ROMANCE: Billion Dollar Question (BWWM Billionaire Bad Boy Romance) (African American Alpha Mail Order Bride New Adult)

by Aisha Brooks

  “Vadim!” she shouted before she could stop herself.

  He didn't answer. The only response was the heavy crashing sound of a blunt object hitting a person and that person hitting the floor.

  “Come, Maria,” Vadim's thick accent reached her ears and she nearly cried in relief. Despite the fact that he was her bodyguard, she didn't know if she could live with his life ending for her safety. Slowly, she crawled out from under the safety of the bed. Vadim quickly helped her to her feet and led her through her house. He placed her purse and sneakers in her hands silently. She clutched them to her chest with one arm and held onto Vadim for dear life with the other.

  Vadim held his gun at the ready as they made their way quietly through the apartment. She shook her head in confusion when they headed not to the front door, but to the balcony.

  “What are we doing?”

  “Shh.. Maria, quiet,” he whispered to her.

  She watched in confusion as Vadim tied a roped to the edge of the balcony. She was about to protest saying there was no way she could climb down a rope from a third story balcony, but then she realized that he didn't intend for her to. Next, using a rope or something similar, Maria couldn't tell for certain, he secured her to his body.

  “Hold on to me, Maria,” he said as he lifted both of them onto the rail.

  Maria squeezed her eyes shut feeling light headed. She had never been a fan a heights. She clung to him holding on as tight as she could. Using his strength and skills, he had developed over the course of his career Vadim quickly scaled down the rope.

  Vadim made quick work of unattaching them, but she still clung to him even as their getaway car pulled up. He opened the back door and lifted her quickly inside the car. She scooted over quickly and half pulled Vadim inside with her. The wheels screeched as the car pulled away before Vadim even managed to close the door.

  Maria's whole body was trembling and she couldn't find the words to ask the important questions. Had he killed that man? Were others still following them? Perhaps, most importantly, where the hell were they going?

  “You're alright,” Vadim whispered to her softly as he reached across her and fastened her seat belt. He took her shoes from her and slipped them onto her feet and strung her purse strap over her shoulder. She clutched the bag and took his hand. Entwining their fingers, she clung to him for dear life.

  In the front of the car, there were two men. From what she could see of their pale skin, Maria figured both must be Russian as well. The driver didn't look armed, but then again most people wouldn't assume that Vadim was either. The man in the passenger seat held an assault rifle. The sight of such arms made her feel dizzy.

  “Vadim, I think I'm going to faint,” she whispered.

  “No, you're alright,” he said and squeezed her hand gently for reassurance.

  Maria didn't remember most of the flight and the conversation between Vadim and his comrades was undecipherable to her. Their thick accents sounded harsh in comparison to Vadim's. His voice lulled her to sleep, brushing against her wounded fears, and the scars life had left upon her.

  Sometime later, she awoke in an airport with Vadim carrying her onto a plane. She wanted to ask him where they were going, because her passport was still at home tucked away in her delicate drawer, but exhaustion overtook her before she could speak. Her dreams were filled with thick Russian accents and the gentle lulling motion that reminded her of the sailboat her father had when she was younger.

  “Vadim?” she startled awake sometime later. “Where are we?”

  “Over halfway to Venice.”

  “Venice?” she asked pushing herself to the edge of her seat. She looked around and realized they had to be on a private jet. It was much to cozy and too empty to be a commercial plane.

  “What were you expecting me to say Moscow?” Vadim laughed.

  “No, I … my passport?”

  “It's in your purse,” Vadim said nodding to the bag sitting next to her. “I put it in there while you were taking a shower. The first lesson of safety is to be ready for everything.”

  “Is this your plane?”

  “Yes, it's my jet,” Vadim nodded.

  “Why Venice?”

  “I have friends there and it is a beautiful city.”

  “What happened back at the apartment?”

  “It goes without saying that we or I should say, you were attack. The poor bastard was surprised to see me. Robert Edmund won't be a problem for long. Either he lacks a research team or has an overly stupid one.”

  Maria had to suppress a giggle that threatened to bubble over her lips. Things were serious, but Vadim's nonchalant talk of the situation entertained her. On a darker side it made her wonder just how many times had he found himself in a similar situation?

  “Can I ask you a question, a personal question?”

  “I don't see why not,” Vadim grinned reclining easily in his seat and stretching his long legs out before him. “I've went through your underwear drawer to find your passport. I concede that I do owe you some answers.”

  Maria blushed at the thought of Vadim searching through her underwear and bras. Had his fingers brushed against each of them or had he merely knocked them aside in search of her passport?

  “How did you know it was in my underwear drawer?”

  “You'd be surprised at how many important things get kept there,” Vadim chuckled, “but I doubt that's the personal question you wanted to ask me.”

  “Then if you're such a minder reader,” Maria grinned, “ you tell me what I was going to ask you.”

  “No, I've never been married. Yes, I was born into the family business. Yes, I've killed someone before both in personal defense and in defense of a client. No, I don't usually sleep with my clients. Most of my clients are ignorant middle aged men who have gotten in with the wrong crowd or children who are unfortunate enough to be born to such men. Yes, I want to make love to you. Does that cover them all?”

  Maria blinked. Damn, Vadim had cut straight to the chase and wasn't playing around. “Don't tell me you haven't thought about it,” Vadim chuckled.

  She looked away from him blushing. Even as she watched out the plane window, she could feel his steel gray gaze on her. He was drinking her in and just thought of his eyes undressing her sent a chill down her spine.

  “Where are we going to be staying in Venice?” she asked. She hoped it would change the subject, but knew it wouldn't. Anything that put her and the sexy bodyguard in close quarters could only end one way.

  “I know a guy who owns a hotel,” Vadim shrugged.

  Only having been out of the states on a class trip to London, Maria wanted to explore the city, but a guard met her and Vadim at the airport. Their escort was curt, spoke Italian, and didn't look at her. Maria was surprised to find that Vadim was fluent in Italian too. What wasn't this man good at?

  “Settling down,” she sighed to herself, “but tonight I guess I'm just going to have to be okay with that.”

  “You haven't had real wine until you've had Italian wine,” Vadim said after they'd settled into their shared hotel room with a single large comfy bed. Maria had tried to protest, but Vadim was quick to remind her that they'd been sharing a bed since the first day they had met.

  “I've traveled the world a dozen times over,” Vadim continued, “and Italy has the best wine.”

  “It's good, I guess,” Maria laughed taking a long slow sip. “It's really sweet.”

  “Don't drink too quickly,” Vadim chuckled. “I want you to be sober, because believe me, this is going to be the night you remember for the rest of your life.”

  “What? The first time I make love in Venice?”

  “No, the first time I make love to you,” Vadim said.

  Maria opened her mouth to call him an arrogant bastard, but Vadim moved too quickly. He set his glass of wine aside and hers too as he closed the space between them. His warm demanding lips met hers and his five o'clock shadow brushed against her cheek. She ga
sped in pleasure allowing herself to give in to his delicious kiss as his tongue snaked into her mouth. Vadim pulled her into his lap and Maria leaned against his strong muscular body. It wouldn't be long now until she knew just how delicious it felt to have it pressed against hers sans the clothing that had kept them apart for too long.

  Maria wrapped her arms around his shoulders and deepened the kiss. Vadim's hands trailed over her back, his fingers dancing along her spine until finally his hands cupped her bottom squeezing hard and causing her to grind into him. He was already hardening beneath her body. His heat radiated into her and she quivered.

  Vadim kissed her slowly building up speed with each small movement. His hands trailed over her thighs through the pajamas she was still wearing. He stood rising easily from his chair and lifting her with him. Maria wrapped her legs around his body and kissed him harder. The act wasn't Vadim's greatest show of strength, but it was the sexiest to Maria.

  Vadim lay her gently on the bed without breaking the kiss. His fingers trailed up and down her sides and she sighed in pleasure. He thrust into her grinding against her. While she was asleep he had changed on the plane and was back in his suit. The material felt delicious as it ground and pressed against her.

  Vadim stood up long enough to take off his tie. He lay it across the back of an expensive armchair and his belt followed. Then he was on her again. He kissed her neck nibbling the sensitive flesh there. She ran her fingers through his thick hair and bucked up against him.

  “Such an eager wild cat,” he whispered in her ear and kissed down to her collar bone. Vadim's hands inched under the hem of her shirt and over her stomach. Maria arched her back offering him her perky nippled breasts. Vadim hungrily accepted the invitation. His thumbs brushed quickly across her nipples as his hands slid into place. His large strong hands cupped her breasts laying his claim on them.

  Maria looked up into his steel gray gaze and sighed in pleasure. His touch was waking desires she had long since forgotten she had. Vadim flashed her a hungry look before lowering his head and placing a kiss on either of her nipples. His mouth was warm and his breath teased her making her hungry for more. Vadim's tongue flicked across the tip of one of her nipples She drew in a sharp breath of pleasure that drew out into a happy sigh.

  Vadim sucked her perky nipple into his mouth and she tugged at his hair. Moving beside of her his hand found its way between her thighs. He touched her through the thin fabric of her pajamas and a small moan escaped her lips. Slowly she turned to her side to face him and his mouth claimed hers in a hungry kiss. The kiss broke just long enough for Vadim to make quick work of pulling Maria's shirt off over her head. His own shirt soon followed.

  His hands moved over her thigh and then pulled her leg over his hip. Reaching between their bodies he touched her again. His fingers were soft and nimble quickly finding the spots that made her squirm. They lingered against her teasing, touching, and delivering a promise that Maria was going to make damn sure he kept.

  Reaching between them, she undid his fly freeing his thick and now fully hard and throbbing organ. Slowly, she wrapped her fingers around his smooth shaft and gave it a gentle squeeze. Vadim's eyelids fluttered and his breath hitched.

  “It's sexy when a woman can give as good as she gets,” Vadim whispered and slid his fingers between her lower lips. The thin cotton of her pajamas moved beneath his fingers allowing his to touch her through the material. His fingers slid across the peak of her already aching clit and she trembled in pleasure. Bit her lower lip she began to stroke him.

  Soon, their hands were moving in sync and their hips rocked in the beginning steps of a dance that was as old as time itself. They were lost in the pleasure of exploring their bodies, but Vadim's gaze never left hers. There was something softer in his eyes tonight. Something much softer in his expression than she had ever seen before. Was this when Vadim let his walls down? During lovemaking?

  “You are so wet,” Vadim whispered in her ear.

  “For you,” she said leaning her head against his shoulder and squeezing him again.

  Vadim moved away from her leaving her feeling abandoned for just a moment before turning her onto her back. He kissed down her torso leaving behind a road of desire. Without hesitating he pulled down her pajama pants and panties in one swift motion. Maria gasped at the sudden exposure, but spread her legs inviting him into her.

  Vadim stripped off the remainder of his clothes and knelt between her parted ebony thighs. He kissed her inner thighs teasing her as he worked his way to the core of her desire. Maria arched her hips inviting him to taste her, but Vadim took his time. He kissed and licked her lower lips before parting them gently with his skilled fingers. His tongue darted between them licking at the juices of desire pouring from her body.

  Finally, his tongue twirled around her swollen and aching clit sending bolts of pleasure zipping through her body. She tensed and relaxed as her body drank in the sweet soft torment of Vadim's tongue. It twirled around her aching pleasure nub again and again until she was sure it would send her over the edge. Vadim stopped just short of doing just that. Maria arched her hips, wiggling them to invite him in for more.

  This time, it was his fingers that probed into her. Her body contracted around them, squeezing, again and again as he touched her gently working his way slowly up to her sweet spot. His thumb slowly massaged her clit as his fingers worked to bring her close to the edge again. Maria bucked up into him, grinding against his tongue and fingers and gently tugged at his hair.

  Just before she came, Vadim began kissing slowly up her torso again. She reached out to take hold of his member again, but he shook his head.

  “If you touch me with those soft hands we'll never get to the main course,” he panted kissing her neck.

  “Then I want you inside of me right now,” Maria moaned grinding against him.

  “My pleasure,” Vadim said.

  Maria reached between their bodies and guided him into her. She gasped in pleasure as his tip forced its way into her folds opening her and thrilling her. Her body trembled as Vadim began rocking his hips and slowly sinking into her. The delightful sensation of fullness spread over her body and her toes curled into the sheets.

  Soon, their bodies found their shared rhythm and Maria wrapped her legs around Vadim. He thrusted slowly into her kissing her neck and nibbling her earlobe. She clung to him as pleasure shook her body and took over her mind. Each long slow stroke he made into her felt even more delicious than the last. Doubts tried to creep in about how many women Vadim had been with, but she brushed them aside. None of it mattered. Nothing mattered except the fact he was with her now and how good it felt felt to be connected to him so intimately.

  “I'm close,” Maria panted.

  “Look into my eyes as you orgasm,” Vadim whispered.

  Maria blushed, but locked her eyes to his as her body began to twist and bend in pleasure as the climax she'd been seeking all night finally overtook her. Her long fingernails dug into her shoulders as her body tossed in pleasure. She contracted around his organ as his thrusts became quick and shallow.

  Vadim let out a moan of victory and Maria felt his seed explode inside of her. It was only then she realized that caught up in the moment, she hadn't thought about condoms or other safe guards. The doubts and worries fled from her mind as soon as Vadim claimed her mouth in another passionate kiss.

  That night, she fell asleep with her head on his chest still nude and lost to the bliss of post-coital cuddling. The last thing she remembered before sleep pulling her under was Vadim kissing her on the top of the head.

  Chapter 4: Reunion

  Vadim sat alone at a cafe. An untouched espresso sat in front of him. His mind was still on the case that had been closed over two months ago. It always had amazed Vadim that all it took to get the American police to do their job was to shoot someone in the leg. Robert Edmund and his cronies had been behind bars before the week ends. What a week that had been though. He knew Venice w
ould never look the same again.

  He hadn't seen Maria since the plane landed on American soil and they went their separate ways. He had since kept a small guard on her apartment without her knowing. There was something about Maria that he hadn't been able to forget. Vadim wasn't used to being haunted by beautiful women, but Maria had stuck to his mind and he couldn't shake the memories of her.

  Little things about her would crawl into his mind while he was on the job and that was quickly becoming dangerous. At night, his dreams were haunted by the ebony beauty. Her laughter rang through his head in the moments of silence that were once his solace from the world.

  On several occasions, he had considered calling her, but had held himself back. Once he tried to distract himself with the company of another woman, but it was useless. He had bid her goodnight after dinner unable to fallow through with his plans to purge his mind of Maria.