by Bella Rose
“You’ve made mention of rich people several times,” he commented, wanting to draw her out on the subject. “It seems like you might be prejudiced against people with money.”
“Only when they feel like it entitles them to anything they want.” She passed him a meaningful glance.
“I assume by your pointed look that you are referring to me?” He didn’t particularly like being lumped in with “all those rich people,” but there was nothing he could do to refute her accusations.
“I’ve known several rich people in my lifetime,” she mused. “None of them were particularly nice, and even though they could afford to be generous, they weren’t.”
“If we gave it all away, soon everyone would be the same.”
She gave him a look filled with sarcastic mockery. “I’m sorry, don’t they call that communism?”
“Touché,” he said, loving her wit. “Although the only difference between communism and capitalism is that communists take better care of their poor people.”
“Ouch!” She placed a hand over her heart. “I don’t suppose I can really argue against that.”
He waved his hand. “Enough with politics.”
“Shall we move on to religion?” She raised an eyebrow and fingered the brocade curtains hanging over the windows.
He watched her stroke the rich fabric and completely lost track of anything but the memory of what it felt like to have her hands on his skin. When had he become so enamored? It was a little frightening.
“Tell me about your work.” Her soft tone was encouraging, as if she were truly curious. “What makes the mafia different from any other kind of business? In my experience, all business practices balance on the edge of ethics anyway.”
“True.” Settling back more comfortably into his seat, he thought about what he did for a living. For some reason, he was eager to explain himself to her. It was preposterous, but he could admit that’s how he felt. “I run hotels and casinos. It isn’t the traditional mafia way, but it has been quite lucrative for me.”
“What’s the major difference?”
“Well, most of the mafia families deal in drugs or illegal fighting, and there is a lot of involvement in the skin trade as well.” He shrugged. “I don’t find those to be profitable enterprises.”
Something about the set of her chin gave him the impression that she disapproved. Then she shrugged. “I suppose that’s good for you, but what makes what you do illegal and classifies it as—” She used air quotes. “—mafia?”
“I don’t like red tape,” he said flatly. “I bribe or intimidate my way around rules and regulations that do not suit me, and I own the police force in Moscow.”
“Well, that certainly sounds like the mafia,” she muttered.
“And you?” He quickly switched the focus back to Trisha. “We’ve spoken almost no English, and yet you seem to have no difficulty understanding me. Your command of the Russian language is impressive.”
“I was a Russian history major. This study abroad program at the Moscow Academy was the last part of my degree.” She sighed, staring out the window and looking almost wistful.
“What did you intend to do with your degree?” He actually wondered what she could do with it. The thing seemed rather pointless, but he wasn’t going to say that out loud.
She chuckled. “I think I chose that as my major just to piss off my dad. He wanted me to go into social work.”
“And you did not like this idea?”
“Not particularly. It’s depressing.”
“Ah.” He didn’t understand the entire concept of the job a social worker performed, but that didn’t really matter. “So was your father angry?”
“He’s never angry.” She turned and offered him a smile. “He’s disappointed. There’s a difference. I’m his only child. I wasted myself and my money on this ridiculous degree, blah, blah, blah. It is all very guilt inducing.”
“And yet you are here now and there is no need for guilt.” He shrugged. For him, the matter was closed. “We will soon be at my resort and all will be well.”
“Yes,” she agreed softly. “All will be well.”
Chapter Eleven
Trisha had never seen a sight more beautiful than the forested mountains of Siberia that surrounded Anatoly’s resort. The place boasted a ski mountain that functioned from early fall to late spring, but now the major attraction appeared to be zip lining. Still, it was obvious that to the very wealthy, this place was all about luxury spa services and relaxation.
Anatoly did not stay with the general populace in the main part of the sprawling chateau style hotel. Instead, he had a private home nestled into a hillside. The “cabin” might have been made of red logs, but otherwise there was nothing log cabin-like about this place. It boasted towering ceilings, a huge expanse of windows overlooking the valley, and a massive deck covered in purple flowers. The scent of the flora surrounding Anatoly’s cabin filled the air, and Trisha couldn’t resist the urge to curl up on a chaise and simply soak up the sun and fresh air.
Anatoly set a cocktail down on the tiny table beside her seat. “Are you enjoying yourself?”
“I can’t believe this place is really yours,” she murmured appreciatively. “It’s beautiful.”
“In winter the mountain is covered in skiers. Sometimes I shut it down just so I can enjoy a few runs without encountering a dozen or more beginner skiers.”
“Rich people,” she said with a snort.
He rolled his eyes and took a seat on the chaise beside hers. “No. Selfish people.”
She whipped around to stare at him in shock. “Did you just call yourself selfish?”
He very gently traced her forearm with one finger. “Perhaps.”
His touch was distracting. It sent a pleasant tingle through her body and made her think of decadent things like having sex on a private deck at a Siberian resort while the sunset turned the sky fiery shades of orange and pink. Except she was not supposed to be thinking about that sort of thing.
“Do you swim?”
“Yes, but I didn’t bring a suit.” She felt a bit disappointed about that. She really enjoyed swimming.
“The place I was thinking to swim isn’t actually a pool.” He was obviously working her around to a certain point, because she could practically see the wheels turning in his head.
“Go on then,” she urged. “Just spit it out. All the dancing around your point is making me dizzy.”
He laughed. “I can’t slip anything past you, can I?”
“At this point? No.”
“There is a hot spring a mile or so from this house. It’s still on private land. I don’t allow guests up there without special permission.”
Trisha tried to control her eagerness. He owned a hot spring in the middle of a beautiful wilderness like this one? How could such a criminal ass have such great taste? It absolutely boggled the mind.
ANATOLY WATCHED HER thinking it over in her mind. He knew he had her on the hot springs. She was not only curious, but also excited. He could read that much in her body language.
Finally she stood up. “Let’s go see this magical place you speak of.”
“You say that,” he mused, not moving from his seat. “Yet your tone is sarcastic.”
Trisha heaved a giant sigh. “All right. Anatoly, will you please take me to see this hot spring? It sounds beautiful, and I would very much like to go.”
“Much better.”
He rose from his seat and took her cocktail from her hand. He set both of their drinks aside. Linking her fingers with his, he headed for the stairs at the far end of the deck. When she realized that they were leaving, she pulled him to a stop.
“Wait. Don’t we need to get supplies or something?” Even her frown was adorable.
“No. It’s not even a mile. The path is good. We will be under the protection of my men the whole time, and believe it or not there is cell service there in case we need to call for something.”
; “Oh.”
“Are you disappointed?” He struggled to understand.
“I was thinking a trek out into the middle of nowhere, you know?” She pursed her lips. “But I’d still like to see this wonderful sight.”
Anatoly laughed and tucked her arm into his. “Perhaps we can go hiking up on the mountain one day. That should provide plenty of wilderness experience.”
“Do you ever just ride the ski lifts for fun?”
He nodded. “All the time.”
Their path descended the hill where his cabin had been built and entered the forest just a few hundred yards away. They followed the wide, well marked path around trees and large, moss-covered rocks. It was cool but not cold in the shade of the forest. The scent of evergreen trees filled the air.
It wasn’t far before he could see the steam of the hot springs lingering in the air. His excitement rose. Trisha would appreciate this place much the way he did. For some reason, that brought to mind the one time he had considered bringing Bianka out here. The woman was a city girl to the core. Even the mention of one of his resorts made her twitch with perceived discomfort. She pictured this place as a complete lack of all the amenities she considered necessary to sustain life.
“What are you thinking about?” Trisha asked.
He turned to find her gazing up at him with rapt curiosity. “Just someone that I know.”
“A woman,” she guessed.
This was not the topic he wanted to discuss at the moment. “I would call her a pampered and rather spoiled princess, but yes. She is indeed female.”
TRISHA TRIED NOT to feel slighted by the knowledge that Anatoly was thinking about another woman while he was with her. Was she that uninteresting? For some reason, she had thought she could hold his interest. She knew she wasn’t up to his usual standards, and that there was a very good chance he would get tired of her sooner rather than later, but it was still humiliating.
“I was drawing a contrast,” Anatoly said suddenly.
Trisha was confused. What was he talking about? “I’m sorry?”
“That’s why I was thinking about another woman,” he said slowly. “I was thinking that I would never bring another woman out here. I don’t know anyone else like you. You’re not afraid of a little trekking through the woods.”
“Oh!” Now instead of feeling embarrassed, she was nervous and excited.
Then they rounded a corner, and all thoughts of women or who and what Anatoly liked flew right out of her head. There was a little clearing in the trees that surrounded a pool of water. A sheer rock wall sat opposite the path, which dead ended at the water. Steam rose in curling tendrils from the pool’s mirror smooth surface.
“Anatoly, it’s beautiful,” she breathed. “Like something from a storybook.”
“I’m glad you like it.” He gestured to the water. “Try putting your fingers in. It’s wonderfully warm.”
She squatted down at the edge of the pool and gently brushed the water with her fingertips. The faint scent of sulphur lingered in the air, but it wasn’t unpleasant. She turned to make a comment, but promptly forgot what she was going to say.
Anatoly had pulled his shirt over his head and had already kicked out of his thick soled shoes. He was reaching for the fastenings of his jeans. Trisha gaped at the sight of him. Not that she hadn’t seen his naked chest before, but it was a rather awe-inspiring vision.
Every inch of him was covered in hard planes of muscle wrapped in golden skin. It was as if she could not look away. He pushed his jeans down over his backside, taking his underwear with them. The coarse dark hair nested in his groin was exposed, along with the thick shaft of his penis. He was sporting an impressive erection. His cock bounced against his belly as he removed his jeans and underwear, and then his socks.
“I’m going to take a dip,” he told her with a devilish smile. “You should come in with me.”
Trisha glanced down at her casual jeans and T-shirt. She had never in her life been skinny dipping. Her dad was a cop. She had always figured it would be her luck to get arrested for indecent exposure and wind up having him do the paperwork. Now, though, did she really have anything to lose? The water looked so very inviting.
Anatoly walked into the pool and then sank below the water’s surface. He reemerged in the center and flung the water back from his face. His dark hair gleamed in the sunlight filtering through the tree branches, and his skin looked like silken perfection. In fact, his whole body looked perfect.
“Come on, Trisha,” he coaxed. “Please?”
“I don’t look as good as you do naked.” In fact, that was becoming a real worry. She was a true redhead with the pale freckled skin that never tanned. “I’m like a slimy fish.”
“I’ve seen your body. You’re beautiful. Please come in with me?”
ANATOLY COULD SEE the mental dance play out in her expression. Then she finally relented. He smiled as she drew her T-shirt over her head and hurriedly unclasped her bra. She seemed to be getting rid of her clothing as quickly and efficiently as possible without a single thought to what might constitute a strip tease. He almost laughed at the lack of artifice. Then she took a step into the water, and he forgot to breathe.
“Malenkaya, you are beautiful,” he murmured.
“Really?”
Anatoly made a noise of disgust. “What idiot never told you that you are beautiful? I wish to run him down and rip off his balls.”
She laughed. “I’m certainly not built like a model.”
Unable to resist, Anatoly reached out and touched her bare shoulder. She had sunk below the surface of the water. Her breasts just barely broke the steaming surface. Each one bobbed above the waterline, and her nipples beaded into hard little points.
“I need to touch you,” he whispered hoarsely. “May I please?”
Her throat moved when she swallowed. “Yes.”
He cupped her breasts in his hands. Thumbing her nipples, he enjoyed the fact that she was getting pleasure from the attention. Her flesh drew tighter. He circled the tiny nubs until they were throbbing against his fingertips. Finally, he sank down and took one in his mouth.
She tasted exquisite. Threading her fingers through his wet hair, she pulled his head closer as if she were begging him for more. He sucked harder, taking as much of her breast into his mouth as possible. He flicked her nipple with his tongue and then drew back to give it a tiny love bite with his teeth.
“Oh my God, that feels good!” she whispered. “More, Anatoly! Please?”
He smiled and slid his hands over her hips to the small of her back. Soon he was cupping her delectable butt and pulling her hard against his body. “I’m going to make love to you, Trisha,” he told her roughly. “I’m going to put my cock inside your pussy and make you scream until those rocks are echoing the sounds of your pleasure.”
Then she placed her hand flat on his belly and slid it down to the base of his cock. Gripping him in her palm, she turned everything right back around on him. “Fine. But I’m going to make you scream right along with me.”
Chapter Twelve
Trisha was on fire for this man, and there was no way to pretend that she wasn’t. Being held in Anatoly’s arms while he caressed and fondled her breasts was breathtaking. Then he announced that he wanted to make love to her, and she thought she might die of lust. Everything below her belly was tight and hot. Her inner muscles were flexing with the need for penetration, and all she could think about was the moment when Anatoly’s cock would press into her body.
She gave his long, thick shaft a squeeze and was rewarded with a groan. He sank his hands into her hair and pulled her to him for a kiss. She parted her lips and felt his tongue slide inside her mouth. The decadent taste of him enveloped her senses. She felt the lapping of the warm water against her arms and the slickness of Anatoly’s skin where it pressed next to hers.
She was floating, Anatoly the only anchor she had in the water. His feet seemed to be firmly planted on the bottom of
the pool. Trisha took the opportunity to lift her legs and wrap them around his waist. The position splayed her sex open and pressed it hard against his erection. The wonderful friction of his shaft against her clit made her shiver.
“Anatoly, I’m going to come!” she said hoarsely.
“Then come, malenkaya.”
She felt a burning sensation in the backs of her legs as she tightened them around his waist. Then the overwhelming sensation of an electrical charge shot through her nervous system. She cried out as her body convulsed with an orgasm. Her inner muscles flexed and squeezed as they searched for Anatoly’s cock. She wiggled against him to get more. She needed him so badly she could hardly stand it.
“Hush,” he told her gently. His hands were in her hair, smoothing the damp strands away from her face and soothing her with his touch. “You’ll get what you need. I promise.”
She whimpered, tightening her thighs where they rested against his hips. He cupped her backside more firmly and pulled her gently away from him. She floated in the water, the cocoon of warmth holding her in perfect position.
The tip of Anatoly’s cock probed her slick entrance. She sucked in a deep breath. The head of him slid inside her pussy. It wasn’t enough. Finally, he thrust forward and filled her completely. She groaned in satisfaction and wrapped her arms around his neck.
In that moment she gazed into his eyes. The intimacy struck her, and she felt almost shy. His dark eyes were so beautiful. She could see so many things there, and yet she did not know how this thing between them would turn out.
He started to move inside her. The water moved with them, lightly splashing their skin and creating a delightful array of sensations.
Trisha threw her head back and gazed up through the thick trees to the blue sky overhead. Her breasts rubbed enticingly against Anatoly’s hard chest. Her nipples grew hard and her clit throbbed. He increased his pace, slamming into her now and making her gasp with each thrust. The pleasure was almost overwhelming. She felt herself perched on the edge of another orgasm and reached for it with everything she had.