The girls chatted again about the places they wanted to see. It was a great way to kill time before take-off. Twenty minutes later, they were listening to the safety spiel. Dani only caught a few words here and there like emergency exits, oxygen masks, blah blah blah. She just wanted to open her hot romance novel and be swept away by some muscular alpha male. The more she thought about the guy in the book, the more she realized Zoe made a good point. Dani needed get past the manless life she was living. And this trip offered her the chance to let her guard down, to be wild and free, to have the adventure she deserved and desperately needed.
“He’d always been a man who followed
his head and not his heart. The heart was
just a bloody motor. The head was meant to drive”
- Mario Puzo
Chapter Three
Sergei Smirnov had dreaded having to attend this month’s family meeting more than any other. It wouldn’t be with just his family alone, but with the family of his betrothed as well. He hadn’t had a chance to meet this woman before as her father, a pakhan of a rival organization, had kept her secured in his compound. The topic of the meeting angered him but it was how things had always been done in mafia families. Marriage matches had never been made out of love. Marriages such as this one were intended to create loyalty. Since love offered no benefit in their world, it had no place here.
Men like Sergei didn’t have lasting relationships because they left a man vulnerable, and as the son of the current pakhan, weakness was not something one wanted or needed. He had known plenty of men that had loved a special woman and they had suffered horrendous deaths trying to keep those women safe. Seeing the lifeless bodies of beautiful, loyal women tortured until they could handle no more had always shaken him. He had never been tempted by love but had often wondered what it would be like to experience the heat and passion that was said to accompany a loving relationship. He didn’t feel he would ever know.
At the age of twenty-five, he lived by the code and wisdom his father had set many years ago – think with the head on your shoulders, not the one between your legs – and he had lived by those words, taking random women to his bed, promising them nothing. Most of the women knew the score and just enjoyed the moment they shared for what is was... a heated sexual encounter, often happening only once.
Sergei admitted that watching a woman’s head bob up and down on his cock as she sucked him off was exhilarating, the feel of her warm mouth gliding over his velvety shaft like a slice of heaven on earth. His cock throbbed now just thinking about it. With marriage on the tip of everyone’s tongue lately, he had started to wonder if, as the new pakhan, he could have love or, at the very least, learn to love this stranger he was sworn to be bound to.
Today, he was to meet the woman his father had chosen for him to marry, creating a union meant to strengthen the two most powerful mafia families in Russia. Sergei, being the eldest of the Smirnov boys, had the responsibility to join the families through marriage. Afterwards, the two families would unite their forces, each Pakhan stepping aside for Sergei to reign as Pakhan over the united families.
Sergei knew the honor he was being bestowed was a great one, and the first of its kind in mafia history. Having been an enforcer dealing out death to those who stepped out of line, went against the family, or a host of other unsavory things, he had handled it... with pride. It was a dark life to live but he did it. Loneliness was part of the job, allowing him to get things done without having to worry about retaliation against him through loved ones.
“Can I love a woman I don’t know?” he muttered. If he was looking for an answer, none came. It didn’t matter really; the marriage would happen no matter what he thought… or wanted. It had been decided and the pakhan’s word was law in the mafia world.
Reaching into the shower, Sergei set the water temperature to his liking and stepped into the warmth of the stream. Water cascaded over his taut muscles, relaxing him as it kissed his muscular abs. He hadn’t been with a woman in more than a week. That wasn’t like him at all but he had grown tired of being with random women. Part of him wanted more than the one-night stands he had grown accustomed to. The variety of women that shared his bed would thrill any man but Sergei had grown bored with it. He wanted more.
He yearned for a woman that would submit to his darkest desires, desires that blended pain with pleasure in the most erotic ways. His cock twitched with need as he thought of what he would do to such a woman. Wrapping his long fingers around his steely cock, he stroked himself forcefully. A welcome pressure began to build as his muscles quivered. He thrust his hardened shaft into his hand, images of a beautiful woman pleasuring herself dancing through his mind. The fire within him built to a raging crescendo and he thrust one final time, groaning as relief swept through his muscular frame. “Fuck!”
Grabbing a towel from the rack near the shower, Sergei dried himself off. Taking only a minute to glimpse at himself in the mirror, he returned to his room and dressed in his usual black suit. The black pants hugged his muscular thighs, revealing his perfect form to any who dared to look upon him. He was a powerful, brooding man with a chiseled jaw, able to easily instill fear in those who resisted him, but inside, he was kind and lighthearted; attributes that a man like him kept hidden deep within.
Making his way downstairs, he strode into the meeting room with his head held high. Showing weakness amongst men like this could be dangerous. Family could turn on each other in a heartbeat if someone got the bright idea to take control. Mafia men were like wolves living by a pack mentality.
“Father. Brother.” Sergei said, nodding to his family members as he took a seat at the table next to his father.
“Sergei, are you ready to meet your bride?” Mr. Smirnov asked in a deep voice.
“I am father,” Sergei replied, doing well to hide his hatred of the idea. “For the family, I will do what is necessary.”
“I’m sure she is beautiful, brother,” Stepan said, mockingly.
“Right,” Sergei said, his jaw clenching. “But that doesn’t matter. The family comes first, Stepan.”
“Stepan you must learn, as Sergei has, that family business comes before all else,” the Pakhan growled. “This is why you have been overlooked as my replacement… but your time to marry as I see fit will come.”
“Father, I...” Stepan began.
His father cut him off. “Enough. Our guests are arriving.” His gaze shifted to the entrance.
“Where there are friends, there is wealth”
- Titus Maccius Plautus
Chapter Four
“Who thought sitting on a plane for sixteen hours could be so damn exhausting?” Zoe grumbled.
The girls still had to endure the hour-long drive to the hotel in St. Petersburg. By the time they arrived, it was near the middle of the afternoon and they had yet to eat lunch. An hour later, they had managed to get checked in at the hotel and get settled into their room.
“Dani, I’m going to slip into the shower before we grab something to eat.” Zoe announced, tossing her bags on the bed and pulling out a fresh outfit.
“I’m next.” Dani said, taking in the view from their window. St. Petersburg was beautiful and the architecture was absolutely mesmerizing. “I can’t wait to hit the streets and see the sights.”
“I know,” Zoe yelled, nearly drowned-out by the spray of the shower. “But food first. No guy will give me the time of day with my stomach growling like a rabid beast.” She laughed.
“Hurry up!” Dani said, peeking into the shower. “You’re taking for freaking ever in there.” She quickly turning the hot water off.
“You bitch,” Zoe yelled, pressing her body against the wall in a failed attempt at avoiding the icy spray. “That’s so mean.”
“I told you to hurry,” Dani said. “It’s my turn.” Zoe bumped her hip against Dani as she toweled off, heading for the bedroom to dress. Pulling her long black hair into a bun, Dani stripped and jumped into the shower, ma
king sure to keep a watchful eye on the curtain in case Zoe returned for revenge.
Twenty minutes later, they made their way downstairs to the hotel bar and grill, quickly grabbing a table near a window that allowed a view of the gorgeous hotel gardens. A waiter approached, presenting each girl with a menu.
“What would you ladies like to drink?” he asked in perfect English.
“A glass of iced tea would be great.” Dani replied.
“Me too. And a couple of shots of vodka.” Zoe said with a wicked grin.
“Of course,” the waiter replied. “I’ll be back with your drinks in a moment, ladies.”
“Zoe, I’ve been thinking about the idea you suggested,” Dani said, glancing around the bar. “And I think we should go for it.”
“Really? Then we should head to a real club after dinner.”
Zoe’s sly smile and bubbly voice made Dani wonder what her friend’s wicked little mind was cooking up.
The waiter returned with their drinks, sitting them carefully on the table. “Are we ready to order?” he asked, retrieving a pen from his pocket.
Zoe gave Dani a strained look. “Could you recommend something for us?” Dani asked. “This is our first visit to Russia and we’d like to have a wonderful experience.”
“My pleasure,” the waiter said cheerfully. “We have a wonderful sautéed beef in cream sauce served with Smetana. I would also recommend you try our sweet blinis for dessert.”
“That sounds fantastic.” both girls said.
“If you need anything else, please let me know. My name is Adrik,” he said as he rushed off to place the order.
“We should make a toast to our trip and the hotties that will make it memorable.” Zoe said, picking up a shot of vodka.
Dani picked up the other shot glass. “We should.” They clinked their glasses together “To delicious men and new experiences.” Dani said.
The meal was as tasty as Adrik had said, and they devoured every last bite. The Blinis almost caused them to have a food orgasm; it was so darn good. They moaned with pure delight as the sweet taste assaulted their taste buds.
“And we thought chocolate was the bomb.” Zoe said, taking another bite of the decadent dessert, a moan escaping her lips.
“I know,” Dani said, licking her lips. “I’ve never tasted anything like it.”
Adrik returned with their bill and the girls thanked him for his recommendation. So far, their Russian experience was off to a grand start.
“Adrik, we’d like to go to a good bar or nightclub. Which one would you recommend?” Zoe asked.
“Oh. I’d head over to ‘The Pulse.’ It’s one of the best in the area.”
“Great,” Zoe said. “Thanks again.” They headed for the door and the first of many new adventures.
“Dance is the poetic baring
of the soul through motion.”
- Scott Nilsson
Chapter Five
Meeting the woman you are to marry shouldn’t be a surprise only weeks before the actual event. Katya, the only daughter of Igor Antonov, was a beautiful woman for sure. She had the body of a model – long legs, large breasts her father had obviously paid good money for – but what killed the whole package was the cold, heartless stare that met Sergei’s gaze. She no more had an interest in being a part of this charade than he did. They had been pleasant to one another as their families planned the festivities that would unite them, but pleasant was as far as things went.
Sergei didn’t want to marry Katya. He was certain of that. To be honest, he wanted out of the family business. Leaving the business wasn’t something that happened often, but it was possible. He had grown tired of dealing out death and having random loveless encounters. He yearned for a woman to warm more than his bed, someone that wanted to be with him for him and not the wealth and power of his family... or out of fear of what could happen if she denied him. He would never hurt a woman. Men? Sure! Women? Never.
After the horrid meeting of his betrothed and her family, along with hours of wedding talk, Sergei needed to unwind. She wasn’t an unattractive woman, but he felt nothing. There was no chemistry between them at all. He had hoped there would be some spark of want when he looked at her, but there wasn’t even a hint of desire.
In all honesty she didn’t appear to be any more interested in the marriage than he was. Maybe she already loved another. He wouldn’t be surprised if she did.
After a long day of meetings and discussions about how the merge of the families would work, he needed a drink and time away from the pakhan and his soon-to-be-wife, who was now taking up residence in his father’s home. The change in residence was to help them get to know one another before the big day. He’d do his part, but he’d stay at his home in the city to give her space.
Arriving at The Pulse, he parked near the entrance out of habit. In his line of work, it was best to be able to leave a scene quickly. He nodded at Ivan, the bouncer, as he strolled by. Ivan gave a quick nod in return. The waiting party-goers groaned and a few cursed when they saw him slip right in as they continued to wait.
“You just don’t know who I am. Do you?” he mumbled under his breath. He didn’t make a habit of throwing his weight around; that was the old way. He preferred to be noticed but not feared. Sometimes it was good to just fit in amongst the crowd; to feel normal.
“Sergei!” a familiar deep voice shouted from across the room.
Turning towards the voice, Sergei saw his brother, Stepan. “Hey man,” Stepan said. “I didn’t expect to see you here tonight. Not hanging around with the ball and chain?”
“No. Katya’s pretty enough but...” He shook his head. “Never mind. Why am I trying to explain anything to you?” He scanned the room and was immediately drawn to two girls dancing together among the throng of dancers. He couldn’t take his eyes off of them. His cock twitched in his pants as he watched the woman with long black hair, mesmerized by the achingly slow movements of her body, imagining her grinding against his pelvis. She was damn hot and he wanted her.
“What are you... oh... I see,” Stepan said with a laugh. “Found a tasty treat did you?”
“Shut up, asshole. I’m not dead or married… yet,” Sergei growled, heading for the dance floor. In a few strides, he was right beside the woman, quickly matching her rhythm. He could feel the material of her skirt whisper across his thighs tempting him to grasp her taught bottom. When his body touched hers, it felt like electricity pulsed wildly through his body. She turned around, a look of shock on her face until her eyes met his large chest. Her eyes slowly danced along the expanse of his sculpted body, upwards to his face and a devilish grin.
“What the hell!” she shouted above the music.
“Sorry,” he said, never taking his eyes from hers. “I just couldn’t resist dancing with such a beautiful woman, milaya moy.” There was something familiar about this woman. A familiarity he couldn’t quite place, but he sensed that he had met her before. Shaking off the feeling, he let his eyes enjoy a pleasurable taste of the sexy body before him.
“I see.” Zoe stopped dancing and elbowed her. It was obvious Zoe was reminding her of their agreement to have a Russian fling, so she decided to roll with it. “I’m Dani.”
“I’m Sergei. Can I buy you a drink?”
“I... “ Dani looked to Zoe but her friend had already moved away from them, dancing with some guy who didn’t seem to mind the unexpected dance partner. “Sure,” Dani said. “Why not!” She chewed on her lip, taking in the muscular body of the sexy beast of a man before her.
Sergei reached for her hand and she didn’t resist. At the bar, Sergei ordered a vodka on the rocks and looked at her. “What would you like?”
She looked at the bartender. “Make that two.” Sergei arched a brow, shocked she didn’t order a girly drink like most women.
They headed for a corner table tucked away behind a partition, allowing privacy to the users from the chaos of the club. She had no idea what she was doing a
lone with this stranger but he was hot as hell, and there were worse things she could be doing. They took a seat next to each other at the large table, eyeing each other. Dani sipped on her drink, loving the burn it offered.
“You’re an American. What brings you to St. Petersburg?” Sergei asked.
“Spring break vacation. My friend, Zoe, and I have wanted to visit Russia for a while now. A friend of ours told us so many wonderful things about Russia that we had to visit. It’s quite different from Houston.”
“I see. Would you care for a tour guide? I know all the hot spots.”
Dani looked at him, sipping her drink. Was she really ready to go through with a fling? “That would be nice… but I don’t know you.”
“We can get to know one another,” Sergei said, sliding his chair closer to hers. “I’d really like to get to know you, and what better way to experience Russia than with a local tour guide?”
Dani considered the idea. The guy was definitely hot, and his accent only intensified the attraction she was feeling. When he unexpectedly reached out to draw her closer, she held her breath, thoughts of his hands ravaging her flittering wildly in her mind.
“Okay,” Dani said, making her decision. “Tell me about yourself. If you’re going to be my tour guide, we should get better acquainted.” Her eyes traveled up and down his body, taking in the masculine beauty before her. His pants hugged every part of him, making it hard for her eyes not to travel to the bulge at his crotch. A smile formed on her lips as she gazed longingly at that crotch. It was remarkably large, and it had been a long time since she’d been with anyone.
Sergei cleared his throat and her eyes met his. Clearly, she had been caught checking out his package. A blazing heat crept across her cheeks.
“Like what you see?” he asked, his voice deep and sexy.
My Russian Hero Page 3