Chapter 12 - Ivan

My steps dragged as I walked up to my bedroom. Another fight, which was likely what I was going to get from Adley, wasn't how I wanted to spend my evening. Still, the idea of showing my bride-to-be how that mouth could be more useful did have merit.

The room seemed especially quiet as I reached the top of the stairs and pushed open the door. It was pretty damn dark, too, what with the sun going further and further behind the trees.

I stepped inside, shutting the door silently. Adley wasn't sitting on the bed or anywhere else in the main bedroom, but I knew she hadn't left. I'd been standing just a few feet from the stairwell, and I would have noticed her come down.

Hmm…Whatcha doing, sweetheart?

Orange light flickering near the bathroom door stole my attention, and when I looked over in that direction, I could pick out what was likely the glow from the candle I had in there. Fancy shit to make a bath more appealing to a potential partner, and unsurprisingly it looked like it had worked again.

Adley needed to know about spending the day here alone tomorrow, but who was I to interrupt her "me time?"

At least, not for a conversation I wasn't.

My steps were ghostly quiet as I approached the bathroom. I tilted my head so that I could get a glimpse of the tub as I just barely passed into view. Adley lay inside, her head back and her eyes closed.

In the dim light, I could just make out the gentle motion of the water as she reclined in the bubbled-filled tub. Her clothes were in a pile on the floor, and knowing—without a shadow of a doubt—that she was naked and just a few feet away had me hardening behind my zipper in a flash.

Well, hello there.

Normally, I would have jumped into action, hurrying over to the bathtub and yanking her out. But this time, I just watched.

I stared at her, admiring every glistening curve of Adley's perfect body and enjoying the way her breaths forced her nipples to break the surface of the water. From this distance, and with the low light, though, I could hardly see them. And that was a crying shame.

The rough fabric of my briefs rubbed against my shaft as I stood there, hovering at the door and raking my gaze over every available inch of skin—the thought of claiming that tight, little body shot to the front of my brain once again.

Adley was just so damn…intriguing.

Those long honey-blonde locks of hers had been pulled up into a spiraling knot on her head, and fuck, if I didn't want to reach for it and pull it down. I wanted to see those waves of hair dripping in bath water as I drove my cock into her, Adley's skin slick and shimmering.

I wanted to take her completely, fill her up, watch her take my spend—every last drop.

Creeping closer, that invisible thread between us pulling me toward her, I absently reached for my cock, squeezing it through the fabric of my pants. All fucking mine. She's all fucking mine, and I need to feel her.

The water made hushed slaps against the porcelain, and Adley's face screwed up slightly as she arched. Wait…

Drips of the liquid sluiced down her skin, and I was getting closer, getting a better glimpse at what exactly she was doing beneath those bubbles. They popped more and more as I approached, and damn, the ache in my shaft was nearly enough to force me to my knees.

A few feet was all that separated us now, and then, oh right fucking then, my sweet pet moaned , the sound leaving her parted lips in a whisper.

"Ugh…"

I squeezed harder on my hungry cock, enough to make a grunt slip from me. In the quiet space, it was just loud enough to catch Adley's attention.

She jumped, yelping as she flailed in the water and scrambled to wrap her arms around her chest. Honestly, I didn't care. I was perfectly fine with her realizing I was there. The time for watching was over, and I was going to take what belonged to me.

"Enjoying your bath, sweetheart?"

Adley's breaths shuddered, and I trailed my gaze down the lock of hair that had slipped free from her top knot down to the shiny curves of her breasts. She looked flushed, red from the heat of the water and more than likely her little "activity" as well.

"Jesus Christ, Ivan! You could have knocked or something. Hell, I'd settle for clearing your throat loudly."

I smirked, tilting my head as I regarded her. "And where would the fun be in that?"

She blushed harder, and only then did she finally flick those pretty blue eyes down to my waist. I still held my hand gripped around my dick, and Adley's eyes flared wide, her brows shooting up to her hairline.

God, the color she turns is fucking adorable.

"Umm…Look, I just needed to, umm, relax. If you'll give me a minute, I can meet you in the bedroom."

Her voice was decently level, but I could just make out the tremble haunting her words. I just smirked more, not moving an inch.

"Oh, I'm perfectly fine right here. And you didn't answer my question, Adley." I held her gaze as she gapped at me, stroking slowly over my pants. "Are you enjoying your bath?"

Adley's pupils dilated, large enough to see in the dim lighting of the flickering candle, and I took a step closer. She didn't speak, likely couldn't, and I licked my lips as I flicked my stare over hers—parted and glossy.

"Cat got your tongue?" She blinked at me as I drew level with the tub, leaning over her with one hand on the ledge. "I was coming here to tell you I'll be going out tomorrow, but this? This was a damn treat."

At once, Adley blinked again, shaking herself in some effort to collect her thoughts. "Wait. You're going somewhere and leaving me alone ? In your house?"

"I assure you, darling, you won't be able to get very far. But I do expect you to behave yourself while me and my brothers are away."

Something changed in her expression, the demure shock receding to be replaced with a sassy scowl that filled up my dick even more.

"And if I don't?"

I chuckled low, stroking again, which Adley definitely clocked. "Oh, please, sweetheart. Give me a reason to spank that ass of yours. I'm dying for a nice long session with you bent over my lap."

Her brows rose, but then Adley frowned again, meeting my eyes hard as her fists squeezed around her breasts, most likely unintentionally.

"You aren't spanking me, Ivan Ustinov. I may have agreed to be here with you, but I'm not your property."

That was enough to level up this conversation. I darted my hand off my erection and snatched her thick bun, yanking Adley forward in the tub. She collapsed to the side, her hands moving to catch herself as her breasts pressed into the porcelain.

Unfortunately, I still hadn't gotten a good look at them.

"Au contraire, sweetness. You belong exclusively to me. Every inch, every curve, every tight little hole that I plan on filling with my cock."

Adley whimpered as I held her pinned, her eyes locking on mine. She didn't pull back, and hell, if it didn't look like she was enjoying this. I was a damn good judge of character, after all, and that lidded gaze spoke volumes.

I broke eye contact to look down at the bubbly water. The bubbles were rapidly dissolving, and the corner of my mouth turned up in a sadistic smirk. Leaning down onto one knee, I used my free hand to swirl the water, making her fluffy protection disappear faster.

"I have no problem moving things along without you admitting it, but I'd really like to hear the truth from you, Adley."

Even through that lust-ridden gaze, Adley glared, looking up at me as I held her head back by the hair.

"What truth?"

Smiling, I hovered my mouth over hers, ghosting my lips against her skin like I had earlier.

"That you want this. That your pussy is dripping for me. That you know as much as I do that you belong to me, and you fucking love it."

Her brows rose, her breath rocking her body harder. "I…I don't know what you're talking about."

Gripping her hair tighter, I yanked her head to the side, craning her neck. "Don't lie to me, Adley."

She groaned, a featherlight moan bleeding out of her uncontrollably.

"I…I…" Adley shook her head, meeting my eyes again as she chewed on her lip. "How are you doing this?"

"Oh, sweet thing." I smiled. "It's easy with such a willing target."

And then I kissed her.