Chapter 16 - Igor

I'm excited about our date, especially after I overheard Matvey and Arina talking in the entranceway. I didn't mean to eavesdrop, but they weren't exactly being quiet.

I never knew that Arina was an orphan. In all my research about her, I never found out that she had been adopted by an abusive family. I mean, I knew she was adopted, which is why her surname isn't Milov, but there wasn't much information about he family, I assumed they were just normal.

I feel an immense guilt because I forced her into a marriage she didn't want, with a man she didn't love, after all she'd been through in life.

After last night, I have a burning desire to know every little thing about her.

I feel as though we've finally connected, and I'm hoping a dinner date out will be exactly what she needs to open up more to me. When I saw she'd been attacked, my whole world had plummeted, but I realize I'm not much better than that guy.

I ask Matvey to make the reservations and get us the tickets.

At six, I dress in a tuxedo with a bowtie and head downstairs to wait for Arina. She's getting dressed in Yvonne's room because she wants to surprise me.

I shuffle from foot to foot, nervous about the night out. I am not sure what I'm actually going to say. I want her to have a good time. I want her to feel what I feel.

I hear footsteps and look toward the staircase, my breath catching in my chest.

Arina is coming downstairs, holding up the skirt of her dress so she doesn't fall. Her hair is made up into a high pony with ringlets cascading down. Her makeup is simple yet striking. She's used dark eye shadow and eyeliner to bring out the blue in her eyes.

Talking of blue, her eyes match the beautiful baby blue of her gown. It's an off-shoulder, with a tight bodice, and the skirt blooms around her like a princess dress.

She reaches the bottom and blushes. "You look dashing."

"You look gorgeous." I move forward and kiss her softly. "I could very well stay here all night and just watch you sashay around the room."

"There will be no sashaying around the room," she scolds me, and I grin. "Yvonne has told me a lot about the Russian opera, and I'm so excited to see it now. Though she said you'll have to translate for me."

"It will be my pleasure," I say, offering her my arm.

She slides her arm through mine, and I lead her outside to the limousine.

"Wow, you pulled out all the stops," she says.

"For you, I would stop the world from turning." I smile and help her inside the vehicle before I go around to the other side and climb in myself.

She leans against me as the driver joins the traffic. When she looks up at me, I kiss her softly.

We remain silent until we arrive and are seated at our table. The waitress comes over to take our order.

"The house stew for each of us and a bottle of your finest red wine," I say, holding my hand up to stop her from giving menus.

She nods and hurries off, and Arina smiles at me. "How do you know that's what I wanted?"

"Tonight, I'm wining and dining you with Russian cuisine." I reach across the table and take her hand. "I heard what you said to Matvey this morning about being an orphan. I didn't know about the family you were with, I'm so sorry."

"And here I thought you knew everything about me," she teases as she squeezes my hand. She pulls away and fixes her dress. "It's no big deal. My mom died when I was young after the Milovs had driven her away for falling pregnant with me."

"Then you were adopted?" I ask.

"By the Maias. I was in the orphanage for a few years before that happened. The Maias seemed welcoming at first, but it turned out they were ruthless."

"Why adopt then?" I ask. "What's the point?"

"They basically wanted a maid," she explains. "Someone to clean up after their real kids, never mind that I was younger than all four of them."

I nod. "That must have been difficult."

"The cleaning wasn't so bad. The starvation and the beatings were on a whole new level. I left the family when I was sixteen, opting to take care of myself. I finished school and put myself through college while working part-time. I wasn't going to let anything get in my way."

"How did you know the Milovs were your family? Did you trace them through birth records?" I ask.

"A letter from my mother," she says. "I still have it. It explains how they drove her off and left her with nothing. My father didn't even have the decency to offer to support me. I looked my brothers up on social media, and they certainly have lived the high life, especially now that they each have their own families."

I nod. "I had my own troubles with them in Russia. That's where I got this from." I point to a scar on my cheek. "Amongst others. Kervyn Milov was particularly ruthless as a child."

She reaches for my hand now and I give it to her. "I'm sorry they picked on you. They clearly get it from my father."

I smile, and we separate as the wine and food arrive.

We tuck into our food, and Arina gives a small groan. "This is so rich and flavorsome."

"As are most Russian dishes," I say proudly as I eat.

"What about you? What was your life like growing up?" she asks.

"As with anyone… I guess I had my struggles. I always need to put my family first, which is a constant stress on my mind. And to put them first and give the best to my family, I need to be the best." I sip my wine. "It can be trying."

"And lonely?" she asks quietly. "I can't imagine many people understand what you're going through?"

I swallow and shake my head. "I've never really needed anyone to understand, though now that you mention it, I guess it would be nice."

"I think your family is really lucky to have you," she smiles.

We fall into a comfortable silence as we make our way through dinner and then dessert.

We arrive at the opera and offer her my arm to escort her to the box.

As the music begins, I explain it to her softly—the love, the loss, the heartbreak and the reunion. I notice she starts crying at the sadder parts as though she can feel the actors' heartbreak. I smile.

She's so amazing.

I can't take my eyes off her as she watches the opera, and by the time it's done, I know that what I feel for her is love.

She holds my arm as I escort her out of the building and into the limousine. I help her into the vehicle.

As the driver pulls off into traffic, Arina snuggles up to me.

"Tonight was magical," she murmurs. "Thank you for taking me."

I swell with pride and kiss her head. "Thank you for joining me."

She looks up at me with a smile. "You're going to have to help me out of this gown. I'm sure Yvonne will be asleep when we get back."

I lean down and kiss her nose. "I hope she is," I murmur.

Arina tilts her head and leans up, gently pressing her lips against mine.

I hold her in my arms, kissing her just as gently back. I don't think I've even been so delicate with something in my life.

For someone so fiery, she's so delicate.

I feel her hand on my thigh and smile against her lips. She walks her fingers along my leg and cups my bulge.

I grunt and feel her smile as well. She kisses up my jaw to my ear. "I'm wearing nothing under this gown."

It's a soft whisper in my ear, and I lick my lips slowly. "Really?"

She bites my ear lobe before she kisses back along my jaw, and I kiss her hungrily.

I shift, and she slides onto my lap, grinding against my semi-hard cock. I find the hem of her gown and slide my hand underneath and along her leg. She kisses me again as I touch her gently. I trace a lazy circle around her clit as she moans softly into my mouth.

The car pulls to a stop, and we break apart to look out the window and see we're home.

She slides off my lap, and I look at her. Our eyes meet as she takes my hand and sucks on the finger that was touching her. She releases me and gets out of the car.

I bite my lip and scramble to get out after her. I adjust my pants, and we walk with our arms intertwined as I lead her into the house. As soon as the door closes behind us, I kiss her hungrily.

She breaks the kiss and smiles. "Catch me if you can." She kicks off her shoes and hurries upstairs, holding up her skirt like a princess.

I smirk and take the stairs two at a time, catching up to her quickly. I grab her arm and push her against the wall, pressing myself against her, and kissing her hungrily.

She slides her arms around my neck as her tongue massages mine.

I groan into her mouth and reach behind her, searching for the ribbon that binds her corset together.

She turns us around so I'm against the wall, and she reaches up, cupping my face as we kiss. I find the ribbon and pull, undoing the bow.

She breaks the kiss and hurries down the hallway, looking back at me, giggling. I race after her and catch her hand as she enters our bedroom. I pull her back to me for another kiss.

She groans softly and reaches behind her. I hear a zip, and the skirt of her gown falls around her ankles.

I break the kiss so she can step out of it. She leads me to the bed and pushes me onto it, so I sit on the edge. She climbs onto my lap with a leg on either side of me.

I can't stop kissing this woman. I kiss down her neck to her cleavage, where I nip at the skin. She tips her head back, reaching up to pull out whatever is holding her hair in place, so it falls down over her shoulders in ringlets.

She reaches down between us and unzips my pants. I flip her over so that she's on her back on the bed, and I quickly push my pants and briefs down.

She smiles at me and turns over, climbing onto her hands and knees. Her shapely buttocks invite me. I lick my lips again, swallowing hard as I use two fingers to slip between her folds and rub up and down her pussy. She's wet for me. I guide my hard dick to her and slowly push in, enjoying the warm feeling as her vagina engulfs my cock.

She groans out, tipping her head back.

I watch her as I slowly start to move my hips. I want to fondle her breasts, but the corset is in the way. I slow my thrusts, rolling my hips gently as I reach down and start to undo the corset.

"Igor," she groans out. "Faster."

"Not yet," I growl.

I move gently as I pull the lace ribbon out of the little loops until she can sit up slightly, tug it off, and toss it to the side.

I reach around her and fondle her breasts as I move, bringing her to rest back against me as I roll my hips.

She tips her head back against my chest. "Igor," she breathes my name, and it makes me want fuck her right into the bed. I massage her breasts, kissing her shoulder and neck. I move a little faster, relishing the warmth I feel between her legs.

I squeeze her breasts, release, squeeze, and release.

She groans and moves with me, up and down. We're moving as one person.

She puts her hands over mine initially, and then I feel her one hand stray down between her legs. She gasps as she touches herself. I can feel her fingering her clit as I move.

"I'm going to cum," she groans out, panting. She starts making small mewling noises, her fingers going faster. I release her, and she leans forward on one hand, the other furiously fingering her nub. I hold her hips and start moving faster, getting closer. I feel my balls constrict as I push deep inside of her and cum.