders as I squeeze her tighter. Whatever I think of what Mom did, the truth is simple: My sister is alive.We pull apart, and Elena immediately tugs me onto the couch, scooting close, just like she used to when she had gossip to share.“So, tell me everything. Mom told me you’ve been living with Noah and William.”My heart jerks. My throat goes tight.Guilt slides down my spine like ice. “It’s true,” I say stiffly. “I’m living with them.”“Come on,” she laughs, shaking my arm. “Tell me what’s been happening. I’ve been trapped in this house for almost three months. Mom doesn’t want the neighbors to see me. I’m going insane, Ray. I need details.”Details.Noah kissing me in the hallway. Noah holding me in the kitchen, whispering against my neck. Noah car

It’s like staring into a mirror. If she hadn’t moved, if that wide smile didn’t stretch across her face, if she hadn’t rushed forward and thrown her arms around me, I would’ve thought I was hallucinating. Just a trick of light and memory.“Ray!” she cries, wrapping me in a tight, familiar hold. That warmth. That voice. That grip, like she never left. It shakes me to my core. I shove her out of my arms, out of reach.“Elena?” I whisper, my voice trembling, fragile. Just in case I’m wrong. Just in case this is some illusion made of fear and longing.“Yes, it’s me,” she says, nodding with a soft, trembly smile. Her eyes shimmer, the first sign of tears blooming there.“No,” I say, stepping back. “You died. You’re dead. How are you, ” My chest rises, a gasp chokes out. “Did I... die? Did I get into an accident and die so fast I didn’t even know?”She laughs. Light and ringing, like bells in a church. That’s her laugh. That’s my sister’s laugh.“No, silly,” she says, brushing a hand throug

It’s not me. It’s Elena. The woman in the photo, her smile’s too wide, too open. Her body too loose, too at ease. Her hair whips in the wind, longer than it should be.But I cut my hair. I cut it short. So when did it grow out? Why does she look so much like Elena? Why don’t I recognize my own face?My chest tightens. My breathing turns shallow. My vision tunnels. Am I… Ray?Or have I slipped so far into Elena’s life that I can’t tell the difference anymore?I’m sleeping with her husband. I’m cooking in her kitchen. Cleaning her floors. Her son called me Mommy last night without thinking.What if Noah knows, and he’s just going along with it? What if he’s pretending I’m Ray, just to avoid breaking the illusion?Maybe I’m not Ray at all. Maybe I’ve become her.“Breathe, Ray.”I’m bent over, hands on my knees, gasping. Noah’s hand rubs slow circles on my back, grounding me.“What did you just call me?” I lift my head, squinting up at him. The sun blinds me, and it casts his face into sh

I feel so happy. I don't want to admit it, but maybe I’ve become a slut for Noah. I never meant to lose my mind like that, but last night? I completely gave in. Gave up every ounce of sense I had. And now, I feel amazing. He didn’t use protection, but thank God I’m already on the pill.Oh my God, I can’t stop smiling.“You’re in a good mood,” Milly says, eyeing me as she pours herself a cup of coffee. The scent of roasted beans wafts through the teachers’ lounge. It’s warm, quiet, the buzz of the vending machine humming in the background.She’s my best friend from high school, well, used to be. We reconnected when I applied for a job here. She already worked at the school. We’re not as close as we were before I left for New Orleans five years ago, but we’re… good. Familiar.“You’re glowing,” she says, joining me at the small round table where I’m eating lunch.“It’s nothing,” I say, grinning into my sandwich.“Peter must be treating you right.”My smile fades. I duck my head, suddenly

She nods. I rise, grab her hand, and together we head up the stairs. We stop in front of William’s door. As I pull out the key, she stares at me, frowning. “You weren’t kidding.”“I kid about a lot of things,” I whisper, sliding the key into the lock. “But not about this. Also, his lamp? Works just fine. That kid lied last night just to come ruin our moment.”She snorts, trying not to laugh. “Stop it, Noah. You can’t get territorial with a child.”“Who says?” I open the door slowly. William’s curled in bed, completely fine. Lights on. Breathing steady.I quietly close the door and twist the key again.“Don’t lock it,” she scolds, swatting my hand.I grab her by the waist. “All clear,” I whisper, pulling her close. “Now, where were we?”She lets out a laugh, but I cut it off with a searing kiss.Her arms wrap around my shoulders, fingers slipping into my hair. I groan into her mouth, losing control fast. The kiss

She’s staring at me. “Noah…” she shifts her weight on the couch, eyes narrowed. “Are you serious?”I want to say yes, right away, no hesitation. But I know Ray. She doesn’t want some offhand reply. This isn’t just about telling our parents we’re together. It’s about everything that could come after, rejection, judgment, maybe even hate. I don’t think my parents would turn on me for this, but they might not look kindly on Ray. And that matters to me.I reach for her hand and squeeze it gently.“Yes, Ray. I’m serious. We’re not doing anything wrong, nothing that needs to be hidden. We love each other. This isn’t impulsive. It’s real. It’s the truth. So why not let them know? I hate the way I have to hold myself back around my parents when you’re near.” I shift forward and hold her gaze with every sense of sincerity.“ I don’t want to keep us a secret. I want everyone to know.”She doesn’t smile. Her gaze doesn’t even settle on me. Her eyes are f