Ava"What are you doing, Malysh?" Nikolai asks, his voice low yet curious as he watches me stack pillow after pillow in the space between us.The corner of my mouth pulls downward, barely sparing him a glance. “Isn't it obvious? I'm building a barrier” I reply simply, reaching for another pillow.Nikolai leans back against the headboard, the mattress crinkling softly under his movements. His gaze never leaves mine as he watches me effectively build the only thing I could come up with last minute to serve as a barrier.“And why exactly do you need a barrier, Solnyshko? Especially one made from such flimsy building material" He says, eyeing said flimsy building material.His comment shouldn't bother me half as much as it does and yet it does.I release a puff of air, tucking the stray strands from my bun to the back of my ear before shooting him a sharp look.“If you must know I intend for there to be some sort of distance between us tonight. As long as this barrier is in place, there
AvaThe bed is warm when I stir awake. I instinctively reach out my hand, only to be met with the softness of the pillow barrier I'd created last night and - Surprise Surprise - an empty bed.I frown, sitting up, my eyes surveying the expanse of the mattress noting the rumpled sheets and the faint scent of cinnamon clinging to the linen, the only evidence that he had been here.I force out a sigh, running my fingers through my now tousled hair as the weight of crushing disappointment settles heavily in my chest. I swallow hard against the lump forming in my throat.He's left me before; why did I think this time would be any different…The sound of a door creaking open and slamming shut behind me stops my thoughts trail, and I whip my head towards the source of the noise.Broad shoulders fill the doorway of the walk-in closet as Nikolai steps into view, every gloriously scarred and tattooed inch of his torso upwards on full display. The pyjama bottoms he'd worn last night to bed are n
AvaNikolai scatter kisses down the side of my breasts then lower, lathering my stomach with the same attention. He hooks his fingers around the waistband of my shorts and my body tightens with anticipation.Nikolai's mouth had felt divine between my legs, and as much as I wanted to deny it, I loved every second he spent tasting me until my throat turned raw from the intensity.I want to feel that again. He'd been so perfect, so gentle with me. I study the way his eyes shut and his nostrils flare with each steadying breath he draws.“Go on a date with me tomorrow night"I think I'm dreaming until his voice breaks through the fog clouding my thoughts. I pry my eyes apart, looking down at him and meeting his gaze.“A date?”He nods then nips light at my hip bone, sending a violent shiver rippling through my entire body. “Yes, a date”, he murmurs, trailing lower.“Why?”He glances up at me briefly, his dark green eyes piercing into me in a way that makes my chest feel all tight and achy
Ava ( Seven years old)I'm not going home.Ava realises this as she sits on the floor of what appears to be an empty cell-like room, except the walls are pretty and only the floor is damp.She tilts her head back against the wall, drawing her knees to her chest and wrapping her arms around them as she silently hoped that the men who'd brought her here would finally let her go. Although she doubted they would.It had been over an hour now, and the men who'd taken her were nowhere to be found. They had shoved her into the darkness and left, leaving her with only their warnings of quietness to keep her company.Then men who'd taken her from her ballet studio reminded her of the men she'd sometimes seen hanging around in her father's office. Her father had called them business associates and told her that they were nice people with hard faces, but all Ava saw when she noticed the men pull up in front of her studio was their hard faces. She shivered, but it was not from the cold. The room
AvaTomorrow arrives sooner than I expect, and before I know it, it’s already 4:43. With just barely twenty minutes left to spare, I stare at my reflection in the mirror, wondering if I'd picked a good enough dress for my date with Nikolai.When I woke up I was simply met with a text message from Nikolai telling me to pick between the two dresses he'd selected for me to wear on our date. I, of course, had no idea which to choose and had called Cara to help me.The soft lavender dress I'd chosen out of the two dresses now clings to my figure, highlighting my curves with just the right amount of elegance and sluttiness. Not that I wanted any amount of sluttiness, but Cara insisted that a bit of sluttiness is okay for a first date and a lot of sluttiness is okay for a second, which was why the Lavender dress would "do excellently. Her words, not mine.Twenty minutes after our video call ended I still have no idea what she means by that.My hands smooth over the front of my dress, admirin
Hello, dear readers I wanted to let you know that I won’t be uploading for the next couple of days as my final exams begin on the 20th and will end on the 30th of this month. These exams are an important part of my final grade and assessment before I leave school, so I need to give them my full attention. I’m truly sorry for any inconvenience this might cause, but I promise to return on the 1st of February with new and exciting chapters. Thank you for your understanding and support—it means so much to me. See you soon ❤️
Ava“Mr. And Mrs Volkov, We've been expecting you”, the restaurant manager greets us as soon as we step into The Azure Reserve, his tone polished, yet the tremble in his voice betrays the professional demeanour he's going for. He extends a slight bow, then lifts his gaze to meet Nikolai's. “It’s such an honour to have you dining with us tonight. The rooftop has been reserved for your privacy as per your request, Mr Volkov.”It has? I glance back at Nikolai, my gaze roaming his face, searching for a hint of awareness, but his expression remains impassive as always, giving nothing away while mine is wide-eyed.When Nikolai told me we were eating at the Azure Reserve, I assumed that we would be eating in the main restaurant alongside the other patrons. Maybe we'd be given a private booth since he was the owner but that was as far as I expected.Nikolai's hand on my waist remains steady as we follow the manager through the luxurious dining area.Compared to reality, The pictures I’ve seen
Nikolai"Why did you decide to open a restaurant?"Ava's question blindsides me a little, even though I expected her curiosity to surface eventually.What happened thirteen years ago was something I never thought I'd be able to tell her and yet I did. Her reaction was nothing like I thought it would be. It came softly, and she looked at me with an understanding I couldn’t quite grasp, gently holding my hand.When I met her gaze, the only emotion reflected was a quiet curiosity that had me wanting to tell her everything she asked. Not a trace of pity in sight.I lean back in my chair, my fingers tapping the table softly as I meet her eyes."My mother loved to cook." I say, "She wanted to open a restaurant when she was younger and if she hadn't married my father I know she would've"Her expression softens, and I feel the slightest sting in my chest. When I was younger my mother was my haven. She was the one person my brother and I could rely on and the only person to show me what love w
AvaHe wasn't wearing a condom. I let him inside me without wearing a condom. Panic flares in my chest, and my body goes completely motionless on top of him.Fuck.Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.How could I have been so caught up in what we were doing that I didn't even notice until he mentioned it?"Ava" My name on his lips, is firm yet soothing. "You're shaking."Am I?I hadn't noticed."I'm not on birth control. I haven't been on it since I was sixteen."My gaze drops to where we're connected, and a shiver sweeps through me."Shit," He grinds out harshly, flexing his hand around my hips. "Are you okay with this? Do you want me to get a condom?"Did I?My pussy flutters and I let out a small whimper. I'm almost all the way around him. I could move and have him go fetch a condom. But I don't.Because I don't want to.I don't want anything between us.I only want him.I sink further. His hold on my hips tightens and a low hiss drags straight from inside him."Ava baby, I do not think I ca
NikolaiNo words. Absolutely, none can describe how perfect my wife looks above me.She looks just like a dream. Straight out of wonderland and the sight is one I commit to memory.Brown curls brush against her shoulder, framing a face that can bring any man to his knees. Desire burns brightly in her eyes and I grip her hips tighter because it is all I can do to keep from pushing her into the mattress and fucking her till I am all she can feel for days.The electricity between us is impossible to ignore. I want to feel her, taste her. To hell with the damn documentary. Who needs it when I have my perfect wife sitting in my lap begging to touch me?I sweep my thumb over her plump bottom lip and her tongue peeks out, brushing against the pad. A deep groan leaves me as I push it past her lips and she takes my thumb into her mouth in one simple drag, sucking it, and that's all it takes for my brain to short-circuit.My sanity is hanging by a thread, a thread almost as thin as the thong I
Ava"My exhibition is coming up in a few days" I tell Nikolai a few days later when we're cuddled up under the sheets watching ... well, I'm not exactly sure what we're watching.It was Nikolai's turn to pick a movie for movie night and he'd chosen a documentary about how wolves communicated in the wild. And so far, I wasn't the biggest fan.The narrator's voice reminded me of a bored substitute teacher trying to explain quantum physics to a room full of toddlers. Monotone, dry, and somehow both sleepy and aggressive at the same time.Nikolai, on the other hand, seemed totally and completely invested in every word he had to say, so I was willing to put up with it because, honestly, it was kind of cute seeing him so focused like this. I don't think I've seen him invested in a lot of things.He hums in response, fingers lazily stroking my spine. “Friday, right? The one your school’s hosting?”I nod, "Mhmmm. It's my final semester showcase and it's kind of a big deal. Everyone's going
AvaNikolai looks surprised by my presence when he sees me. I stay by the entrance of the library back room, unmoving, my hands limp at my side while I take in the scene before me.Ivan left me here with a simple tap on my shoulder after telling me not to be too surprised by what I see when I enter the backroom and to be patient with him no matter what he says because he is not going to want to see me."I think I can handle him", I'd said, to which Ivan simply shrugged and walked away.To be honest, I hadn't fully grasped what he meant by any of the things he said, but now, as I stare at the sight before me, I understand completely why he thought a warning was necessary before I stepped in. This place is as big as Nikolai's office, maybe bigger. The entire room is filled with boxes, and from the looks of things, I'd say that this place is some sort of storage unit. The air smells like aged scotch mixed with dust but not to the point that it's suffocating. An empty bottle lies a few f
AvaDuring the next couple of days, Nikolai and I somehow fall into a routine, finding a balance despite everything else.In the mornings, He gets up first while I pretend to be asleep (well, mostly pretend) until he comes out of the bathroom, freshly showered with water dripping from his hair everywhere.He'd get dressed for work while I relished the feeling of the morning sun on my face for only a second before I felt his presence and kiss on my cheek, followed by whispered words in Russian that I do not understand but know they mean well.When he leaves, it's my turn to get ready. I start by getting up from bed and heading over to the bathroom where I shower and brush my teeth, followed by the occasional humming of a tune or two. When I'm finished with my shower I get dressed in either my painting clothes or casual loose attire. My exhibit is coming up soon and I seem to be spending most of my time either in the studio at home or with Professor Bennett at school, setting up for
Hi everyone it has come to my attention that I have never really posted an updating schedule for this book. Now when I first started this book, I used to update everyday. That was because my schedule was more free back then as compared to now. I have a full time job and a part time job in addition to writing and I also attend classes most days during the week. I love writing and because this book has a special place in my heart since it is my first book chapters have been limited to 4 times a week. This will help me give you quality chapters and at the same time keep me from burning out. Of course there will be times where my week will be free and I'll be able to update five or even six times in a week. Thank you for understanding and I'm always available to answer any of your questions ❤️
AvaI don't know what I expect Nikolai's reaction to be after I drop that little piece of information. Anger perhaps. Maybe disappointment. Maybe even both.My hands are still looped around his neck. I'm still touching him, so I guess maybe that's a good sign that he doesn't feel either of the emotions I previously thought he might.Realising I'd spoken too soon, he reaches up and unloops my arms from around his neck, slowly sliding them down until they are by my side and the illusion of touching him is no longer within reach, replaced now by his strong hold around my wrists.“Nikolai…” I start to say. To apologise for not telling him but he stops the words from completely spilling from my lips with a simple squeeze of my wrists.“How long have you known?”It's impossible for me to guess what's going on in his mind at this point. His tone doesn't hold any malice or a trace of anger, just an irrefutable calm laced with a bit of surprise and curiosity.“A while,”He doesn't look convinc
NikolaiMy wife steps out of the shower as soon as I shut the door. She's wet but not in the way I'd like. Not in the way I've thought about for the last nine hours. Tiny droplets glisten her skin, drawing me to the way they fall to the floor despite the towel she currently has wrapped around her body like a fucking armour."Solnyshko..."She gasps before the name is fully out of my lips, spinning around. She sucks in a ragged breath when she sees me. Those big, beautiful brown eyes of hers are wide open, scanning me from head to toe like she can't believe I'm standing in front of her while her fingers clutch tightly to the edge of the plush fabric.“You're back," She breathes, surprised.It's only three o'clock, and considering I stated in my note that I'd be back later in the evening, I can guess why she hadn't expected me to be back so soon.Truth be told, I'm not supposed to be back so early but there's only so long a man can go without seeing his wife, and not want to put a bulle
TRIGGER WARNING: MENTION OF SEXUAL ABUSE APPEARS IN THIS CHAPTER. TREAD CAUTIOUSLY OR SKIP THIS CHAPTER ALTOGETHER ❤️ YOUR MENTAL HEALTH MATTERS.