Chapter 22

Penny

Time.

I knew it was supposed to heal all wounds, helping make the past disappear, but that had never occurred, the heavy burden of guilt and shame keeping them fresh in my mind. While the bruises had healed for the most part, the scars on my arms were a direct reminder that I'd allowed a single man to nearly destroy my life.

Here I was again facing a future that I hadn't planned and wasn't certain I wanted. Yesterday, I'd hated Kraven, so much so I was determined to get out of his clutches. Yet right now, with the feelings churning in my stomach, and the closeness I felt, I wanted to learn everything about him. Everything.

Seeing him with his brother, the conviction in his heartfelt statement had provided another more soulful look into the man's mind. He did care. A hell of a lot. Maybe I was crazy for letting my guard down with him but it was easy to do, much easier than I would have ever thought given what I'd been through.

As he kept his hand wrapped around mine while leading me up two flights of spiral stairs, it felt natural. It felt as if we were a couple, caring about each other in every way. I wasn't really prone to fantasies, even though lunch and the park had been so amazing. I understood reality more than most, but maybe it was time to let go of some of my armor.

At least for a little while.

He led me into a room, needing only to wave his hand across a panel and a series of warm lights turned on inside the room. I was as floored by the huge bedroom as the rest of the house.

This was spectacular, the huge bed appearing larger than a king size. The ceiling was cathedral, the dark wooden surface creating a comforting, artistic feel. There was a beautiful water feature on the opposite wall, a stream trickling over rocks that seemed to belong on the surface. The various LED lights highlighted the beautiful artwork covering another wall. And the front was completely glass, allowing for an open feeling. I could see the stars from where I stood, still twinkling.

Still providing hope.

Wasn't that silly of me to be thinking about?

"Amazing," I found myself saying as I walked closer to the window. I noticed in the reflection he'd closed the door. When a hint of fear as if we were being watched pulsed through my system, I backed away. He was right there, his massive hands gripping my shoulders.

"You don't need to be frightened. The glass is tinted on the outside, not only to prevent anyone from seeing into my home but also because of the heat. It's also bulletproof including for sniper rifles."

"You've thought of everything. Haven't you?"

"You understand now why I do. This is my home, my sanctuary. Contrary to what you might believe, I do want a location where I can relax."

"I'm curious. How many people, women have you brought here?"

"One, a very long time ago. Since then, no one." He turned me around to face him, slowly allowing his gaze to fall.

"Why?"

"Because I couldn't bear the thought of bringing someone into my life."

"Then why me?" I wanted to know. I could see such pain in his eyes as I guessed he'd seen in mine. We were two private people for a reason.

"Because you are very special." Just the way he rubbed my face, the look in his eyes allowed me to be drawn even closer to him.

"Will you check on Misha?"

He smiled as if surprised I continued to care. "Yes, of course. He is a very strong individual, Penny. I'd authorized the best medical care available. He will pull through."

"I hope so. He was just trying to protect you."

"And you, as he already pledged to do for anyone in my family."

Family. He used the term easily, as if in less than three days I should readily accept his commitment to owning me. His words were strangely evocative, no longer as oppressive.

I couldn't stand seeing him covered in blood any longer. I peeled away his shirt, tugging it up his chest. He wasn't blinking as he allowed me to remove it, studying me more intently than he'd done before.

He kicked off the shoes that I knew still had to be wet from me dunking him but continued to allow me to undress him from there. I found myself fumbling as I unfastened his belt, my fingers stiff as I unzipped. As I peeled the material away, I slowly dropped to my knees to make his trousers easier to remove.

When his cock sprang free, I found myself licking my lips. I couldn't help my instant reaction, raking the edge of a finger down the side of his shaft.

He growled, the sound low and husky, enticing something deep inside. I continued taunting him, even rolling the tip around one ball then the other. I finally darted my gaze back to his face to make certain what I was doing was okay.

His entire brow was furrowed, his jaw as clenched as I'd ever seen it. But there was utter lust in his eyes, a haze already forming.

"Be careful, baby girl. I might not be gentle. Don't start something you don't want finished."

I wasn't certain what I was doing around him, but I also found myself incapable of ignoring the connection we shared. I tugged at his pants, needing the bloody clothes out of my sight. Once he was fully naked, I took a deep breath, my core already heating to a thousand degrees. There was something so magnificent about the feel of his muscular thighs as I rolled my hands up and down them several times.

He was tense, more so than I thought he could ever be, staring down at me with a wry smile on his face. I was almost surprised he wasn't commanding orders instead of allowing me to enjoy the moment, teasing him before daring to drag my tongue around his already purple cockhead.

I brushed both index fingers in the crease of his legs, which forced another growl from his throat.

"Are you trying to be a bad girl, to evoke my wrath?" His question was gravelly, almost garbled from desire and need building as much as mine was doing.

"Maybe." I finally blew across the tip, immediately rewarded with several glistening beads of pre-cum oozing from the slit. I dragged my tongue across my bottom lip and that was the moment he fisted my hair at the scalp, jutting his hips forward.

"Be careful, little girl. I don't take no for an answer. Haven't you already learned that by now?"

I found myself eager to take his cock into my mouth, to once again taste my reward and that's exactly what I did, purring and cooing as I licked the few drops. The taste was salty yet sweet, the combination irresistible.

"You need to suck me before I go out of my mind."

His grip tightened as I wrapped my fingers around the base, pumping several times as I rolled his testicles between my fingers, squeezing until he moaned. This was the perfect way to control a man. I found it impossible to take my eyes off him as his face contorted several times, his breathing becoming shallower with every stroke.

Every lick.

Finally, I couldn't take teasing him any longer, engulfing the entire tip, using my strong jaw muscles to suck relentlessly.

He rolled onto the balls of his feet, throwing back his head as he controlled mine. Within seconds, he was forcing my head down further. I struggled to breathe, doing what I could to control my raging pulse. I flicked my tongue back and forth as I sucked, closing my eyes and savoring the moment.

I shouldn't be doing this. Everything inside my warped mind was telling me that, but our connection and the man were far too irresistible. I wanted nothing more than to become lost in the moment and in the man, indulging in the kind of passion that wasn't allowed for girls like me.

It wasn't that he was rich or powerful, or even dangerous. It was that he understood me. My needs and wants, all the fears that had kept me from following through with my dreams. He just got me. I was quivering as I took him down an inch at a time until my bottom lip hit the base. It was hard not to gag, he was so large and determined to keep the tip of his cock pressed against the back of my throat.

When he completely took over, all I could do was stare up at him, basking in the shimmer on his rugged skin, the way his long dark eyelashes framed his face and the incredible look of the stubble that outlined the most chiseled jaw I'd ever seen.

He pumped long and hard, every single muscle in his body hard as a rock. I was shocked he was able to breathe, his chest was heaving so much. I also expected at any second he would release, filling my throat with sweet cream. Not that I'd had that experience before this powerful, dominating god. I'd never known what it was like to truly please a man. His eyes were closed, every sound coming from deep within his chest primal. It allowed me to be lost in the fantasy, to forget all about the danger and predicament I was in.

When he opened his eyes seconds later, I was prepared for his full eruption, but he pushed me back by the shoulders, raking both hands through his hair. His body was swaying, the smile on his face practically evil.

"Shower time, baby. For both of us."

I could tell he wasn't going to take no for an answer. He took me by the hand, his animalistic grin remaining as he guided me toward the bathroom. It was another marvel in artistry, so huge and beautiful that I was caught up in the moment. He finally let me go, turning on the shower controller. Water sprayed from two massive heads, the single glass panel barely covering what had to be a ten by six or more enclosure.

He studied me intently before ripping off my dress, tossing it aside. I kicked off my shoes as he'd done, uncertain what to expect from the powerful man. Using a single finger, he rolled it down my forehead to my nose, taking his time shifting downward until he'd rolled it between my breasts.

"Now, I suggest you remove those sexy panties of yours quickly or they will need to be disposed of."

I gave him a sly grin and rolled the material down my legs. There was a time the thought of undressing in front of a man had horrified me. But around him, I felt so beautiful, so wanted.

The slight shake of his head, the subtle yet powerful approval was thrilling, more so than it had been before. I was trembling, my heart thudding. While his clothes had taken the brunt of the gunfight, I couldn't help rubbing my thumb across his cheek, trying to remove the specs covering his handsome face.

While I continued to ask myself how I could feel so connected to a man like Kraven, the strangest thing of all was that it felt as if I'd known him my entire life. If only I could bottle the moment, enjoying the perfect experience even with blood still staining our skin.

He wrapped his arm around my waist, remaining silent as he pulled me toward the streaming water. Once inside, we stood close to one showerhead, the other pulsing beads of heated water against our legs for what seemed like several minutes. But as strings of red trickled down both arms, I couldn't take concentrating on the images of what I'd seen, allowing the horrors from hours earlier to destroy what was left of my rational mind.

I grabbed the netted shower ball, surprised that's what he used. Although I had to remind myself it had been more than obvious how much time he'd spent at the penthouse suite. Still, this was far more comfortable, better suiting a man like the Las Vegas Bratva leader. I wasn't certain the scent of the shower gel I'd selected, nor did I care.

This moment was about more than just passion. It was allowing the sins of the day, the horrors of a life he'd been born into to fade away. If only for a little while.

I was careful in the way I scrubbed his skin, although he was a rough and tumble guy. I wanted to take my time, praying the hot water wouldn't run out as I gently rubbed the soapy net down one cheek then up the other. I moved to his neck, trying to keep my mind off the fact his cock remained rock hard.

The taste of him lingered in my mouth, the saliva glands overactive from the need to lick him all over again. I wasn't entirely certain how I'd gotten such a filthy mind but maybe his dark power had broken me from the chains, allowing me a raunchy sense of freedom.

As I continued washing him, I marveled in the fact the shower was big enough for eight at least, although I was certain that would never happen. If Kraven was anything other than dangerous, he was a one-woman kind of guy, refusing to share with anyone. He was far too possessive.

His breathing hadn't changed, so labored I wondered if I should be concerned. As I moved around to his back, he tilted his head, unable to keep from growling. I had a feeling he was allowing me the moment of pseudo control, preparing to rip it away at any time.

He was a terrible man doing very brutal things. No rules could control him. No men or women of authority were capable of besting him. No conscience. No heart.

Some would say a man who could never been redeemed or saved.

I was an innocent woman, someone who'd followed the rules my entire life. I'd been protected until well into my twenties, loved unconditionally. I'd been taught right from wrong, good versus evil. I had love in my heart, light in my soul, and would always feel guilt for the decisions I made.

We were entirely two different people, two worlds lived. One of light and one of darkness. But a strange thought had entered my mind during the horrific battle where he'd been forced to return the favor, saving my life.

We were meant to be together.

I replaced the scrubby ball with my hands, no longer caring if the blood stained my skin. As I caressed and kneaded the muscles in his back, he pressed his palms against the front wall. I watched as he allowed water to trickle over his head, marveling at how his subtle gestures kept my core overheated, the longing to have his cock driven deep inside more powerful than before.

Before I had a chance to drop to my knees, cleaning his long, lean legs, he turned around, giving me another one of his stern looks. When he took the ball from my hand, he wasted no time grabbing another shower gel, squirting a hefty amount. The smell of the ocean filled the space, the scent refreshing, so much so I took a deep breath.

It was his turn to clean every inch of my body, taking his time doing so. I couldn't seem to stop tingling from his light touch or his penetrating eyes. It was true that eyes were the window to someone's soul. I'd thought his black, perhaps nonexistent but I could see so much in them at this moment. He longed for something in his life that I couldn't decipher.

He wasn't rough, just authoritative in his commands, requiring me to lift my arms, and open my legs as wide as possible. And of course, he had to tease me as I'd done to him, tickling my pussy with the netting several times.

I was so hot and wet, the steam from the water making it difficult to breathe. I wasn't certain if the fog in front of my eyes had anything to do with the water temperature. What surprised me more than anything was the gentle way in which he washed and conditioned my hair, ensuring there were no reminders of the horrific event.

When he was finally finished, he stood in front of me, his nostrils flaring as he rolled his fingers from my shoulders all the way down both arms.

The electric vibrations we'd shared since the beginning of our unusual, tumultuous relationship were more intense than before. Perhaps it was the heat or the danger, the close proximity or the need to feel something after all the death. With another sly smile crossing his face, he gripped my hips, pressing my back against the wall. With no hesitation, no real warning, he thrust the entire length of his cock deep inside.

I let out a scattered scream, the blunt force he used knocking the breath from my lungs. As my muscles stretched and ached immediately, there was so much pleasure in the moment I was instantly transported to a beautiful cloud.

"God, so big. So… Big." I licked my lips as I gripped his arms, immediately throwing both legs around his hips. I knew by now he could hold me up easily, but I still felt so helpless even in his powerful hold. As he pulled halfway out, shifting his hips back and forth, I dug my nails into his skin. "Now, who's the tease?"

He laughed heartedly, as if that was exactly what he meant to do before driving into me again.

And again.

Everything about the moment was perfect, the sweat rolling down our bodies making the moment that much more primal. He was nothing but a carnivorous beast and I was starting to enjoy being his prey. What a change in such a short period of time. I entwined my feet together as he planted both hands on the smooth granite beside me, issuing a series of growls as he jutted his hips forward.

I was shocked how comfortable the position was, even if beads of perspiration continued to trickle into my eyes, burning both. I continued to cling to him, gasping for air as the sensations continued to rise. Until now, I would never have believed how incredible being with a man could be, how much our passion would change me.

There were no words of commitment spoken, although his words of owning me remained in the back of my mind. This was all about a carnal, sinful activity that by all rights should drag us both into hell.

Whatever the case, I loved it. I wanted more. I could do this all day.

He was stiffer than before, pushing me harder, driving me up the wall by several inches. I could feel my body responding even more, my pussy clenching and releasing with wild abandon.

I was swimming toward another moment of euphoria, my mind a wonderful blur. I pressed my head against the granite, laughing softly as the tingling sensations built into something else altogether. When I issued a sharp cry, he fucked me harder, his rough actions jarring every muscle in my body.

They also pushed me from a single, powerful rocket of electricity to a sweeping wave. I uttered another scream, this one more bedraggled. He refused to slow down, pushing me harder and harder. Yet when I lolled my head, finally coming down from the sweet rapture, he slowly lowered me to my feet.

The way he pressed kisses against my forehead was unexpected, leaving me smiling on the inside and out. I knew he wasn't finished with me yet, his ability to keep control something I could never do. He continued trailing kisses down one side of my face, barely allowing our lips to touch before raking his teeth from one side of my jaw to the other.

There was no stopping the powerful man. When he wanted something, he simply took it. It was one of the things I admired about him, although I refused to tell him that. When he spun me around to face the wall, lifting one of my arms then the other, the butterflies I'd felt before shifted into another display of bumblebees, only this time they were angry.

He didn't explain what he was about to do but in truth, he didn't need to. He wanted to ensure every part of me belonged to him.

How long would it be until he demanded my heart?

That wasn't possible. I could never love a man like him. But enjoying? Living a bad boy-style fantasy? That was more pleasurable than I ever would have imagined.

He drove his cock deep inside my pussy all over again. I knew exactly what he was doing, slickening his thick cock.

I was tenser than before, especially when he pulled out, tapping his shaft on my bottom before pressing the tip into the crack in my ass. When he found my dark hole, he took his time slipping the tip deeper inside, his growls louder than before. I adored the huskiness in his tone, the richness of his voice when he spoke.

Right now, the deep echoes he was somehow managing added to the freeing moment. While a flash of pain washed through me, forcing me to suck in my breath, I sensed that pleasure was right behind the discomfort. He pushed another inch inside then another. I was shocked he was being patient with anything, certainly not one of his finer qualities.

But thank God or I wouldn't have been able to tolerate his huge size. When he drove the last of his shaft inside, every breath of air rushing from my system, I closed my eyes. It was impossible not to smile even though I continued to lick sweat from my upper lip.

The round of fucking became more brutal, the entire moment exhausting as well as exhilarating. I was at a loss for words, unable to think or focus on anything. I never knew pleasure could be this incredible. As he continued fucking me, I closed my eyes, strangely enjoying something I'd thought reprehensible before. I even found myself meeting every savage thrust, taunting him even more by clamping down my muscles.

He threw back his head and roared, the sound reverberating in the dense space. I had no idea how long he would able to keep up the stamina, but I sensed he was ready to erupt deep inside, and I couldn't seem to stop the bad girl side of me.

I squeezed my muscles harder than before.

That was all he could take. With a hard shove of one hand against the wall, the action forcing me to shiver, he erupted deep inside.

I wasn't expecting the man to be romantic, to cuddle me or anything remotely of that nature. He wasn't the type, nor was I certain how I'd react. However, he remained close, maybe because we were both struggling to breathe. When he finally turned off the water, I wasn't certain I could move.

Kraven was the one to grab towels, taking his time drying every inch of my skin. The towel was soft and thick, keeping the warmth tightly spinning inside my body.

Only when he was satisfied did he wrap the plush material around my chest, neatly placing one end under the bunch so it would stay in place. He grabbed one for my hair, but I laughed as he tried to dry it.

"I think I can handle that." I flicked the end of the towel at him, certain he would return the favor, but he only wagged his finger instead before grabbing a towel for himself.

The was something so hot about seeing a man drying off that it was tough to take my eyes off him. I wasn't surprised after he wrapped his body with the towel that he picked me up into his arms. For all the horrid things he'd done in his life, this was his attempt at reminding me that underneath all the thick armor, he was also a man of flesh and blood.

I'd always wanted to feel small in a man's arms and he did that easily, even bending down and yanking back the edge of the comforter and sheets. When he placed me under the covers, I realized a single tear had finally made its way to the surface, trickling over so slowly down my cheek.

I noticed Remington on the end of the bed, not bothering to lift his head. He was more comfortable than I'd seen him, a telling statement about where I was and who I was with.

Kraven captured it, rolling the single bead in two fingers before bringing them both to his mouth. In another provocative move, he sucked them for a few seconds. He tucked me in nice and tight and I was certain he was preparing to get dressed and leave the room, maybe even locking me inside.

But after turning off the light, he stood over the bed for a few seconds before slipping under the covers. As he grabbed me around the waist, pulling me against him, I found myself holding my breath all over again.

This couldn't be the same man I'd met, the one who'd been determined to both protect and keep me from running to the police. But it was.

And at that moment, I could only wonder what other secrets and traits he was hiding.