by Bella Rose
Sasha swept her off her feet and into his arms. He kissed her in full view of his men. They whooped and started making ribald comments. Fortunately she was too distracted by her husband and too handicapped by her insufficient grasp of the language to really understand what they were saying.
Maria put her palms against Sasha’s cheeks and rubbed her nose against his. The warm sense of love and tenderness was more than she had ever expected from her cold arranged marriage. This was perfect. This was exactly what she needed.
Sasha carried her up the stairs and into the house. There were more people inside. It looked as if the entire Tarasov organization had been called in to welcome her home. Even Ana, Olga, and Oksana stood in a doorway beaming at her. Maria waved to them and was ecstatic to see them wave back. Maybe this was all going to turn out like a fairy tale.
“You weren’t kidding,” she told Sasha. “It’s like walking into another house.”
Sasha felt a pang of regret as he realized anew just how much his gentle little bride had suffered because of his negligence. “You’re a valued member of our family, Maria. I never want you to forget that.”
“Are you hungry, Mrs. Tarasov?” Oksana came forward eagerly. “I’ve fixed a whole spread for everyone. But I made sure to include some pasta.”
“I’m starving!” Maria could not quite hide her eagerness. “Thank you!”
She squirmed a bit, and Sasha let her down. He watched his wife disappear into the kitchen with Oksana, Ana, and Olga. It looked as if there had never been any animosity between them.
“Women are odd creatures, you know?” Yuri walked up and handed Sasha a glass of vodka. “One second they’re ready to kill each other, and the next they are the best of friends.”
“Because men are so different, eh?” Ivan threw his arm around Sasha, nearly knocking him over. “When we get mad we just smack our heads together until we get over it, right?”
“Right,” Sasha returned with a laugh.
Ivan looked down at Sasha. “That task you mentioned has been completed.”
“Has it?” Sasha felt a slow smile coming and did nothing to hide how pleased he was by that acknowledgement. “Thank you for taking care of that for me.”
Yuri sobered for a moment, taking a long swig of vodka from his glass. “We also took care of Dimitri and Kirill.”
“Did you pay the priest to do it right?” Sasha grimaced. “They were traitors, but before that, they were the two men I knew best in the world. We grew up together.”
“Their men and I saw it done,” Yuri confirmed. “We all respect you that much more because you were man enough to forgive them.”
“Had they lived, I would have had a harder time with it,” Sasha admitted. He swished the vodka around in his mouth and swallowed. “But how can I hold a grudge against two men that paid the ultimate price for their actions?”
“You’re a better man than I am,” Ivan grunted. “You stab me in the back, you’d better kill me. Because I’m going to turn around and bury that same knife in your throat.”
Sasha slapped Ivan on the back. “I’ll remember to put a bullet in your brain if I’m ever in that situation.”
Ivan and Yuri were both guffawing and making increasingly worse jokes about killing each other when Sasha heard something rather odd coming from the kitchen. Or actually it was the complete lack of something. The women in the kitchen had gone completely silent.
Maria had never felt so excited to be surrounded by other women. Even at the Sokolov house, she was held apart from the others because of her position as the pakhan’s daughter. Now she could laugh along with Ana and Olga as they teased each other mercilessly. With a spoon in one hand Maria was showing Oksana how to properly spice a good Italian red sauce. The smell of cooking food filled the kitchen with warmth and good feelings. It was almost idyllic.
Then a most unexpected thing happened. The exterior door of the kitchen opened and in stepped Tatiyana, as imposing as ever. Her expression was pinched, and the disapproval in her eyes made all four of the other women stop what they were doing to stare in silence.
Tatiyana gave a derisive sniff in Maria’s direction. “What is she doing here?”
“I live here,” Maria retorted. “I have ever since the moment I wed your pakhan.”
“Tatiyana,” Oksana began hesitantly. “The council did not rule as you expected.”
Maria gazed at Oksana. The woman was wringing her hands together and looking very uncomfortable. It occurred to Maria that she had no idea how these women were all connected outside of the house. Why hadn’t she even thought about that?
Maria addressed Oksana. “Who is she to you? There is something I’m not understanding.”
“So she tries to speak Russian now.” Tatiyana’s voice dripped disdain. “How nice of her to imitate her betters.”
Oksana ignored Tatiyana’s verbal jab and answered Maria’s question. “She is my husband’s sister.”
“Ah.” Maria pursed her lips. “I cannot imagine having such a person as my sister-in-law. I hope your husband does not share her poisonous disposition.”
“No.” A smile played at the corners of Oksana’s mouth. “He’s very kind and has a wonderful sense of humor. He is a Tarasov soldier.”
“That’s good,” Maria said in a gravely serious tone. “Because this bitch is sour as a basket of lemons with an ugly soul. I think she’s got sludge in her veins.”
Ana and Olga slapped their hands over the mouths. They both gasped as they tried not to burst into laughter.
“How dare you!” Tatiyana stomped toward Maria. “I am the keeper of this house. You are nothing but an outsider!”
“Is that right?” Maria didn’t let Tatiyana bother her one bit. Funny, but after dealing with Carmine and Enzo, Tatiyana now seemed more like a kitten that needed a good spraying with a water bottle.
Which is not a bad idea actually.
Maria reached for the spray bottle Oksana used in her baking. It had a good dusting of flour on it, but that didn’t make any difference to Maria. She pointed the bottle at Tatiyana and gave the woman two squirts.
Tatiyana’s gasp was so loud that Maria was sure she’d sucked all the air out of the room. “How dare you disre—”
Maria sprayed her again. “Bad kitty. Shut your mouth and go outside. You don’t belong in here.”
Olga and Ana had given up the pretense of trying not to laugh. They were doubled over howling like a pair of wild dogs. Maria couldn’t help but join in. Tatiyana’s expression was priceless. The woman started to open her mouth again, but Maria raised her eyebrows and pointed the sprayer one more time.
“Barbaric!” Tatiyana shouted as she wiped at her face and stormed out of the kitchen.
Sasha stood with his mouth hanging open as he watched Tatiyana flee the kitchen through the back door. Yuri and Ivan were laughing just as hard as the women. Ivan was actually grabbing the doorframe and holding tight to keep from falling over.
“Did you just spray her with water?” Sasha asked Maria.
Maria jumped a little, looking briefly guilty. Then Sasha watched her straighten up and smooth out her expression. She gave him a very slow smile. “Actually, I think it’s a mix of oil and water. Right Oksana?”
Oksana was still looking a little green. “Yes. I use it for baking. To spray the crust before I put the pastry in the oven.”
“My God,” Sasha snorted. “We should have set her ass on fire then.”
Oksana covered her face with her hands. “She will be so angry with me!” she moaned.
“Don’t worry.” Maria patted Oksana’s shoulder. “You’ve got my support and the support of the pakhan. She has nothing. Just remind your husband that he’s not going to lose his place with the Tarasovs because of Tatiyana. He’s going to keep his place because of his good-hearted wife.”
Now Oksana was sobbing. Sasha chuckled as he watched the men in the room decide that it was now time to go. Crying women seemed to have that effect on
men. Soon Sasha was the only male still hanging around.
He watched his gentle wife soothing Oksana. Ana and Olga joined in, and the four of them were soon smiling once again. Yes. This woman would make a perfect companion, a wonderful wife, and the most loving mother to their children that he could have ever dreamed of. Which reminded him of the other surprise he had for Maria.
“Did you get your food?” Sasha asked, butting into the female conversation.
Maria glanced up and offered him an emphatic nod. “Yes. I narrowly avoided starving to death, but it’s all taken care of now.”
“Then I have something else to show you,” he told her warmly.
She cocked her head to one side. The expression was so enticing that he nearly lost the battle for self control. Sasha couldn’t wait any longer. He plucked her off the barstool and swept out of the kitchen with his wife cradled in his arms.
Chapter Twenty-Five
“You know it’s really rude to just disappear when we have a house full of guests!” Maria teased her husband.
She could not stop touching him. Their time apart had been torture. Now she needed to memorize every single inch of his face. From the chiseled jawline to the straight blade of his nose, she traced each detail with loving care and attention. She loved the roughness of stubble on his cheeks from the dark beard growing in.
“Did you stop shaving?” she wondered.
“For the last few days, yes.” He made a face. “I’ve been busy trying to get everything ready.”
The reached the second floor and Sasha paused before his bedroom door. Maria felt bad about the council meeting.
“I didn’t realize that’s what my father was going to do,” she told Sasha. “If I had, I would have spoken to him. By the time I tried, he had already made up his mind.”
“I think we might need to smooth things over with him,” Sasha commented. “But I’m glad this happened the way it did. I apparently needed a wake-up call.” He shoved open the bedroom door.
Maria sucked in a quick breath of surprise. “It’s different!”
“It’s our suite now.” Sasha set her gently on her feet. “I had some of the men bring in that chair you like to sit in. And Ana and Olga picked out the bedding.”
The furniture was still dark and masculine, but the silver and white duvet and tasseled pillows made a perfect feminine counterpoint. Her chair stood right in front of the fireplace, and the book she had been reading was sitting on the seat. Someone had put a throw blanket over one arm of her chair, and an ottoman had been added for her comfort.
“You’re really going to need to put your feet up now,” Sasha said, observing the addition of the ottoman. “I cannot tell you how excited I am about the baby. How long have you known?”
She turned and smiled at him. “Just a few hours—I took the test this morning. I kept feeling sick. I retched in that alley and again at the bar, and then I’d thrown up a few times at my father’s house. I kept thinking it was just the stress of the situation, you know? Plus, I’ve been exhausted! I need about a hundred quick naps a day.”
“Should you rest now?” He sounded anxious.
Maria laughed. “I feel great, Sasha. I’m just so happy to be home.”
“I know why you left.” He looked so chagrined that she took pity on him.
“Sasha,” she whispered. “I just wanted to make a point. I made it, and now I’m home. It’s the only place I really want to be.”
Maria walked toward him. She put her finger against his breastbone and started pushing him back toward the bed. A quick Internet search the night before had informed her that pregnancy hormones sometimes resulted in an increased sex drive. What that clinical description didn’t say was just how badly she would want her husband. Her pussy was positively aching with the need to feel him inside her.
“What are you doing?”
“I’m fucking you,” she told him. “So shut up and help me get your clothes off.”
He was already ripping at his shirt, pulling it over his head and tossing it aside. Maria fumbled with his zipper. Finally she managed to get it down. Pushing her hands beneath his waistband, she squeezed his firm backside and reveled in the growl she got in response. He wanted her too, and it was driving her wild!
Maria pushed Sasha back onto the bed. He bounced a little before catching his weight on his elbows. The way he looked at her! The hunger in his eyes was intoxicating. She worked the boots off his feet. Then she was finally able to drag his pants down his legs. When he lay naked on the bed, she looked her fill.
The beauty of his body left her almost drunk with lust. The ropy muscle in his abdomen tapered to a slim waist and powerful legs. His cock jutted up from a nest of dark hair, and she wanted nothing more than to feel him inside her.
“Now it’s your turn,” Sasha rumbled. “Show me that beautiful body.”
Maria felt almost shy, but she was glad to see the appreciation on his face as she carefully pulled her sweater over her head. Her breasts were just a little fuller, and she felt a bit self-conscious about them. Her bra was snug now, and when she unfastened it, her breasts hung free.
Sasha groaned with arousal. “God, you’re sexy!”
His words gave her courage. She unbuttoned her jeans. Once she had toed off her shoes, she did a little turn and gave him her back. Then looking over her shoulder, she shimmied her pants down her legs so he had a good view of her butt. She felt sexy and wanted. It was the most exhilarating sensation she’d ever experienced.
“That’s my girl,” Sasha muttered. “Get over here before I explode.”
She had never taken the lead during sex before, but this time she wanted to. She climbed awkwardly onto the bed and straddled her husband’s body. Sasha’s hands settled on her thighs. He helped her to find a good position, and she felt her pussy splay open over the ridge of his cock.
“Just like that,” he encouraged. “Take me inside, Maria. Take what you want.”
Curiosity made her brave. She let her pussy gently slide along his cock. The slick feel of his satin skin against her heated flesh nearly pushed her over the edge. She felt the head of his cock slip right past her clit. The amazing sensation made her want more. She had to have him!
The sight of Maria poised over his cock, with her pert breasts on display and lust in her eyes, was better than his most erotic dream. He held his breath as the end of his cock caught lightly against her opening. Then he felt it—the moment his shaft slipped into the wet heat of her body. Her channel was so damn tight. He ground his teeth together and forced himself to let her lead. It was tempting to take control. But for now, Maria needed this, and he needed her.
She sank down onto his cock. Her expression of bliss inflated his ego to mythic proportions. He felt her wet pussy against his groin and knew he was as deeply embedded inside her as possible. Then she began to move, and he could not hold back.
“Fuck!” Sasha cried out. “Fuck! Yes! Just like that, baby. Just like that!”
Each roll of her hips rubbed his cock against the pad of muscle just inside her pussy. The friction was unbelievable. So good. So. Damn. Good. He could not stop himself from thrusting up toward her. He needed her. He needed to feel that true joining with her. The moment when he dominated her body and marked her as his own.
Then he heard her cry out. Sasha glanced up and saw that her eyes were closed as she rode him to oblivion. Her lips parted, and she gasped. Her inner muscles tightened until each movement of her body was agonizing pleasure for him. She grew wetter. Her muscles were tighter. And then he finally felt the quake of her orgasm as she came hard on his cock. Her belly trembled and her breasts jiggled as her whole body was lost in the throes of passion.
Sasha couldn’t wait any longer. He bracketed her hips in his hands and flipped her onto her back. She laughed a little. The sound was light and musical. Then she gazed up and him and touched his face. A wave of tenderness hit hard. This was his woman—his wife.
He felt her inner mus
cles squeeze tightly around his cock. Very gently he began moving in and out of her body. He loved every single stroke. Each time he felt the base of his cock spread her pussy lips as he fully penetrated her body, the satisfaction was immense. He wanted nothing else. Not ever.
Thrusting in and out of her, he felt his own orgasm begin to build. Then she lifted her legs and wrapped them around his waist. The new angle sent his cock deeper into her body. The sensations grew more intense. Sweat rolled down his back. Every muscle in his body was poised as though ready to fire. His balls tightened between his legs, and he knew that he was about to come.
“Come again, Maria,” he begged. “I want to feel your pussy squeeze me tight when I fill you with my cum. Come for me, baby.”
Her high-pitched wail lifted the hair on the back of his neck. The guttural sound was primal. He felt an answering chord in his body. This was it. This was the moment he had longed for. Sasha strained against her cleft and felt a moment of transcendence as he achieved climax.
Seed spilled from his cock, and he felt the pulsating throb of ejaculation. Never had anything felt so good. A feeling of euphoria settled inside him, and he almost collapsed. His arms were trembling, and he’d never felt so weak and so strong at the same time. Forcing himself to the side, he hit the bed with a thud.
Maria was laughing. The sound was so happy. Sasha reached over and dragged her closer. He wanted no space between them. Every inch of her skin should be pressed against every inch of his, and it should stay that way. He nuzzled her neck and kissed her ear. She was so precious to him in ways he’d never imagined.
“I love you so very much,” Sasha murmured. “Don’t ever leave me again.”
“Not even the stupid council could drag me away,” she said drowsily.
Sasha chuckled. He’d never been so proud of her as he had been inside that council room. Those men had likely never met a woman as outspoken about what she wanted. “They are pretty good at running everyone else’s lives,” Sasha agreed.
Maria rolled onto her belly. Propping her chin on her hand, she stared at him for several moments. He could see her getting her thoughts together. Reaching out, he gently stroked his fingers across her shoulder blades. The skin was so soft there. She was soft everywhere. It was incredibly arousing.