Chapter Twenty- Three

One Month Later

Time flew by in December, leaving us in January before we even realized it. At almost two months old, Vasya is an absolute delight - sweet-natured and easy to care for. Leonid and his men have been tirelessly preparing for their upcoming trip to the US to bring his father back to Russia. I am determined to ensure that man"s death is the epitome of agony and suffering.

Raisa has gone back to school and I won't see her until Pascha. I am so proud of the young woman she is becoming. She has goals and ambitions for her future and I cannot wait to see where it all takes her. Ilya assures me he will monitor her, as he will visit her as often as he can. He has made it his personal mission to make sure she is safe at her boarding school, and while it drives her mad sometimes, I think he is definitely growing on her.

I sit in the front room with Vasya on the floor, rolling around with Dmitriy. Lenya has been gone all day. He left in a hurry this morning, saying that everything was ready for them to leave the country. I have a good feeling about the trip. I feel like they will find him and bring him back so he can meet the end he deserves. The closure we all need is just within our reach now, and I am so ready for this part of our lives to be put to rest.

As I watch my sons play together on the floor, a wave of contentment washes over me. Dr. Marchenko informed me after my last appointment that it was safe to resume having sex. Despite being more than ready, Lenya has been preoccupied lately. Every night for the past week, he comes home, showers, and then passes out in bed.

Though I understand his exhaustion, I can't help but feel a twinge of frustration. I long for the intimacy we once shared, and I've been eagerly anticipating when we can reconnect on a deeper level. Perhaps once this is behind us and Lenya's mind is at ease, we can rekindle that passion we've been missing.

But for now, I focus on the present, cherishing the sight of my children playing happily together. They are the bright spots in my life, reminding me of the love and joy that still exist amidst the turmoil.

The sudden sound of voices at the back of the house pulls me from my wandering thoughts. Lenya, Oleg, and Ilya make their way up the hallway to the front of the house. They come into the front room where Lenya leans down to pick up Vasya. Peppering our little syn with kisses, he holds him to his chest. He looks over at me, a look of sadness on his face.

"Chto?(What?)" I ask, not knowing if I want the answer.

"Everything is ready. We leave tomorrow." Lenya motions for me to come to him. I get up from the chair and stand beside him.

I know he needs to do this. His father must pay for everything he has done and put us through. What he put me through.

"Can you spend some time with me before you leave? Just us?"

He kisses Vasya one last time before handing him off to Dmitriy. "Of course, Tsvetok (Flower). I was going to ask if you wanted to go on a ride with me. On the bike."

I have never been on the back of a motorcycle, so naturally, I am a little hesitant. But I need to be with him. We need to connect before he leaves. As I look into Lenya's eyes, I can sense the gravity of the situation. I know this trip is crucial for him, for us, for our family's closure. Despite my initial hesitation, I nod and agree to go on the motorcycle ride with him.

"Go put on jeans and your leather jacket," he says, kissing my lips.

I meet him outside. He is standing next to his bike with a second helmet. Standing before him, he zips my leather jacket up and places the helmet on my head. Lenya coaches me on how to ride with him and, after settling me on the bike, his voice comes through my helmet. "Ready, malyshka (baby)?"

"I'm ready." My voice gives away my fear and nervousness. Lenya's deep chuckle fills my helmet.

"I've got you, malyshka (baby). Your muzh (husband) will protect you." I hold on to his waist as he starts the bike up and takes off. Pulling out of the driveway, I grip his waist tighter, praying I don"t fall off the back.

On the bike; the wind rushes against us as we ride through the familiar streets. As I hold on to Lenya tightly, I can feel the adrenaline coursing through my veins. It's both exhilarating and terrifying, but being with him in this moment, I know it's exactly where I need to be.

As we navigate the streets, the worries and frustrations of our daily lives fade away. It's just the two of us, connected in a way we haven't been in a while. We talk, we laugh, and we reminisce about the moments that brought us together. I try to figure out where he is taking me, but I decide to just enjoy this moment with him.

I realize this motorcycle ride is not just about the physical thrill; it's about us finding each other again. It's about reconnecting on a deeper level, reminding ourselves of the love that has always been there, even when life got tough.

The surrounding scenery has changed and I know we are nearing the nature preserve outside of Moscow Oblast. The sound of the motorcycle resounds in the heavily dense forest. Lenya pulls the bike over in a clearing on the side of the road. Parking, he shuts the bike off and helps me off then gets off himself. He helps me get my helmet off.

"Did you have fun, Tsvetok (Flower)?" He asks as he sits his helmet next to mine, a smile forming on his face.

"Da (Yes), I didn't realize how…freeing it would feel. I love it." And it's not a lie, I want to keep going on rides with him. Knowing this is something he loves, its something we can do together.

Lenya gently removes his gloves, leaning in with his hands cupping my face, before planting a tender kiss on my lips. Deep and full of want. He hasn't kissed me like this in so long it feels like. The sensation of his tongue parting my lips, allowing him to explore, sends a shiver down my spine and weakens my knees. I wrap my hands around his neck, lacing my fingers together.

"I've missed you so much, malyshka (baby). I'm sorry I have been so distant," he says against my lips, then moves to trail kisses down my neck. "You deserve all of my attention. Once I have taken care of this…" his hand reaches down to pop the button on my jeans, slipping his hand inside. "I promise you will have all of me, the way you deserve to have me."

Lenya's touch sends waves of heat coursing through my body. As he slips his hand inside my jeans, his words of longing and apology only intensify the longing I've been feeling for him. The promise of his undivided attention drives me wild. His fingers expertly circle my clit, leaving me weak and breathless. Lenya dips his middle finger inside of my entrance, "So wet for me, Tsvetok (Flower)." He groans, bringing his finger back up to my clit. "I need to be inside you. I can't wait."

Unable to resist any longer, Lenya removes his sweatshirt and lays it on the ground, creating a makeshift surface for our helmets. "Bend over the bike, Lina," Lenya's raspy, desire filled voice commands, his chest heaving with rapid breaths. I comply, gripping the seat tightly as anticipation courses through me. With a sense of urgency, Lenya fumbles with the zipper on my jeans, quickly pulling them down. The anticipation and need for him to be inside me becomes almost unbearable.

My body trembles as I hear his zipper being pulled down. His hands caressed the curve of my ass, spreading me so he has a full view of my pussy. "If it's too much, you tell me to stop." The head of his cock slides up and down my entrance, and as he pushes in, I hold my breath.

It's tight. Almost as tight as it was on the night of our wedding.

"Oh…fuck, Lenya, it's so tight." My breathing staggered as he slowly inched in.

"Can you take it, malyshka (baby)? Do you need me to stop?" He stills inside me, letting me adjust to the size of him, concern in his tone.

"Net (No), I need you.. to.. fuck me. I need you." I pant, feeling him pull his hips back.

Lenya slams back into me, making me gasp at how full I feel. The bike shifts just a little but it doesn't tip over because of the stand. As Lenya continues to thrust inside me, the intensity of our passion grows. Every movement is a symphony of pleasure, every whimper fueling his pace. The sound of our bodies colliding echoes in the air, mingling with the gasps and moans that escape our lips.

The heat between us is palpable, our connection electric. With each thrust, I surrender myself completely to the pleasure he provides. I grip the seat tighter, my nails digging into the leather as waves of ecstasy crash over me.

"You are fucking perfect, malyshka (baby). I crave you endlessly, my hunger for you is insatiable." his hand comes down on my ass cheek, the sharp sting heightening the sensation of his cock driving into me over and over. Lenya's raspy voice fills the air, filled with a primal desire that only ignites my own. His words fuel my longing, pushing me further into a state of pure abandon. I can feel his need for me, his hunger matching my own.

The rhythm of our bodies becomes a hypnotic dance, a symphony of desire and fulfillment. Every touch we share drives us both to the edge of bliss. As we make love, the sounds of our passion meld with the natural hum of our surroundings, producing a euphoric symphony.

The bike rocks and I get nervous that it will topple over. "Lenya," I moan as he thrusts, "the bike."

"Blyat (Fuck)," he growls, grabbing me by the waist and pulling me down to the dirt. "Stay on your hands and knees, Tsvetok (Flower)."

The tiny rocks dig into my palms as I hold myself up. Lenya positions himself in between my spread thighs, sliding back inside of me. His cock brushes that soft spot inside of me, causing me to jerk forward. My walls tense up, feeling the orgasm building in my core.

"Lenya, I…" I'm almost there. I just need a little more friction. The words cannot escape my lips. I need him to touch me.

"Tell me what you need, Lina." He thrusts furiously, chasing his own release.

I reach for one of his hands, which has a firm grasp on my hip, pulling it between my thighs. "I need you to touch me here. Please make me come, Lenya. Please."

He circles my clit, adding that much-needed friction as he continues to ravage my pussy with his powerful thrusts. My arms shook from holding myself up and I felt like I was about to collapse. "Oh, God." I pant as the pressure peaks.

"Who, malyshka (baby)?" Lenya slams into me, my body juts forward and I am now face down on the dirt. He doesn't stop to pull me back up, but speeds up, pounding into me. Overcome with his primal urge, seeking his release.

"Lenya, I-I'm coming." The orgasm that rips through me is so intense that I clench hard around him. Lenya roars as I feel his warm cum spill inside of me, so much that as he continues, it spills down my thighs. As we succumb to our climax, the world fades away. Time stands still as we lose ourselves in the intensity of our connection. Lenya collapses onto me, our bodies spent but our hearts still aflame.

"Tsvetok (Flower)," he murmurs into my neck, "I fucking love you. I will come home to you, and to Vasya. Please don't worry, I have felt it the past few days. I know you are."

Fear is a heavy weight that settles in the pit of my stomach. Lenya is going to another country, and it's not for tourism or even run of the mill Bratva business. I am afraid he will get hurt or arrested in America. The fact that my fear has been felt the past few days makes me feel seen. Even though he has come home every night and gone straight to bed, he sees me. The way his arms embrace me right now, I feel safe. I have never felt safer than when I am in his embrace.

"Lina." His voice pulled me from my spiraling thoughts. "Where did you go, moya lyubov(My love)?"

"Nowhere." I lie. I don't want him to worry.

"Don't hide your feelings from me, Lina," he withdraws, and I hear him zip his pants up. "I'm the one person you can tell anything to." He pulls me up from the ground and scoots on his knees so that he is in front of me. Lenya's thumbs brush away the dirt from my face. "Tell me, Tsvetok (Flower)."

"I'm just scared." The words and emotions come pouring out, everything hits like a freight train that has lost control. "I'm scared that you will get caught and held in America. Or that you won't find him." I sniffle and a tear rolls down my cheek when I look up at him. "Or someone will kill you."

He presses his lips to mine in a tender kiss. "Nobody is taking me from you and Vasya. I swear to you."

Call me na?ve, but I believe every word.

We are ready to face whatever lies ahead, knowing that we have each other's support. The closure we seek is within reach, and with our love reignited, we are ready to confront the past and pave the way for a brighter future. We clean ourselves up and get back on the bike to head back home. We don't take for granted the ride home, every moment we get to be together is precious. These moments are what I am going to hold onto while he is gone.

Entering the house, and walking into the front room, I glance over at our syn"s (son"s), still playing happily together on the floor. They are the light that guides us through the darkness, constantly reminding us of the joy and love that can be found amidst the turmoil.