Chapter 33

Elena

A few days later…

T he days pass in a blissful blur. Grigori and I have practically claimed the third floor as our own little haven. The rest of the family seems to understand, steering clear and giving us space. For now, it’s just the two of us, just the way I like it.

We lounge on the couch in the third-floor TV room, our makeshift dinner spread out on the coffee table. It’s raining out, but for now, it fits the mood. I’m still grinning over the fact that he agreed to indulge my craving for pelmeni dumplings with a side of blini and smoked salmon, even though he couldn’t resist grumbling about “keeping it light.”

On the screen, a true crime show plays with unsettling detail, the narrator diving into the twists of a particularly grisly murder case. As the camera zooms in on crime scene photos, I catch Grigori shooting me a skeptical glance, one brow raised.

“Of all the things to watch… don’t you get enough crime in real life?” he asks, half amused, half incredulous.

“Oh, come on, this is different. It’s like studying!” I laugh, snuggling deeper into his side. “Plus, it’s so fascinating. Don’t you want to know how psychos think?”

“I know how they think, and I put them six feet under for it.” He shakes his head, a smirk pulling at his lips. “You know, if you weren’t already Bratva royalty, I’d be worried. Watching crime shows for fun—”

“You think I’m strange?” I look up at him with an exaggeratedly hurt expression.

“A little,” he teases. “But I wouldn’t change it.”

The episode ends, and as the credits roll, Grigori turns to me, his expression softening. He shifts slightly, wincing from his bruised ribs but keeping his eyes on mine.

“Listen, Elena, I don’t know exactly where this thing between us is going. Hell, I never dreamed it would go anywhere at all.” He pauses, brushing a stray strand of hair from my face. “But I know two things for damn certain—I love you, and I’ll always protect you. No matter what.”

A warm, fluttery feeling fills my core. I reach up and brush my fingers over his face, eyeing the faint bruises that haven’t quite faded yet.

“Bold of you to assume you’ll be the one protecting me, not the other way around,” I tease, grinning. “Maybe you’re the who needs watching out for with the way you throw yourself into danger.”

He laughs then winces, his hand instinctively going to his ribs. I move closer, laying my head on his chest, feeling the steady rise and fall of his breath against my cheek.

“You don’t know how scared I was.” My voice comes out weaker than I intended but I don’t try to mask it. “I thought I might never see you again.”

He presses a gentle kiss to the top of my head, his hand stroking my back soothingly. “I’m here now, princess. And nothing is going to tear me away from you ever again.”

His hand slides under my chin, lifting my face to his. Our eyes meet, then our lips, in a kiss that’s sweet, deep, and says everything we’ve kept locked inside.

As the kiss continues, I love you’s are whispered in between breaths. I’m so grateful to be here with him, just the two of us. With each touch, I feel the heat between us rise, his hands sliding down my back and pressing me close.

The things those hands do to me...

I pull back and grin slyly, running my fingers over his chest. “You’re still in recovery, remember? No rough handling—doctor’s orders.”

He lets out a small laugh, holding my gaze. “Under normal circumstances, princess, nothing would stop me.”

I drag my fingers lower, brushing them right at the edge of his waistband. “So, what exactly did the doctor say?”

“Not to get too, ah, assertive,” he replies, eyes gleaming.

I smirk. “That sounds like I get to be in charge, then.”

“Careful,” he warns, sliding his hands up my thighs. “If you get too bossy, you’ll pay for it.”

My heart races, but I can’t resist teasing him. “Oh, don’t worry. I’ll be gentle,” I whisper, slipping his shirt off carefully. I love seeing his body, strong and fierce.

I let my eyes linger a moment, taking him in before helping him out of his pants. He’s left in just his boxer briefs, the outline of his erection making my pulse pound. A little thrill runs through me, knowing he’s all mine.

“Your turn,” he says, his voice low, eyes darkening as they roam over me. “Get up, princess.”

I stand, giving him a little show as I strip down to my bra and panties, just slow enough to drive him crazy. His eyes follow every movement, and he gestures for me to walk back to him, a mischievous grin on his gorgeous mouth.

“Come here. On my lap.”

I straddle him, his hands finding my hips and pulling me closer, fingers tracing along the waistband of my panties. My breath catches in my throat as Grigori’s fingers press against me, slow, controlled, like he’s savoring every single reaction, every gasp and shiver. He rubs me through the lace, and the roughness of his fingers against the delicate fabric has my head spinning. I can’t hold back the moan that escapes as he presses his thumb just right, his other hand wrapping around my waist, keeping me firmly in place while he plays with me in perfect rhythm.

“You missed me, didn’t you, princess?” he asks, his lips grazing my neck, sending waves of heat straight to my core.

I want to snap back, to challenge him like I always do, but all I can manage is a breathless nod, because he knows damn well how much I’ve missed him.

With a knowing grin, he slides his hand beneath my panties, and the second his fingers find me bare and soaked for him, a low, approving growl rumbles in his chest.

“That’s my girl,” he whispers.

I’m melting under his touch, each circle of his fingers pushing me closer, coiling me tighter, until finally, everything shatters and I’m spiraling. I cling to him as I unravel, as he holds me through every wave of bliss. He doesn’t rush, doesn’t stop, just keeps his fingers moving, coaxing every last bit of pleasure out of me until I’m breathless, gasping into his shoulder.

When he finally stops, his mouth finds mine, and I kiss him with everything I have, tangling my hands in his hair, desperate to taste every bit of him. He’s tugging my panties down my legs, and I shift so he can slide them off completely.

His hands are on me, moving over my bare thighs, and I arch into him, craving more, aching for him. He undoes my bra with ease, letting it fall away. I feel his lips on my collarbone, moving down, each kiss sending a jolt of fire through me.

I pull him closer, my hand slipping down to his cock, savoring his hardness. I stroke him slowly, watching his jaw clench, loving the effect I have on him. With a wicked smile, I guide him to my entrance, and he grips my hips, his dark eyes locking onto mine as he slowly lowers me onto him.

“Elena,” he breathes, his voice thick and raw as I start to move, my body fitting around him perfectly. “You feel so damn good.”

I wrap my arms around his neck, rocking against him, meeting each thrust, every stroke sending me deeper into a beautiful bliss.

“I’ve waited so long for this,” I whisper, a smile on my lips because I know I’ve got him just as undone as he’s made me.

“Then don’t hold back,” he murmurs, his grip tightening. “Give me everything.”

With my arms tenderly wrapped around his neck, I ride him with everything I have, feeling his hands clutching my hips, guiding my movements harder, faster. Every thrust sends a shock of pleasure straight through me, his fingers digging into my flesh as he meets my rhythm.

His mouth moves to my chest, warm lips closing around my nipple, kissing and teasing until I can barely breathe. The way he worships every inch of me, his hands roaming up my back, around my waist, down to grab my ass and pull me harder onto him—it’s like he can’t get enough.

“Grigori,” I gasp, barely able to form his name as he moves beneath me, his mouth never leaving my skin. I feel his breath against my breast, the warmth making me shiver as he looks up at me, dark eyes blazing.

“Come for me, Elena.”

And just like that, I lose control, waves of pleasure crashing over me, powerful and all-consuming. My body tightens and his arms wrap around me, grounding me as I fall apart in his hold, every nerve alight with a bliss I’ve never known. His hands run over me as I come down from the high, soothing and possessive, holding me as if he’ll never let go.

We move to the bed and lay facing one another. I wrap my arms around him, careful around his injured shoulder, and melt into his touch. His hand slides down my thigh, pulling me closer, drawing my leg over his hip and lining himself up against me.

Then, with a slow, deep thrust, he’s inside me, filling me completely, stretching and claiming me in a way that’s both sweet and devastating. His rhythm is slow, almost torturous, each movement deliberate, his gaze never leaving mine as he drives me toward the edge once more, his hands never ceasing their worship of my skin.

“I’ve missed this,” he whispers, his forehead pressed against mine.

“Me, too,” I breathe, feeling every inch of him as he moves with a tenderness that makes me ache with love.

Every movement is slow and reverent, as though he’s rediscovering me. His gaze holds mine, dark and unguarded, and it’s like he’s letting me see every part of him, showing me that I’m the only one who’s ever truly known him.

His hands caress my body, gentle and unhurried, memorizing me, mapping out every inch of my skin. He leans in close, his lips brushing my jaw, my neck, soft words whispered between kisses.

“You’re everything, Elena,” he murmurs. “You don’t know what you do to me. What you’ve always done to me.”

I’m breathless, undone, every word sinking deep. He makes love to me with a care I’ve never known, each movement powerful but gentle, and I feel like he’s reaching right into my soul, binding us together.

His pace quickens, his breath quickening as he holds me tighter, guiding me closer and closer to the edge, his cock plunging into my pussy again and again. He’s right there with me, sensing every shift, every moan and shudder, and when I’m almost at the breaking point, I whisper to him, breathless, “Come with me, Grigori. Please…”

His mouth finds mine in a fierce kiss, his voice a low growl against my lips. “Anything for you, princess.”

His release crashes through him, his body shuddering against mine as he fills me completely, and the sensation is all I need to fall over the edge again. I clench around him as I come undone, my moans mixing with his, the world slipping away until there’s nothing left but us, tangled together, wrapped up in each other’s heat.

Afterward, he holds me close, his hand trailing up and down my back as I rest my head against his chest, feeling the steady beat of his heart beneath me. His fingers run through my hair, and I close my eyes, completely at peace for the first time in what feels like forever.

“I’m going to look after you,” I say softly, tilting my head up to meet his gaze. “Make sure you get back to full strength.”

He chuckles, his eyes crinkling at the corners as he pulls me even closer. “In that case, I think you’ll need a sexy nurse’s outfit.”

I can’t help but laugh, swatting his shoulder playfully, and he groans in mock pain, making me gasp.

“Oh, don’t be such a baby,” I tease, leaning down to kiss the spot, my lips lingering.

His eyes soften, and he smiles, reaching up to tuck a strand of hair behind my ear. “I love you, Elena.”

“I love you, too, Grigori,” I whisper back, feeling warmth spread through me, settling deep in my chest.

Wrapped in his arms, I dream of a future together.

I’m so happy.