by Amaya Black
A tap came on my window and I found Nova standing there looking at me like I was crazy. Rolling the window down, I cracked a smile. Her caramel skin looked sun kissed; it was as if her skin had on a bronzer from the Gods. I was jealous.
"Girl...a Fiesta?"
"Well...this is what the insurance company had me covered for until my damn car is repainted. Hopefully, the end of the week."
"So...it's been a hell of a week huh?" She was biting her lip and trying to keep from laughing.
I cocked an eyebrow. "Bitch..."
"Don't bitch me...especially since I have this!"
She pulled out a blunt and I rolled my eyes. "Get in!"
Giggling, she bounced to the other side of the car and got in. She pulled a lighter out of her tights and started burning the blunt immediately. I wasn't even going to ask where she'd gotten weed from.
"Since when do you smoke?"
"I figured....with all the shit you had going on this would be better than wine."
"Truth," I replied. "I don't even like weed. But....I need to be calm and relaxed. Where's my baby daddy at?"
"Hopefully getting that bitch completely out my house," Nova stated with some bass in her voice.
"Your house?"
She starting puffing on the blunt and tried holding the smoke in; but she started coughing, immediately. She passed it over to me for my turn. The smell of marijuana instantly began to fill the car.
"Yes, my house. So, he yah baby daddy now?"
Shooting her look, I pulled the smoke into my lungs filling them. I held it for a moment and then released it into the atmosphere into the shape of an O. Nova rolled her eyes.
"Well, I didn't climb on top of myself and get pregnant," I muttered.
"I know," she murmured softly.
"Stop. Don't feel bad for me. I knew what I was doing with him...I should have waited but I just never thought I'd get pregnant. But Alexandra was the best thing to ever happen to me."
"Let's plan a girl's trip," Nova said suddenly.
"With what money! That's kind of why I'm here....Valentin and I need to talk about something. He had a contract he like wants me to sign. And I think I have the Feds breathing down my neck...so...I'm not only broke but I'm-"
"Fucked," Nova began to giggle.
I couldn't help it. The weed had kicked in and I felt light as air and for some reason that became one of the funniest things, I'd ever heard her say. My sides began to become uncomfortable from the strain of my laughing and finally I was able to stop.
"I'll pay. Liam has me set up with everything. Money isn't a big deal anymore," she stated in a matter of fact way.
I peered past her and looked out at the mansion after I stabbed out what was left of the blunt. It had gone quickly.
"I can't believe you robbed him and yall are in love!"
"Trust me, I'm waiting for the other shoe to drop. But, somehow we work and he's protective of the kids. I don't think Yara is ever going to view men the same," Nova said throwing her head back. "But she trust Liam and Desmond thinks he poops rainbows."
I turned my body to face Nova and leaned against the seat. "I'm still so fucking sorry for what happened to Yara. Capone was a piece of shit...I think every day what if he'd set his sights on Lexie."
Nova looked over but shook it away. "You didn't know he was trafficking women. If it hadn't been for Liam and Valentin....God, I probably never would have seen her again. She would have been just another missing and ignored black girl in America."
A shiver went through me at her words and I knew they held so much truth. Black women and black girls were always disappearing, especially in Chicago. They became like whispers on the wind, never to be heard from again.
"I'm still so sorry," I whispered.
"Doesn't matter...Capone won't hurt another girl ever again," my best friend reached over and grabbed my hand. "Now...back to what in the hell I was talking about. Vacation...if we could go any where in the world, where would it be?"
"I have no idea," I said.
"What about Paris?"
"Sounds crowded," I frowned.
"Only you would think the most romantic city in the world was crowded," she shook her head.
"I'd prefer some where more secluded," I shrugged.
There was suddenly sounds and commotions ringing through the car. Someone had arrived in a hurry and they swerved around my car. A flash of black caught my eyes and I realized that it was Valentin's Lambo pulling in at a reckless speed.
Glancing at Nova with my hand on the door, I murmured, "Guess I better go talk to my baby daddy."
She chuckled and we exited at the same time. As we closed the doors behind us, Valentin was stepping out and the sight of him caused me to stop in my tracks. A loud gasp escaped from my mouth. Blood was covering his shirt; the crisp white shirt was soaked and sticking to his chest, clinging like a second skin.
We locked eyes and a sneer appear on his face.
Fuck, I thought.
Chapter16
Valentin
It had happened in an instant.
One moment, I'd been helping Katia out of the car about to take her up to her new apartment in the high rises that Liam and I owned. We'd been laughing about the waiter from dinner and then she'd stopped to admire the view.
"Valentin, thank you," she said suddenly.
"For what?"
"For this!" She held out her hands in front of her as if she were framing the building in a camera's view. "That room at your cousin's was getting boring and quite frankly, it was depressing. There wasn't enough sunlight. Here there will be plenty."
Shaking my head, I had went to close the door on the Lamborghini when out of nowhere I heard the unmistakable roar of a motorcycles engine. The sound seemed to burn its way into my skull as I looked up and shots began to ring out.
Katia turned to look...
In a flash it was over.
She was in my arms, her blood spilling everywhere, making rivers on the pavement. I began to holler for someone to call for emergency services as screams of panic and fear filled my ears.
All I could do was sit there and stare down at Katia. She tried to speak but blood had begun to gurgle out of her mouth.
"Shh," I offered, confused about what she would be trying to tell me.
"Cahh-onner," she'd forced out with her last breath.
I watched the lights go out in her eyes. This hadn't been a coincidence. This had been a message from Viktor. That he could touch me and anyone in my vicinity. He was coming for me and I wouldn't be able to see him coming.
I waited for the paramedics to arrive; my shirt soaked with Katia's blood. The cops questioned me on the scene but one of the officers knew me because he was on the Bratva's pay roll and I was able to leave the scene.
I'd called Liam and explained the situation immediately. He sounded shocked and there was a tremble running through his voice as he repeatedly asked me if I was okay. He was more worried about my wellbeing than I was.
Pushing through traffic, I made it to the mansion at breakneck speed. I felt shell shocked, as the events continued to play over and over in my head. I swerved to avoid a bright green Ford Fiesta sitting in the driveway.
The moment the I laid eyes on Astrid, something primal roared to life inside of me. She had been calling me back to back and now she'd shown up here. She seemed to cringe at the sight of me and at the same moment, Liam came rushing down the steps.
"Valentin, Jesus Christ!" He exclaimed.
He embraced me and I let him, but my eyes never strayed from Astrid. When he stepped back, Nova who'd been standing Astrid's side stepped forward with a weary look on her face. "Val, are you okay?"
"Katia's dead,” I said simply my eyes never leaving Astrid's face. "Viktor's handy work."
"I'll fix some tea," Nova's voice full of concern comforted my ears. The maternal aspect of her personality was one of her more endearing traits but all I could focus on was Astrid. Why was she here?
Where was my daughter? As if sensing my thoughts, she cleared her voice.
"I wanted to talk to you but you wouldn't answer the phone," her eyes roamed my body. "Are you okay...were you hurt?"
"As if you'd care if I was," I spit out bitterly.
"You know what... you've been a real pain in my ass lately," Astrid through back. "But Alexandra knows about you now and if she were to hurt, Valentin Safaryan, then I would hurt."
That omission shocked me to my core. My Little Star had feelings after all. Lexie was her weakness under all that armor she wore. Just as I had predicted, she had come running. I snapped to Nova.
"I would love some tea," I said.
She nodded and we all ventured inside, with Astrid trailing behind. My feet seemed to echo on the wood of the hardwood floor and even the tile in the kitchen. I was heading to the guest house that had been my usual home.
I'd only moved into the mansion on a more regular basis because the rooms in the mansion were easier to secure than the guest house. Katia was dead now, so it no longer mattered.
Flinging the doors open to the guest house, I heard Astrid calling out to me to wait up, but I didn't stop. The clothes were beginning to make me nauseous. The smell of my stepmother’s blood was beginning to overwhelm me and I needed to get it off me as quickly as possible.
The clothes came off my body and I could feel Astrid starring almost as soon as the door clicked behind her. I almost jumped out of my skin when I felt the warmth of her hands on my back. Her fingers touched at a few of scars that marred my back, scars that I tried to forget were there some days.
"Why are you here, Astrid?"
I peered at her over my bare shoulder. I watched her lick at her lips as if I'd caught her in a daydream of some sort. She was enjoying the view.
"I...."
"Spit it out, don't waste my time, Little Star."
I turned and we locked eyes. She wanted to say the words and I wanted to hear them. God, I was getting hard at the thought of it. She just needed to say it.
"I'll sign the contract, Valentin. I'll agree to whatever sick shit you have planned for me."
Her eyes seemed to brim with tears, but she closed them to keep the tears from dropping. I admired Astrid. She was strong willed, but I was going to enjoy breaking her in.
"Don't cry, Little Star," I leaned down and whispered.
"I'm going to hate you for this," she whispered back.
"But you'll enjoy letting me ruin you," I licked her ear lobe and pulled her in close. "Take these off, now."
"What!" She exclaimed. "Now?"
I growled. "I won't ask again Astrid. Take the clothes off."
Her pretty lips actually quivered, but she tilted her head up in defiance and peeled the all black ensemble from her body. Proudly, she stood in deep brown satin brow and matching lace panties. Saying nothing, I had her bend over the couch.
Her ass was taught, and she looked back to see what I was doing behind her.
"Eyes forward," I demanded.
"No," she said.
I growled and instantly, my hand lashed out and spanked her. A soft sigh escaped from her mouth. I was just getting started.
"You will learn to obey me," I said.
"I haven't signed anything yet," she stood up and turned around.
"But you will."
I pulled her in close and for a few moments we simply starred each other down. There was a challenge happening between us.
The heat coming from both of our bodies demanded that fuck.
It was plain and simple.
Taking her by the wrist she squirmed trying to get away. "Are you taking me to your Red Room, Valentin. I'm not ready for that?"
"Wait...have you been with someone before in the BDSM community?"
She rolled her eyes and shrugged. "No. I read a lot of weird stuff."
"Oh," I said and for some reason that delighted me.
Naturally, Astrid had been with other men just as I had been with other women. But the thought of another men torturing her made my blood want to boil.
"I'm just taking you to the shower," I said.
"Okay, a shower I can handle."
The guest house contained two bedrooms and a bathroom. My red room was kept elsewhere, however, Astrid wasn't ready for that just yet. For now, I would get her use to spankings. It was one of my favorite punishments.
Adjusting the water temperature, I watched as Astrid stood shyly back. I came over and eased her bra straps down and took in the sight of her. Her breast were so much fuller than they had been on her body when I'd first seen them. Turning her, I pushed her against the sink of the bathroom and eased her underwear down. As they inched closer to the floor, I followed.
She looked down on me with wide eyes.
My hands covered her thighs and slowly I rubbed them. I noted that blood was covering my hands, but I couldn't stop touching her. There was an overpowering need to make her come with just my mouth.
Standing up, I eased her onto the top of the sink, in between the space of the HIS and HERS sinks. At that moment I didn't care what objects were out of place. The only thing that needed to occupy the space was Astrid's very voluptuous ass.
"What are you doing to me?" She asked.
"What do you think...you're no longer a virgin," I stated.
She threw back her head and laughed. The sound caused my dick to tighten. I needed to be inside of her, but not yet.
"Not since some Russian boy..."
I silenced her by diving in between her legs. She became bent like a pretzel and all she could do was hold on for dear life. The heat from her body warmed face as my tongue darted out to taste the electric heat of her.
The moment my tongue touched her pussy, she cried out.
"Valentin!"
I looked up but she forced my head back down.
"Don't stop," she cried. "Fuck I need this!"
That was all the motivation she needed. I began to kiss Astrid's lips as I forced her legs apart harder and further. She was clean shaven, no hair in sight. Her juices began to coat my face and my beard that was growing back in, but I didn't care. This took me right back to where we had left off all those years ago. For months I had only been allowed to eat her out until I finally had talked her into trying sex for the first time.
I stopped my machinations then.
"I’m going to fuck you now, Astrid. It's probably going to hurt...but I won't stop. I'm not going to use protection. I'm not going to be gentle. You need to know that..."
Her eyes slowly opened, a blissed out look covered her face. Her skin had turned flush from our activity and her blond hair was in disarray. Astrid quite literally looked like the sexiest woman on the planet right now.
My hand instantly went to my cock and I began to work it over in my hand. Slowly, I pulled on my member ready to slide into her tight and waiting entrance. Astrid's eyes had become hooded and I knew she wanted nothing more than to be fucked. Slowly, her hands danced around her nipples and then slid further south. She began to play with her pussy. Once single finger darted inside before she pulled it out and licked her juices from her finger.
"Fuck me...hard," she said simply.
It sent me over the edge. Pulling her to the edge of the counter, we locked eyes. Hovering as low as I dared and my hand on my cock, I teased around her soaking wet entrance. Astrid took that moment to pull me down and just when I thought she was going to kiss me, she began to lick her juices from my face.
"I'm not the same little virgin you knew five years ago, now stop fucking teasing me and fuck me," she whispered.
On her words, I rammed into her hard. She moaned so loudly it drowned out the whirring sound of the air of the air conditioner cooling the house and the falling water from the shower. It had started to become steamy and I watched the mirrors become cloudy behind Astrid. The mirror began to sweat just as I began to build up a tempo between her body.
Astrid's legs had wrapped themselves around me and her he
els had started to dig into my ass. I couldn't believe I was inside of body again after years of being away from her. It felt so right and so familiar.
That dark part of my brain began to take over. It seemed to hum inside of my skull.
Make her hurt, just a little, my brain spoke to me.
Astrid had thrown her head back in ecstasy, leaving her breast pert and exposed. They looked ripe and ready to be picked like a low hanging berry. Before I could stop myself, I reached down and claimed one of her nipples with my mouth while continuing to pound over and over and over into. When the sensitive flesh was in my mouth, I began to suck gently at first and then without warning, I began to bite slightly.
Astrid moaned loudly and gripped my head.
Other women that I had tried this with had broken before my eyes.
They had screamed and wanted to run away. Begged me to stop because even the slightest bit of pain had been too great for them to handle.
But Astrid seemed to be embracing it.
I eased up on biting her flesh and she brought her head forward and full on kissed me on the mouth. It was then I felt the pressure building up at the bast of my skull. My climax was imminent.
"I'm so close," Astrid said.
Deny her, my brain whispered again.
I picked up the paced of my strokes that had slowed slightly. Sweat was beginning to bead down my face and I pounded over and over again into her pussy. With a roar, I came inside of her and stepped away.
She seemed confused. "What..."
"Maybe next time."
I smiled feeling cocky as hell. Damn, after the day I'd been having, Astrid had just pulled all the tension out of my body. I was grateful but she needed to know that her punishments were just getting started.
"Wow, you really just going to do that to me?"
I said nothing and stepped into the shower.
Astrid would live.
She wouldn't come until I told her she could.
She was mine to control now.
She was my captive.
Chapter 17
Astrid
A week went by before I even realized it. I had signed Val's contract that allowed him access to not only Lexie but my body as well. However, he hadn't touched me since the night I'd agreed to sign the contract in the first place. I'd been sleeping in the main bed room of the guest house and he'd taken the couch in the living room.