Chapter 30

Arianna

M ercifully, Mads has slept through the whole ordeal. I've always joked that even a herd of elephants couldn't wake her she's such a heavy sleeper, I've never been more grateful for that fact than now. I sit watching her sleep, innocent and untroubled. So precious and fragile.

The horror of the situation dawns on me. This whole time I thought that everything I was doing was to protect her, and yet we'd been so close to danger the whole time. I hadn't escaped. My father had found me. God knows what he had planned for me, or for my child. I suddenly feel cold and shiver—shock I presume. I can't hear what's happening outside. I'm not sure I'd want to.

I finally allow myself to cry. Big, silent tears fall down my cheeks. As terrifying as the situation was, as awful as it is to realize that my father could have destroyed everything so easily, the main feeling I have right now is overwhelming relief. Relief and gratitude that Nikolai was here to save me. I've no idea why he's here, or what he came for, but I will never be able to thank him enough.

Now my father knows my whereabouts, I will have to uproot my life here and leave. The thought is overwhelming and daunting. I can't face it right now. Pushing it to the back of my mind, I dry my tears, take one last lingering look at my precious daughter's sleeping face, gently brush my fingertips across her forehead to smooth away the baby hairs, and tiptoe out of the room, shutting the door behind me.

I should head to the bathroom to survey the damage and freshen up. I need a long, hot shower to wash away the feeling of that creep's hands on me. But first, I have to go back into the other room and face Nikolai. To thank him. To find out what he's doing here. Did he know I was in danger and simply came to help out of a sense of obligation? Did Kimiko tell him her suspicions about Mads?

To my relief, Luis is gone when I get into the kitchen. Nikolai is mopping up his blood from my kitchen floor, turning the water in the bucket pink. He hears my arrival and turns to look at me. For the first time in almost three years, our eyes meet.

And just like that, I'm lost.

Those aquamarine blue eyes pull me under into his depths and I know I can never leave this man again.

"Arianna," he says softly. "I know you're probably wondering why I'm here…"

I don't respond, walking over to him as though pulled by an invisible tether.

I've never known Nikolai to ramble or be uncertain of his next sentence, but there's a first for everything. He takes my silence as upset or hurt and continues to speak.

"I didn't know your father… I came here because I wanted to… I can explain everything… Do you want to know what happened to him?" he says unsure of what to say before landing on the last question.

The whole time, my eyes never leave his. I finally come to stand before him, tilting my head back to still meet his gaze against his impressive height.

"No. We'll talk. But not now," I say.

He looks crestfallen as though I'm asking him to leave.

I don't let him speak before I tell him, "Now, I want you to kiss me."

His surprise and confusion are quickly surpassed by a look of hungry desire. He doesn't wait, he simply pulls me into an embrace that lifts me off my toes and into his arms and kisses me.

Everything stops.

It's as though we were never apart, we never hurt each other so deeply, and the past just melts away. Leaving only him. And now.

The kiss becomes deeper, more frantic, it's not enough for either of us.

How I've missed him. My body aches for him more than I ever thought possible.

He picks me up and I eagerly wrap my legs around him, I'm soaking wet with need. I don't want foreplay, to wait, I just want him inside me again, completing me.

"Nikolai, fuck me, please," I murmur between kisses, gasping with pleasure as his tongue caresses my neck.

It seems he feels the same desperate need that I do, as he quickly carries me over to the couch where we frantically tear off each other's clothes. I can see he's as aroused as I am and grab his ass, pulling him toward me. My legs are spread and I'm ready for him. He looks me in the eye, as though checking if I'm still sure, that I haven't changed my mind, and I nod. He guides his cock into my slit and slowly enters me until he's completely inside me.

It feels so full, so right, like we are made for each other.

"Fuck, kukolka, I've missed you," he groans.

"I've missed you too, Nikolai," I reply breathlessly before a moan of pleasure escapes my lips.

He thrusts into me, gaining momentum, expertly knowing exactly how to drive me wild. It's like no time has passed between us. It's been so long since I've experienced such pleasure, since my body has been anything other than for motherhood. Far too quickly, the climax builds inside me.

"Oh god, Nikolai," I moan.

I arch my back and he takes my nipple in his mouth, sending shockwaves of pleasure through my body as the orgasm screams through me. As I pulsate on him I feel him reach his climax inside of me.

We lie there, panting and sweating, feeling him still inside me, more connected than ever before. He kisses me sweetly on the lips, pushing my hair back from my face.

"If I'd known that was the welcome I'd receive, I'd have come sooner," he says with a lopsided smile that doesn't show his teeth.

I let out a chuckle, amazed at how he's able to make it feel like tonight's events have been anything other than fucking insane. We come apart so we're sitting side by side now, he cradles me in his lap, my legs slung over his and my arms around his neck.

"You should never have let me go," I say, searching his face for any sign of the hate I saw on our parting.

His eyes fill with regret. "I know. For a long time, I was so hurt, so betrayed, but I understand now why you didn't tell me sooner. Why you'd want to leave me."

"It's more complicated than that…"

I know I need to tell him everything, that my hiding things from him for too long was what started this mess. But right now, all I want to do is enjoy this bubble of bliss. To feel safe in his arms and make love all night.

"I know we have a lot to catch up on… but—" I start.

"But right now, we have a lot more catching up to do that involves far fewer words," he says with that devilishly sexy glint in his eye.

"Come with me," I tell him, relieved that he seems as keen to worry about everything else later and just enjoy a happy reunion for tonight.

I lead the way to my bedroom, the last thing I want is for Mads to wake up and find her mother fucking some man she doesn't know in the living room. She's at that age where she's getting more independent and curious, often toddling out of her room to look for me. Since we have a one-story house, and she's an intelligent and cunning little thing that seems to manage to get into things I don't want, there's a high chance of that happening.

We reach my bedroom and I notice Nikolai taking it all in. It's a simple yet homey room with a double bed, plain but clean bedding with a yellow pattern on it, a nightstand, a small dresser where I keep my clothes, and a threadbare yellow rug on the terracotta tiled floor. To him, it must seem small and shabby, but it has suited my needs fine.

Nikolai's large frame dominates the space, he looks as out of place here as a time-traveling Viking. Now the initial lust and heat of the moment have dissipated slightly, I fully take in the sight of his still-naked body. He looks even more ripped than I remembered, either he's been hitting the gym hard in the past few years or I forgot what a god he is.

Nikolai is eyeing me up in much the same way. Suddenly, I feel acutely aware that my body has changed too, but not in ways deemed sexy to most. Motherhood has given me a new body. One with stretchmarks, fuller breasts, hips, and a slight curve to my belly. I'm grateful that my tan and regular yoga have kept me looking fit and healthy, but next to Nikolai, I'm a mere mortal. Not the glamazon goddess that you'd expect him to want.

Self-consciously, I fold in on myself slightly, cheeks reddening. As if reading my mind, he steps closer to me, taking my hands so I cannot cover myself.

"You're even more beautiful than I remember, Arianna."

He looks deep in my eyes, and I know he means every word. He kisses me, guiding me toward the bed where I lay down. He languidly kisses along my neck, cupping my breasts and squeezing my nipples which harden at his touch. He continues down, sucking on each breast in turn, reigniting the joy of them being caressed and seen as something entirely outside of their functionality. His kisses continue their exploration of my new body, exploring every new slope, scar, and mark, making them feel like things of beauty.

When he reaches my mound, I feel his warm breath tickling against my sensitive skin and my nerves are electrified. He lets out a small growl of appreciation before exploring my clit with his tongue. It's so divinely good, so much better even than I've imagined on those long nights alone remembering him. I'm so wet that I can feel my juices running down my thighs. His fingers begin to explore me, gently pushing inside and stroking the climax out of me.

"Still so fucking wet for me," he says, both awed and proud.

I'm rendered speechless, the pleasure too intense, too long forgotten. I moan and pant as he brings me to the edge, burying my fingers in his hair and gripping the bedsheets with the other hand.

"Fuck, Nikolai, I'm cumming," I cry, bucking as the pressure builds.

"That's it, cum for me," he growls before his tongue resumes flicking against my clit in perfect rhythm.

As soon as I reach climax and the orgasm comes rippling out of me, he flips me over, entering me from behind. It's so deep and so soon after cumming that I cum again instantly, crying out with pleasure.

"Fuck, that feels so fucking big!"

He grunts and moans, enjoying himself as much as I am as he glides in and out of my aching pussy. Reaching forward, he massages my breasts and clit with his expert hands. As soon as yet another aching incredible climax comes roaring out of me, he changes the position again, this time sitting up with me on top of him. He holds my ass in both hands, guiding me up and down the length of him, looking into my eyes intently.

He kisses me passionately as I grind against him feeling the next orgasm already threatening to spill forth. I tilt my head back and let out another moan of pleasure as he kisses my neck, I know there will be a mark there tomorrow. He's claiming me.

Our speed intensifies until we both cum together, sending us both hurtling over the edge as he pumps into me, and the final orgasm floods my senses.

"You're mine, kukolka ," he growls.

"Yes, always," I pant back, knowing that he's right. I'm his and he is mine.