Chapter 10

CHAPTER 10

C aroline

I'd had my share of kisses, but all from young guys.

They were like bumbling idiots locked up in the dark. They'd all believed that tongue action was the only way to go and man, was it sloppy. And loud. Of course as they'd gotten older, they understood a teensy bit more that it was about taking time, allowing our mouths and tongues to explore, enjoying the heat exploding between two passionate people.

But in all my years and the men I'd kissed, no man had ever known what I needed or had taken the time to be rough yet seductive, controlling yet yielding just enough I felt as if I was a participant.

That took significant skill.

Practice.

My warped mind started thinking about how many beautiful women he'd kissed. God knew I didn't qualify as one of those flighty girls I'd seen on his arm in glossy photographs in internet magazines.

I was blown away, struggling to find a piece of my mind so I could understand what was happening between us. The phrase ‘this has danger written all over it' was right there, my little voice laughing at me at the same time. I'd made a promise to myself long ago that I would never, ever lose my heart to a man.

And that I'd never give my body easily. I wasn't that kind of girl.

But here I was melting in Vadim's arms as he held my chin with one hand, planting his other against the wall and crushing the weight of his massive body against me.

Including his hard, throbbing, and dangerously delicious cock.

I was crazed inside, my pussy throbbing. Nothing and no one had heated my core this way. No man. No fantasy. No vibrator. This was nuts but oh-so delicious.

It was easy to surrender to his prowess and as he finally thrust his tongue inside, exploring every inch of my mouth, every muscle started to relax. I was one with him, our passion roaring like lions. And I loved it.

Wrong. So wrong.

But what did I care?

I was so aroused my pussy was throbbing, my mind was fuzzy and my eyes were blurry enough stars floated in front of them. There was definitely something to the observation that older men were experts in handling their women. Oh, listen to my wacked-out mind.

He'd just told me I was his prisoner for as long as he deemed it necessary. I finally had enough chutzpa to shove my palms against him, but did I really think I could push away a massive object like the man refusing to let go?

Not a chance.

I was his for the taking and something in the back of my mind was thrilled.

When he sucked on my tongue, I was even more lightheaded, butterflies swarming my stomach. Yes, this was raw passion wild and unconstrained.

And I liked it.

What was I saying? I was more excited than I'd been in all of my life.

When he finally did break the kiss, we were both breathless. He used a single finger to lift my chin, making animalistic noises as he studied me before lowering his head and dragging his tongue from one side of my jaw to the other.

I couldn't stop tingling all over, finally realizing the strange noise I was hearing was the sound of my strangled moans. The man had already turned me into mush. What would I be like in ten minutes? An hour? A day?

He brushed the tip of his tongue to my ear, nipping my earlobe. There were no words said, no promises made. When he took a step away, I found myself reaching for him. Needing him.

Craving him.

Lightning appeared all around us, my heart racing. "I hate storms," I whispered, fighting my nerves for so many reasons.

"Don't worry. I will protect you."

The man was a picture of carnal pleasure and danger all wrapped up in a neat package. I found it difficult to breathe around him or to think clearly. "You can't keep me as a prisoner."

"Yes, I can if for no other reason than your safety."

Larger than life. The three words described him perfectly. Maybe too much so. Yes, he was all powerful, the kind of man who took what he wanted without question, capable of ending lives with no conscience.

He was also rugged, sensual, and carved to perfection. I couldn't believe I was still thinking of him as an object of desire instead of the man who could erase everything I'd worked to achieve in the blink of an eye.

But I was forced to remind the angry and confused girl inside of me that I'd come to him and not the other way around.

The expression he wore was one of a possessive carnivore. In a few short seconds, he gathered me into his arms, taking long strides out of the room.

And to my surprise, I didn't bother to object.

His gait was even, his expression remaining primal, hungry. My heart refused to stop fluttering, the sinful thoughts rushing through my mind the things erotic romance was made of. I shouldn't be thinking this way. I should be ashamed.

Yet I wasn't.

As Vadim carried me down the hall, bypassing my bedroom altogether, I found myself clamping my hand around his shirt. A part of me knew I should stop this before anything happened, but did I really want to?

The answer was easy.

Hell, no.

The spark of electricity was strong, so much so it felt as if a giant web had spun around us, refusing to let go. His eyes were so piercing, the ice blue color accentuating so many traits about him, including the fact he was a dangerous man.

As soon as he walked into the room, the weight of everything that was happening hit me for some crazy reason.

I shook my head, wanting him to kiss me for a second time, to experience the feel of a real man's passion for hours that night. But words tumbled from my mouth, breaking the intimate moment. "They're never going to stop. Are they?" I was already like a broken record, still shocked at the events.

He never blinked as he gazed into my eyes, and I was fearful he was looking through me. Then I noticed the change in his pupils, both becoming dilated. When he lifted his hand, brushing a tear from my cheek, I trembled visibly, and I knew he could tell how nervous I was.

Because of him.

But could he also see the hunger that had already formed? Could I allow myself to fall for his prowess, letting go if only for a little while?

I suddenly felt awkward, uncertain of myself.

"No, they won't, Caroline. What you stumbled on is enough to destroy them. But I promise you that I will stop them. They will never hurt you again." His voice was darker, sensual yet malevolent.

"But you plan on destroying them. Don't you?"

He didn't bother closing his bedroom door, spinning me around in a full yet slow circle. I don't know what I expected to see, but his furnishings were fit for a king, every piece of furniture dark wood, carved like the sculpted man's muscles. I could swear the room was meant for pleasure, the king-sized bed high off the floor, the ornate pillars flanking all sides found only in gothic magazines.

As fearful and awkward as I felt around him, this room was comforting. Even romantic.

"I do what's necessary in my world, little one. But nothing you need to worry about."

For a second time he'd told me that, as if I couldn't handle who and what he was. I found myself caressing his chest, taking shallow breaths. "You underestimate me. I'm stronger than I look."

He chuckled and eased me to my feet, running the tip of his index finger down the side of my face. "That much I already know. Now, hush."

"What are you going to do?"

"I'm going to get you all dirty."

And as if on cue, the thunder rolled, the entire room lit up with another round of powerful, unhinged electricity. There were no lights on and given the horrific night that now seemed a lifetime ago, I should feel suffocated. Yes, my skin was prickly, but for an entirely different reason.

The man standing in front of me slowly tugged my tee shirt from the tight confines of my jeans. I suddenly no longer felt like a girl with no understanding of the consequences of my decisions.

He was very methodical in his actions, gently pulling the shirt over my head, allowing the cheap material to drop from his fingers.

" Absolyutno krasivyy ," he whispered.

"What?"

"Absolutely beautiful."

For once, I felt beautiful, perhaps more than any other woman in the world. Another intense shiver coursed through me as he cupped my breasts, flicking his fingers back and forth across my already aching nipples.

Another bolt of fissured lightning.

Another ragged rumble of thunder.

Only part of my intense reaction had to do with the storm.

My mind was fuzzy, yet another series of images became scattered, vivid and full of detail.

Him.

I needed him. Now.

His arms.

His warmth.

His touch.

Oh, God. What was I thinking? Was it wrong, forbidden? Would I be committing a sin? A strangled laugh floated around me, almost as if a ghost had formed because of the electricity in the room.

I was so conflicted but as he pulled down the straps on my bra, the need for him that I'd felt from the moment I entered his home to ask for his aid came rushing to the surface. I reached for his shirt, yanking with enough force I almost stumbled, laughing nervously.

"Careful there, baby girl," he muttered and ripped down the lace from around my breasts. "I wouldn't want you to hurt yourself."

I'd been raised a good Catholic girl, which had always made me laugh since both my parents had used the church as yet another platform for their power and wealth. But I couldn't help but pay homage to the sins I was about to perform.

But if I was looking for absolution, I knew that wouldn't come. I'd been a sinner for far too long. He allowed me to tug his shirt over his head and as soon as I did, the flash of lightning was no longer terrifying. It was enlightening, allowing me to catch a quick and stunning glimpse of the ink carefully crafted like artwork across his broad chest.

"This shouldn't be happening," he said, although I sensed he was only saying the words, perhaps giving me an out.

I didn't want one. "We're both sinners, Vadim. I don't care. I want to feel again. I want you." They were bold words coming from a girl who'd never initiated a date let alone sex with anyone in her life. But everything was different around him, every sense heightened.

I knew his eyes were still penetrating mine, but I was too busy running my palms up and down his chest, marveling in his sculpted muscles and the tingling sensations racing through me like wildfire.

Suddenly, there was no gentleness about his need, no tender moment leading up to the passion we'd both felt, the rush of longing that could destroy us both.

But it was worth the risk.

Being with him was worth everything.

There was just the here and now, a necessary evil that could eventually burn us into the ground. But we no longer cared. There was no pretense about this. There could be no concept of forever in our future. There would never be acceptance for what was considered forbidden, a taboo that would always encase us in pain and desire.

But there was this moment, this beautiful period where everything and everyone else vanished. Just us.

Lust.

Need.

Passion.

He ripped off my bra with ease, clasping the back of my neck with his hand and forcing my back into a tight arc. While I sensed he remained on edge, doing his best to control his animalistic needs, he was surprisingly tender even with his fingers digging into my neck. I should feel suffocated, but I felt completely the opposite.

His breath was hot, but his lips and tongue were scalding as he flicked the tip back and forth across first one taut nipple then the other.

I could do nothing but grip his arms, clamping down as I stared at the window. All the reasons we shouldn't do this were shoved aside, the longing capturing us in the very web I'd thought about earlier.

Vadim took my entire nipple into his mouth, sucking ferociously as he tossed his head back and forth. Within seconds, both were overly sensitive, my breathing more ragged than before. He took his time, rubbing his lips from one side to the other, constantly making growling sounds as he shifted between each bud. The back and forth tickled me, delighted my mind and kept the fire fully engaged.

When he jerked me to a standing position, our lips were close, so close. He whispered words in Russian that I couldn't understand and didn't bother to have him translate. But the growl he issued was understandable in any language.

My lips parted involuntarily, encouraging his tongue to slip inside, and he thrust it in, sweeping it back and forth as he took control. Just the way he held me in his arms was entirely different, his protective armor sliding off.

He was so dominating, commanding in everything he did. He was my protector, my savior.

Now he'd become my lover.

As the passion erupted, the world fading away, I wrapped my arms around his neck once again, tangling my fingers in his thick locks as the heat of his body rolled through me like an eruption of lava. I couldn't think, couldn't breathe. There was only the feel, the need, the unbridled desire. He just did that to me for good or for bad.

Right and wrong had no real meaning any longer. I'd certainly crossed the line more than once. The kiss was short lived in comparison to the one from before, but he kept his lips close as he deftly unfastened my jeans.

I was still trembling, still fighting my nerves as he peeled away the fabric, very slowly lowering the dense material past my hips. He was so careful, as if I was the most fragile possession he owned. The thought was silly but I had a feeling I was right. As he dropped to the floor, I closed my eyes, terrified that my lack of experience would turn him off.

He carefully removed one shoe then the other, still taking his time to pull my jeans to the floor. After taking a deep and very exaggerated breath, he rolled his hands along the outsides of my legs, which sent ragged jolts of electricity through me and forced layers of goosebumps.

He swept his arm under my bottom, lifting me from the floor, walking toward the bed so slowly that I wasn't certain we were moving. The flashes of lightning no longer bothered me, the aura from being around the man creating a protective haze. After yanking the sheet back, he eased me onto my knees. Then he took several deep breaths as he allowed his gaze to fall so slowly, I could barely breathe while he was doing so.

Would he suddenly realize I wasn't what he wanted?

Would he shove me aside, furious with himself for succumbing to his raging hunger?

" Vse moye ."

I knew those words, the expression as possessive as the man.

All mine.

His expression changed, becoming darker, reeking of all the filthy things he wanted to do to me. I'd never felt so elated, so feminine.

"Sweet Jesus," he whispered, daring to touch me with just the tips of his fingers.

Then he shuddered, the husky growl he emitted stirring me to the point of losing control as he drank me in with his eyes. I shifted my gaze, another beautiful flash of neon blue allowing me to see the thick bulge between his legs.

I dragged my tongue across my lips, shivering uncontrollably, never blinking as he stripped off the rest of his clothes, tossing them aside completely unwanted. There was no way to hold back a gasp at the sight of him, all of him. I'd known he was gorgeous, the crisp white shirts and tailored suits unable to hide his powerful muscles. Nothing had been able to suppress his gorgeous physique or the hint of tattoos that had drawn my attention from the beginning.

Now, as he stood fully naked, the shimmering light every few seconds accentuated his glorious masculine form, his broad shoulders and sculpted abs.

And I wanted all of him, every inch.

I needed his cock deep inside my quivering pussy.

As I brushed my fingers down my neck, moving ever so slowly to my breasts, for the first time I felt like a woman, not a young girl who'd waited her entire life for this moment. I was giving him a gift, whether he knew it or not. But I didn't expect him to be gentle. That wasn't him. He was rough and dark, deliberate and dangerous.

And I wanted all of it.

He crawled onto the bed, and it seemed like forever before he was only inches away, both of us on our knees, hungry to explore as we'd done before but only with our eyes. I wanted to take hours studying every inch of his body, allowing my fingers to touch him in all the forbidden places. But I knew his patience wouldn't last that long, the spell broken by morning.

When I placed my hand on his chest, he shuddered audibly, a painful look crossing the shadow of his jaw. I allowed my fingers to slide down the length of his chest, my breath skipping the second I rolled the tip of my index finger across his sensitive slit.

The deep grumble leaving his throat was another indication of his raging desire, his need to devour me. He cupped my face, pulling me closer, his hold firm and possessive. Then he rubbed his thumb back and forth across my lips, gently at first then with more pressure, adding to the air of possessiveness. I opened my mouth, waiting until he shoved his thumb inside, sucking on the thick digit as I refused to take my eyes off him.

As I concentrated on his thumb, I noticed his eyes glazing over, the flash of neon highlighting the carnal look that had replaced one of concern. Our mingled sounds were ripe with passion, the taste of the forbidden fruit more spectacular than I'd imagined.

His chest continued heaving, current rippling through every muscle. I found I was holding my breath once again, caught in a moment of fire and ice. As he dropped his lips to mine, I shivered more violently, barely darting my tongue inside. His mouth was hot and wet, igniting the embers inside me, as I'd known he would.

He gripped my throat, stretching my neck as he rolled his lips back and forth across mine. There was so much emotion that I was frozen in the moment, shivering even though his touch was like a wildfire consuming me. When he captured my mouth again, his actions became unyielding, his needs increasing. I was caught in a lust-filled web and there was no place I'd rather be.

As the kiss exploded, the anticipation of having his cock buried deep inside kept me on edge. There was nothing like the taste of him, or the protected way I felt while being in his arms.

I was powerless in his hold, still shaking, my mind still blown. But as I brushed my hands up and down his muscular arms, I knew there was no place I'd rather be.

Damned be the sinful.

As my mother would say.

What did I care?

If I was going to hell, then what a way to go.