by K. J. Dahlen
“You were a lucky man to have her on your side.” Bella nodded.
Nikoli agreed, “Yes, I was. Now I need you to help me reach our daughter. I want to be the father she deserves. But you know her best. Me she doesn’t know from Adam and that’s going to bother her a lot. I can’t just tell her she belongs to me and let that be good enough. I’m old enough and set in my own ways but I’m willing to learn to be her father. I can offer her so much if she’ll just give me the chance to know her.”
Bella’s heart was slowly breaking. He might want a chance with his daughter but she got the feeling he wanted nothing of her. She still loved him so very much. Every after ten years without him, she still felt very strongly about him. Sighing, she took a deep breath and steeled her heart. She wouldn’t think about this until she had to. She wouldn’t show him or anyone her pain. She could do that much. “If we get her back I’ll do what I can,” she promised.
“Thank you,” he whispered.
His low tone made her tremble. He affected her too much d for her to stay too close to him. Bella set her drink on the table and got to her feet. “I think I’ll try and get some sleep. Tomorrow will be either the new beginning we all need or the end of life as I know it.”
Nikoli got up and pulled her into his arms. “I promise it will be a new beginning. We’ll get Malina back and settle some old debts. Tomorrow the only one losing anything will be Danton.”
Bella shook her head. “There are no promises for tomorrow. Fate will have her own way. All we can do is try.” She broke out of his embrace and walked down the hall.
~* * * *~
Nikoli heard her steps and knew she went not to his bedroom but to the guest room. He sighed and finished his drink in one mouthful. Then he drained her glass as well and walked over to the bar. Rinsing the glasses, he put them back on the bar and shut the light off as he walked to his own bedroom. Before he opened the door, he glanced at the guestroom door. He wanted to go in and drag her to his room but he didn’t. He silently opened his door and went inside.
He laid down and as tired as he was, he couldn’t sleep for a long while. Emotions that he didn’t want warred inside him. He kept seeing Bella’s heartbreak in her eyes.
A few hours later, his door opened silently and Nikoli came awake instantly. He reached for his gun on the nightstand. He had guards but being Bratva had taught him to always protect first. He waited in the dark as a shadow came over to his bed. The moonlight coming through his window shone on her face for a brief moment before she approached the bed and he relaxed as he recognized Bella. He silently placed the gun back onto his stand.
Without saying a word, she found him staring at her. Then she took off her t shirt and stood there waiting for him to either invite her to his bed or reject her.
Nikoli pushed back the covers and held out his hand to her.
Bella crawled into bed with him and straddled his hips. “I need you.”
Nikoli growled. Reaching up, he cradled the back of her head and leaning up, he crushed her lips with his. He felt the surge of heat rush to his cock and groaned with hunger, as he tasted her. He felt the heat from her core soaking his cock and he almost dry fucked her.
He felt her wetness and he knew he couldn’t wait. Slipping down along her jaw, he spread kisses down along her neck and chest. When he licked and nibbled down to her nipples, it was her turn to groan as he bit down gently on her nipple.
His hands slipped down to her core and he could feel her heat then he was guiding his cock into her slit. Plunging his hips forward, he buried himself deep inside her. He filled her up in one stroke.
Rolling his hips, he filled her up again and again.
She began to chant, “Please don’t stop. Please don’t stop. Oh, my god…”
Nikoli grinned at her response. He flipped her on her back and pounded into her. She felt so good, almost caressing as his cock filled her warm wet depths. Again, he began to lose his control and he couldn’t get it back. But at this moment he didn’t care. She felt too good to stop and he couldn’t do that either.
He felt the adrenaline rush through his body and he knew he was going to come but he didn’t want to until she came. He moved his hand down and found her button and the moment he touched it she climaxed while screaming his name. He felt her walls tighten on his cock and that was enough to bring him over the edge.
He roared her name and flooded her insides with his essence. For a moment, it seems as if they were frozen in time, then time began again and he collapsed on top of her. She wrapped her arms around his neck and held him to her. When she finally allowed him to slide down next to her, Nikoli gathered her close.
She started to wiggle herself free but he wouldn’t let her go. After a few more minutes of her wiggling, he slapped her bare ass and told her to go to sleep. Bella settled down and soon, they were both sleeping, wrapped in each other’s arms.
~* * * *~
Nikoli groaned as he felt movement beside him. It was barley daylight and he felt as if he hadn’t slept all night. He felt tiny kisses being spread all over his chest and then he caught a faint scent in the air. Her scent. His Bella. She was here with him.
He’d thought last night had been a dream. It hadn’t seemed real the first time they’d made love, or even the second time but this time he was awake and he knew this was no dream. His body was on fire for her and when her lips kissed his nipple, he flew into action. Throwing her gently on her back, he pounced.
His lips smothered hers and his hands gripped her hips. His cock was already hard and he knew exactly where to go. When he surged into her core, he groaned at her wetness. She was just as ready as he was it seemed and for that, he was grateful. Their coupling was hard and fast but they didn’t mind.
Nikoli was a little on the brutal side but Bella only moaned as he took her. His control had snapped the moment she licked his nipple and he had no excuse for what he was doing to her. She screamed when she flew over the edge and he growled with pleasure as he lost himself in her body.
Sweat dripped off his skin and splashed on her chest as they both recovered from the intense coupling. Nikoli groaned as he moved to her side and flopped on his back. “Oh my god, woman are you trying to kill me?” he whispered.
“No, that’s the last thing I want.” She giggled.
Nikoli leaned up on his elbow and gazed at her. His grin was special to her until he noticed the fresh pink bruises he had given her. “What the fuck?” he whispered. He gazed over her body and sighed. “I’m sorry—”
Bella placed her hand over his mouth. “Please don’t be sorry. I’m not. I needed that as much as you did.”
Nikoli raised an eyebrow at her statement. Removing her hand, he kissed her fingers and said, “Just for the record, I don’t usually leave bruises on the women I sleep with.”
“I wear these bruises proudly.” She turned her gaze to the window and noted the sunlight streaming into the room. Glancing over at the clock, she groaned. “I suppose we better get up for the day.”
Nikoli wanted to say something but couldn’t find the words. Instead, he sat up on his side of the bed and got to his feet. Walking around to her side, he held out his hand. When she put her hand in his he led her to the bathroom and started the shower. Helping her inside, he watched as she bathed herself. When she was done, he took the soap from her and ran it slowly over his own skin. He watched her eyes follow his movements and he smiled slightly as she watched him soap up his cock.
Stepping up under the warm water, he allowed the water to cascade over his body. Then he reached for the shampoo. Squirting an amount into his hands, he turned to step behind her. Then he motioned for her to wet her hair.
Bella did as he requested and stepped back.
Nikoli applied the shampoo to her hair and began massaging her head. Working the shampoo in, he heard her soft moan and felt this body respond. When she stepped under the water again Nikoli moved to whisper in her ear, “If you don’t want to get fucked agai
n, please get out of the shower while you still have a chance to leave. Otherwise, I’m not going to guarantee anything.”
Bella felt his cock digging into her ass and she moaned again. She didn’t move and after a long moment, Nikoli didn’t give her an opportunity to leave again. Instead, he pushed her hands against the tiled wall and he bent her forward. Then he slammed into her from behind.
She gasped but didn’t stop him and he wouldn’t have let her if she did try. His control was all but gone by the fourth stroke and by the seventh stroke, he was reaching around in front of her, pinching and playing with her wet nipples. It didn’t take her long after this to lose herself in ecstasy and he followed her over the edge three strokes later.
The water was cooling by the time Nikoli came back to his senses and reached around to shut it down. “Fuck woman… you are trying to kill me,” he whispered in her ear.
Bella whimpered and could barely move. “More like you’re trying to kill me.”
Nikoli chuckled. “Come on, we have places to go and people to meet. Today, we get our daughter back.”
Chapter Ten
Bella stumbled from the shower and reached for a towel. Her movements were jerky and unsettled. Finally bracing her hand on the sink, she looked over her shoulder at him. “I don’t know if I can do this.”
Nikoli came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her shoulders. His skin was damp and warm and as he pulled her against his body, she could feel his heat warming her. She hadn’t realized how cool she had been before now.
“I can’t promise you anything and I won’t lie to you. So many things could go wrong today.”
“That’s what I’m afraid of,” she admitted in a small voice. “What if he hurts her? I couldn’t bear it if she’s hurt.”
“Hush, now woman…” he tried to reassure her. “Danton needs to keep her safe. If he plans to turn her over to Ivan today, then he needs to keep her healthy. She might be scared but she’s ok.”
Bella shuddered. “I couldn’t bear it if I lost her.” Trembling in his arms, she turned to face him. “Kosta and Sergi think Ivan won’t hurt her in a sexual way, so why would he want her then? Why would he pay my father for me? I was only fourteen at the time?”
“I don’t know but we will find out. I promise,” Nikoli assured her. Patting her bare ass, he urged her, “Come on, we have to meet with Sergi and get an update.”
Bella stepped out of his embrace and shook her head. “I don’t have anything to wear. I never expected to stay here this whole time.”
Nikoli smiled. “Don’t worry about it. I had some things sent up for you.”
Bella hung her towel up to dry and went back to his bedroom. Nikoli walked over to the closet and pulled out a hanger with a dress on it and another with a pantsuit on it. Then he pulled out a bag that held a pair of jeans and a t-shirt.
Bella reached for the jeans and t-shirt. The bag also included panties and a bra. “Thank you so much, Nikoli.”
As she dressed, Nikoli began to really look at her. She was no longer a young woman but she was a beautiful woman. She took care of her body and while she didn’t look as if she worked out her body was trim and well sculpted. She had a little bit of a tummy but that could have been left from carrying Malina. Her breasts were high and well formed. They weren’t overly big or too small, instead they fit his hands just fine. She was a small woman but curvy.
That was when he noted the carpet she had between her legs didn’t quite match the color of her hair. It had been something he never noticed before. She was trimmed but not bare down there but the color was two different colors. He looked at the hair on her head. It was blonde and looked natural but then he could see a darker color under the blonde.
He went over to stand behind her and picked up a strand of her golden locks. “I love the color of your hair. It reminds me of liquid sunshine.”
He noted her body as it stiffened and he raised a brow at her. Bella took a step away from him and he allowed her to do it. He crossed his arms over his chest and as she turned to face him, he watched and waited for her to speak.
“I had to change the color.” She motioned down her body to the apex of her legs. “I’m surprised you didn’t mention it before. I dyed my hair to hide when I left my father’s house a long time ago.”
Nikoli shrugged. “I never noticed until today. The color of your hair never mattered before I guess.”
Bella nodded. “We should probably go and see Sergi.” She seemed to not want to speak about this any longer.
Nikoli nodded. She seemed nervous for some reason and he knew she wanted this to be over and she wanted her daughter back in her arms.
He ushered her out to his living room and offered her a cup of coffee.
Bella took the cup and warmed her hands with the hot brew. Sipping it, she walked over to the windows and looked out over the city below.
So lost in her own thoughts she didn’t know he was behind her until he leaned closer and kissed the back of her neck. She startled and jumped spilling her coffee down her hands. “Oh, dear,” she muttered as she rubbed the liquid on her jeans.
Nikoli stepped back and frowned. He could almost feel the tension in her growing. “What’s wrong?”
Bella set her cup on the windowsill and wrapped her arms around her body. “I don’t know. I can’t help it. I’ve been on my own for too many years to allow someone else to take me over. You say trust me to protect you… well I can’t do that. My whole life, no one has looked out for me, you know the conditions I grew up under. I don’t know you well enough to trust in that, I guess. When I had Malina, I was all she had. I made my fair share of mistakes and there were nights when I didn’t know if what I was doing was right or not. I held that precious baby girl in my arms and still felt so alone at times. But she was my baby and I did what I had to do to make sure she was safe and happy. I gave her the one thing I never had. I loved her the only way I knew how and I prayed it would be good enough. I thought it was.” She took a deep breath. “Then Danton showed up and I lost it. I knew the moment he ripped her out of my arms that I wasn’t strong enough to take care of her. I wasn’t strong enough to protect her. I came to you, thinking if I did what he said, I would get her back.” Bella paused and shook her head. “Now I know he never would have given her back to me and I’m fretting I will never see my baby girl again.” Tears pooled in her eyes as she went on, “I may never see her eyes light up with a new discovery or watch her sleep. Did I tell you she likes to smile in her sleep? Not all the time but when she dreams she always smiles. When she wakes up, she always remembers what she dreamed about and it’s always something she wants to do to help someone else.”
Nikoli stared at and shook his head as he let out a sigh.
“You want me to trust you enough to give my most precious gift to you, to let you know her and to let her know you. I’m not sure I can give her up, not even to you. I can’t walk away from my baby girl, not know not ever…” ” Her whispered words trailed off. “
“I’m not asking you to walk away from her.” Nikoli wrapped his arms around her. “I would never ask that of you. I just want to be included in her life. You’ve had her for almost ten years I want her to know who I am now.”
Bella shook her head. “I can’t stop it and I’ll do anything to help but I can’t give her over to you.”
Nikoli listened to her words for a moment then twirled her around in his arms. For the first time, he actually listened to what she was saying and it infuriated him. His eyes were growing cold, as he harshly demanded. “What is it you think I’m asking you to do?”
“You want to take my daughter.” Bella gazed at him in confusion. “Don’t you?”
Nikoli tightened his grip on her arms then calmed. “No I don’t. I want to know her as a father should know his child but I could never take her from you. As you pointed out before you carried her, you gave her life and you have raised her from day one. You love her so much and I’m sure she loves
you just as much. All I want is the chance to know her and love her as well. If I wanted to, I could take her away from you but all that would do is make us all miserable. If I did that to her, I wouldn’t be the man, I want to be for her. She would learn to fear me and possibly hate me for separating her from you, the only parent she’s ever known. Not exactly the most conductive way to be introduced to her now is it?”
Bella shook her head looking shocked at his words.
Nikoli took a step away from her and shaking his head he suggested, “We have time to deal with this later. Right now, we have to find out what’s going on with Sergi and the others.” He took another step away from her.
Bella could see the wall he was putting up between them. She took a step toward him and reached out her hand to touch his arm. When he flinched, she pulled her arm back. “I’m sorry.”
Nikoli didn’t say anything but he acknowledged her apology with a short nod. Motioning her toward the door, he followed her down the hall to Sergi’s room. Briefly knocking, he opened the door and walked inside.
Sergi, Misha, Kirill, Felix and Kosta were there but so were four other men. One of the men was bigger than the others. Bigger and older but he looked deadly.