21. Anton

21

ANTON

The look on Nina’s face when I offered to build her a ballet studio will be burned into my memory forever. I might as well have offered her the moon from how shocked she was.

I was standing at the window of my bedroom, watching her and Emma dance when the idea came to me.

I have the funds to convert the space, and it’s not like it's being used. I’d be more than happy to give it to Nina to use as a studio.

Perhaps she sees it as nothing more than a gesture of good faith seeing as she’s staying with me for her own protection, but I want it to mean more than that.

She deserves everything, and I want nothing more than the chance to give that to her.

Somewhere along the way, my fear of growing close to someone has faded.

Perhaps it’s because I’ve seen Nina with my mother, and it eased some of the anxiety that I had.

I always thought I would have to keep those two parts of my life separate, but Nina’s shown me that it’s possible to bring them together. I’m spending just as much time with Mama, if not more, and still spending hours every night worshiping Nina. It’s a win-win situation, for me at least.

I’m convinced that the universe made Nina Balakin fall into my lap all those weeks ago because I was being too stubborn to admit to myself that I was lonely. That I missed having someone to share a meal with or warm my bed.

Perhaps I just needed a little helping hand, and I couldn’t be more grateful.

She’s filled my life with light, and I want to show her just how grateful I am.

If Emma wasn’t currently keeping Nina company, I would have thrown her over my shoulder and carried her into the pool house under the guise of showing her just how serious I was. But I have business with Mikhail that can’t be pushed, so I try to forget how delicious she looked in her tight leggings and bra with her skin slightly flushed.

Thankfully, my hard on calms down by the time I pick up Mikhail from his townhouse half an hour later, and I turn my focus to the task at hand.

“You’re ready to do this?”

I put the car in drive.

Mikhail’s jaw is clenched as he stares straight ahead. He’s so still he could be carved from stone.

“No.”

“I can go alone if you want.” I pull away from the curb and swing the car around.

After the informant he asked me to speak to gave us a recent address for Lev, I figured that as the head of the family, he would want to go and check it out himself, but according to Alexei’s wife, Bianca, he’s been trying to delegate more so he can spend more time with his family.

“Alexei asked me to go,” Mikhail says, his voice gruff.

“What if Lev’s there? Are you sure you can trust yourself to hold back?” I think of what happened with Maxim and pray that we don’t walk into a similar situation.

I could really do without killing my cousins’ half-brother because Mikhail decides to lose his temper.

“No.” Mikhail’s hands ball into fists.

“Mikhail,” I warn.

“I don’t need a lecture, Anton.”

We drive the rest of the way in silence, but I’m used to Mikhail’s moods.

He gets caught in internal battles with himself, and there isn’t anyone or anything that can snap him out of it, except maybe his wife, Lucia.

Eventually, I park outside a desolate-looking apartment block. Many of the windows are boarded up and the red bricks have faded to a dirty brown color.

“This is it?” Mikhail peers out the window. “It looks shady as fuck.”

“I really hope this isn’t a waste of time.” I check my pockets for weapons. There’s no way I’m not going in there without a loaded gun.

For all we know, this could be a set up, and we’re walking into a building with dozens of Igor’s men inside, and I really don’t feel like getting shot today. I have a beautiful woman to get home to.

I follow behind Mikhail as we head inside.

The front door to the apartment block is hanging off its hinges and the moment we step inside, I’m hit with the smell of piss and stale vomit.

“Fucking hell.” I cough into the crook off my arm.

“Let’s get this over with.”

The stairwell is littered with beer bottles and cigarette butts. The fact that a son of a Koslov Pahkan lives somewhere like this when the rest of his family resides in luxury penthouses and mansions makes me feel uneasy.

We climb the stairs until we reach the fourth floor and as we approach apartment 4C, Mikhail and I both ready our guns.

Mikhail glances at me, and I nod once, signaling for him to do the honors.

With a deep breath, he slams his foot into the door, and it flies open.

The place is virtually empty, and it smells stale, as if it hasn’t been lived in for a long time. There’s barely any furniture, with only a single bed in one corner and a moth-eaten couch in the other beside the small kitchenette. The refrigerator is making a loud humming noise that makes me think it might explode at any moment.

“He’s not here,” Mikhail huffs as he glances around.

“Looks like he hasn’t been for a while.” I walk over to the bed.

It’s unmade with a pile of clothes screwed up at the end.

“Fucking waste of time,” Mikhail grunts as he kicks the couch.

“We don’t know that. Check the cupboards to see if he left anything behind.”

Mikhail mutters a few choice words under his breath but after that, we search the place in silence.

I pull the covers off the couch cushions as well as stripping the sheets off the bed while Mikhail searches the kitchen.

We find a few photos and some empty magazines, but that’s it.

“I say we should still take this stuff with us.” I bundle up the clothes that were piled on the bed. “The photos could be useful.”

“I’m starting to think this whole half-brother thing is just an excuse to distract us.” Mikhail takes one last look around the damp apartment.

He stuffs the photos inside his jacket before heading out the door without another word.

I don’t hear anything from Mikhail about what we found at Lev’s apartment in the few days following our search, though I doubt it will be long until Alexei calls a meeting to discuss our next move.

I just hope he doesn’t decide tonight is the night to do it because I have very important plans.

Nina messaged me earlier to let me know she’ll be home around four, so I’ve made sure that everything is in place for when she gets home.

Alexei put me in touch with a small designer in New York, and she sent over a dress for Nina to wear tonight on our date.

I wanted it to be a complete surprise, so I’ve taken care of everything, from the dinner reservation to the evening entertainment.

Nina’s been surprisingly quiet after I suggested she take over the pool house as a studio, and I’m worried I might have frightened her off with ideas of moving in. So, I figured we should probably go on a real date first before bringing the subject up again.

At six o’clock, I park outside the house and grab the large bouquet of pale pink roses from the passenger seat.

As I climb the front steps, my palms start to sweat.

Am I nervous ?

From the way my heart is pounding in my chest as I ring the doorbell, I’d say that I am. But then again, I haven’t taken a woman out on a real date in over a decade, and I want this to go well.

I want to show Nina that I’m willing to give this a try if she is.

The soft clink of heels approaches the door, and the next thing I know, Nina’s standing there, looking like a goddess, and the air leaves my lungs.

The floor-length, midnight-blue dress I picked out for her hugs her toned figure perfectly. The narrow straps show off her delicate shoulders, and the neckline is low enough to accentuate the soft swell of her breasts.

She’s kept her hair loose around her shoulders and her makeup minimal, and I can’t seem to take my eyes off her.

“You rang the doorbell?” She looks confused.

“I’m picking you up for our date.” My mouth suddenly dries as I try not to stare at her like a starving animal. “These are for you.”

Her face lights up as she takes in the enormous bouquet. “They’re beautiful.” She reaches for them and inhales deeply. “Thank you Anton.”

“You’re welcome. I will say, I have great taste.” I openly admire her.

She glances down at the dress and blushes.

“Do you like it?”

Nina looks up at me under her lashes and nods. “I love it,” she whispers. “I love all of this.”

She eyes my tux, and her blush deepens, as if she’s skipping ahead to the end of the evening in her mind, and I smirk.

“This is just the beginning, Nina.”

Our first stop of the evening is an intimate Italian restaurant in Soho called Antonio’s . There’s barely a dozen tables, with each one lit by candlelight.

I was tempted to book the whole place out, but part of the charm of this place is the ambiance. There’s even someone playing a small piano in the corner, and you can easily spend the whole night here drinking good wine and enjoying the music.

I don’t miss the way all eyes turn to Nina as we walk to the only remaining free table. I tighten my arm around her waist, and she laughs under her breath at my possessiveness.

“I’m here with you tonight.” She looks up at me, pressing a quick kiss to the corner of my mouth.

“Am I being that obvious?”

“Yes.” She laughs. “But I like it.”

I pull out her chair and when she sits down, I gently lean in and press a quick kiss to her shoulder.

Her skin pebbles from my touch, and I inhale the sweet floral scent of her before reluctantly dragging myself away to take the seat opposite.

“Ah, this is where your favorite pizza is from.” Nina chuckles as she scans the menu.

“You remembered?”

“Of course, I did.”

My chest swells as I stare at the woman sitting opposite me.

How could I have gotten so lucky?

After we order and the waiter brings us two glasses of champagne, I raise my glass.

“What are we toasting to?” She bites her lower lip.

“You.”

She blushes as we clink our glasses together.

“Who knew you were such a romantic.” She leans forward to rest her elbows on the table.

“I promised you I would take you somewhere romantic.”

“Can I tell you something?” She nibbles on her lower lip.

“Of course, lapochka .”

“I’ve never been on a date before. My father never allowed it.”

I reach for her hand and gently stroke my thumb along her knuckles.

“Then I feel immensely honored that I get to be the one to take you on your first date.”

Once our food arrives, Nina relaxes a little more and starts to tell me all about the Winter showcase that her school is putting on.

I stare at her, completely mesmerized as she talks.

My eyes move from her soft, pouty lips to her long delicate neck down to the swells of her breasts.

I want nothing more than to rip that dress right off her but unfortunately, I made other plans for after dinner.

I keep my hand on Nina’s thigh as we drive through Soho. I give no indication of where we’re going, wanting to see the look of surprise on Nina’s face when she realizes the next part of the evening.

When we eventually park outside the Lincoln Center, Nina’s eyes widen as she takes in the posters hanging up outside.

“We’re going to the ballet?”

“It’s too early for the Nutcracker, so we’re seeing Swan Lake instead as I know it’s one of your favorites.”

Nina throws her arms around my neck and kisses me deeply.

“I don’t deserve this.” Her voice comes off thick with emotion.

“You deserve the world, Nina.”

Nina’s smile only gets larger as we’re led into our private box which gives us a perfect view of the stage.

Once the show begins, her expression is one of complete and utter awe as she watches the dancers move across the stage, the music from the orchestra echoing around us.

But I find myself more entranced by Nina than the ballet.

“You’re so beautiful,” I whisper in her ear.

She turns to face me, her blue eyes alight with wonder as she smiles at me.

“Kiss me.”

Her eyes flick to my lips, and she leans in to brush her mouth against mine.

I wrap my left hand around the back of her neck, holding her in place as I slide my tongue into her mouth. I can taste the champagne on her tongue, and I swallow my groan as my cock thickens in my pants.

How is it that this woman can get me so close to the edge with just one kiss?

I feel for the slit in her dress and gently slide my hand along her bare thigh. I stroke her soft skin. “I knew there was a reason I chose this dress,”

“Anton,” she warns, squirming slightly at my touch.

“No one can see us.” My fingers trail along her inner thigh. “But I can stop if you want me to.”

“I-I don’t want you to stop,” she gasps.

I smile against her mouth as my fingers roam higher.

“Watch the show, lapochka. ”

Nina’s eyes flutter, but she turns her head, her eyes fixed on the stage as I gently graze my fingers over the damp seam of her panties.

Her body jolts as I brush her clit over the material, and I chuckle.

“Don’t draw attention, Nina,”

She nods, her throat bobbing as she tries to concentrate on the performance.

I push her panties aside and bite back a curse at how slick and ready she is.

I wet my finger with her arousal before gently circling her clit, my eyes focused on her face as I tease her sensitive bud.

“Always so wet for me. It makes me want to take you right here. I want everyone to know how well you ride my cock.”

Nina’s mouth falls open in a silent gasp, and a smug smile tugs at my lips as I watch her eyelids grow heavy.

She’s so damn beautiful, and I can’t get enough.

As I sink a finger inside her tight heat, her mouth falls open as she clenches around me, and I have to shift in my seat as my cock strains against my zipper.

Nina’s eyes flutter closed for a moment as I slowly pump my finger inside her as my thumb grazes her clit.

“That’s it, lapochka .”

The soft curve of her breasts rises and falls with each breath.

My mouth waters as I think about pulling the straps of her dress down and sucking on her nipples.

“Do you want more?”

She nods, her throat bobbing as she does her best to keep her attention on the ballet.

I lean in to lick along the smooth curve of her neck as I sink another finger inside her.

She lets out a soft whimper as I slowly curl my fingers to graze that sensitive spot, and I know it won’t be long before she’s coming undone. I start pumping my fingers inside her. “You’re doing so well.”

Nina moves to grip my arm, her fingernails digging into me as she tries to swallow her moans.

With each pump of my fingers, her pussy is getting slicker, and I know she’s desperate to come, but I’m taking my time.

“Anton…”

“I know, zayka .” I tighten my hand around her neck as I softly nip at her ear.

“I don’t know if I can be quiet,” she gasps.

I chuckle. “Unless you want to get us banned from the ballet, you’re going to have to be.”

“I-I’m close,” she moans, turning to face me.

I capture her mouth with my own, sliding my tongue against hers as I pump my fingers inside her.

“I’m right here, Nina,” I murmur against her lips. “You can come, lapochka . I’ve got you.”

Nina’s head falls back on her shoulders, her brow furrowed, and her mouth open in a silent cry as she clenches around my fingers.

I hold her against me, ready to capture her mouth with my own in case she can’t hold back her cries of pleasure.

But she manages to stay silent as I work her through her orgasm.

When she finally relaxes, I slide my fingers out of her slick pussy and bring them to my mouth.

I lick my fingers clean. “I think I’m finally starting to see the appeal of ballet.”