16. Anton

16

ANTON

It’s days like today that I regret ever opening up a bar. It’s been one thing after another, which means I spend all day glued to a desk trying to fix everybody else’s mistakes. I only meant to pop into Espionage to have my weekly meeting with the general manager, but that turned into double-checking the stock as well as reviewing some security footage and talking to the police due to an assault allegation against one of our regulars outside the bathrooms on Saturday night.

Thankfully it was only hearsay, but I still made sure to go through every piece of evidence we had before the police dismissed it.

By the time I walk through the front door, it’s past nine, and I’m desperate for a drink and hoping that Nina is still up and willing to join me. Seeing her beautiful smile will definitely help my mood.

“Nina?” I call out as I walk across the foyer.

“Up here!”

My pulse spikes at the sound of her voice, and I quickly jog up the stairs.

“Where are you, zayka ?”

“In your bedroom.”

I walk in to find Nina’s naked body sprawled across my bed.

She’s lying back against the pillows with her arms up over her head, looking nothing short of angelic with her dark hair loose around her shoulders.

My eyes roam over her peaked nipples, my mouth watering at the thought of sucking on the sensitive buds before moving lower.

Her legs are pressed firmly together, shielding her beautiful pussy from me, and I groan.

“You had a long day.” She rolls onto her stomach, giving me the perfect view of her ass.

“Yeah.” I undo a few buttons before pulling my shirt over my head.

“I thought you might need cheering up.”

My cock strains against my zipper. “You going to let me take you from behind again, lapochka ?”

She wiggles her hips, and I reach down to squeeze the bulge in my pants.

“I have another idea.” She glances over her shoulder at me with hooded eyes.

“Oh, yeah?”

“I have some homework to do for class…” She rolls back over. “You see, I couldn’t quite get this move right…”

She lifts her right leg and takes hold of her ankle.

“Fucking hell,” I palm my length as I forget how to breathe, watching her straighten her leg and pulling it back so it’s almost flush against her body, giving me the perfect view of her pussy, which is already gleaming with her arousal.

My mouth waters at the thought of burying my face between her thighs and tasting her.

Nina grins before taking hold of her other ankle and stretching her legs out to either side in a perfect split.

“I feel a little tight .” She bites her lower lip as she watches my reaction.

The sound I make is nothing short of feral as I imagine fucking her like this, knowing how deep I’ll be able to reach at this angle.

It’s a miracle I don’t spill in my pants.

She’s breathtaking.

Somehow, I manage to focus long enough to take off my pants, my cock already leaking as I eye her naked body.

“I’m sure that won’t be a problem.” I wrap my hand around the base of my cock and pump my length.

Nina watches me with glazed eyes, still holding the splits as I climb onto the bed.

“Christ, Nina.” I run my slick tip along the length of her pussy.

Her eyes roll as I brush her clit.

“I don’t know whether to fuck you or taste you.”

“Fuck me.” She arches her back. “Please.”

I quickly grab a pillow and position it under her hips to angle them so I can sink even deeper. This is going to feel incredible, so I’ll need to pace myself so I can make sure Nina still comes first.

Lining my cock up with her entrance, I thrust my hips hard and sink my cock all the way inside her.

Nina cries out as I fill her, and I take a moment to let her adjust to the size of me.

“Anton,” she whimpers, her expression turning from one of pleasure to agony as I refuse to move inside her.

“I don’t want to hurt you, Nina. I’m fucking deep at this angle.”

“You won’t. I’m very flexible.”

“I know.” I chuckle as I stroke along her inner thighs. “But if it gets too much, I need you to tell me.”

“Anton.” She screws her eyes shut. “ Fuck me .”

I can’t help but laugh at how desperate she is.

I love that I can bring her so much pleasure, and I don’t think I’ll ever get used to her screaming my name as I make her come.

“Oh, I intend to,” I murmur before sliding out of her tight heat and thrusting back in.

“ Yes. ” Nina clenches around my cock.

“Fuck, Nina.” I thrust into her again.

She offers me a lazy smile, her eyes half closed as I place my hands on her thighs, keeping them in place as I pump my hips.

“Look at you, so beautiful.”

“You feel so good.” Her skin is starting to flush a soft shade of pink.

I look down to where our bodies are joined and watch as I pull my cock free.

It’s gleaming with Nina’s arousal, and I have to grit my teeth as my balls start to tighten and a spurt of precum leaks from the tip.

I need to slow down, otherwise I’m going to blow my load before Nina gets her release, and that is not how I like to do things.

Reaching between us, I start rubbing slow circles on her clit as I thrust deeper inside her.

Nina’s eyes widen, and her mouth falls open in a silent cry as I apply more pleasure to her clit.

“Do you want more, Nina?” I slowly pump my hips.

Nina makes a strangled sound as she glares at me, and I chuckle.

I keep my eyes locked on hers as I get her release building.

“So good.” She moves her hands to cup her breasts.

“I love watching you,” I murmur as she starts playing with her nipples.

“Yeah?” She glances down at her breasts that are small and perky.

They’re the perfect mouthful, and I can’t wait to give them some attention myself.

She tweaks the hard peaks and gasps, her back arching from the rush of pleasure.

Her pussy clenches around my cock, and I grunt.

“Fuck, keep doing that.”

She laughs before pulling harder on her nipples.

Her pussy becomes even slicker, and I run my thumb through her wetness before rubbing her clit faster.

Nina moans, moving between kneading her breasts and tweaking her nipples as I work her clit in time with my thrusts.

The need to come is almost unbearable.

“Come on, zayka , that’s it.” I rub her clit harder. “Come on my cock.”

“Yes, oh my god!”

My movements are becoming sloppier as my spine starts to tingle. I can barely think straight as my cock moves in and out of her slick heat. “Fuck.”

“I’m coming,” she moans, her eyes screwed shut as her mouth falls open. “Yes, yes, yes !”

Her body shudders followed by a rush of wetness between her thighs.

Her pussy pulses around my length as she climaxes, and one more pump of my hips has my cock spilling.

“Holy shit.” I empty myself inside her.

Once we’re both spent, I collapse on top of her, and Nina wraps her thighs around my waist, holding me against her.

She sighs. “That was incredible.”

I grunt, and she laughs.

“Did that cheer you up?

“I think it might have killed me.” I can barely think straight, and the fact that I’m still inside her isn't helping.

She moans as she licks at my neck. “I could stay like this forever, with you buried inside me.”

“That sounds like heaven to me.” I capture her lips with mine.

Eventually, I pull myself off Nina and collapse onto my back and pull her against my side, and she rests her head on my chest.

I don’t think I’ve ever felt such peace as I do right now, lying in bed after having the most incredible sex with the woman of my dreams because there’s no denying that Nina is just that.

She squeezes up to me. “Can I ask you something?”

“Of course.” I stroke up and down her arm.

I can’t seem to stop touching her.

“The man responsible for the attack on me… Do you know his name?”

That was not what I was expecting her to ask, but I knew we were bound to have this conversation eventually.

“It’s not been one hundred percent confirmed, but if it’s who I think it is, then yes, I do.”

“Can you tell me?”

I hesitate. “Why?”

“I think I’ll feel better if I know his name.” She moves out of my arms to sit up against the pillows. “Then he’s a real, concrete person rather than some threat that seems to linger in the air. That probably makes no sense…”

“No, I get it. You sure you want to know?”

She nods, biting her lower lip.

“His name is Igor Ivanov. He’s been at war with my family for decades, and he’s about as bad as they come.”

Nina’s eyes widen, and I reach out to stroke her cheek.

“I don’t want to frighten you, lapochka . He won’t ever get to you.”

“That’s why you’ve gone to such lengths to keep me safe, isn’t it?”

I nod.

“What has he done that’s so terrible?”

“For one, he murdered my aunt and uncle.”

Nina’s breath hitches, but she stays quiet.

“Along with many of the men that work for my family. Almost a year ago, he kidnapped my cousin Mikhail’s wife and threatened to kill her and her unborn child in front of him.”

“Oh, my god.” Nina sobs, covering her mouth with her hand as her eyes well with tears.

“I can stop if this is too much.”

Nina shakes her head.

“I want to know as much about him as possible.”

“This is just between us, but my cousins found out they have a half sibling. Their father had an affair with Igor’s ex-wife, Katya, and there was a son. Igor recorded Katya as having a stillbirth and took the son and basically tortured him for most of his life. We’ve been trying to track him down for almost two years.”

Nina’s body is shaking, and I decide that’s probably enough information. I cup her cheeks and wipe her tears away with my thumbs.

“But he won’t ever hurt you, Nina, I promise you.”

She nods as tears continue to stream down her cheeks.

“I’m sorry for upsetting you lapochka .”

“I’m the one who asked.”

“Unfortunately, there are bad people in this world. But then there are angels like you who are nothing but good and pure.” I bend down to kiss her lips.

Nina only sobs louder. I pull her into my arms and hold her against my chest as she cries. I hate that she’s shedding tears because of Igor Ivanov, but she has every right to know the reality of the situation. I won’t ever deny the truth to her.

“Have you ever killed anyone?” she whispers once she’s calmed down.

For a moment, I consider lying, but I can’t deceive Nina like that. She deserves to know who I really am.

“Yes.” I stroke her cheek. “But only when it’s absolutely necessary. It’s never out of entertainment or enjoyment.”

I take the fact that she’s not pushing me away, or looks repulsed by my honesty, as a good sign.

“What counts as necessary?” Nina frowns.

“Protecting those I love.”

Nina goes quiet, and I worry that my confession might be too much for her. But I wanted to be as open and transparent with her as possible.

Secrets can ruin relationships, and if Nina and I have a chance at something real, it’s best she knows what she’s getting herself into.

“Are you okay?” I continue stroking her hair, hoping that this small touch reminds her of who I really am.

“I’m okay,” she whispers. “But I need to talk to you about something.”

“You can always talk to me about anything.”

She nods, biting her lower lip.

My phone buzzes among my pile of clothes on the floor.

I hesitate, but Nina shifts out of my arms.

“You should take that.”

“It’s probably just Mikhail or Danil.” I reach over the side of the bed for my pants.

I pull my phone out of my pocket and see Rosa’s name flashing on the screen. “Shit.”

She’s likely calling with an update on Nikolai, and I’m eager to learn of my brother’s whereabouts. But I’m also aware of the conversation that Nina and I have just had, and the fact that she was wanting to share something with me.

“Anton, it’s okay.” She climbs out of bed, reaching for her pink, silk robe that’s slung over the armchair. “We can talk later.”

“You needed to talk…” My phone continues to buzz in my hand, but there’s no way I can send Rosa to voicemail.

“Really, it’s fine.” Nina ties the belt of her robe around her middle before walking over to the door. “Take your call. We’ll talk more later.”

I feel like an ass as Nina disappears out of the room, and I make a silent vow to make it up to her later.

“What have you got for me, Rosa?”

“Thought you were ignoring me, Koslov.”

“I was in the middle of something.”

“You always are.” She scoffs. “I’m calling to let you know that I managed to find some basic info on your brother.”

“What do you mean by basic?”

“His current address that he’s been living at for the past year as well as an updated phone number. I’m emailing them over to you now along with my invoice.”

“Where’s he been living?”

“If you check the email you’ll find out. I have to go, Anton.” She cuts off the call.

I quickly open up my email and click on the latest one from Rosa.

I hold my breath as I scan the attached file with Nikolai’s new number as well as his current address and notice a New York zip code.

“You fucker.”

Not only has he been in the same country as me for the past year, but also in the same state .

I fight the urge to launch my phone across the room.

I could almost excuse him for not visiting our mother when I thought he was abroad, though he sure as hell has the money to afford regular flights. But the fact that he’s been so close and not bothered to visit, let alone help out, has my blood boiling.

“I need a fucking drink.”

I’m in a blind rage by the time I pull up outside Espionage .

“Back so soon?” Reid asks as I stalk straight past him into the bar.

“No amount of alcohol will make me feel better, but I’m going to try anyway.” I approach the bar, signaling to Alex, the bartender, to pour me a vodka. “Keep them coming until I say otherwise.”

Reid steps to my side at the bar. “Want company?”

“Fuck no.” I take my drink, stalking over to one of the private booths at the back of the bar.

Three double vodkas down and my mind is yet to quieten, and my body is almost vibrating with anger.

I go round and round in circles, trying to decide whether to just pay my brother a visit, but I know that will only end up with one of us in the hospital and the other in jail.

The empty glass is cleared away and another is set down in front of me.

I open up my phone and stare at the number that Rosa emailed across, fighting the urge to call, as I drink.

And drink.

And drink.

Until I can’t hold back any longer and dial Nikolai’s new number.

It doesn’t even ring once before going straight to voicemail.

“You’re a fucking piece of shit, you know that?” I yell down the phone, not caring that people can hear me. “Not that you have a fucking conscience, but Mama’s been asking after you for weeks, wondering where the hell you are. How is it that you get to be the golden child whereas I’m nothing but a stranger to her, huh? How is that fair? I’m putting my life on hold to make sure she’s cared for, and you just threw in the towel the moment it got hard. You’re a fucking coward, Nikolai. I just thought you should know how disappointed I am in the man you’ve become.”