Chapter 20 - Parker

The overwhelming urge for Lev, for every ounce of darkness that filled his soul, was all-consuming. Before, I had been careful, holding back and hesitating. But now, all I wanted and all I could be was the complete destruction of whoever Parker used to be.

I let go of the expectations and the fear, and I gave myself up to the devious ecstasy Lev offered.

Part of me still knew, tried to shout at me, that this was wrong or mad. But I just couldn't care. I'd felt connected to this vicious, terrible man since the moment I saw him, and I was tired of fighting it. I trusted him, I adored what he'd done for me with my father, and I knew deeper feelings were growing behind all that, too.

Sinking into the depths with Lev was just too damn tempting, and I didn't want to run from the truth anymore—I was falling for him so damn hard.

Even if this was just for a moment, just for tonight, I was going to lose myself to it. I was going to enjoy fucking second of depravity, and there was nothing anyone, not even myself, would be able to do to stop it.

Devious, bad, sinful, I'll become it all.

I let my head fall back as Lev's kiss roamed from my lips to my neck, his teeth grazing my skin. He had a hand on the long train attached to my gown's neck, and my suspicions about why he might have liked this particular dress were confirmed.

He had full access to me in every way, with the low neckline, open back, thigh-high slit, and enticing trails of fabric that he could use to control me like a leash. A moan escaped as Lev drove his fingers inside me, the dress parting easily for his hand.

"So wet. My naughty little brat." His breath was warm against my throat as he spoke, and Lev stroked his fingers in and out as he pulled me farther back by the train.

I was forced to tilt to the side, bracing my elbow on the counter. My leg naturally lifted, giving Lev better access to my pussy. Planting my foot on the ledge of the tub, Lev growled against my skin, sinking deeper, thanks to increased space. Filthy, wonderful sounds echoed in the bathroom as I moaned and the wet slide of his fingers played out in the tiled expanse.

My mind was already scrambling as he worked me with his fingers, and I gasped as Lev found my G-spot and hooked it. Pressing against the sensitive nerves, Lev pulled a delighted cry from me, and I tangled my fingers in the hair at the nape of his neck.

"Such a dirty girl. Do you like my fingers inside you?" Lev yanked on the train again, cutting off my air. "Come on my hand, little one. Then maybe you'll get your husband's cock."

It took no time at all for me to do just that, careening off the invisible edge as Lev pumped hard and fast. I flooded with warmth as the orgasm raked through me, his thumb rubbing briskly across my clit to drag it out.

"Fuck!" He didn't slow down, making my legs quiver, my pussy fluttering, "Lev. Oh God, ugh!"

He lowered his mouth to my nipple, biting over the fabric before he used his teeth to pull it away and sucked the pebbled bud into his mouth. My release had never truly stopped, and I roared higher as he lapped at my hard nipple.

Pulling back, Lev slid his fingers free, then slapped across the swollen folds. I yelped, bucking against him.

"Such a good girl."

He nibbled at my breast again, making me whimper. I was already so blissed out, and he'd yet to give me a taste of his thick erection. I watched with lidded, tired eyes as Lev freed his cock through the zipper of his pants. He was glistening, the large, long shaft clearly hungry for me.

Lev rolled his fingers, slick with my arousal, over his head and down to the base. The sinful sight was erotic as hell, and my pussy clenched, aching for him.

At once, he leaned me back against the counter, bending me so that my other leg lifted off the floor. The cold surface was a shock, hardening my nipples further. Lev flung up my dress, bunching it around my hips before he rammed himself inside me, bottoming out.

I screamed, the intensity and pain mixing with an intoxicating pleasure. Lev shoved my foot back up onto the tub so he could sink deeper and then fisted the long train of my gown, arching my head back.

The strain squeezed my throat, and I had to take shallow breaths through my nose as he pummeled me, fucking without mercy. Lev was no small man, and the impressive length of his cock drove all the way to the heart of me, hitting my cervix. It made me clench, yelping as the intensity, pain, and ecstasy all rolled together.

Looking up, I watched the devious sight of Lev sheathing himself inside my pussy as he forced me into a backbend with his other hand. My breasts pressed against his chest, and his other hand came to my face, his thumb grazing across my bottom lip. It was a filthy fucking sight, and I loved every moment of it.

I met his stare, and Lev grinned—evil and beautiful.

"My good, little slut." He rocked his hips, continuing to thrust as he released my dress to slide his belt from his pants. "Scream for me."

I knew what a monster he was with a belt, and my walls clamped down around his cock as I watched Lev fold up the leather and hover it over my thigh. God, I knew it was insane, but I was hungry for that lick of pain, the feeling of it landing against me as his dick thrust home.

Lev cracked it down over my bare skin, and I did just ask commanded—I screamed. It was too good, too much, painful, and pleasurable. I climaxed again, squeezing around Lev, and he grunted low. A handful more blows timed with his powerful thrusts, and I was howling into the echoey chamber of his bathroom.

"That's it. Take your husband's cock, wife."

I did.

Every bit of me was destroyed by him, and begging for more until I couldn't stand. Lev delivered on that fantasy, ruining me and piecing me back together into a stronger version of myself.

I could stand in the face of terror, I could learn my life was a terrible lie, and I could survive it all.

I could flourish.

Growling and flinging the belt to the ground, Lev gripped my face. He gave everything to the frenzied pistoning of his hips, and I felt him thicken inside me even more as he grunted.

His lips crashed against mine, sealing us together in a feverish kiss. Lev's fingers held me tightly to his mouth, but I wasn't going anywhere. My pulse was racing, and I could sense the intensity in his hold.

He kissed me. He kissed me with everything he had, and it was like nothing before. Lev's entire being was in that kiss, saying what his words couldn't, and I returned it all back to him, giving up my very soul to the connection of our lips.

Warm spend filled me as Lev emptied himself into my slick pussy. It demanded another orgasm from my exhausted body, and I pulsed around him, milking everything he had to offer.

Feeling him inside me like this was utter bliss—the warmth, the pleasurable ache, the fullness.

The world slowed, and when it finally settled into reality, I was completely useless. Lev had to carry me to the bed, stripping the gown from me before covering my naked, abused body with the blanket. He crawled in next to me, the warmth of his skin a balm.

"Rest up, little one." His voice was a whisper, and I wasn't sure if he realized I was still awake to hear him. "I've got you. Pavel won't touch you again."

My heart skipped a beat before exhaustion claimed me. I passed out against his chest, the pound of Lev's heart the soundtrack to my unconsciousness.

***

Morning light filtered through the drawn curtains of the bedroom, and I stirred. As soon as I was truly awake, my muscles hollered against me, aching inside and out. I could still feel the blunt head of Lev's erection reaching new depths inside me, the lash of his belt against my back.

I moaned, my body warming even though I was pretty damn certain I wasn't ready for any of that again.

"Morning."

Looking over my shoulder with a start, I saw Lev there, still lying in the bed with me. He'd clearly slept in the bed. He hadn't left.

"You're here."

Lev chuckled, cocking a brow. "It is my bed."

Heat bloomed in my cheeks as I rolled over to face him, rolling my eyes barely.

"I just meant that you haven't…you know, slept with me before."

The corner of his mouth ticked up, and he narrowed his eyes at me.

"I meant in the non-sexual sense."

The blanket was tucked under my arm, and I still couldn't get over how soft everything was. The sheets, the mattress, even Lev seemed softer—suitless and lying against the pillows.

With another one of his classic grins, Lev shifted up onto his elbow, gazing down at me.

"I suppose that's true." He reached out, tucking one of my curls behind my ear. "Because we both know I've fucked you plenty."

I blushed harder, staring down at the bed because I couldn't meet Lev's eyes.

The sound of shuffling brought my attention back up, and I stiffened slightly as Lev scooted closer on the bed, leaning over me.

"You really have to stop doing that. I have work that needs to be done."

"Doing what?" My tone was defensive, bordering on that "brattiness" that seemed to really work up Lev into a storm.

Leveling me with a glare, Lev smirked all the harder before he lowered his lips just above mine.

"Blushing like that. That delicious pink gets my mind going down a very dark path."

Hearing his words only made it worse, and I knew that I was flaming even brighter. But I also knew I didn't want him to stop. Lev was a dirty talk king and the way it both embarrassed me and made my pussy clench was addicting.

"What if I don't?" I teased.

"Then I'll have to take matters into my own hands."

Neither of us was backing down, and soon enough, Lev shoved the blankets away, devouring my slit as he jammed his cock into my mouth.

If mornings were like this on the regular, I was quite all right with it.

When we'd finished, Lev and I went to the shower to get cleaned up, and eventually, we were both dressed. I sat on the edge of the bed as Lev looked down at me, adjusting his watch.

"I need to meet with more of my contacts. I've had men digging into your father's dealings. I want that intel. I know your father is far from done."

My blood chilled. I didn't think Pavel was either. Lev looked impeccable in his tailored suit, with only the hint of his menacing tattoos showing on his hands, but behind all that, I knew he was a killer. I knew that was his plan for my father.

I didn't want to be absent for that. As much as it pained me to think, I needed to see it done, to know the cycle between us was truly over.

"I want to come with you. It has to do with my father. I need to see this through."

Lev's glare flicked up to mine from his watch, his fingers stilling on the band. As he held my stare, he narrowed those dark eyes, tilting his head as he considered me. The soft give of the bed beneath me felt too squishy like it wasn't there to help me keep my spine straight.

"I don't think that's wise." He finished tucking the leather strap of his Rolex for the day into the loop. "You remember how my men came in here the other day."

Rolling my stare to the ceiling, I sighed and blinked long. "Of course I do. But I need to be a part of this. My father made my life a living hell. If something's going to happen to him, I…I just need to be totally in the loop. Not on an information delay."

"Parker," Lev folded his arms over his chest as he regarded her, "this is just a meeting with my men. I'm not seeing your father. I'm not going anywhere near him. If you're that concerned, I can detail the information to you when I return."

Standing up from the bed, I mirrored Lev's position. I couldn't wait like that. I wasn't about to set the precedence of being a push-over when I had finally made some ground with Lev—and was also apparently his wife now. Mobster or not, I'm not getting pushed around. I worked too damn hard to get some control over my life.

"I'm going." Glaring right back at him, I nodded once. "If it's just a meeting with your men, I'll be even safer. So you can't use that as your excuse. We're married now, right Lev? So, if I'm in this, then I'm really going to be in it."

He scowled at me—vitriol and amusement warring behind his eyes. After a few moments of playing chicken with each other, Lev sighed, his shoulders relaxing.

"Fine. But you will not speak, understood? I will carry the conversation with my men. You open that naughty little mouth of yours once, and I'm dragging you back to this room for punishment." He leaned closer, putting a hand on the bedpost. "And you won't like it as much as the other times."

Part of me desperately wanted to poke the bear in this moment, make a joke about tempting me with a good time. Still, we'd already dallied quite a bit this morning. I'd be the first to admit that my body needed a break—unfortunately.

"Understood," I smiled, seeming polite, "husband."

I knew the term elicited a strange, potent response from Lev. Apparently, I couldn't resist just a tiny bit of teasing, no matter what my rational mind said.

Lev smirked, opening up his arm toward the door, and I stepped past him. As I slipped by, his hand found my back, the pads of his fingers pushing into my bruised skin, and I hissed.

"Two can play this little game of yours, darling."

Without looking back at him, I straightened the thin cream sweater he'd chosen for the day, smoothing it over the waistband of my gray wide-leg pants.

Thankfully, sensible flats were on the menu today, and when I reached the door, I snagged the loose jacket I'd worn before to keep me from getting too cold in the Chicago wind. From behind me, Lev threaded his arm through mine, leading me from the bedroom and down the long hall to the main floor.

Mafia princess, eat your heart out.

***

The restaurant where we were meeting Lev's men was right in the heart of downtown. A Greek place that was just opening for lunch. The bell above the door jingled as we walked in, and the scent of mouth-watering Greek staples filled the air. I could smell gyros, tzatziki sauce, the toasted chickpeas of falafels, and the overarching fragrance of roasted garlic behind everything.

Shit, I'm starving. This probably isn't an actual lunch date, though.

Lev led us to the back of the restaurant behind a curtain of beads. There was a table set in the corner where any conversations could be kept private, and as he B-lined straight for it, he nodded at the older man standing in the kitchen.

"Mr. Vadim. Good to see you. Would you like any drinks or something to eat?"

Pulling out a chair for me, Lev helped me to sit down, circling behind the table to sit to my left with the wall at his back. I could see why he'd want the spot. He could see the entire place from his position.

"Thank you, Georgio. We'll take the usual."

Lev offered a polite smile, but I could see no malice behind his stare, which meant he was actually okay with the owner. It was a strange thought, considering all I knew about mobster stuff was that they usually harassed these kinds of people.

"Sure thing, Mr. Vadim. Good to see you."

All right yeah, I know nothing about this world.

After a few minutes of waiting, some drinks were brought out, a scotch for Lev, I assumed by the look of it, and then several plates of appetizers. I looked down at the spread, and my stomach actually growled.

With a chuckle, Lev handed me a small plate from the stack the waiter brought. "Eat up, little one."

At that, I wasted no time being proper or whatever the fuck Lev might have expected from me as his wife and dug right in. As I was finishing a piece of falafel, a few men pushed through the beaded curtain, and I swallowed down my bite along with a heaping dose of anxiety.

If I hadn"t been with Lev and knew that these guys were here for him, I would have seriously considered leaving despite my intense hunger. Let"s be real, they were pretty intimidating.

"Ivan," Lev stood up from the table, clapping arms with the man who walked to the table in front of the other two, "And Abram and Vladimir. I hope you have some good news for me. Sit."

The group filled in the spots around the table, and as they sat in the chairs that looked like they would barely hold their weight, I noticed the glint of metal in their jackets. Oh, right. Of course. Armed.

I hadn"t been there to witness Lev getting dressed, and I couldn"t help but sneak a glance at him. The burning curiosity of whether he was also carrying a weapon consumed my thoughts. I couldn't tell, but I had to imagine he was. Something about the thought was both terrifying and comforting. If one of my father's newly hired goons came in here, Lev would have a way to protect me.

That is a fucked up thought, Parker.

"We've got a bit, Mr. Vadim. A good bit." Ivan's eyes flicked to me and then back to Lev; he hadn't been at the house and didn't know me. "Who's this?"

"My wife," Lev answered cooly.

"Oh, well, mazel tov." The man appeared unfazed by the recent development, and once again, I pondered on the identity of these men if they weren"t part of Lev"s closest advisors.

Lev smirked. "All right, boys. Let's get down to business."