Chapter 23

Chapter

Twenty-Three

"Every man is guilty of all the good he did not do."

― Voltaire

Sofiya

His eyes darkened.

My stubbornness seemed to both irritate and provoke him, but I couldn't back down.

I'd been trapped here for too long. The thought that my mama might be involved was tearing me apart.

I needed answers, even if it meant sacrificing my self-respect.

Despite the disgust in his eyes, I held my ground.

He was just a pawn in my desperate quest for the truth.

I took him in—dark, long hair, a sharp jawline, and those dark eyes that pulled me in and made me feel lost. Even though he was dressed now, I remembered how he looked fresh out of the shower: water droplets on his thick shoulders, defined abs, and a trail of dark hair leading down there . His body was as striking as his face.

When he touched me, I was caught off guard by how gentle he was. His usually rough hands were surprisingly soft, making every touch feel more intense. The way he moved against me created a friction that nearly consumed me. His breathy, intimate moans left me feeling weak and on the brink of giving in completely. I was so close to surrendering but I didn't.

Shaking my head, I tried to regain control, reminding myself this was the same man who had held a knife to my throat just moments ago.

He didn't know it was you, though–

No. I had to remember he could make me disappear in a heartbeat.

I shoved the nagging thoughts aside.

Now wasn't the time for delusions.

"Let me make this fucking clear. Leave now, or I'll make you wish you had. Trust me, you don't want to find out what that means."

"The water is still running," I breathed out, ignoring him.

Confusion flickered in his eyes before he heard that the shower was still indeed running.

"Mind your fucking business," he snapped, the vein in his throat pulsing.

"Water scarcity is a global issue. So, it is my business."

He stared at me, disbelief evident.

Without waiting for his response, I walked past him into the bathroom. I reached out to turn off the faucet, wetting my arm. Before I could fully appreciate the room's design, a rough hand yanked me out .

I scrambled for the door handle.

"Sofiya, I swear to God–"

"What did you mean when you said I've been lied to my whole life?" I cried, clinging to the door. "Where's my mama?"

"She isn't your fucking mother!" His words exploded, darkening the room. I felt his rage pulse through me with every beat of my heart.

The horror must have shown on my face, because Volk released my arm when our eyes met. "There," he said, still fuming. "I hope you're happy now."

What?

"I-I don't believe you."

I pressed a trembling hand to my chest, trying to steady my racing heart.

No. It's impossible.

The ground felt unstable, like my reality had shattered.

"You're lying," I whispered.

"Why would I lie?" He turned abruptly, heading toward his bed where his cell phone lay. "I don't give a fuck about you or Helena."

"How do you know?" I managed to choke out.

It couldn't be true. I refused to believe him. She had always been there for me, caring for me like any mother would.

Volk's eyes met mine, and for a moment, I saw a flicker of something—regret? Guilt? It vanished, replaced by a cold, emotionless stare.

He shrugged. "I've done my research, Sofiya. Helena isn't who you think she is."

A lump formed in my throat. "You're lying," I repeated, my voice shaking. "She raised me. She's my mama."

Volk sighed bitterly. "Nyet. She is not. "

He dropped onto the bed, phone in hand, fingers tapping and swiping. He was probably texting the woman he sneaked off to see at night. I'd heard him creeping down the stairs and coming back hours later when everyone else was asleep. His dismissive attitude only fueled my anger.

I stormed over, snatched his phone, and threw it across the room. It landed with a loud thud. I didn't care where it landed, as long as it was out of his reach.

"Stop ignoring me!" I screamed.

The room went dead silent, the crash of his phone still echoing. I stood there, chest heaving, eyes blazing with fury. One moment he was on the bed, radiating anger. The next, he was on his feet, gripping my neck and throwing me onto the mattress.

His body pressed against mine, his face only inches from mine. "Fuck, Sofiya," he groaned, his grip tightening as he clicked his tongue.

Then, without warning, his lips crashed onto mine with fierce hunger, silencing my protests. His kisses were rough and demanding, giving no room for resistance. His hands roamed my body, leaving hot trails on my skin. I tugged at his hair, just like I'd fantasized so many times before.

As our bodies moved together, time seemed to stop. His weight on me, his breath on my skin, and the mix of pleasure and pain nearly made me forget my own name.

He yanked off my nightgown, leaving me exposed in my light blue thong. Without missing a beat, he grabbed my breasts. A deep, satisfied sound came from him as he focused on my right nipple, his other hand pinching the left one.

My moans filled the room as he lifted his head, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear and grazing his lips against mine. "Take it off."

I furrowed my brow, a little thrown.

Then it hit me. He wants me to take off my thong.

"You first," I whispered, my eyes locked on his chest, hoping he'd take off his clothes too.

He shook his head. "You never listen, do you?"

Then he positioned himself over me, pinning my hips between his legs.

Slowly, he unbuttoned his shirt, his eyes never leaving mine.

I watched, mesmerized, as his shirt fell away, revealing his defined chest and strong arms.

My hands wandered over his skin, tracing the tattoos on his left arm—an intricate snake coiled around hieroglyphs, a wolf howling at the moon, and the name Silas boldly inked on his wrist.

Caught up in the moment, I leaned in and kissed a trail up his tattooed arm, savoring the taste of his skin. I continued up to his neck, licking it lightly and making him shiver. When I kissed him fiercely, he pulled back and gripped my hair firmly.

"Take it off," he whispered.

You can do this.

Come on. Now is not the time to be shy, Sofiya!

Determined not to let this moment slip away, I brushed a few stray strands of hair behind his ear, letting my fingers linger on his skin.

"Take it off yourself," I whispered, my voice barely above a breath.

He smirked in response.

He leaned in, pressed his chest against mine, and claimed my lips with a fierce kiss. His tongue explored my mouth with a raw intensity, like he'd been waiting for this moment forever. When he reached my breasts, his warm breath and gentle nips on my nipples made me moan softly. With a mischievous glint in his eyes, he trailed kisses down my belly. When he got to my hips, he grinned and tugged at the edge of my underwear with his teeth.

"Fuck, Sofiya, you're so fucking wet," he murmured as he held my legs apart.

The scent of my arousal filled the air, and I clutched the covers tightly, excited.

He inched closer, his warm breath brushing against my skin as he placed soft kisses along my inner thighs. My heart raced as his lips danced close to the sensitive area between my thighs.

I fought the overwhelming urge to grab his hair and force his head where I desperately needed him.

Then, slowly, he pressed a kiss on my clit and traced patterns along my folds with his tongue. I arched my back and gripped his hair tightly as my body erupted in fire. His touch was skilled, his lips and tongue working together perfectly. Each touch pushed me closer to the edge, making me feel like I was in heaven.

I couldn't hold back anymore, so I rocked my hips against him shamelessly.

He groaned, his accent thickening his words. "Fuck, baby, you taste so good."

His tongue circled my clit, making me sigh with pleasure.

Then he slid a finger inside me, and I leaned back, eyes closed, lost in lust.

"Look at me," he said urgently, biting my inner thigh. "Don't you dare close your eyes."

I struggled to keep my eyes open and lock onto him. With him between my legs, his veiny hands gripping my thighs, and his hair tangled in my fingers, I was completely consumed.

"What's my name?"

I stayed quiet, nervously biting my lip. As his finger moved faster inside me, I closed my eyes again, trying to stay focused. But then, without warning, he slapped my nipples hard, snapping me out of my thoughts. The jolt of pain mingled with the pleasure, making my pussy tighten around his finger.

"Keep your eyes on me," he ordered.

I nodded and licked my lips as he slowly licked his way back up to my clit, giving me a sly wink.

The sensation was unlike anything I'd experienced before, and a deep warmth spread from my chest to my cheeks. It was as if his thong held the cure to my loneliness.

"You like that?" he chuckled, pushing his finger deeper inside me.

"Yes," I breathed out.

"Wanna cum?"

"I… Yeah," I gasped as a needy moan slipped from my lips.

I guided his head down, longing for release .

"Say it."

"Yeah, I… I want to–" I stammered, my sentence cut short as he widened my legs.

I winced momentarily, but it swiftly transformed into a moan as he slipped two fingers inside me.

"Go on, fucking beg for it."

Familiar with his orders, I shamelessly begged him, without hesitation, to give me more.

"I-I need it, Volk. P-Please, make me cum."

He groaned. "Such a good girl."

He picked up the pace with his fingers, his mouth focused on my clit. My hands gripped his hair tightly, pressing his face deeper between my legs. I could feel my whole body shaking uncontrollably.

His mouth's made for my pussy.

"Come on, Sofiya, cum for me," he said, his fingers pumping hard inside me while his other hand pinched my nipple.

"Oh, Volk," I gasped, my voice trailing off as I reached my climax, still gripping his hair tightly. The pleasure coursed through me, leaving me breathless and disoriented.

As I collapsed onto the mat, exhaustion washed over me.

Wow.

I closed my eyes and shielded my face with a hand over my forehead, trying to gather myself.

His hand gently brushed my hair, and I suddenly felt a new wave of shame. I turned to the side, letting his touch slide down to my cheek. Tears welled up, and I counted silently, trying to hold them back.

What was I doing?

How could I let him touch me after everything that happened?

The realization hit me like a punch, making it hard to breathe.

I saw flashes of my bound mother in my mind and couldn't stop the sobs from escaping.

His disheveled appearance, wet lips, and the lingering desire in his gaze were a stark contrast to the turmoil I felt inside.

He gently turned my head, confusion flickering in his eyes, but then I saw that he understood what I needed. I tried to look away, but he held me in place, pressing a lazy kiss to my lips before pulling back.

"Helena took you when you were just a baby," he said, jolting me out of my thoughts .

I let out a deep sigh, feeling my heart break bit by bit.

I grabbed my nightgown from the floor and slipped it on, the soft fabric offering a bit of comfort against the ache in my chest.

"Tell me everything," I whispered. "Please."

Now there was no turning back.

But little did I know, this was just the beginning of my real nightmare.