Chapter Seven

Rue

“Young lady, stop right where you are!”

I flinch and close my eyes, hoping that Aunt Annie is talking on the phone or perhaps watching the TV. This is something I used to pull off with my mother when I was younger. If I stay still and don’t move, maybe she’ll think she misheard and that I’m not actually coming home after all.

Well, the trick doesn’t work on my aunt because she rounds the corner and tuts at me. I whirl around to find her a severe look on her face. “Annie…”

“Don’t ‘Annie’ me, you little brat. Do you have any idea how worried I’ve been?”

“I sent you a text—”

“That you were fine, yes. I got your text. Hours ago,” she says, reaching up to shake a finger at me. “You were with Vlad all afternoon and night. The last I heard from you, you were going to get a ride home. Then nothing. You didn’t answer when I called. How did you expect me to get a wink of sleep?”

I blush when she mentions the name. When Vlad took me back to his place—which is an inadequate way to refer to the gorgeous mansion that he and his sister live in—it was never my intent to stay the night. I was planning to grab a shower, borrow some of Arya’s clothes, and then get the hell out, except, well…

Things didn’t go as planned.

Vlad joining me in the shower wasn’t part of the plan and neither was him carrying me back to his bed and licking my most intimate places like I was his favorite treat. Christ, even thinking about it sends my pulse racing, and I can’t stop the smile that curls my lips.

“Oh my God!” Annie gasps, and I am snapped back to the present to find her eyes wide with shock.

“What?”

“You didn’t spend the night with Arya, did you?” She runs her fingers through her beautiful white hair. “You were with Vlad, weren’t you?”

“I…”

Annie grabs my shoulders and shakes me. “Are you okay? That was your first time with a man, wasn’t it. What a big step. What would your mother say? How are you feeling? This is all happening much faster than I expected.”

“I—What? Aunt Annie, what do you mean ‘faster than you expected’?”

Annie waves a dismissive hand. “I’ve known Vlad since he was a boy. I knew the moment he saw you, he’d be interested. You’re beautiful. Not to mention, that man’s only weakness is his sister, and you helped her. At the very least, he’d feel bound by his own sense of honor to repay you.”

My head spins as if I’ve been knocked sideways, and I am taken aback by Annie’s words. My aunt is the town’s baker, and I know how beloved she is. She always seems to know everything about everyone and is not the kind to judge people, but I thought for sure she’d have more to say about me spending the night with a notorious crime boss.

I spent half a day and an entire night with Vlad. That’s the most time I’ve ever spent with a man. Hell, I’ve never even been on a proper date. He was kind and considerate to me, especially in bed when I could practically see his temple pulse with the strain of holding himself back. The man was patient with me.

Affectionate.

And not just with me. I saw how caring he was with Arya. How loving and concerned he was for her wellbeing. But how does my aunt know that side of him?

“Annie,” I whisper, pushing back to look at her. “How are you so okay with this? Aren’t you worried about who Vlad is?”

“I told you,” she starts, her expression softening. “I’ve known Vlad since he was a young boy sneaking into my bakery to beg for cookies. He might have a gruff exterior and live a life that sometimes crosses the line, but he’s never violent unless provoked. I’ve seen how is with his sister. There is nothing he won’t do for that girl. He’s also done a lot of work to make his family’s business legitimate and he does more than most realize to give back to our community. His father and uncle were not good men, but somehow, Vlad is different. I was happy to see him take control of the family business when his father and uncle died.”

“But we’ve only just met. There’s no reason to believe he really cares for me or that he’ll want to see me again,” I say, sharing my worst fears with the only person I trust to hear them.

Annie wraps me in her arms, and her embrace reminds me so much of my mother, I melt against her. “Men like Vlad know what they want and they don’t hesitate to go after it. For as long as I’ve known him, I’ve never heard of Vlad keeping company with a woman. Ever. I’ve also never known the man to take a day off. So, the fact that he not only took you to his home but also spent the entire night with you, it’s safe to say he’s decided you are what he wants. I think you should brace yourself for a whirlwind courtship, my dear. You just need to decide whether Vlad—and the sometimes-dangerous reality of his world—is what you want.”

Annie’s words stay with me as I walk to my room. It’s hard to reconcile Vlad’s reputation as a dangerous criminal with the sweet, generous man my aunt described. But Annie has lived in Valor Springs for fifty years, and she has an uncanny ability to see beneath the surface to the core of a person.

So, I believe my aunt is right about who Vlad is, but am I ready for not only a relationship but also everything else that will come with being a part of Vlad’s world?

Maybe I should chalk up what happened yesterday between Vlad and me as a one-time thing. I should probably forget it in its entirety and move on. Pretend that the car that destroyed my business and having sex with a man I barely know were all unfortunate, unusual incidents.

A sharp pain spreads through my chest at the thought, and I have to rub the ache away with my hand. Sadness overwhelms me, and I look at my bed longingly, tempted to climb in and just bury my head under the covers and forget everything, but I don’t.

I need to return Arya’s clothes that I borrowed and visit the hospital like I promised her I would. It’s tempting to just forget about the siblings, but that would make me no better than all the other people who’d abandoned Arya. The memory of Arya’s sad eyes as she spoke about her time abroad and how she had no family and friends tugs at my heartstrings.

Shit, not going to see her will only make me feel worse, so I decide I might as well, fingers crossed that I don’t run into Vlad at the hospital. Maybe he won’t be at the hospital when I get there. I don’t even know what Bratva bosses do, but I hope he’ll be busy doing that when I get there so I don’t have to see him.

I stop at Annie’s bakery on the way. She gives me a knowing look when I walk in and point at the desserts I want.

“You hate nuts,” she points out when I ask her to bag the almond-glazed sugar cookies.

“They’re not for me,” I mumble under my breath.

“Mm-hm. I gathered that,” she says with a smirk.

I shuffle nervously. “Look, I promised I would check on her. Are you not the one who told me to always keep my promises or I would have seven years of bad luck?”

“You were six!”

“Yeah, thanks for that by the way.” I mock glare at her. “The point is I don’t want seven years of bad luck for not keeping a promise,” I say, walking to the other side of the display and pointing at the delicious-looking fruit tarts. “Bag some of these as well, please.”

“Might I also suggest a bear claw?” she says with a smile, bagging the fruit tarts for me as well. My cheeks heat, but I nod at her suggestion. If Vlad does happen to be at the hospital, certainly he’d appreciate a treat. Oh, who am I kidding? I am equal parts hopeful and terrified to see Vlad again.

I offer to pay her, but she rolls her eyes at me and turns to attend to the next customer. I smile, waving at her as I leave, and it’s not until I step outside that the smile slips.

The hospital isn’t too far from the bakery, so I decide to walk there, all the while trying to talk myself out of just leaving the baked goods at reception and hoping they find their way to Arya. I’m not sure I’m ready to see Vlad just yet after everything that’s happened.

Even so, I soldier on, smiling at the nurses as I make my way to Arya’s hospital room. The massive man I remember seeing with Vlad the day before is guarding her room, and his eyes narrow on me when I walk closer. Is this the ex-marine Vlad was talking about?

His moon-gray eyes drop to the white box I am carrying before settling back on me. I almost hand him the goodies and run off, but I force my feet to stay rooted on the ground. “Hi, I’m Rue Carter, and I’m here to see Arya,” I say nervously.

“Open the box, please,” he orders.

“Uh, sure. I…” I stammer, trying to open the box, but before I can, the door behind the man opens, and Arya peeks out. She is wearing one of those pink hospital gowns, and there is a bandage wrapped around her ankle. She props her shoulder against the door as if to take the weight off one leg.

“Hi, Rue,” she beams before turning to the giant. “She is my friend, Jax. What is it with you and my brother scaring everyone off? Even the nurses are afraid to come in.”

The man doesn’t respond, prompting Arya to roll her eyes and call me into her room. I walk in, way too eager to get away from the glaring giant. “Your bodyguard?”

“I wish,” she says dreamily, her voice a notch lower as if she doesn’t want the man to hear her. She hops on to her hospital bed, wincing as she finds a comfortable position. “Jax is my brother’s right hand. He handles all of the family side businesses. I have known him since I was little.”

“You like him.”

She blushes, nodding at my words. “He doesn’t know. Even Vlad doesn’t know I have a crush on Jax. Always have.” Her focus shifts to the white box I am still holding, and she beams, her face lighting up like a Christmas tree. “Is that for me?”

I nod, passing the box to her, and she places it on the bed, her smile widening when she opens it to peek inside. “Oh, a bear claw! Those are my brother’s absolute favorite. He’ll be excited to have it when he gets here.” My cheeks flush at her words, and I try to distract her.

“I couldn’t find flowers, so I brought that instead. I should probably have asked if you are allowed to eat—” Arya pops a whole fruit tart into her mouth. “Never mind.”

“That’s delicious, but I will have to save the rest for later,” she says, closing the box. “I am scheduled for another MRI to recheck my brain since the doctors think I had a concussion. I keep telling him I’m doing fine, but he won’t listen.”

“And by ‘he’ you mean…”

“My brother; he just left to talk to the doctor. He’s the one insisting on a second MRI before I go home.”

I jump up, my eyes wide with horror. “Vlad is here?” Of course, he is. I need to leave. I can come back later when I am sure the man is gone, but before Arya can respond, the door is pushed open and in walks several people in nursing uniforms, but it’s the man dressed in black slacks and a white shirt that grabs my attention.

He looks like a dream, sleeves rolled up to reveal tattoos that I have ran my tongue over just last night. The white shirt hugs his torso perfectly, and with the first two buttons open, I get a glimpse of his chest and that powerful neck. The same neck I held on to tightly as he thrust his manhood into my sex over and over again last night.

His lips are drawn in a firm line, and I long to feel them press hard against mine. To feel his harsh breath against my skin as he trails his lips down my body, but it’s those eyes watching me that suck the breath from my lungs.

“We’re here to take you for your MRI, Miss Arya,” speaks an unfamiliar voice, but it barely registers. In a room full of people, I see no one but the crime boss.

I crave no one’s attention but his.

I want him.

***

The room is silent, and it’s just the two of us. Even the giant that was outside the door left with Arya and the nurses, and now, it’s just Vlad and me.

I should leave.

Being alone in a room alone with Vlad is not a good idea, and I should consider getting the hell out, but Arya with her big, sweet eyes begged me to wait for her to get back.

“Please don’t go anywhere, Rue,” she’d pled. “I’ve been alone all morning with these two, and they are so boring. I want to spend time with a girl my age for once.”

So, here I am, in a room alone with the man I was trying to avoid, waiting for Rue to get back. At least there is some distance between me and Vlad, who is seated at the other end of the room.

“How are you feeling?” Vlad asks, addressing me for the first time since he walked into the hospital room. There is some tension between us, and it’s sizzling, but I refuse to look too deeply into it.

“I’m not the one who had an accident,” I mutter under my breath, but it must make its way to him.

“That’s not what I am talking about.”

My brows draw in confusion, and I turn around to look at him. He’s leaned back against a hospital chair, looking like he owns the entire hospital. His elbow is resting on the arm of the chair and his thighs are spread, exposing the outline of his manhood pushing at the seam of his pants, thick and…hard.

I quickly look away, swallowing down my own need. My sex has been warm and achy since he walked into the room, but I won’t let myself fall down that rabbit hole again.

I clear my throat before speaking. “What then are you talking about?”

“I figured you were still sore after what happened in my bed—”

“Stop,” I cry out, rushing forward and placing my palm on his mouth. “Oh my God, do you want the entire hospital to find out that we had sex?”

Vlad grunts behind my hand, and a hot shiver runs through my body, so I quickly draw my hand from his mouth. “Well, if they didn’t already know, then they do now.”

I blush, looking away. I was a tad loud, but I can only hope no one made out my words. Christ, I can’t handle the gossip. Annie is already bad enough on her own, I can only imagine the rumors that would fly around a town like Valor Springs.

“I…I should go.”

Before I can leave, Vlad grabs my hand and pulls me down on his lap, his massive hands holding me firmly in place. He drops his lips to my ear and nuzzles the sensitive spot under my earlobe. “What’s the hurry?” Vlad rasps against my skin. “You promised Arya you would wait for her.”

Yeah, let's pretend this has anything to do with his sister.

My nipples stiffen when his lips graze my ear, and the spot between my legs clenches with need. I know I should push off this man and leave, but every part of me is thrumming with desire for him.

“Vlad,” I protest weakly, but we both know he’s won.

He upthrusts his hips, and my sex throbs in response, my clit pulsing against my panty lining.

“I’ll keep you distracted while we wait,” he says roughly, grabbing my chin and turning my head to face his. Our breath mingles hotly against each other, and I press my hand on his chiseled face, longing to feel the press of that firm mouth against mine.

“I…I’ve heard things about you.”

He smirks. “Is that what this attitude stems from?” he asks, tightening the grip he has on my waist. “Tell me, what has you so skittish?”

“Your life is dangerous.”

A dark expression takes over, and he clenches his jaw at my words.

“Rue,” he whispers, the dark expression softening. “You have to know I would never let anything happen to you.” He doesn’t give me a chance to respond as his mouth dips to mine, and just like that, I forget what we were talking about. The kiss starts out slow, a long sensual press of lips before he deepens it, and soon, our breathing is labored.

We were discussing something important. I should focus on that, but I can feel his erection pressed against my ass, and it’s making it hard for me to think of anything but this man. Every part of my body is sensitive and my nipples are puckered painfully, craving his touch.

Only he can offer me a reprieve.

“You’re shaking, baby,” he whispers into the kiss, trailing his hand up my waist and slipping it under the sweater and over my breasts. A whimper climbs up my throat when he starts kneading my aching tits over my bra before he snaps open the front clasp of the bra. He groans into my skin when my breasts release into his palms, long skilled fingers teasing my sensitive nipples.

“Vlad, we shouldn’t do this here,” I whimper, biting back a sob when he pinches my left nipple between his knuckles.

“No one will catch us if you don’t make a sound,” he says into my ear, biting my earlobe before pulling away. He pulls his hand away from my breast and grabs the hem of my sweater to pull it up, exposing my tits to anyone who decides to peek into the hospital room.

Christ, I should put an end to this madness, but then he turns me around so I’m straddling his thighs and drops his head to my chest to run his wet tongue over an aching bead, and…I forget.

My brain turns to mush when his mouth closes hotly over my left nipple and he starts tugging gently at the bud. I throw my head back, bracing myself against the arm he has banded around my back, and slap my palm over my mouth to mute the cry that threatens to escape.

“You are doing great, baby,” he hums against my skin, shifting the same attention to the other nipple. I squirm needily on his lap, riding his cock through his pants and craving the feeling of his skin on mine. He releases the nipple with a loud, wet pop before leaning up to lock his lips with mine.

I whimper into the kiss when I feel his fingertips nudge my thighs further apart. He dips them under my skirt, and my breathing grows shot as I feel them travel higher, his touch strong and possessive. I part my thighs wider for him, moaning against his lips when he runs the back of his knuckles over my underwear and the obvious result of my arousal. “You’re so wet, baby,” he grinds out roughly. “Tell me, baby, how bad do you want to ride my cock?”

“Want it,” I whimper, rolling my hips over his fingers and loving it every time his hard knuckles craze my clit.

I forget that we are in a hospital with people walking by the cracked door, or that anyone—from Arya to the nurses and doctors who work here—could come in and find me humping Vlad’s fingers.

It’s madness, but I don’t focus on that. I can’t pull my mind and body away from this man, who seems to have entrapped them like a Venus flytrap would trap a small insect. Worse, I don’t want him to stop.

I bite back a whimper when he tugs my underwear to the side and slips a thick digit inside, stroking my wet folds to part them. “Remember to be quiet, baby, we can’t have a nurse walking in here to check on the noises,” he teases, dragging his calloused finger over the valley of my wet folds, and I jerk hard against him when he grazes my clit.

“Vlad, oh God,” I cry out, burying my face in his neck when he does it again and again, teasing the swelling bud in slow strokes before moving faster, causing me to cry out again.

“Shh,” he whispers, and I try. With everything in me, I try to be quiet, but all my efforts fall away when he pushes into my wet entrance, my hot sex pulsing around his middle finger. A shudder racks my body and a sob climbs up my throat when he starts thrusting his in and out of me with firm strokes. “How are you still so fucking tight after riding my cock all night, baby?” he rasps into my ear, and I have to bite into his shoulder to curb my cries.

He adds another finger, thrusting faster into me; the wet sound of his fingers slapping into my channel fills the room, making the moment feel even more forbidden. If possible, his shaft thickens under my bottom as he pumps his fingers in and out of my sex, and I feel myself teeter close to the edge.

“Close,” I whimper, and he leans in, sweeping my lips with his seconds before my breath catches in my throat and my sex cinches hard around his fingers. A shudder racks my body as my feminine walls begin pulsing wildly. The seat creaks underneath us as I ride his fingers through the orgasm, black spots blooming behind my eyelids from the intensity of the climax.

Oh God!

I’m gasping against him as pleasure shoots through my system. It’s wrong and downright sinful to do this here, and the forbidden aspect of it feeds into my desire. Vlad keeps thrusting his fingers into my pulsing sex until the trembling dies down, and that’s when he draws them out.

With his eyes locked on mine, he licks at the wetness coating them before letting out a deep groan, so guttural it has my sex aching to feel the press of that tongue on me. There is a self-satisfied smile on his mouth even though he hasn’t come, and a part of me wants to return the favor, but before I can figure out how, I catch a feminine voice that sounds like Arya headed our way.

Oh my God!

She’s coming back! Of course, she is. It’s her room.

Reality smacks into me, and I jump off Vlad’s lap, forcing my trembling knees to move to the other side of the room where I take a sudden interest in the bland art on the wall.

Vlad chuckles from his corner, and I don’t have it in me to toss a glare at his side of the room, so I focus on the painting as I hastily refasten my bra and right my clothing, refusing to look up even when Arya walks into the room. Except she doesn’t walk in. The person who sounded like Arya walks past the door, and I turn slowly around as I hear footsteps recede down the hall.

Vlad climbs to his feet and walks to me, his eyes gleaming mischievously as he approaches. “It’s cute watching you act all paranoid,” he says with a grin, closing in on me, and I take a step back, gasping when my back hits the wall. “Arya’s MRI is going to take an hour at least, and until then, no one will come into this room.”

“Vlad…”

He grabs my waist and pulls me flush against him, something dark and possessive crossing his expression. “It’s my turn now, little girl.”