Chapter 19 - Lev

Parker's skin hummed beneath my fingers, and the head of my cock brushed against the zipper of my pants. It wanted free. It had wanted to be freed—the entire time we were in the judge's quarters. My new bride was lucky that I didn't yank up her fucking skirt and fuck her right there on the desk.

Fuck, I wanted to.

The only thing that had stopped me was the fact that I wanted it done quickly because, unfortunately, I did have work to do—regarding Parker's fucker of a father, in fact.

Pavel Koslovsky was quickly heading to the top of my shit list, and with each new fact that I learned about the guy from Parker, I hated him all the more.

Pavel needed to be stopped, and quickly. Keeping her captive, hurting her, and murdering an innocent woman for speaking out against him was unforgivable. He deserved a bullet to the head.

"Lev," Parker pleaded, her throat vibrating beneath my palm, "I don't know. I was young. I didn't grow up knowing about this stuff like you did. My father kept it hidden."

Quirking a brow and tipping my head toward Parker, I let out a sharp exhale.

"Did he now?"

I squeezed, the beads on the gown's choker-like neck digging into my fingers, and Parker hissed in a breath through her nose. In the pale glow of the bathroom, her alabaster skin shone like she was honed from pearl.

Maddeningly hungry. I was damn ravenous to taste every inch of her creamy skin. Parker was exquisite regardless, but seeing her spilling out of this wonder of a dress was something else. My erection was iron hard, and I could barely think around the intoxicating need to sheathe myself deep into her pussy and take every bit of her for myself.

"Tell me, little one. Did the men he dealt with on those unique occasions look like me? Were they criminals?"

Parker stared at me through a lidded gaze, and I leaned in closer, pressing my erection against her thigh. A tiny whimper escaped her, and I surged as that feeling of towering over her got stronger.

My sweet little princess.

I loved the way her breathing shook, tumbling out of her, uneven and shallow. Part of me wondered if I would still feel the same thrill for her after I'd claimed her virginity.

If right now was any indication, my obsession with Parker had only grown.

Whatever living part of my soul still existed within me had latched onto Parker with everything it had, and it wasn't letting go any time soon. She was mine—until I was no longer breathing.

"Yes. I think so anyway." Parker's voice was a whisper, and I lowered my lips to her neck again. "They scared me. Even then, I could tell they were dangerous."

Chuckling, I nipped at her fair, freckled skin. "Do I scare you, little one? Am I…dangerous?"

"Do you want me to say yes?" I could hear that sassy undertone warring with the obvious anxiety she was fighting back. "Would that make you happy?"

A genuine laugh slipped out.

"As a matter of fact," I squeezed her throat tighter, "yes."

When I released the hold, Parker gasped lightly, her head coming forward as she sucked in a breath. Still, she didn't try to leave, try to get me to let her leave. Despite being visibly worried, Parker did not run away screaming, which was impressive in itself.

"You might," Parker bit out, "but I've learned not to let fear control me."

My cock twitched, liking her answer, her devious attitude that fought back against me.

"Hmm, and how's that worked out for you, little Parker?" I raked my gaze down her body, genuinely thinking that I'd have her wear this dress every fucking day.

Fiery eyes flashed with bravado, and she cocked her head at me as she raised her brows. "I got out. I found my own passion, and I made sure to never look back. I wouldn't let Pavel ruin my opportunities, my life. I still won't."

I could tell she was being honest, not just with me, but with herself. She was determined to survive whatever her father did to her—whatever I was doing to her. Goddamn, was it attractive.

When she swallowed down more of her anxiety, Parker looked up at me, her eyes narrowing ever so slightly.

"What are you going to do about him? About my father?" Despite the strain in her throat, Parker's words were confident.

"Nothing pretty, little one," I smirked down at her, still trapping her against the vanity. "There's really only one way to handle a guy like him."

Parker's eyes flared wider, but then she blinked. Her brow furrowed, coming down over those green eyes. I carefully observed her expression, analyzing it as I would any other person in a game of cat and mouse. However, Parker was far from just anyone.

Her chin tipped down, and she closed her eyes, a sigh escaping her. The cooler air of the bathroom had made goosebumps come to life over her skin, and her thick nipples stood out behind the thin fabric of her gown.

"You're going to kill him."

I nodded, my shaft aching all the hard for her as Parker's tone sounded resolute, accepting. It was a bit of a surprise that she was so okay with the fact that I planned on blasting a hole through her father's head. Sure, the guy abused her and was at the least responsible for manslaughter, but I was the hardened criminal here.

Parker was an innocent young woman, to use Pietor's word, and this kind of justice was usually a turn-off for those types.

"You're all right with that?" I cocked a brow, leaning into my hands on the bathroom counter. The fragrance of her skin bloomed through me, going straight to my dick.

"Well, not really but…" Parker eyed the space between us, then looked up, meeting my eyes hard. "I don't want to be afraid of him anymore. I don't want him to hurt more people. I…I don't want him getting away with murdering my mother."

A grin spread across my face, and I ran my fingers beneath the collar of fabric surrounding Parker's neck. She trembled for me, and damn, if it wasn't precisely what I wanted her to do.

"Am I corrupting you, Parker? Or have you always had a bit of darkness in there, my naughty little thing?"

Before she could answer, I gripped the fabric at her neck and yanked her head to the side. As her neck craned, I lowered my lips to the skin revealed by the low neckline of her gown. I traced my mouth across the smooth plain of her chest until I was nibbling at the soft flesh down the side of her neck.

I hovered my lips at the shell of her ear, whispering. "Would you like me to corrupt you again?"

Parker shivered against me, her breaths shuddering.

"I…" Her words faltered, and Parker had to grip my shoulder as I keened her farther off balance. "I was going to change out of this dress."

"Why ever would you do a thing like that?"

I released the grip on the dress's unique halter neck, smoothing my fingers down the sweeping train behind her that had created a pool of silky fabric on the marble floor. Parker couldn't hide the tremble of her arms as I took my forefinger and drew a line from her neck down the side of her ribs, brushing the side of her breast.

Smirking, I met her eyes. "I quite like this dress."

She chuckled, short and somewhat annoyed. "I'm sure you do."

"I could always take my gifts back. Leave you with nothing to hide that tight, little body of yours."

She met my tease, smirking. "Would you now? Are you okay with every one of your men seeing me naked? Something tells me you wouldn't enjoy that much."

Damn, the girl had a point, reading me like a book. I didn't want those bastards to even get a glimpse of what was mine. I was a very possessive man.

I could see the reflection of Parker's back in the mirror behind her, the smooth line of her spine on full display, and I wanted it covered in my marks. If there was anything I was okay with all my men seeing, it was the proof that this delectable woman belonged to me.

My wife.

"So, are you going to let me change, or am I going to have to force you to help me since you're here?"

This sarcastic attitude of Parker's was an odd thrill. I wanted her to obey, but it was entertaining to have her fight back. She'd need something to fill up that naughty mouth of hers, however.

"Are you going to be a brat?" I pressed closer, finding the tails of fabric at her back with my grip. "Am I going to need to wash out that filthy mouth?"

Fire lit behind Parker's peridot stare. I could see that darkness she tried to hold back coming to the surface, and my nerves raged, demanding more—and faster.

"If you want me quiet, husband," Parker smirked, her eyelids fluttering, and I pulled just enough on her train to tilt her back, "you're going to have to make me."

The tension skyrocketing since we'd found ourselves in that bathroom finally reached its boiling point. I took the back of Parker's head without dropping the train.

"Easy, little one. Easy."

I crashed my lips against Parker's, shoving my tongue between her lips and taking a taste of her for myself. She was mine, and I put that intention into every flick and swirl of my tongue as I explored her mouth.

I grabbed a handful of Parker"s hair and pulled her towards me, pressing my lips against hers. With my other hand, I reached between her legs.

Time to consummate our marriage, Mrs. Vadim.