Russian's Determined Love (Drobilka Family Series #3)

by Leona Lee

  She pushed at his chest. “You’re talking like a man who is about to die.”

  “You saw the pictures of Sasha. Boris is not a man who leaves…loose ends.”

  “There has to be something that we can do. You can’t simply walk into a trap.”

  “Oh, I have no intention of going willingly or passively. Believe me, Malyutka. I will fight every step of the way, but I will not put your life at risk. Not any more than it already has.”

  Shaking her head, Bethany rose to her feet. “I refuse to accept that this may be it. What are we going to do?”

  He stood up with a gentle smile and pulled her back into his arms. “Well, for now, let’s enjoy our evening.”

  “How can you be so calm?”

  He shrugged his shoulders. “I have been surrounded by death and destruction most of my life, and I have been responsible for much of it. I am surprised that I have survived this long.” He hugged her. “Come, I picked up some food. Let us enjoy our evening and talk about a future we may never have.”

  “Vadim, that sounds completely morbid.”

  Walking toward the kitchen, he turned to look at her, “Really? Have you ever tried it?” At her shake of the head, he continued, “You may feel differently after tonight. Come help me.”

  Bethany joined him in the kitchen and carried various containers out to the living room floor. Behind her, he set down an open bottle of red wine and two glasses. Opening the flue for the fireplace, he kicked on the gas and started a fire before sitting down on the rug beside her.

  After opening all the different containers, he laid out a picnic spread comprised of cold roast beef, prosciutto, different cheeses, melon, tapenade, marinated vegetables, melba toasts, and fruit tarts.

  As Bethany looked at the feast before them, she couldn’t help but feel resentful. “Is this your last supper?”

  He handed her a glass of the freshly poured wine. “Personally, I can’t think of a better way to spend the evening than enjoying good food and wine with a beautiful woman. Do you disagree?”

  Sipping her wine, she looked at him. “Well, I’d rather spend it with you.”

  He smiled at her. “That’s the spirit.”

  They dug in and ate quietly with the only conversation about the food. Bethany didn’t realize how hungry she was until she started eating, and she had to admit, everything was delicious. Vadim went to the kitchen to fetch another bottle of wine as she rolled over on her stomach and munched on prosciutto-wrapped melon.

  As he sat down beside her, she asked, “So tell me, Mr. Sannikoff, if you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?”

  He sipped his wine and leaned up against the couch as he thought. “I have traveled to a great many places and seen much of the world, but I never felt as though I belonged anywhere until I met you.”

  Grabbing the wine bottle, she refilled her glass, “While that is an absolutely charming answer, it doesn’t fit the question. Care to try again?”

  He shook his head. “Nyet, why don’t you answer it first.”

  She sat up and set her wine down to pick up one of the fruit tarts. His eyes darkened when she dipped her finger into the creamy filling and popped it in her mouth. “I would like to travel. I think it would be amazing to see the world,” she answered, completely oblivious to the effect she was having on him as she licked at the tart. “But with everything that has happened, I would be unbelievably happy up high in a mountain retreat or possibly a private island, with no one about but us.”

  As she was about to put her finger back in her mouth, Vadim grabbed her wrist. Turning her hand toward him, he sucked on her cream-covered finger as she drew in a breath.

  “That sounds so isolated, Malyutka. What would we do with ourselves?”

  She swallowed hard as she took her hand back, picked up the strawberry on the tart, and fed it to him. His eyes were smoldering as the temperature in the room seemed to rise exponentially. “Well, we could always make babies,” she answered, suddenly finding it difficult to breathe.

  He took the tart out of her hand and dipped his finger in the cream. “You would want to have children, with me?”

  She grabbed his hand and sucked his finger into her mouth, swirling her tongue around before releasing it with a pop.

  “Isn’t that what people do in a deserted location?”

  Picking up a blueberry, he fed it to her as she nipped at his fingers.

  “While that is an absolutely charming answer, it doesn’t fit the question, Miss Michaels. Care to try again?”

  She looked him in the eyes as she kissed his hand. “I would like nothing better than to raise blond-haired, blue-eyed children with you, Mr. Sannikoff.”

  With a groan, Vadim set the tart aside and pushed Bethany over on to her back. Wrapping his arms around her, he kissed her deeply, as she moaned in response.

  “I would like that too, Miss Michaels. In the mountains. Out in the desert. On a boat. In the jungle. Or our own private island,” he told her as he punctuated each response with a kiss.

  Bethany’s hands went to his shirt to unbutton it. After pulling it free from his waistband, she pushed it aside as she kissed his chest. If this was going to be their last night together, then she wanted to enjoy all of it.

  Understanding her need, Vadim sat up, pulling his shirt off. He reached for the clasp on his trousers and rose up to step out of them before returning to her on the floor. He lifted her shirt over her head and tossed it aside.

  “You are so beautiful,” he told her as he looked at her with admiration and love.

  Pulling her bra straps off her shoulders, he undid the clasp, tugging it off her body. Her breasts popped free as he held them in his hands. They were so warm, so soft to his touch. He loved how responsive they were as he rubbed his thumbs across her nipples, making her moan as she jutted her chest into his hands.

  He slid his hands down her body, stroking her stomach before sliding his fingers along her waistband. She wiggled her hips as he tugged her pants down her legs, dragging her panties along with them. He tossed them aside as he looked at her in wonder.

  His hands roamed freely over her body, enjoying every sweet curve. Just the thought of making love to her had him hard and ready to go. But tonight might be their last night. What tomorrow might bring was unknown. All they had was each other in this moment, and he wanted to make it last as long as possible.

  The knowledge that he might never see her again had him opening his mouth and welcoming her as she melted into him, her lips eagerly reaching up to his. They were warm and full. He inhaled deeply, loving her scent of vanilla and strawberries. She always smelled of a warm spring day. She was intoxicating. He tasted her, first a tentative lick across her bottom lip before he nibbled on it. Something he had done so many times, but tonight felt like the first time.

  Bethany’s hands slid up his chest, across his shoulders, down his arms, and up his back as if she were trying to memorize every inch of him. She understood that it might be their last time together and she wanted to make it count. She tilted her head up, deepening the kiss, hungry for everything he had to offer. Arching her back up, she brushed her nipples across his chest, that slight sensation causing her to shudder in response.

  She welcomed his weight on top of her as he pressed down, wanting to imprint all of him on her, if only for a short time. Every part of him was taut with emotion, excitement, anticipation. He was hard where she was soft.

  He wrapped his arms around her, holding her close as he kissed her mouth, her cheeks, her eyes, before moving down to her sensitive spots along her neck. The stubble from his two-day beard growth chafed her skin, the sensation heightening her arousal as she dragged her nails up his back in response.

  His lips blazed a path across her chest, heating her up everywhere he touched her before placing his hot mouth on her nipples, sucking hard as she moaned his name. He rubbed his cheeks on her breasts as he reached up to cup them, squeezing and massaging as he rubbed his b
eard across her nipples.

  Rocking his hips, he slid between her legs as she dragged them up the outsides of his legs before draping them around his hips, hugging him tightly to her. She desperately wanted him buried deep inside her, where the world reduced to only them as pleasure wrapped around them like a blanket.

  At that moment, she didn’t care what their future held. Only this moment mattered. Only him. He kissed her thoroughly, his tongue twining around hers in that dance they knew so well.

  Vadim took his time, spinning things out, each kiss leading to another as they hungrily licked and nipped at each other, their hands continually moving, memorizing each other.

  Unable to wait any longer, Bethany called out his name as he lifted up on his arms. Positioning himself, he slowly sank between her folds, groaning at how wet and tight she was. She was made to fit him – that much he knew – and he began to plunge in and out. Her hands found their way to his thighs, and she stroked his skin across his hips to dig her fingers into his ass cheeks, pulling him closer as he was sliding out.

  Tightening her legs around him, she lifted her hips and began to thrust back with each downward stroke, the impact against her pelvis making her moan as pleasure pulsated throughout her body.

  She felt so good – so hot as her fevered skin, wet with sweat and pleasure, made it easy for him to plunge in and out, the clenching of her vaginal muscles demanding that he stay. Gripping her hips, he pulled out and surged in again. The friction between them drove them higher and higher as they took from each other, giving it all back ten-fold.

  He watched as her blush crept down to her chest, indicating that her need had grown and she would come soon. He wanted it to last longer, to keep her like this all night, but each time she clenched around his cock, it became harder and harder to keep going. He sped up, thrusting faster as her moans became louder.

  When her release came, she cried out as pleasure exploded inside her body, shaking her to the core. As her nails dug into him, he shouted and slammed into her, his balls gripped in momentary paralysis before releasing and empting deep inside her. The sudden thought of miniature Bethanys running around after older brothers caused a second spasm as he was rocked by a level of emotion he had not felt before.

  Holding her in his arms, she hugged him back, neither wanting to shatter the intensity of the moment.

  Worried that he was hurting her, he rolled to his side, taking her with him. She lay sprawled across his chest, content to lie in his arms like this for the rest of their lives.

  They spent the rest of the night together, talking and laughing, constantly touching each other. They both knew their world was about to shatter and they wanted this moment to last for as long as possible. Daylight would bring reality, but for now, they were content to stay in the moment and treasure it as if it were a prized possession.

  Chapter 9

  Bethany woke to an empty bed as she fought back a sob. He can’t have left already? she thought, as she jumped out of bed and rushed into the other room. She surprised Vadim in the kitchen as she wrapped her arms around his back, sobbing.

  “I thought you had left without saying goodbye.”

  Wrapping his arms around her, he turned around, surprised to see that she was naked. He held her to him. “I wouldn’t do that, Malyutka. Not today.”

  Wiping her tears, he told her to put something on and come enjoy some breakfast. Reluctantly releasing him, she ran to the bedroom to put something on before returning to the kitchen.

  Seeing her in one of his shirts made him take a hard swallow, as she looked so small. He walked up to her and released all but one button, allowing the shirt to drape open so that he could feast his eyes on her.

  She looked up at him and melted into his arms as he held her to him, kissing her passionately before setting her back on her feet. “So beautiful,” he murmured, reluctant to let go. With a heavy sigh, he stepped back. “Why don’t you start the water for coffee while I finish up here?” Nodding, Bethany turned without saying anything.

  As Vadim made breakfast, he kept casting glances her way, but her hair was blocking her face and he couldn’t see her well. He wished that things could be different. That he was different. He wondered what life might be like if they could settle some place without fear. Shaking himself mentally, he knew that could never happen.

  He had carved his path in life long before he came to America and the love of a woman could never shake that free. His employers would never allow it. He was surprised they’d allowed him to be with a woman for as long as he had since normally, they frowned on such relationships as it meant weakness and liabilities.

  He brought the omlettes to the breakfast bar where Bethany had already placed the coffee press and two cups. Setting the plates down with a flourish, he was rewarded with a wan smile. When he walked around to the other side, he hugged her briefly, wishing again that things could be different.

  They ate silently, immersed in their own thoughts, too caught up in their own emotions to talk. As they finished up, Bethany loaded the dishes while Vadim went to answer his phone. She could hear him murmuring in Russian, but she couldn’t make out what he was saying. She walked out into the living room, but he was no longer there. Following him into the bedroom, she found him packing a bag.

  “That was them?” she asked simply.

  “Dah. I’ve been called to New York.”

  “Will Boris be going again?”

  Shaking his head, he answered, “Nyet, he is staying here. I don’t think that you should go into the Rubicon tonight. Call in sick.”

  “I can’t do that, Vadim. This might be nothing, and if that’s the case, me avoiding work would only cast more suspicion on the both of us. Better that I act as though nothing is wrong. Who knows, he might feel like bragging.”

  “Be very careful, Malyutka. Everything that you think you know about me? He is ten times worse. His nickname back home was The Myasnik. You saw what he did to Sasha and her roommate and he has shown no remorse. The Butcher was highly sought after.”

  Feeling rather ill, Bethany clutched at her stomach. “If he’s so good, then what is he doing here?”

  “I don’t know. I had heard a rumor that he took something too far and pissed off the wrong people. This is his punishment.”

  “Well, it’s clear that he has other plans.”

  “Dah, which is why you need to be very careful. If you insist on going to the Rubicon while I’m not here, then make sure you have a weapon.”

  Bag in hand, Vadim walked back out into the living room to grab his wallet and phone. Checking to make sure he had everything, he laid his jacket over his bag before turning around to see Bethany standing quietly behind him. She ran into his arms, hugging him tightly.

  “Poka my ne vidim drug druga snova lyubov moya,” she told him.

  “Until we see each other again, Malyutka.”

  He kissed her deeply, and she kissed him back with the intensity and knowledge that she might not ever see him again. Sucking at her tongue, Vadim groaned, before he broke the kiss.

  “Malyutka, if you keep that up, I won’t be able to leave.”

  “Good.”

  Smiling down at her, he kissed the top of her head before grabbing his jacket and slinging his bag over his shoulder. “I will let you know when I arrive in New York.”

  Bethany nodded as she watched as the man she loved step onto the elevator and the doors closed. Unable to hold on any longer, she collapsed on the floor as loud sobs wracked her body.

  As the doors closed, Vadim could hear her cry; he punched the wall in frustration, praying to whatever god might exist that he would return safely to her.

  Chapter 10

  Bethany drove into the Rubicon that evening awash with worry over Vadim. She didn’t dare bring a gun with her into the club, but did toss a folding knife into her backpack. When she walked inside, it appeared to be business as usual at the table, with the exception that Vadim wasn’t there.

  When s
he walked past the men, Boris paused in his conversation to nod at her as she waved back. So far, so good, she thought. In the locker room, she put on her uniform and laced up her gladiator sandals. Looking at herself in the mirror, she grabbed the cover-up and dabbed on more around her eyes to hide the puffiness from crying.

  She pulled her hair into a loose ponytail, draped her hair down the side of her head, and gave herself one final look before walking out onto the floor. When she got to the bar, she grabbed her tablet and waved to Tiffany who was lounging behind the bar.

  “Should be an easy night,” Tiffany called out as Bethany scrolled through any current orders.

  “That would be great,” Bethany answered, “I’m exhausted.” She walked over to her station to introduce herself to the customers already seated there.

  The evening was uneventful, for which Bethany was grateful, as she was not in the mood for groping or spilled drinks. As she stood in line to receive her night’s pay, she was surprised to see the security guard handing them out. Glad that it wasn’t Boris, she took her envelope and headed out to her car.

  When she got home, her phone was beeping indicating that she had a text. Pulling it out, she retrieved her message. There was a photo attached of the New York City skyline with a glass of red wine in front of it. The message read, Wish you were here with me.

  Smiling, she texted him back.

  Saturday was uneventful, as well, but Bethany was concerned that she hadn’t heard from Vadim since that morning. They had agreed that he would contact her every six hours and it had been ten since she last heard from him. Trying not to panic, she stood in line to receive her pay, annoyed to see that it was Boris handing them out. As she stepped up, he handed her an envelope.

  “And how is Vadim?” he asked her.

  Was that a smirk? she thought. Pasting a smile on her face, she answered him, “He misses me.”

  “Oh, so you’ve heard from him?”

  “A few times, why? Hasn’t he contacted you?” Two counts as a few times, right?