by Bella Rose
She heard the truth in his words, and her body betrayed her. His thumb slid over her clit, and she gasped and bucked her hips. “Erik,” she whimpered. “Oh my God.”
“Not God. Just me,” he growled. Pulling his hand from her pussy, he shoved her shirt up and leaned down to rake his teeth across her erect nipple.
She couldn’t say anything. All of her breath left her lungs, and she was helpless against his journey across her body. When his lips skimmed up the column of her neck, she moaned and slid her fingers through his hair. Capturing his lips, she opened up for him and let all of her worries go.
“This doesn’t mean that I trust you,” she muttered. He lifted her slightly from the bed, and she pulled her shirt up over her bed.
“I don’t want your damn trust, Ella,” he growled as he hooked a hand under her knee and lifted it. Rubbing her pussy against his cock, she raked her nails down his back.
“Then what the hell do you want?”
Erik pushed her roughly back against the bed and lifted both legs in the air. Sliding her panties off, his eyes glittered with lust. “From the moment I laid eyes on you in the hospital, I knew you were good. So annoyingly pure. I bet speeding is the worst thing you’ve ever done. I want to make you sweat. I want to make you moan. I want to see just how good sin looks on you.”
Aghast, her lips parted, and she braced a foot on his chest. “That’s not the most romantic thing that I’ve ever heard,” she snapped.
“Oh, Ella. If you want romance, I’m not the man for you. But if you want pleasure, I’m all yours.” Pushing her foot away, he leaned forward and nudged at the opening of her pussy with his erection. She wept with desire, and she couldn’t tell him no if she wanted to.
And she definitely didn’t want to.
Wrapping her legs around his waist, she lifted her hips and cried out when he slipped in a few inches. It had been so long for her, and she was impossibly tight, but he didn’t force her.
Propping his upper body up on his elbows, he rocked gently back and forth. “Are you okay?” he whispered.
Narrowing her eyes, she ran her hands over his chest. If he wasn’t going to give her romance, she didn’t want any sweetness. She didn’t know a whole lot about Erik, but she knew that he hadn’t lied to her about the nature of their relationship. If he wasn’t going to give her more than a couple nights in bed, she couldn’t let herself think that there’d be more.
“You’re not going to get what you want from me,” she growled, “if you stop and ask if I’m okay.”
A cold smile spread across his face, and he pushed his hips forward and slid even deeper. Crying out at the invasion, she bowed her back and closed her eyes. For the past few years, her life had been nothing but a struggle, and this man, pulsing inside her, gave her just a taste of freedom.
And raw, unadulterated pleasure.
He didn’t go easy. Pushing himself up, he grabbed her hips and pushed her roughly down the bed. From there, he could push deeper and faster. Her entire body was on fire.
“More,” she muttered. “Give me more.”
“Fuck,” he groaned and leaned down to press his lips to hers. “You have no idea how much this mouth haunts me. Ella, I need to hear you scream. I need to hear you come.”
Wrapping her arms around his body, she buried her face in the crook of his neck and opened her mouth to suck at his skin. The tension heightened inside her, and she was ready to snap.
“Baby,” he moaned. “Ah, baby, you feel so damn good.”
He twisted his hips and slid over that sweet spot inside her. Curling her toes, she slid her hands over the sweat of his back and felt every muscle. They rippled under her touch, and she knew that it was about to be all over.
“Flip over,” she begged. “Please.”
He gripped her hips and flipped them over. As she pressed the palm of her hand to her chest and arched her body, he slid in even deeper, and he grunted. “You like to be on top, baby?”
“I just need more control,” she muttered as she moved slowly over him. “Just a little more time.”
“Time for what?” Erik’s finger dug into her skin, and his eyes never left hers.
Gasping, she tried desperately to slow her body down, but the need for release was more than she could take. He bucked his hips and plunged inside her. Over and over again. “Answer me,” he demanded harshly. “Time for what?”
“I’m not ready,” she cried out. “Fuck, I’m not ready for it to be over.”
Reaching in between them, he pressed his thumb hard against her clitoris. “Come, Ella. I’ll never be through with you, so just let go.”
Whether it was his promise or the fact that her body couldn’t take anymore, her entire body went taut as the orgasm ripped through her, and she threw her head back and screamed his name.
He quickly jerked her down and flipped them over. Cuffing her hands above her head, he plowed into her, and his whole body jerked as he spilled his seed inside her.
When Erik collapsed on top of her, his full weight settled over her. She opened her eyes and stared at the ceiling as she pulled her arms from his grip. Tracing her fingers lightly over his skin, she had nothing to say.
His breathing was uneven, and she knew he was awake, but he didn’t offer her any comfort.
But he also didn’t pull away, and she couldn’t ask him for any more than that.
Chapter Fourteen
Erik slowly opened his eyes. In the haze of his sleep, he saw the outline of the woman wrapped in his arms. His leg separated hers, and he felt the heat of her pussy as she moved slightly in her sleep.
“Ah, fuck,” he whispered when he realized where he was. He’d come home last night desperate for a drink, and instead, he’d found himself climbing the stairs with only one thought in his mind—sink himself deep inside Ella.
Lifting his arm, he slowly pushed his body away from hers. She stirred and turned towards him. As her knee rose, he slid his away and quickly lifted himself from the mattress. Ella reached for him, and he held his breath. Soon, her body relaxed and her breath evened out.
Raking his hand through his hair, he shook his head. Never in his life had he slunk out of a bed before, but he could not bear to see the look in her eyes when she woke up. She’d probably be completely disgusted with herself.
Swiping his clothes from the floor, he dressed silently and opened the door. He’d relieved the armed guard of his duties last night. Erik didn’t want anyone to hear him when he fucked her.
Escaping into his bedroom, he headed straight to the shower. Leaving the water on cold, he stepped under it and let the water wash away any thoughts he had about going back to Ella and participating in a repeat performance.
Damn, but she had been good. Tight, wet, and welcoming. Every moan he’d pulled from her had been genuine, and there was a fire in her blue eyes that he would never forget.
He’d told her that he wasn’t done with her, but he couldn’t possibly take her again. Erik had never felt so vulnerable in his entire life.
Yashin had held up his end of the bargain. Vegas had been an experience, but Erik could help but feel like it was meant to be a last meal. The older man had fed him drink after drink, but Erik only tossed a third of them back Spilling some, pouring some in other people’s drinks, he’d done anything he could think of to stay in his right mind. He wasn’t even tempted by the women, but the freedom that Vegas offered was enticing. No father to please. No people to protect. No legacy to fulfill.
With a sigh, he turned off the water and squeezed the excess from his hair. It wasn’t until he’d wrapped the towel around himself that he realized his phone was ringing.
It was Matvei.
“What have you found?” Erik growled.
“I’m sorry, boss,” Matvei said heavily. “There was a calling card in his pocket. We almost didn’t find it.”
Erik felt his whole body still. “What kind of calling card?”
>
“I’m not real big on flowers, boss, but it looks an awful like the ones all over the club.”
A black orchid. “He’s taunting me. Fuck. It’s either Rostilav or Valeria. Why would they kill him before they had an answer from me? Matvei, I’m going to ask you a question, and I want you to answer honestly.”
“Yes, boss.”
Erik took a deep breath and closed his eyes. “Has Leonid done anything suspicious recently?”
“No. And I’m not just saying that because he’s my friend. I know that Leonid wouldn’t do anything to go against you, boss. He was your man, through and through.”
Matvei probably wasn’t wrong, and Leonid probably died for it. As he pinched the bridge of his nose, realization dawned on him.
“This was always a set-up,” he muttered. “Yashin knew that I would never marry his daughter, but he wanted the club anyway. He or Valeria must have stopped by the club that night to look for something. She’s been charming security all month, so it wouldn’t have been hard for her to get in. They turned off the security cameras and killed him when they didn’t find what they wanted.”
Erik started to pace on the floor. “What would be so valuable in the club? What were they after? Matvei, I’m letting non-essential staff go. I want you to meet them at the safe house.”
“Dina?” Matvei asked softly.
“Yes.” Gritting his teeth, he hung up the phone. Storming into his bedroom, he ran the towel over his naked body before pulling on a pair of jeans and a T-shirt. Throwing open the door, he practically ran downstairs. “I need everyone in the observatory, now,” he snapped at the closest guard. “Round them up.”
Fifteen minutes later, Erik faced all the people that had faithfully left their homes to serve him. “We have a problem,” he said softly. “It seems that Yashin doesn’t want to play ball anymore. I have a feeling he never intended to. He’s more established and has more manpower than we do. In an attack, we don’t stand a chance. All non-essential personnel will go to a safe house. Four armed men will escort you, and Matvei will meet you there. You have twenty minutes to pack only the essentials.”
They stared at him, but none of them had terror in their eyes. They’d lived their entire lives with him and his family, and they knew how dangerous it could be. Nodding calmly, they dispersed. He turned to the guards.
“The house is stocked with everything you need, and there is emergency cash in the floor under the couch. I want three men on guard at all times.”
“Yes, sir,” they said as they nodded.
“Good. Go pack.”
The first person to return with a duffel bag slung over her shoulder was Dina. “What about Ella?” she asked quietly.
“She’s not like you,” he muttered. “She’s not equipped to handle these kinds of situations, and I don’t want to risk her distracting the guards. She’ll stay with me until I can find a safe place for her.”
“You’re a target,” Dina said, her voice tight with censure. “And Valeria knows how you feel about her.”
“That would be thanks to you,” he said darkly. “Don’t worry about her, and quit pretending that you have any idea how I feel. Now get your ass moving.”
As his staff filled the cars, he hurried upstairs to wake Ella. The Black Orchid could run on its own for a week, and that’s all it would take for his father to send reinforcements. He just needed to lay low until then.
It felt like running. It felt like cheating, but Dina was right. Valeria had zeroed in on Ella, and he couldn’t just serve her up to be slaughtered.
When he opened her door, she was already up and getting dressed. She whirled around as she pulled her shirt down, and he saw just a flash of skin. “Knocking would be nice,” she muttered. “Or was last night an invitation for you to come in whenever you want?”
“I don’t have time for this,” he muttered. “Pack your bags. We’re leaving now.”
“Leaving?” she asked with a frown. “And where the hell do you think we’re going? Are you kicking me out after last night? Of all the insufferable…”
Erik breathed in sharply when movement outside the window caught his eye. Four black cars pulled into the drive. Security hadn’t called in from the gate, which could only mean one thing—security was dead.
“No time to pack,” he said as he grabbed her hand. “We need to leave now.”
“Erik,” she shrieked as he pulled her from the room. “What the hell is going on?”
“Stop arguing,” he growled as he pulled her down the stairs. “We need to get as far away from this place as possible. If we can get to the club, I can get my hands on some cash, and…” he stopped abruptly and she practically fell into him.
“Shit,” he growled. “Shit! I am the biggest idiot in the world.”
“What are you talking about?”
Just as they reached the bottom of the stairs, the front door opened, and Valeria walked in. She smiled coldly and pointed a gun at him. “Hello, sweetheart. I heard you had a good time in Vegas without me. That was supposed to be our honeymoon.”
Erik pulled Ella tight against his back and turned carefully to keep himself between her and the gun. “There’s no need to continue the lie,” he said snidely. “We both know that you never had any intention of marrying me.”
“Well, now, that’s just not true. What woman wouldn’t want you in her bed every night? I had every intention of marrying you, but my father didn’t think you would bite. I hate when he’s right. So we had to go to plan B.” She cocked her head and waved the gun. “Is that your redheaded beauty hiding behind you?”
“Bite me, bitch,” Ella growled from behind.
“Easy,” Erik muttered. “Keep quiet.”
“She’s got a temper. Is that what you like? I have quite a temper myself.”
The door opened and her father walked in.
“The guards are gone. The grounds are deserted,” he muttered angrily. “Where the hell is everyone, Erik?”
Moving slowly, he backed Ella against the wall and slowly inched her towards the door. Their escape was only a few feet away, but they had to get around the corner first.
“The black orchid was a nice touch,” Erik said gruffly. “Leonid was a friend.”
“Leonid was an idiot,” Valeria hissed. “All I had to do was knock on the door. Fed him some bullshit story about needing to meet with you, and he walked me right in. It was about time someone put a bullet in his brain. I never did like him.”
“What do you want, Rostilav? I’m not going to just hand you the deed to the club, so your trip here was pointless.”
“I want to see her,” Valeria snapped. “Now.”
Erik stiffened. “So you can shoot her? I’m going to have to decline.”
She lifted the gun higher. “From this distance, I could shoot you and still hit her. Now, you’re quite a bit taller, so I could aim directly for her heart, and you would still survive.”
Glaring at her, he stepped aside and slowly pulled Ella out. She gripped his hand, but she wasn’t trembling. “I didn’t realize that your club was so desirable,” she said in a strong and clear voice. “I’m fairly certain there are more legal ways for someone to obtain the property.”
“Oh, this is rich,” Valeria said with a laugh. “Does she really believe that you’re a business owner?”
“He is a business owner,” Ella said with a frown. “I’ve seen the club.”
“You are just the sweetest thing I have ever seen. I’m going to take my time with you,” Valeria said with a smile. “Your knight in shining armor here is Russian mob, my dear.”
Ella turned her head to stare at him. “What did she just say?”
“An insane woman is pointing a gun at you, and you’re getting upset about what I do for a living?” he asked with a snort.
She paled considerably and stumbled away from him. “Oh my God. You really are Russian mob.”
Seeing his ch
ance, he shoved her hard towards the corner. Valeria shrieked, and a shot rang out, but he already had his arm wrapped around Ella’s shoulder as he pulled her into the sitting room. Slamming the door shut, he locked it and pulled her across the room.
“I am going to die in this room,” Ella muttered as she looked around. “In the middle of all these stupid old antiques.”
Erik pulled up the rug from the floor and grabbed the handle on the trapdoor underneath. “Keep it together, Ella,” he said through clenched teeth as he opened the hidden door.
“There are tunnels under the house?” she asked with wide eyes. As bullets began to strike the door, he pushed her inside, followed her down the short ladder, and slammed the door shut. Locking the trap shut, he reached over and flipped on the lights.
“Tunnels is a bit much,” he said softly. “It’s more like one tunnel, and it will take us to the gate house where we can get a car. Now move your ass.”
The soft lightbulbs flickered, and she dragged her feet. “What’s to keep them from following us? I don’t want my body to rot under a mob house.”
“The door is made from solid steel. Once it’s locked from below, they can’t get in. They can’t even shoot their way in. Move!”
Ella stumbled, and Erik had to wrap his arm around her waist to keep her from falling. “I know you’re scared,” he whispered in her ear. “But I’m trying to keep you alive, so you have to trust me.” Wordlessly, she nodded.
She took a firm grip on his hand, and they raced down the tunnels. It was a half a mile to the end, and although her stride was much smaller than his, she kept up. At the end of the tunnel, a ladder led to the door above.
“Let me go first,” he said urgently.
Her chest heaved, but she stepped back. Gripping the rungs, he pulled himself up and carefully opened the door. As he suspected, the guards were dead on the floor. Pushing the door open all the way, he climbed through.
“Don’t freak out, and don’t scream,” he said softly as he helped her out. Ella’s eyes widened at the bloody sight in front of her, but she clamped her mouth shut.