The Life (The Russian Guns)

by Bethany-Kris

  She woke up earlier that morning to colorful wildflowers scattered throughout the bedroom and the sweet smell of hot breakfast and raspberry tea. Viviana managed to get half way through the meal before a hunger of a whole different sort had taken over as she simply watched her husband check his emails.

  It had been overpowering. The urge to feel him, to have him hold and kiss and need her.

  There hadn’t been many words spoken, only hands that roamed soft and sweet while lips fluttered down to taste and suck. On her knees with her back fitted snug to his chest, she could practically still feel him holding her, a hand between her thighs working quickly with fingers to her sex. The slow stokes of his cock hadn’t taken her too hard, but they still reached her deep, hitting the spots to make her shake and shudder with broken, high cries.

  Oh yes, Viviana’s desire for sex, touch, and bliss had surely come back with a vengeance. Thankfully, the false labor didn’t make its unwanted appearance every time they made love, otherwise it would have put a serious damper on the mood. She hadn’t realized just how much she missed the intimate communication they somehow shared when they joined like that.

  Viviana’s insides were having the oddest reaction seeing her husband close in. With short breaths, electricity humming over her nerves, and trembling hands hiding in her lap, she knew she was in trouble.

  Somewhere along the last four days since their arrival to the lodge, Viviana had stopped letting those pesky hormones and insecurities rule her. She stopped questioning Anton. She didn’t need to ask or worry, and while Anton professed how beautiful she was and how much he loved her every chance he got, he didn’t need to. More often than not, the way he showed her was enough. Words weren’t needed.

  Willing the lust she felt to stay out of her voice, Viviana offered Anton a smile as she said, “Hey.”

  The ear buds were tugged out of his ears, the speakers still buzzing with music.

  “Enjoying the view, baby?” he asked with a smug grin.

  “You know it. The lake is incredible.”

  Anton guffawed, but he didn’t call her on the lie as he reached down to pet their pup. “How’d Rocco do on the walk?”

  “Great. Limped a bit at the end, but I think I was, too.” The worried frown that she got in response had Viviana rushing to reassure her husband. “Everything’s fine, Anton. No pain, no show, no water. The baby is going to be inside of me for a few more weeks, anyway. I didn’t realize how far we had walked, that was all.”

  “But it was quite bad last night, huh?”

  Viviana made a face. “More pressure than anything.”

  “Did you call Sasha about it?”

  “Yep.”

  Anton joined her on the bench and Viviana rested into his side as he slung an arm protectively around her shoulders. She didn’t even care that he was sweaty and in serious need of another shower—him being closer was better. With her head tilted down to lay on his shoulder, she allowed him to rock the swing back and forth, tracing circles with the tip of her finger to her swelled stomach.

  “Where are Rory and Joe, anyway?” Viviana asked.

  The bulls in question had been missing all morning. At first Viviana thought they were just hiking, but they’d been gone far too long for that.

  “Picking up something for me.”

  Viviana scowled. “It better not be business-wise.”

  The rumble of laughter he released shook their bodies. “Nope. A surprise for my beautiful wife, actually.”

  “What?”

  Anton nodded, his arm squeezing her tighter. “Yeah, should be here soon, so you might want to go take a shower …”

  “You might want to go take a shower. Stinky.”

  The desire shining in Anton’s eyes and he looked down on her had Viviana shivering all over again.

  “Care to join me? I promise to make it worth your while.”

  Viviana didn’t doubt it, nor did she have the will or want to refuse.

  *

  “No way.”

  Anton huffed a breath and rolled his eyes.

  “Yes way,” he mocked, poking his wife’s side gently. “Come on, baby—you talked about wanting to do this. Now would be the perfect time. The scenery of this place is amazing. I paid for it already. What’s the problem?”

  The question is more like what isn’t the problem, Viviana thought.

  The biggest of all the problems was twenty feet away chatting up a storm with Rory. The female photographer had been a shocker to Viviana, never mind a sudden stress she didn’t want or need. Sure, she’d chatted offhandedly about getting maternity photos done, both private and couple shots, but that was months ago.

  Seemingly deciding to try to appease his silent wife, Anton continued speaking. “She’s a good friend of Eva’s, so I trust her. She was more than willing to accommodate my demand to have the guys bring her here without notice or direction as to where she was going, so she trusts us. It’s a woman, so I’m not going to be an asshole with my jealousy. I’ve seen a great deal of her work, and she takes amazing photographs, especially when the subject is a woman, or a couple.”

  When Viviana still didn’t respond, Anton shook his head and left her side. He gave a quick word to Rory, and both the bull and her husband disappeared back inside the lodge, leaving her alone with the photographer.

  The woman cleared her throat and offered a wave as walked over to meet Viviana. “Hi, I’m Scarlett. It’s Viviana, right?”

  Viviana offered her a tentative smile, but it didn’t ring true. “Or Vine, either one will work. I’m really sorry he dragged you all the way out here for nothing.”

  Scarlett shrugged, keeping her face passive. “Maybe not for nothing. Can we chat frankly for a moment?” Viviana conceded with a nod. Scarlett leaned against the railing and looked out at the lake. “A lot of women freak out about maternity shots, especially if they’re in their final months. Things don’t look like they used to, they feel like crap, they’re nervous about being naked, or whatever else. All valid excuses, and I can usually calm the fears or edit the photo a little to boost a woman’s confidence. Can I ask what your excuses are?”

  “Pardon?” Viviana asked, shocked at the brazenness in the question. “I’m—”

  “You’re quite beautiful,” Scarlett interrupted, turning back on Viviana with an appraising stare. “Stunning, actually, and it’s not a big surprise why your husband would want to have this time in your life and marriage memorialized for you both. Your skin is clear, your eyes are bright, you don’t look the least bit tired, and your body is extremely fit for being nearly eight months pregnant. Tall, shapely, and model worthy. Trust that I’ve had the amazing opportunity to photograph many beautiful women before, pregnant or not, so I have some instinct about natural beauty.”

  Stunned, Viviana didn’t know how to respond. “Why?”

  “Why, what?”

  “Why women? Anton mentioned you preferred taking photographs of women or couples.”

  Scarlett smiled, the sight bright and genuine. “Women are beautiful at all stages of their life. They are grace in motion—magnificence in curves and color. I enjoy photographing women because they deserve to see their honest beauty, however it is that I manage to catch it.”

  “And couples?” Viviana asked.

  “Isn’t that one obvious?”

  “I’m not the photographer.”

  “True.” Scarlett laughed breezily. “Beyond the career title, I’m an artist. What I want most in life is to capture things that capture me. Affection, for one. Your husband was correct, to a point. I do prefer women and couples, but not just any couple. Specific couples. The ones your eyes are drawn to because they don’t notice the world around them when they’re near one another. The lovers who need to touch or they’re not complete.”

  “The ones in love.”

  “Exactly.” Scarlett smiled once more, lifting her shoulders beneath the cashmere cardigan she wore. She seemed pleased Viviana caught on so quickly
. “I would be honored to capture yours, Vine, if you’ll let me.”

  It was only then that Viviana noticed Anton had come back to the front door, resting against the entrance with his arms crossed and waiting patiently. She understood why he wanted her to do the photographs, and Viviana had the distinct feeling if she didn’t take Scarlett up on her offer, she would surely regret it.

  Also, it was a pretty amazing gift Anton had given her. It couldn’t have been easy for him to set it up without her knowing, not to mention the expense. She had to admit it had her heart swelling, though her nerves were growing. She suddenly wanted to thank him for the surprise, despite her earlier hesitance.

  With her decision made, Viviana nodded her agreement. “Did you have a spot in mind, Anton?”

  “Of course, baby.”

  *

  Viviana sighed when Anton’s lips ghosted along the curve in her neck. The tips of her hair dipped into the water of the small creek that eventually led to the lake a half a mile away. She wore nothing but a pair of white lace boy-shorts and with her legs drawn up tight to his side, it probably appeared as if Anton was wearing nothing at all, though he did have boxer-briefs on.

  Anton was kneeling between Viviana’s opened legs, and his chest pressed to hers, effectively covering the nakedness of her breasts. One of his hands held the small of her back while the other was splayed wide open to the side of her stomach. With a simple sweep of his thumb over her hyperaware flesh, Viviana’s desire waged an internal war, and love flooded.

  It was intimate and sensual.

  The faint click of a shutter in the background barely registered to her ears.

  While Viviana’s private shoot was done without Anton’s presence, the photos being something she wanted to share privately with him, their couple session was almost as easy as breathing. Scarlett didn’t say much. She simply allowed the pair to do what they wanted, to move how they felt comfortable, and to let their natural connection and love shine through.

  Apparently, it did just that.

  Lifting his head to stare at her, Anton watched her through the honest emotions flickering behind his eyes. Viviana leaned up just enough to press her lips to the underside of his chin, raising her right hand from the ground to cover the one still opened to touch over the squirming movement coming from inside her midsection.

  Another click of the shutter echoed in the quiet space.

  Anton didn’t seem to mind the woman just feet away with her gaze trained on them through the lens of a camera. Neither did Viviana, really. Even with the other presence, their need to have closeness wasn’t in any way impacted. If anything, Viviana found she wanted these moments captured in still-life.

  The perfection of them at one moment in time frozen forever.

  “Thank you for doing this,” she whispered into Anton’s ear.

  The feeling of his mouth curving a smile against her jaw as he ran his hand up the length of her spine had her own grin building. “I love you, Viviana. So, so much. There’s not a thing I wouldn’t do to show you, baby.”

  Viviana suddenly felt choked by the emotions rolling around in her heart and soul. The sentiments only seemed to swell as air caught in her throat and Anton brushed his nose along the line of her cheekbone before lifting himself slightly away from her form. Viviana was quick to use her arm to cover her breasts as he laid the softest kiss to the spot above her navel.

  Viviana didn’t hear the click of the shutter that time, but that could have been because her thundering heartbeat overtook all other noise. Laying another kiss a little higher down to her skin, and then another, Anton came to a stop just below where her arm was still covering for the sake of modesty. He looked up from her body, his lips still resting on her flesh, and their stares met. Behind his gaze there was a sure clarity of worship shining brightly back.

  Good God, she was so in love with this man. The feeling was growing stronger by the second. Viviana didn’t realize her vision had blurred with unshed tears until she felt the wetness slide down her cheek.

  The camera’s shutter clicked down one last time.

  Chapter Eleven

  Anton swiped his thumbs under his wife’s eye to wipe away the silent flood of tears she couldn’t seem to stop. His rules about Viviana and tears were pretty simple: if she was crying, someone had made her do it, and it wouldn’t end well.

  This was not at all the same. It wasn’t so simple.

  Anton made her cry … and it was for a good thing.

  At least he thought it was.

  Sometimes being a man who made it his job to hide emotional vulnerabilities was a double-edged sword. What Anton didn’t understand from his own self, he could usually look to Viviana for an explanation. She was so reflective of him and their passionate waves together. Unfortunately, he knew exactly what he was feeling and why; love, contentedness, desire, and worry. Those things always seemed to revolve in his insides where Viviana was concerned.

  So, why the tears?

  Anton didn’t like to see Viviana cry; tried like hell to keep her from doing so, no matter the cost. While he was terribly happy his gift of the impromptu maternity shoot had gone off so well with her, he was also horribly confused over her reaction at the end.

  Mind fuck fit the bill pretty damned well.

  Clearing his throat, Anton pulled Viviana into his embrace, hoping it’d quell her crying. Her hands fisted into the T-shirt he previously pulled on after Scarlett had said she got the shots she wanted. Viviana, on the other hand, still wore very little, though he had managed to pull the button down over her shaking shoulders.

  “Did I do something wrong?” he asked.

  Viviana shook her head frantically, staring up with wide, brown eyes brimming with shimmering wetness. “Oh, no. No, you did so well. So good. I just realized … It was really overwhelming, and I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to cry. Please don’t think badly. It’s nothing like that.”

  Her words only served to confuse Anton further. “But—”

  “Thank you for allowing me to photograph you,” Scarlett said quietly, keeping a respectable distance from the embracing couple. She’d been silent while she packed equipment, and Anton was grateful for her extending them privacy. “Especially together. It was incredibly touching to witness, and I believe your child is very lucky to be born to such an amazing set of parents who are so clearly in love.”

  Wiping away the remaining streaks from her cheeks, Viviana took a breath and moved just enough to regard the photographer. “Thank you for coming, even with Anton’s demands about transportation and all that ridiculousness.”

  He snorted above his wife’s head. “You know why I did that, baby.”

  “Still ridiculous,” Viviana said.

  Scarlett smiled, obviously amused by the exchange. “Believe it or not, but his request is not the oddest I’ve had. I was more than happy to accommodate it, though, and I’m pleased that I did. This shoot is one of the most emotional I’ve been allowed to participate in. Your reaction isn’t so unusual or uncommon—not with the couples I photograph—but I’ve never been able to catch it before. It usually happens when the session is over, or I am gone, and by then the moment is lost. Thank you for giving me that.”

  “The pictures,” Anton said, surprised to find his voice was gruff from something unknown clanging around in his insides. He didn’t want to be rude, but the moments shared between him and Viviana on camera were not for public display.

  The photographer seemed to understand what Anton was implying without him even needing to spell it out. “You will have full rights to all the photographs when I’m finished. Some people don’t mind displaying their intimacy while others find it very hard and too private. Either way, I respect and understand. I will keep the negatives and put them in a safe place for my own collection. With your permission, I would love to keep one for private display in my studio.”

  “Which one?” Anton asked.

  Scarlett shrugged one shoulder. “I think you kno
w which one.”

  The final one, he thought. The one with a single, silvery tear slipping down over the high cheekbone of his wife while their gazes were locked. Anton had been so confused about the tear, the way Viviana’s face had relaxed with the weight of some strange realization as the air seemed to freeze around them. Regarding him honestly, holding him with those eyes of hers that always reflected the beauty of an old soul, and humming with sweetened, untarnished love that always dripped over his being like liquid silk, that photo was sure to be beautiful.

  And entirely terrifying, Anton added silently.

  It would, in effect, be a very open showcase of them.

  Anton had never allowed anyone that private access to the love he had for Viviana.

  So yes, it frightened him.

  “I think any photo would be fine, right?” Viviana asked, staring up at him.

  Anton didn’t know how to respond. He knew his wife didn’t see their love and devotion the same way he did—something untouchable and untainted that needed to be constantly protected and coveted from the outside world. She didn’t mind sharing it openly.

  “Fine,” he repeated with a smile.

  “Thank you,” Scarlett replied, winking at Viviana.

  Raising up on her toes, Viviana kissed Anton soundly before allowing him to help her pull her arms through the sleeves in the shirt and button up the front. The gentle movements of his son beneath his palms had Anton’s heart singing with a divine rhythm beating thoroughly from pure affection alone. He so loved feeling the child, knowing he helped create that innocent little life just waiting to be born.

  “Yeah, we’re nearly done, Demyan.”

  “Shush your mouth. That’d be all we need is to go home and find out everybody somehow knows his name, Anton.”

  Scarlett, already making the slow trek back to the lodge with her small bit of equipment, didn’t seem to hear Anton’s slip of his son’s name.