LOGINI 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







