Chapter 23

Chapter 23

Abby

Ihear a door open and close somewhere behind me and see two of Maksim’s guys, Vlad and Dimitri, come walking out, huddled in a quiet conversation. They both make eye contact with me, and I feel my blood run cold.

These guys are killers. They’re ruthless and cold-blooded, and the way they’re looking at me right now is a reminder that no place is safe for me and my babies. Not even the very heart of Maksim’s safehouse.

My first instinct is to gather up my babies and haul ass inside, but that’s easier said than done. Gathering up quadruplets requires a little more planning, and then there isn’t any hauling ass anywhere. It’s more of a slow, steady procession that definitely won’t deter a couple of hardened criminals from hurting us if that’s what they really want to do.

Not that I honestly think Dimitri or Vlad would do anything here, within earshot of Maksim’s window, but still. Just the fact that they could is unsettling, to say the least.

Dimitri nods in my direction. “You have a beautiful family. Your kids remind me of my own when they were that age.” He pauses and offers a crooked smile. “I didn’t have quite as many, though.”

The tiny bit of unexpected humor catches me off guard, and I laugh in spite of myself. “How old are they now?”

“Grown.” He smiles a little wider. “Twenty and twenty-two.”

“Close in age, must have been like having twins?”

“A year apart, but still a handful.” Dimitri laughs. He takes a couple of steps closer and sits down on a bench a few feet away. “I remember when they were toddlers, always trying to run around and get into trouble. It was exhausting.”

“Exhausting is the perfect word,” I laugh, reaching down to pick up little Olga, who’s starting to fuss as she wriggles in the grass next to me. “These four are just starting to sleep through the night, so that’s been a relief. There were weeks when I seriously felt like the walking dead, just trying to stay upright.”

Dimitri chuckles. “Yeah, I remember that feeling.”

“Were they both boys or did you have a girl and a boy?”

“One of each,” he says with a nod. “My daughter was a little princess and my son was the wild one. He never stopped moving. It was always, ‘Papa, watch this!’ or, ‘Papa, come play!’”

“They sound adorable,” I say, meaning it. “I’m looking forward to the day when these four start talking. Looking forward to it and dreading it at the same time, if I’m being completely honest.”

Both men laugh, and Vlad gives me a sympathetic look. “Enjoy these years while you can. My kids are grown, too, and I can’t tell you how much I miss the days when my wife and I could bundle them up and keep them safe and sound all the time.”

Their words are a reminder that no matter how nice these two guys might be—and they do seem nice, now that I’m talking to them—they still live dangerous lives. Criminal lives. And while they might not ever hurt me, there’s no question in my mind that they hurt other people for a living.

People like Booker Carlson and the other men who are after us.

It’s a sobering reminder, but a necessary one.

“Do you have grandchildren yet?” I ask, knowing they’re probably too young, but still trying to make polite conversation.

“No,” Dimitri laughs. “My son is a junior at university, and my daughter is still in high school. No time for grandkids yet.”

“How long have you worked for Maks?” Their smiles fade and I sort of regret the question as soon as it leaves my mouth, but I am genuinely curious. “Sorry if that’s, um, not something we’re supposed to talk about.”

Dimitri shakes his head. “Don’t worry. You haven’t crossed any lines. We haven’t worked for Maksim for very long, but both our fathers worked for his father.”

Vlad nods. “It was never a question that we’d continue the family business. Family is the most important thing in the world to us. To Maks, too.”

That’s reassuring to hear, at least. Even if the way they talk about the family business makes my skin crawl a little.

“That’s true,” Dimitri agrees. “I can’t speak for everyone, but most of the guys around here know what’s what. We’re loyal to Maks. To the family.”

Vlad nods, echoing Dimitri’s sentiment. “We’re not out to hurt innocent people. If anything, our goal is to help the right people and stop the wrong ones. There’s a lot of bad shit going on out there, but Maks has a plan for taking it down.”

“I hope so.” My brow furrows. “I’ve put my trust in him. My trust, my life, and the lives of our kids.”

“We won’t let anything happen to you,” Dimitri says, his voice a deep rumble. “Maks wouldn’t either. I feel sorry for anyone who would even try to get past the front gate.”

“Yeah.” Vlad stands up, stretching. “Maks is one of the good guys, even if he tries to pretend he’s not. I don’t think he knows any other way to be, really.”

I smile at that, appreciating the insight. I know Maks operates by a code of honor, even if I don’t fully understand it all the time.

I do trust him. I want to be with him.

And maybe it’s crazy to say it, but I love him, too.

***

Nadia has offered to put the babies to bed tonight so I can have some one-on-one time with Maks that doesn’t require sneaking around to other bedrooms in the middle of the night.

Just knowing I have a couple of hours to talk to another adult without any distractions is such a strange feeling, but one I didn’t realize how much I missed until now.

As I’m standing in front of the mirror, carefully applying mascara, there’s a knock at the door and Maks sticks his head inside the bedroom.

“Oh, good. You’re almost ready. I was worried we might have to cancel tonight.”

“Are the babies asleep?”

He grins. “Out like a light. The girls were the last ones to conk out.”

“I figured,” I laugh, putting away the makeup brush I was using and turning around to face him. “Those kids are going to be night owls one of these days. Or maybe they just like to see what kind of trouble they can get into if we leave them unattended for more than thirty seconds.”

“Probably both,” Maks chuckles.

“Where are we going tonight?”

He walks over to put his arms around me, leaning in to kiss my neck as he murmurs against my skin, “I made reservations at an Italian restaurant. Figured we could have a romantic night out, just the two of us.”

“Sounds wonderful,” I sigh, enjoying the feeling of his lips against my throat.

“We’ll have to be discreet,” he says. “We’ll have to behave ourselves in public.”

“Is that possible?” I tease, leaning back to look at him.

He arches an eyebrow. “Are you challenging me, Abby Foxworthy?”

“Maybe.” I lift my chin and give him a saucy look. “Can you behave yourself for an entire dinner?”

“Probably not,” he admits, smirking. “Especially not if you wear a dress like this.”

I look down at the black cocktail dress and shrug. “This is nothing. You’ve seen me in less.”

“I have,” he agrees. “And I’m already thinking about what you look like without any clothes on.”

I laugh, feeling a thrill at his words. We’ve had a lot of sex over the past couple of weeks, but just the thought of sleeping with him again sends a rush of wet heat straight down to my core. He does it to me every single time.

“Well, if you’re a good boy,” I murmur, running my hand down his chest, “maybe you’ll get to find out what’s underneath this dress later tonight.”

“I’m definitely going to find out,” he growls, pulling me close and crushing his mouth to mine.

“Promises, promises,” I say breathlessly as he breaks the kiss.

“It’s a promise.” His eyes are dark with desire. “I’ll fuck you tonight, Abby. That’s a guarantee.”

“Good.” I press my lips to his. “I’m counting on it.”

He chuckles, kissing me back. “Are you ready to go? Dimitri is going to drive us and I’ve arranged for us to have a nice, quiet corner of the restaurant so we don’t have to worry about any distractions or interruptions.”

I know what he actually means—that we won’t have to worry about any danger—but I’m pushing those thoughts aside tonight. It’s been so long since we’ve had an actual date night outside these four walls that I might get violent myself if anyone tries to get in our way.

“That sounds perfect.” I take his hand and we head for the door.

Once we get to the restaurant, Maks and I are seated in a quiet corner and the waiter brings us a bottle of wine.

“Everything looks delicious,” I say, scanning the menu.

“So do you.” Maks’s gaze sweeps over me appreciatively. “That dress is doing all kinds of things to me.”

I grin, loving the attention. “Good.”

The waiter returns and we order, and as soon as he’s gone, Maks leans across the table and lowers his voice. “I’ve been thinking about bending you over the table and fucking you right here, Abby.”

“Jesus,” I whisper, feeling a flush creep up my cheeks. “Keep talking like that and I might just let you.”

He chuckles, sitting back in his chair. “I’ll have to save it for later.”

“Tease,” I say, taking a sip of my wine.

“I’m serious,” he says, his eyes glittering in the candlelight. “As soon as I have you alone, I’m going to fuck you until you scream. I want to hear you say my name while I’m buried deep inside you, Abby. I want you to know who owns you. Who owns your perfect little pussy.”

His words send a jolt of heat straight between my legs, and I have to fight the urge to squirm in my seat. “You’re making it hard to wait for the food,” I whisper, feeling a delicious sense of anticipation.

“Good,” he says, his gaze locked on mine. “I want you to be thinking about it. Thinking about me fucking you all night. By the time we get back to the house, I want you to be soaking wet and ready for me.”

I bite my lip, feeling a little dizzy with lust. “I’m already wet,” I tell him, the truth slipping from my lips.

“Good girl,” he murmurs. “I can’t wait to taste you. I can’t wait to bury my face between your legs and make you come on my tongue.”

The image is so hot that I can’t help but imagine it, and I feel another surge of arousal as I picture Maks kneeling between my thighs, his face pressed against my slick folds.

The food comes and I can’t seem to eat fast enough. This is our first night out together in forever and all I can think about is how eager I am to get back to the house so he can keep all those hot, dirty promises.

We finish eating, and as we’re waiting for the check, Maks leans forward, and then I feel his fingers against me under the table, sliding up my thigh, brushing against the damp fabric of my panties.

“God, Abby,” he murmurs, his voice thick with desire. “You’re so wet. So fucking ready for me.”

“Yes,” I whisper, arching against his touch. “I want you, Maks. I want you so bad.”

The waiter brings the check, and Maks pays without taking his eyes off me. As soon as the waiter is gone, Maks immediately swings his chair over beside mine, before pulling me close and kissing me, his tongue teasing my lips and sending a shiver down my spine.

“I’m going to make you come,” he whispers against my mouth. “Right here, right now. And then I’m going to take you home and fuck you until you scream.”

His words send a rush of pleasure through me, and as he slips his hand between my legs, I have to work harder than I can imagine just to stifle the moan. His fingers tease my sensitive flesh, stroking me through the thin lace, and I can feel myself getting wetter and wetter with each passing second.

I grip the edge of the table, trying to steady myself as he pushes aside the scrap of fabric covering me and slides his finger inside my pussy, all hidden beneath the fancy white tablecloth that drapes down around my waist.

He curls his fingers, pressing against the spot that makes me see stars, and I can’t help but gasp as the first wave of pleasure washes over me.

“Shh,” he murmurs, his thumb circling my clit. “Not so loud, beautiful. We don’t want to draw attention to ourselves.”

I nod, biting my lip to stifle another moan as he adds another finger, filling me and stretching me as he fucks me with his hand.

“Maks,” I whimper, my body trembling with need.

“That’s it, baby,” he says, his voice low and husky. “Come for me.”

And I do. My climax crashes over me, sending waves of ecstasy through every inch of my body. I cling to the table, gasping and moaning, as he draws out my orgasm, prolonging the pleasure until I’m utterly spent.

“That’s my good girl,” he whispers, withdrawing his fingers and licking them clean. “You taste so fucking good, Abby.”

My head is spinning as I lean against him, trying to catch my breath before I have to stand up on my wobbly legs.

“Let’s get you home,” Maks growls, helping me to my feet.

He’s still rock-hard and ready, and as he leads me toward the door, I know he’s not done with me yet. Not even close.

Back at the house, Maks leads me to the guest bedroom we use when we need to be alone, closing the door behind us and then turning to face me. “Take off your clothes.”

I shiver at the command in his voice, and without hesitation, I begin to undress, peeling off my dress and dropping it to the floor.

“Everything,” he adds, and I slip off my bra and panties, baring myself completely to him.

He moves closer, his eyes dark with desire as he drinks in the sight of me. “On the bed,” he orders. “On your knees.”

I obey, climbing onto the mattress and kneeling, waiting for his next instructions.

“Lean forward,” he says, and I bend at the waist, resting my weight on my elbows.

I can feel the heat radiating from his body as he steps up behind me, and a moment later, I feel the tip of his cock pressing against my entrance.

“Ready?”

“Yes.”

“Beg me,” he says, his voice a low growl.

“Please,” I whimper, desperate to feel him inside me. “Please fuck me, Maks. Please.”

With one smooth thrust, he fills me, burying himself to the hilt in my wet heat.

“Oh God,” I moan, the pleasure almost too much to bear.

“You like that, don’t you?”

“Yes,” I gasp, my body aching for more.

He starts to move, his hips slamming into me with each thrust, his hands gripping my hips tightly as he drives into me.

“Maks,” I groan, my fingers twisting in the sheets as the pleasure builds inside me. “Please.”

“What do you need, Abby?” he asks, his voice thick with desire.

“Harder,” I plead, the word barely audible. “Please, harder.”

He obliges, pounding into me with even more force, and I can’t help but cry out, the sensation of being fucked so hard and so deep sending me over the edge.

“Yes,” he growls, his pace never faltering as I come. “Come for me, baby. Come on my cock.”

I’m shuddering with pleasure, my body clenching around him, but he’s not finished with me yet. “Maks,” I whimper, already feeling the familiar ache of another orgasm building within me.

“You’re mine, Abby,” he says, his voice low and rough. “All mine, baby.”

“Yes. I’m yours. All yours.”

“That’s right,” he groans, his grip on my hips tightening as he continues to fuck me.

The tension inside me is coiling tighter and tighter, and as his hand slides up my spine, his fingers tangling in my hair and pulling me back, the pain and pleasure mix and I fall over the edge once again, screaming his name as another wave of ecstasy consumes me.

He lets out a low growl, and with one final thrust, I feel him pulse inside me, his warmth spilling and spreading inside me as he reaches his own climax.

I’m still trembling with the aftershocks of my orgasm when he pulls out, and I collapse onto the bed, utterly spent.

“Fuck,” he groans, his breathing heavy.

“That was amazing,” I sigh, rolling onto my side and gazing up at him.

“You’re amazing.” He brushes a strand of hair away from my face. “I can’t get enough of you, Abby. You’re all I want. You and the kids. I want you to stay with me.”

“I want that, too,” I whisper, and as he climbs into bed next to me and pulls me into his arms, I realize that for the first time in a long time, I feel happy.

There’s still so much danger lurking out there, but I know Maks will keep me and the kids safe in this house. As safe as any place can be, at least.

“I’ve thought about what you said before,” I continue. “About how this is your life and it’s who you are.”

“And?” he asks, his fingers brushing through my hair.

“And it’s not the life I’ve always wanted. But the thought of living without you? That scares me even more than all the other stuff. I love you, Maks. And even though I know it’s scary and complicated, I want to be with you.”

“I love you, too, Abby. I’m going to make this work. No matter what.”

We’re quiet for a while, enjoying the closeness. Eventually, the silence is broken by the faint sound of a baby crying.

“Guess we’re not quite done with the babies yet.” I laugh, reluctantly getting out of bed and slipping into a robe.

“Never.” Maks grins. “They’re a package deal, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

“Me either,” I agree, kissing him before heading down the hall.

My heart is full, and for the first time in a long time, I’m feeling hopeful. The future might not be easy, but with Maks and the kids, it feels possible.

More than possible, it feels right.

“A package deal,” I murmur, smiling to myself.