26. Bianca

26

BIANCA

Alexei comes charging down the stairs, freshly showered and changed with a bag in each hand, followed by a grave-looking Dimitri.

I look between them. “Alexei?”

He refuses to speak as he drags me into the garage and loads the bags into the trunk of his Mercedes.

His eyes go to his brother. “You know what to do. Don’t let me down again, Dimitri. I need to be able to trust my own family.”

My blood boils as neither one of them acknowledges my presence.

He buckles me in, as he always do, but doesn’t touch me again. My heart breaks that much more.

As soon as he enters the car, he starts it, and we drive off.

“Where are you taking me?”

He keeps silent and just drives.

Soon, we’re flying down the freeway. We’ve been driving for almost an hour without a word spoken between us .

How did it all go so wrong so quickly?

“Alexei, where are we going?”

“A cabin near Greenwood Lake.”

“A cabin?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

Silence. And not the easy kind I used to find with him when I would paint, and he would sit by my side. This silence feels heavy, and with each second that passes it’s like another brick added to the wall around Alexei’s heart.

He was starting to let me in. We were starting to become something more, something special.

And I had to go and ruin it all.

“You’re going to have to forgive me eventually, Alexei. Please.” I swallow the lump in my throat.

“I don’t have time to think about that right now. I’m too busy trying to keep you and the baby alive.”

I blink.

Keep us alive?

“Does Gilanto know about the baby?” I turn in my seat to look at Alexei. “Is that what this is about?”

Alexei says nothing. His throat bobs as he stares ahead at the road, and it’s all the confirmation I need.

“What about Zara? She’s still at the house! Is Dimitri going to take care of her?”

“Zara is not my priority.”

“She’s my priority, Alexei!”

I let my best friend be dragged into this world because I was selfish, and it might just cost Zara her life.

“If we’re in danger, I need to make sure she’s taken care of. I have a right to know what’s going on.”

“Funny, I could argue the same thing.”

My cheeks burn .

I should have told him about the baby the moment I took those tests, but I was terrified of ruining what we had.

I guess it made no difference in the end.

“If my life is in danger, my baby’s life, I have the right to know why.”

“You lost that right the moment you defied my orders and snuck out of the damn house,” Alexei snarls. “And it’s not just your baby, Bianca.”

I blink back tears as I turn away from Alexei and stare out the window, watching as the city disappears into our rearview.

He’s right.

This is all my fault. And I could have gotten my baby killed. I was stupid, I didn’t think.

I just hope this doesn’t cost any of our lives.

Before long, we’re turning off the interstate and making our way through winding roads, surrounded by nothing but woodland. It’s secluded, and under other circumstances, I might have enjoyed the thought of a peaceful stay in a cabin.

Alexei takes a sharp left through an opening in the trees, and my eyes widen as the cabin comes into view.

I had pictured a rickety old log cabin with no electricity or running water, but this place couldn’t be further from that.

It has a cozy appearance, with perfectly stacked logs making up the walls and roof, and a large enclosed porch wrapping around the entire property. There’s even a rocking chair beside the front door .

But I don’t fail to miss the state-of-the-art security cameras on every corner of the property.

If Alexei’s brought me here instead of staying at the Forest Hills mansion or even the penthouse in the city, then the security here must be even tighter.

Alexei parks the car up alongside the cabin, and we both climb out, the silence still hanging heavy between us as he gets the bags from the trunk.

I follow him up the steps to the front door and wait for him to punch in the code and scan his finger.

He pushes the door open with his foot and carries our things over the threshold, leaving me to trail behind him like a lost puppy.

Lights automatically come on as we enter, illuminating the large living space.

There’s a kitchenette to the left and a dining and living area to the right. It’s rustic, with mostly wooden furniture and thick rugs covering the floor. A huge fireplace is the main attraction of the room, with two tweed armchairs positioned before it. There’s a door just off the small kitchen which I assume leads to the bedrooms and bathroom.

At least I hope there’s multiple bedrooms…

I sink down onto the brown leather couch that’s immediately to my right, tucking my legs up underneath me as I look around.

Alexei’s phone starts ringing, and I wait for him to disappear into one of the rooms, but he does the opposite. He answers the call, muttering under his breath as he starts pacing back and forth in front of me, as if he can’t trust me enough to leave me out of his sight.

I keep my eyes on the floor, not knowing what to do with myself.

How long are we expected to stay here ?

I need to make sure Zara is taken care of, and I stupidly left my phone back at the house, though I wouldn’t be surprised if Alexei smashed the device.

“Aren’t you afraid whoever is trying to kill me might trace your call?” I ask when he finally finishes the call.

“I’ve made sure that can’t happen.” He perches on the arm of one of the chairs. His eyes never leave his phone and the frown only deepens between his eyebrows.

“So, you didn’t get Mikhail to put a tracker in your phone too?”

Alexei’s nostrils flair, but he doesn’t look up.

“I thought that was part of the deal, or do you get a free pass because you’re the head of the family?”

“Bianca…”

I’m done giving him a chance.

“No. Please, tell me how this works. Is it just me that gets the privilege of being tracked?”

“Maybe if you were trustworthy, I wouldn’t feel the need to put a damn tracker in your phone.” Alexei finally looks up at me.

“For months, I’ve been nothing but trustworthy, even if I didn’t agree with your decisions.”

“I beg to fucking differ.”

“I left the house one time, Alexei. One fucking time.”

“One more than you should have. And you were reckless. Endangering yourself and the baby.”

“Doesn’t that tell you something?”

“It tells me you can’t be trusted. “

“Well, it should tell you that I was scared. Worried you would act like this .” My throat is trying to choke up, but I fight it. Fight the prickling in my eyes. “So yes, I snuck out. But only because I felt like I had no other choice. ”

Alexei gets to his feet, and I hold my breath for a moment.

Is he about to tell me how wrong I was to think such things? That he’s overjoyed by the idea of becoming a father?

Instead, he taps away on his phone and lifts it to his ear once more.

“Please, Alexei. We need to talk about this,” I reaching out and take the phone out of Alexei’s hand.

“If you know what’s good for you, Bianca, you’ll give that back.”

“I think I’ve made it abundantly clear that I don’t know what’s good for me.” I turn it off and throw it on the couch.

Alexei glares at me, but I don’t back down because I can see behind the mask.

He’s just as terrified as I am.

So, I take a step toward him, and then another, and another.

I stop once there’s barely any space between us, and he has no choice but to look me in the eye.

Our breathing is ragged, our bodies tense as we silently fight against each other.

I want to break first, to reach out and run my fingers over his chest.

I glance down, and his bruised hands are balled into fists. I pretend he’s feeling the same. That he’s fighting the urge to reach out and touch me.

“Alexei…”

I look up, and there’s nothing but devastation in his beautiful eyes, so I crumble.

I reach out and sink my fingers into his shirt, a strangled sob escaping me as the warmth of his skin seeps through the material. “I’m sorr?— ”

His lips crash against mine.

His fingers sink into my hair, pulling me closer against him as his tongue forces its way into my mouth.

There’s nothing sweet or tender about the kiss, but I don’t care. All I care about is that he’s here, and his warmth is beneath my fingertips.

I wrap my arms around his neck and rise up onto my tiptoes, pressing myself fully against him.

If this is all he can give me, then I’ll take it because it’s better than this cold stranger he’s becoming.

“I want you,” I whisper against his lips. “In whatever way you’ll let me have you.”

Alexei answers by reaching down to grab the backs of my thighs and lifting me off the ground.

I wrap my legs around his waist as my fingers sink into his hair, angling his head so I can explore his mouth with my tongue.

A deep rumbling sound builds in his throat as he carries us through the door that leads to the only bedroom.

I tighten my legs around his waist, trying desperately to rock against him, but Alexei grips me around the waist and forces me off him.

I lower myself to the ground and try not to show my disappointment when Alexei steps away from me.

“Take off your clothes, Bianca.”

My breath hitches as I reach for the hem of my tank top and pull it up over my head, keeping my eyes on Alexei the entire time.

His eyes darken as they dip to my chest, at the noticeable swell of my breasts over the top of my bra.

I’m practically panting with need as I start taking off my pants .

My cheeks heat under the intensity of Alexei’s gaze as I slide the denim over my ass and down my thighs.

When I bend down to slip them over my feet, I hear Alexei clear his throat, and I glance down, realizing I’m giving him an incredible view of my breasts.

I kick my jeans aside and straighten, watching Alexei intently as his eyes roam over my body before focusing in on my stomach.

His throat bobs once before his eyes lift to meet mine.

A smile tugs at my lips as I reach behind me and unclasp my bra, letting it fall to the floor.

My breasts are heavy and swollen from pregnancy, and my nipples instantly harden against the slight chill in the air.

“Mmm…” I reach up to cup them. “They’re so sensitive.” I gasp as I rub my thumbs over the sensitive peaks.

Warmth starts to spread between my thighs, and I rub them together to try and relieve the ache.

“Take off your panties.”

My breath catches in my throat as Alexei’s eyes flick down to my lace-covered pussy. My clit is already throbbing, and my panties are already noticeably damp.

I dip my fingers into the waistband and slowly slide them down my legs, leaving me completely bare before him.

“Did you want me to knock you up, is that it, zhizn’ moya ?”

The nickname on his lips has the last of my restraint snapping.

I didn’t realize how starved I had been of his affection, and my body feels like it's on fire as he devours me with his eyes.

“I think you like the idea of carrying my baby.” He makes quick work of the buttons on his shirt. “Now everyone will know who you belong to.”

“You don’t own me.”

“ Kisa , the moment you signed that marriage certificate, you became mine, and you’d do well not to forget it.” He pulls off his shirt, revealing his gloriously tanned chest to me.

The authority in his voice has heat pooling low in my belly.

These pregnancy hormones must be kicking in because I’m practically drooling at the sight of Alexei’s muscled abdomen.

“Remind me, then. Show me who I belong to.”

Need flashes in Alexei’s eyes, and he reaches for his belt buckle.

My eyes fall to his crotch, and I moan at the sight of his hard cock straining against his zipper.

I continue to knead my breasts as I watch Alexei shed the rest of his clothes, my mouth watering at the sight of his cock springing free and already glistening with arousal.

“You belong to me, Bianca.” His voice’s low and commanding.

I nod, my pussy throbbing with the need to be claimed by him.

“Show me, Alexei.”

He closes the distance between us, crashing his lips against mine as he lifts me back onto the bed and settles himself between my thighs.

His cock pushes at my entrance, and Alexei groans as he buries his face in my hair.

“You’re soaking, zhizn’ moya .”

“I-it’s the hormones.” I grind my hips as his cock pushes another inch into me .

I wrap my legs around his waist, digging my heels into his back to force him into me further, but Alexei pushes back.

“Patience, zhizn’ moya .” He presses a kiss to my collarbone.

I arch into his touch, my nipples pressing into his chest and making me moan with pleasure. “So responsive, ptichka .”

“I-I can’t help it.” My eyelids flutter closed as I try to calm myself down.

“I’m enjoying it.” He reaches down to take my right nipple into his mouth.

I cry out at the touch, my fingers sinking into his hair to pull him harder against me.

“Please, Alexei. Fuck me.”

Alexei smiles around my nipple before he slams all the way inside me.

“ Yes !” I cling to him as my pussy stretches around his enormous length.

He pulls himself all the way out and thrusts back into me so hard the bed slams into the wall.

“Oh, fuck.” Alexei bites down on my nipple as he sinks his cock into me so deep my eyes roll.

I forgot how big he was, how well he filled me, and I can’t get enough.

“More.”

Alexei chuckles as he moves to suck my other nipple.

I pull him with my legs, wiggle beneath him to get him to move. “Please, I need more .”

“I’m trying to last longer than a few minutes, but you’re not making it easy for me, zhizn’ moya .”

“I don’t care,”

“You like it when I come inside you, don’t you, Bianca? ”

“Mmm…” I roll my hips so that his cock brushes my inner walls.

Alexei shifts to his knees and lifts one of my legs over his shoulder.

“Look at you, ptichka , so swollen and beautiful.” He glances down to where we’re joined.

My cheeks burn as I glance down and his cock’s glistening with my arousal.

I can’t catch my breath.

The way Alexei’s hitting me at this angle sends me crashing over the edge with my release.

I scream out his name, arching back against the pillows as my pussy clenches around his cock, my body convulsing as I ride out my orgasm.

“ Bianca ,” Alexei groans.

I grin as he screws his eyes shut for a moment to try and calm himself.

“Come inside me, Alexei.” I run my fingertips along the swollen muscles of his biceps.

A thin sheen of sweat covers his chest, and his breathing is coming in heavy pants as he chases his own release.

He quickens his pace, fucking me so hard I know I’ll feel him for days.

My body is becoming limp as my orgasm builds deep in my lower belly.

If I thought I felt pleasure before, it’s nothing compared to what the pregnancy hormones are doing to my body. I can’t get enough of Alexei, and that should scare the hell out of me. But right now, all I care about is making the most of being close to him.

“Come with me, zhizn’ moya. ”

His fingers dig into my hips as his thrusts become sloppy, the sound of his cock sliding in and out of my wetness making us both moan.

“ Alexei ,” I moan as one more thrust of his cock sends us both crashing over the edge.

Alexei shudders, my name falling from his lips as he comes.

I watch in awe as his ab muscles clench with each thrust of his cock as he empties himself inside me, my pussy pulsing around his throbbing length as I take every last drop he gives me.