“Nazila, Qaifa.” Malinov heard Antonia whisper the names.
He shot a look at her for confirmation but she was already breaking away from his hand and running through the door nearest to them. He took off after her.
She’d briefly stopped to take off her heels and was running barefoot to catch up with the woman and the two children. Antonia ran through the sports bar and out onto some stairs but a large group was coming out of one of the dining rooms and she disappeared beyond them.
Fear for her safety stabbed him hard. If those were the girls then Aalam El Hashem was on the ship. What if they were bait to lead her to him? He stood on the stairs and rang Vikktor.
“Start looking for her now. He has to be here,” Malinov roared down his mobile at Vikktor.
He took his earpiece out of his pocket and inserted it so he could keep in touch with Vikktor and the others. One of the team spoke to him straight away.
“I have her on CCTV. Go up two flights from where you are and I will direct you to her,” an excited female voice he recognised as Janice told him on the other end of the line.
He moved quickly.
“Go through the restaurant in front of you. This is a short cut. There is an exit at the bottom of the room. Take it.”
Gabriel put his manners away and pushed past every person who got in his way.
“Travel up one flight on the next set of stairs. I’ve lost her.”
Gabriel stopped dead.
“Find her,” he shouted.
“Got her,” the voice was filled with relief. “Get off the stairs here. She’s on the second floor in the lobby. She’s just entered the Gallery.”
“Can she still see the girls?”
“I can’t get a visual on them. Get in there now. A man has just stepped in front of her and is trying to drag her away.”
Gabriel ran out onto the second floor of the elaborate lobby area with a waterfall cascading down between the three marble-covered open plan floors. He made his way past the mall area filled with expensive jewellery, cosmetic and clothes shops other people were idly milling around and into the gallery.
“Keep going. The paintings are displayed along the walls of three corridors linking together. She is in the end one and putting up a fight. The girls and the woman are nowhere to be seen.”
Gabriel finally reached Antonia just as the assailant pushed her to the floor. He lunged at the man banging him back against the wall tilting one of the paintings violently to the left. He raised his fist and punched him hard. Antonia’s attacker tried to come back at him. Malinov blocked his aim with his arm deflecting it to the side and expertly twisted his leg around the back of the assailant’s bringing him down to the ground. Gabriel bent to wind his arm around the young man’s throat and forced his arm behind his back. He made him stand.
Vikktor and two agents dressed as bar staff with a uniformed ship’s security officer appeared. They took charge of the man from Gabriel leaving him to check on Antonia. He caught her arm and brought her close to him.
“We’ll take him downstairs in the storage deck to a nice little area we have set aside for operation co-ordination and interrogations. We will find out what he knows,” Vikktor told them. “We’ve also just been informed by MI5 that four people are travelling on false passports. At least we have the right ship.”
Gabriel nodded. “See what you can get out of that man.”
“What about Nazila and Qaifa? We need to look for them. If they are here then Aalam is here somewhere as well,” Antonia urged.
“Vikktor, organize a ship wide search while I get Antonia back to the cabin. Aalam has used the girls to draw her out. He will be coming for her now since he knows she is on the ship. Keep me informed.”
Gabriel was already directing Antonia back to the lobby with a firm grip on her arm. He barely spoke to her as he marched her all the way back to their suite. He was furious with her for running away from him and leaving his protection.
When they reached the suite and he inserted the key card in the door she struggled to get away from him. He slammed her back against the outside wall of the cabin and placed his hands either side of her body to trap her there.
“Where do you think you are going?” he asked moving closer to her.
Gabriel was angry. He’d nearly lost her to Aalam.
She pushed her hands against his muscled chest in a futile effort to make him move away. He wasn’t going anywhere. Antonia’s face darkened with frustration and anger.
“Let me go. You can’t keep me here.”
“Yes, I can.”
Malinov moved even closer. He wanted to kiss her and tame that temper of hers in his bed.
“You promised to stay by my side. Aalam nearly took you from me. I told you, I am in charge.”
“I can’t just wait for you to find Nazila and Qaifa. I won’t. That woman has them and I won’t rest until I find her with or without your help,” her voice was raised and filled with hate.
She tried to move from the wall again prompting her protector to grab hold of her wrists and bang them back against the wall above her head to pin her there.
“Let me go. I have to find them. I am responsible for them. I let them down.”
“You aren’t going anywhere. They will be found but not by you,” he hissed. “I won’t let you put yourself in danger again. The rules have changed, Antonia. No more risking your life. It is time you considered yourself. If you won’t then I will force you to,” he said menacingly.
Antonia’s eyes narrowed to sharp jagged points and a small, dark, crooked smile appeared on her lips. Gabriel looked at her with surprise. At last she was showing him the part of her that drove her to be reckless with her life, the part of her soul that was furious and disgusted with herself for failing in protecting the girls and preventing the rape. Ms Hyde had come out to play.
She kicked him hard making him grimace.
“Let me go right now or I am going to make you regret holding me here,” her tone was mocking, her lips curling with loathing as she looked at him giving him another kick for good measure. But he stood his ground swallowing the sharp pain quickly. Time to take her in hand. He placed his hand firmly around her throat and gently squeezed, pinning her back against the wall of the cabin.
“Stop now,” he instructed.
She breathed hard and stared at him for a moment before she began again. When he wouldn’t let go of her she growled at him.
“Do you get off on holding me here? Maybe you want to attack me as well? Looks like I inspire the worst in men,” she sneered. “Always worthless. Men, you are all scum…
She reeled off a number of contemptuous terms for the male sex but he wasn’t listening to them. He could only hear her pain screaming out at him. This angry frustrated splinter of her soul who was shouting at him at the top of her voice wasn’t just angry with herself and the world around her but was feverishly attempting to protect her from more harm.
“So, which one are you, Mr Malinov?” she screamed at him.
He stared at her.
“None of them. I am only what you need,” he arrogantly informed her.
Her anger faltered for a moment shocked by his calm reaction. She wanted a fight but he wasn’t prepared to give her one. It wasn’t what she needed. She needed to be held and made to feel safe but right now Antonia wasn’t listening to herself and her own needs.
She laughed with disbelief.
“You nearly had me there, Mr Malinov.”
“Stop calling me Mr Malinov.”
“I nearly believed you but men lie. Just like my father did to my mother and me,” she snapped.
Antonia raised her leg to kick him but Gabriel reacted quickly to prevent her attack. He pulled her away from the wall and through the door of the suite, slamming it shut behind him. He dragged her upstairs hoping he could somehow convince her to rest.
She wriggled out of his grip and began jabbing her finger hard into her chest.
“
I was looking after those girls. It was me who let them down.”
Her finger jabbing was brutal and was going to leave bruises on her chest. He moved towards her and caught hold of her hand to make her stop. When she tried to remove it he squeezed her flesh. But she fought back, punching at him to gain her freedom and he lost his grip. She ran past him towards the door but he was too quick for her, easily blocking her path.
Trapped again she walked backwards. Gabriel watched her catch a glance at herself in the mirror. It provoked her anger further but this time she took it out on herself.
“I hate you,” she screamed at herself in the mirror. “Worthless bitch,” she said raising her hand and slapping the side of her face so hard it knocked her sideways.
Malinov rushed towards her trying to catch hold of her flailing arms as they continued to hit her head and scratch her nails down the side of her face drawing blood.
“You let them down. Why do I always let everyone down? My mother was right about me. I am just not good enough,” she shouted at herself before letting out a howl of angry pain.
Gabriel pulled her hands from her head and opened them wide. He forced her to walk backwards to the bed as her eyes flooded and streamed with tears and pushed her down on the bed. He held her there using all of his strength to contain her thrashing body which was trying to kick him.
“Don’t. I won’t let you hurt yourself anymore. Don’t talk about yourself like that,” he thundered at her leaning his body over her captive one on the bed. “I have never met a more brave woman than you. You are none of those cruel things you say. I…” he stopped unable to say it. He was falling in love with her.
She struggled again and kicked him. He found himself lowering his lips down on her hers to kiss her hard. It was the only thing he could think of to stop her and shock her temper into silence. She resisted at first continuing to fight him for her freedom trying to move from side to side but he decided to persist a short while longer and he was rewarded.
Antonia raised her head from the bed suddenly feverishly responding to his kiss as though he were a drug she needed, allowing him to dominantly thrust his tongue deep inside her mouth. Still holding her down tightly, he kissed her deeply guiding and persuading her to accept his control and become submissive.
When Antonia moaned against his lips with pleasure and panted her need for him, he broke the kiss for a second to look down at her. He decided to let go of her arms, warning her with his black eyes there would be consequences if she dared to move.
He wanted her naked and quick. The urge to be inside her pulsed. Gabriel took hold of the bottom of her dress and indulged the fantasy he’d had since he’d first seen her walk down the stairs in it and ripped the material of the dress from the bottom up like a Neanderthal.
Antonia appeared to appreciate the sentiment. She arched her body upwards off the bed towards him as he tore the dress from her body brushing his tuxedo against her as he undid the crystal collar and pulled the remnants out from under her. He took hold of the lacy panties on either side and yanked them down her body and off. Antonia thrust her pelvis up in response as her lips uttered a helpless feminine gasp as he moved up her body and thrust them between her lips to gag her. Sweeping his eyes over her naked form with satisfaction he knelt on the bed, he ran his hand down her side curving it around her hip before turning her over on her side to slap her buttocks. He pushed her flat, pulled her arms behind her back and held them there while he spanked her butt and the backs of her thighs, hard. She was his and he wasn’t going to let anyone else take what belonged to him. When her butt was smarting enough and glowing a hot pink he turned Antonia back over. There were tears running down her cheeks and she was mewling against her makeshift gag but she did not dare try to spit it out. With satisfaction, he noticed dampness glistening on her vagina and the tops of her thighs, her spanking having fully aroused her, despite her fury.
She wore no bra and her large breasts appeared heavy and swollen with arousal. Immediately his hands reached for them, cupping the plump flesh to squash and knead it in his hands. Bending his head, he nipped one of her nipples with his teeth and pulled it painfully taut, sucking lightly on it. At the same time, he smoothed the flat of his hand down the curve of her stomach towards the tops of her thighs. He pressed his hand down firmly to guide her to open her thighs wider when she began to whimper and signs of distress appeared in her eyes.
He remembered the bruising on the inside of her thighs and quickly removed his hand. He looked down at the shaven triangle nestled between her thighs and the soft pale flesh on either side of her legs.
Malinov’s heart bled when he saw the deep black, blue and purple bruising. Antonia let out a sob seeing him look at her injuries with sympathy on his handsome features. She turned away horrified and ashamed.
She tried to move out from under him and remove the gag. He cupped the side of her face with his hand to stop her and caressed her cheek with his thumb. Using his free hand, he gripped one breast and stroked the tip of it with his opposite thumb. Gabriel touched her lips with his own.
“Shhh,” he whispered. “You are beautiful. You are safe with me. I won’t ever hurt you. Keep that gag in tight.”
He let go of her face and breast and moved down her body to kiss her bruised thighs. At first, she was quiet but when his kisses began to brush the delicate petal shaped folds of her pussy she purred behind the makeshift gag. Gabriel ran his tongue over the small wet bud bobbing in the centre of her vagina and stroked one of his fingers around it. She was heavily wet. He sucked at the bud teasing it back and forth carefully between his teeth prepared to stop if her body tensed.
Malinov debated whether or not he should attempt to enter her with one finger. To test the water, he circled the tip of his digit around the entrance. It told him everything he needed to know.
Antonia sat up on the bed.
She tried to get up and away from him but he climbed over her again taking gentle hold of her wrists and lowered her back down on the bed beneath him determined he was going to make this work. He wasn’t going to let the terrorist come between them again and continue to terrorise her mind anymore.
“There is another way,” he said softly kissing her. He lifted his head wanting an agreement from her.
She looked up at him and for a moment searched his eyes. He made sure she saw warm love and safety. Convinced she reached up with her lips to enclose them over his. Satisfied she had given her answer, he tore the gag out of her mouth and took her lips hard and control away from her again. He turned her over and lifted her onto all fours by her hips.
“Legs, wider,” he firmly instructed slapping her bottom to encourage her into quick action.
With a seductive pleasured cry, she did as she was told, exposing her dark puckered entrance and did not rebuke him. He guided her backwards to the edge of the bed and helped arrange her in the position he wanted her to adopt. Gabriel smiled to himself hearing her pant and moan with need. The feisty journalist was a submissive at heart and was perfect for him. She fired his natural dominant ardour to a boiling point.
Gabriel arranged the top half of her body so that her head lay sideways on top of the bed but her bottom was still raised up on her legs and open for easy penetration. She placed her elbow in front of her face to make herself a little more comfortable, and waited patiently for the next order he was to give her. There was trust in her eyes. This was something she clearly did not easily give to a man and he did not take the responsibility lightly. She had surrendered to him and he would reward her for it.
“Put your arms behind your back and wait for me,” he commanded huskily.
As before she was quick to obey him. He moved away from the bed and pulled his bow tie and top button undone before removing his tuxedo jacket. The rest of his clothes followed quickly to make a pile on the floor at the foot of the large bed. Gabriel strode towards his beautiful submissive goddess waiting patiently on the bed for him and stretched his taut lean athle
tic body over her, kissing her neck. He made sure his dominance was calculated with care, just the right mix of firm handling with gentle loving touches. She had to feel safe in his hands every step of the way.
Slowly, with care he placed two of his fingers between the lips of her wet vagina deliberately and stroked making sure they were thickly coated in her juice while he lovingly kissed her bottom.
When he was sure she was ready to allow him to slip inside her body he removed his fingers from her vagina and sluiced her anal entrance inside and out with her thick juice. There was some initial discomfort when he stretched his middle finger inside her to prepare the dark channel. Anal sex was clearly something she hadn’t done before and at first, she was hesitant. He persisted, forcing the nerve endings to calm and her channel to stretch and widen. Eventually the pain ceased and the nerve endings bent to his will. Antonia lowered her bottom down on his finger giving him the signal he had been waiting for. She was ready for him to take her.
Gabriel knelt one leg on the bed and kept the other on the floor. He directed his long thick erect penis to the dark hole and gently pushed it inside her anal entrance, holding her hips to guide her back onto him.
Holding her arms like reins, up and back behind her so the top half of her body was raised from the bed, he began to thrust in and out building the tempo. She was completely in his power. He was in awe of the trust she was placing in him. It made him feel incredibly protective of her and dominant. Encouraged by her moans and whimpers of need he increased the pace of his thrusts. The scene was primal as he pulled her arms back with each deep thrust burying his cock inside her to the hilt. He removed his hands holding her arms, placing her wrists together so he could hold them in one while he slapped the side of her hot pink buttock twice when he sensed by her pants she was close to coming.
The Masterful Russian (The Masterful Series) Page 11