Chapter 19 - Katie

I was draped over the back of the couch, lost in Aleks's searing kiss. It had been a fun day, but now that he was back, all my focus was on him. It was scary how quickly he'd become my everything.

"You taste delicious," he said, drawing back after a long moment. "That wine is an especially good one paired with your lips."

"Then let's finish the bottle," I said, pointing to it, half empty on the coffee table.

He nodded toward the back of the house. "Bring it outside. We can count the stars."

I shivered with anticipation as I hurried to a secluded alcove by the pool with the wine bottle and some glasses. He joined me a couple minutes later with a bag of tortilla chips and a bowl of guacamole that Olga must have made that afternoon.

"It's not very elegant," he said with a smirk.

"But delicious," I said, digging in with a chip.

He sat down on the same chair I was lounging in and pulled me onto his lap. The look in his eyes made me pause with the chip halfway to my mouth. With a laugh, he leaned forward and snapped a bite of it.

"Too slow," he said. What was with this new, playful Aleks?

I liked seeing a new facet to his personality, and liked even more that I might have helped bring it out. I nestled against his chest and sighed.

"It's too bad there aren't many stars out. I could show off."

He rested his chin on top of my head. "I'd have to take your word for it. I can't identify any constellations."

At that moment, the clouds overhead drifted apart on a warm breeze, and the night sky glittered above us.

"Behold, I give you the stars," he said in a booming voice. I giggled, swelling with happiness as if he'd really done it. He dug in his pocket, pulling out a small box with a silver bow. "I really do have a present for you."

He snapped open the lid with one hand, and I gasped at the sweet gold heart rimmed with diamonds on a dainty chain. It was something I would have gazed at with longing as I passed it in a shop window, but never dreamed it would ever be around my neck.

"Wear it all the time and think of me."

"I love it," I breathed as he fastened it around my neck.

I turned in his arms, and he looked down at it, resting below the hollow of my throat and tracing along the edge of the chain with his fingertip. Goosebumps rose at his touch, and the tender look in his eyes, and I tipped my chin back for a kiss.

"I have another present first," he said.

"Oh, no, the necklace is already too much," I argued.

I loved every minute of being a pampered princess while shopping that day, but I didn't want him to think I expected things like that. I didn't have the courage to tell him I'd be by his side even if he was a pauper, and would have given up all my purchases in a heartbeat if he asked.

"So you don't want it? You don't even want to know what it is?"

His teasing made me curious, and I patted down his pockets, which were all empty. "Okay, I guess you can tell me what it is," I said.

His smirk was infuriating as he leaned back to stare up at the stars. "Well, I was going to tell you that you could start going out on your own. I can tell you've been bored all alone during the day."

"Really? Are you giving me a car, then?"

He narrowed his eyes. "There are eight cars in the garage at any given time, and a full-time driver on call." His stern look cracked, and he pulled me close. "I suppose if you're not satisfied with any of those models, we could go car shopping sometime next week."

I playfully smacked his arm. "I don't need a new car."

"You will need a bodyguard, though," he told me. "There's no arguing that."

Of course, I did argue. I couldn't imagine the horror and embarrassment of walking around a grocery store with a big, burly man in a black suit hovering nearby.

"That's crazy," I yelped.

"I'm a high-profile person in this town," he said. "It's not public knowledge that we're married, but it could get out. It's not a big deal, so just accept it or keep staying at home."

"You're right. It isn't a big deal," I said, thinking I held the winning cards. "I was out all day with your sister, and nothing happened. Nothing will happen, so I don't think I need a guard."

Instead of caving, his smirk intensified. "Mila has a bodyguard. He went everywhere you two did." He tapped my nose when my jaw dropped. "They're trained to be discreet. If you want, I can tell your guard to never speak to you unless it's necessary."

"Well, that seems rude," I muttered. "We really had someone following us all day?"

He nodded, and I had no reason not to believe him. He looked way too smug about it for it to be untrue. And I liked the idea of getting out and about on my own again. I only loved being cooped up in this huge mansion when Aleks was there with me, and he was gone far too much for my taste.

"Can I take a cooking class?" I asked.

"Sure," he said. "As long as—"

"Okay, I agree. Maybe he'll want to take a class, too." I still thought it was going to be weird having some guy trailing after me all the time.

Aleks groaned. "Don't go falling in love with your guard." He had a teasing tone but a serious face, and I grabbed his shoulders and squeezed.

"Impossible." I kissed his mouth hard, trying to infuse all my feelings into it.

His hands slid up my sides, his thumbs brushing across my breasts. I went loose in his arms as he gently stroked, bringing my nipples to tight peaks. My head tipped back to let him kiss his way down my throat. The stars still shone above us, with the dark edges of the clouds staying parted to give us light. A soft breeze ruffled my hair, and Aleks tugged on it. He made his way to the edge of my top with his lips.

"This is new," he said, unbuttoning the lacy blouse I had loved so much I wore it out of the store.

"I'm surprised you noticed," I said, eager for him to get it off me.

"I notice everything about you, Katie."

I wriggled on his lap, feeling him stiffening beneath me, awakening the desire that was always waiting when he was near. I wore jeans and they felt suffocating all of a sudden. Hanging tight to his shoulders, I scrambled to straddle him, my head falling forward as I ground my sensitive flesh against his hard bulge.

"This won't do," he said, popping the button on my jeans and sliding the zipper down. "No, not good enough."

He stood with his hands firm on my waist, setting my feet on the concrete. A moment later, he had my jeans down to my ankles, and with an eager laugh, I stepped out of them and into his open arms. He fell backward onto the lounge chair and kissed me until I didn't know up from down.

His hard cock pulsed against my belly and made me pull away from his teasing kisses to straddle him again. Only wearing my open blouse and panties, he looked down at me with a possessive gleam in his eyes that made me squirm.

"Touch me," I begged.

His hands found my breasts, then eased their way down my sides before gripping my hips. He moved my body back and forth on his stiff shaft, driving both of us to the brink. With shaking hands, I got his suit pants open and shoved his boxer briefs down. I moaned as I wrapped my hand around the silky hot flesh, crying out when he eased his fingers under my panties.

While he played with me, he cupped my face in his free hand, tenderly stroking his tongue along my bottom lip until I was gasping against his mouth. He had my panties pushed to the side to sink his fingers into me.

I broke free from his kiss with a shudder, already so close to that bliss he was so good at giving me. "I don't ever want this to end," I said, eyes shut tight, my forehead pressed to his.

As soon as the words were out, I tried to bite them back. Desperation made my eyes fly open, trying to come up with a way to cover my foolish wish.

His deep blue eyes met mine, full of the same longing I felt before turning mischievous. "I'm not sure how long I can last, little girl. You know what you do to me. Forever is asking a lot."

I relaxed. He thought I meant this, right now, lasting forever. I hadn't accidentally given away my endgame. And with his fingers tangling in my hair to pull me close for another kiss, I stopped thinking about it altogether. The fact that every time we came together this way might be our last made it all the sweeter. And I had time. Lots of time. Never enough, but still months.

I ran my thumb back and forth across the dripping tip of his cock, my writhing movements growing faster and more impatient. I rose up on my knees, his hand following me, his fingers moving in slow circles around my tender nub. He dropped his hand from my cheek to my hip, guiding me onto his cock, standing straight and tall and ready for me.

And I was oh, so ready to sink my wet heat down around that stiff, hard rod.

"I love it when you ride me," he said, mouth hot against my neck.

"I love all of it," I said, speaking the truth with every fiber of my being. I longed to tell him I loved him, but we hadn't gotten to that place yet. Maybe it was best if we never did. It didn't stop my feelings, though.

He gently nipped my shoulder as I increased my speed. I laughed at the night sky and the clouds slowly moved together again, only a small swathe of stars still visible.

"Make me come before it rains," I said.

He looked up from where our bodies slapped together, meeting my eyes. "It never rains this time of year. I'm going to make you come a thousand times before that happens."

I shook my head, as if nature itself was communicating with me as Aleks consumed me, body and soul. I already knew him better than he realized, and I quickly figured out he didn't trust me easily. His gift of freedom was also a gift of trust, and it meant more than being able to spend the days the way I wanted.

"It's going to rain," I said. "Hurry, so you can come inside me."

He growled and gripped my hips. I was no longer in control as he moved me along with his hard thrusts.

"Will this be the night I put a baby in you?" he asked roughly.

I nodded, then shook my head, confused by the urgent desire his question raised in me. "Maybe, yes. Just… Aleks, I'm so close."

A cool drop landed on my nose, and I smiled in triumph. Another drop hit Aleks's forehead, and he moved his hand to slide between my thighs. The moment he found my clit, I forgot about the raindrops. I fell against his chest as he worked my body as expertly as if he'd drawn up the blueprint himself.

My teeth sank into his muscular shoulder, my nails dug into his arms as I bounced on his big cock. The rain pattered down on us steadily as he kept driving into me. A wave of pleasure hit me all at once, making me cry out. The sound echoed across the hills surrounding us, and he kept going, his feral groan turning into a shout. With one last thrust, I felt him shoot his seed inside me, and I cried out again.

No, I never wanted this to end.

His arms tightened around my back as I melted in a puddle against him. Pressed close to his chest, the pounding of his heart filled my ear. The rain cooled our sweaty bodies but stopped by the time we caught our breath.

"Did the stars tell you it was going to rain?" he asked, adjusting the lounge chair so we could lie in a more comfortable position.

I rested my chin on his chest and looked up at his teasing face. "Maybe I should have been a meteorologist instead of a cook."

"What do you think you'll do with your free time now that I've loosened up the reins?"

I made a small whinnying noise like a pony and instantly flooded with embarrassment. "I don't mind the reins," I said. "I like being yours."

He pulled me closer. "Good. But I want you to be happy and know you can do what you want."

"I might start shopping again," I told him.

"Didn't get enough today?" he asked. "I nearly broke my neck, tripping over all your packages when I got home."

I could tell he was joking and hoped he'd keep the playful tone as I explained that I wanted to start picking out my ingredients for the lunch boxes again. Olga did a great job, but I missed chatting and haggling with the vendors more than I thought I would. He didn't like that idea, but was only mildly frowning.

"I think I might miss making the deliveries, too," I said.

"Absolutely not," he said, all playfulness gone, his frown in full force.

"Why not? I said you could assign me a guard."

"Why do you want to do it?" he asked. "Do you think you need to earn money?"

"It's not the money," I said, though, of course, it was. It was always the bottom line since I wouldn't be the lofty Mrs. Fokin forever. "It's about the sense of accomplishment. And, sure, actually, why shouldn't I earn money?"

"Because you're my wife."

I sighed. "You're being old-fashioned. Just like thinking you need a boy heir."

"That's my old-fashioned father. And I don't want Nat—never mind."

Was he about to say he didn't want Nataliye to be part of his family business? That had me curious, but he continued before I could ask, complaining about his brothers refusing to settle down. As the oldest and most responsible, it all fell on him.

I wanted to argue that I was also the oldest and most responsible in my family, but I decided to take the win of getting to go to the market and forget about deliveries for now.

"When will I get to meet the rest of your family?" I asked. "Out of all those siblings, I've only met Lev and Mila."

He seemed pleased I was changing the subject and relaxed, his hands roaming down my sides. "We could have a party the next time your sister comes home. And Nataliye will be back for Christmas as well."

Well, I jumped right into that hole, and I scrambled for a way to get off the subject of family. I'd already arranged for Jenna to take a ski trip for her Christmas break. It was something she always wanted to do, but we'd never had the extra money, and I was normally adamant about all of us being together for the holidays. I landed on the perfect distraction.

"So what if I get pregnant and it's not a boy?" I asked.

His hand slid to my belly, and he rumbled low in his throat. "I'd adore that baby, and we'd keep trying. I could see us having at least ten children."

I choked until I saw his grin. "Ten tyrants."

"Never," he said.

"Uh, Nat's a little bit spoiled," I informed him. And I was being generous.

"You spoil your sister," he countered. "What wouldn't you give up for her happiness? You don't have to tell me because I already know you gave up your own chance to go to college for her."

"I see your point." But he enjoyed having the upper hand, telling me to wait and see what it was like to be a mother.

"Talk about having to rein you in," he laughed. "You'll be teaching me how to spoil a child."

We kept teasing each other, making up outlandish scenarios about how we'd act as parents. My wish that this could last forever welled up in my chest, almost making it hard to breathe. The idea of having Aleks's baby was something I longed to do now that I had accepted how much I truly loved him. It would have been everything I wished for. The perfect life.

Too bad it was all just a dream.