26. Daniela

TWENTY-SIX

Daniela

E very time I close my eyes all I see is the most terrifying people full of fear. The image hasn't left my mind in the week that has passed, and I don't think it ever will. Viktor wasn't even injured but it's their reactions that haunt me. There's something about brutal bastards that fear no one getting scared, it makes anyone break.

I focus on work like I should be and push the thoughts away as I make another pass around the casino bar. I only have today left on site to finalize the concept for the new casino opening. Zenith is beautiful and I can't stop staring as she moves towards me after leaving me to my own devices all day to get a feel for the space. It's artistic appreciation, her skin tone is that deep rich brown that would look amazing next to jewels and I have even more ideas for the portrait her husband has commissioned every time I see her in different lighting.

Her smile is warm, and I want to blurt out all my ideas, but I manage to stop myself, so I don't spoil her surprise. Focusing on why I'm here, I show her the designs for each table I've come up with .

"I can cast them all in resin so it's easier to clean in case drinks are spilt on them."

Her lips quirk and she nods, repeating what I said like there's a joke I'm missing. "Yes, drinks. I like them. What do you have for the wall art?"

Showing her the renders so she can see the plans for the lights, I'm lost in what I've imagined when a man I've never met before comes in. The woman at his side automatically sours my mood, Lilah who was hanging off Val right in front of my face.Zenith looks at what's got my attention and keeps her voice low, managing not to put me at ease despite her obvious intent.

"So, you've met my sister-in-law? Don't worry, Khalilah is harmless. Mostly."

The caveat chases away any comfort she was attempting to give me and the new guy lights up when he notices me. He smiles from ear to ear and the spotlights that are fitting above the bar glint off the stud in his nose as he comes to my side, holding his hand out. The first thing I notice are the busted knuckles, the second is Lilah rolling her eyes as he coos, "What's your name, pretty girl?"

"Walk away from my woman, Zidane."

I'm cut off by someone I did not fucking expect to be here. Val is in a suit. A very well-tailored, male equivalent of lingerie, suit. I'm too busy drooling that I don't correct his claim and he wraps his arm around me, holding my hip with a possessive hand. It's a dick measuring contest and he stares at the man, Zidane, as he presses his lips to my cheek. Unhappy with basically pissing on me, Val grabs my nape and roughly turns me to meet his lips. He doesn't look at me as he takes the air from my lungs. I lean into him, holding on to the lapels of his suit jacket for my life and everything else has disappeared.

A low whimper gets trapped in my throat, feeling him hard against me. Then it stops, and I'm dropped back to Earth. I'm breathing heavy and my lips are tingling. His stormy eyes are locked on my face, and he strokes my bottom lip with his thumb before looking back at the audience I forgot about. Slow clapping adds to my embarrassment as Zidane laughs, "Beautiful performance but I get it, you've claimed her." The cocky smirk gets wider as he gives me a once over then turns back to Valentin, asking, "Is she your wife? "

I'm not lost luggage at a fucking airport waiting to be claimed , I'm a human being.

Val clearly knows who my clients are, and Zenith relaxes as she looks between us, pushing Zidane back like he's her little brother. "I didn't know you were with the Vartanov's. I've been tip toeing around why we need certain things for no reason."

Confusion fills me and Val has some silent communication that has her making a bullshit excuse to leave.

"Send me the files when you've got the final design, I'll have Alia meet you next time for the installation."

It's weird as fuck and Val's rough tone adds to it as he says, "Get your things."

I don't know why I'm listening to him when he's hiding things from me, but I do. He doesn't look at Lilah as she leans on the edge of the bar, and she pays him exactly the right amount of attention. Zero. I stuff my laptop into my bag before pushing it towards him. If he wants to act like he can disrupt my meeting then he can carry my things like a butler. The hand on my hip doesn't leave and I look up to ask what the fucks going on but he's on edge and without moving his lips whispers, "Wait until we're in the car."

It's not a choice, but I nod, and he doesn't soften as we leave.The place is empty with construction only having finished but the weird fuck beside me acts as though there's a sniper on the roof. Val doesn't relax when we get in the car, and he doesn't say anything until there's at least 5 miles between us and the building.

"How do you know the Courts?"

I act childish as fuck staring out of the window and mumble, "Not like you do."

He had one of them sat on his fucking knee while he was touching me but he's being territorial over me working with them. The brakes creak as he abruptly pulls over and he grabs my jaw forcing to look at him.

"I'm not in the mood for any shit right now. It's important, how do you know them?"

He's pissed about something, and self-preservation loosens my tongue. "I've done some commissions for them before, and they asked me to design the artwork for their new casino. "

He blows out a controlled breath as he softens his hold on my face and tries to dictate my life.

"If they ask, you're mine. You don't say anything different, and you call me if anything happens."

I move back and face off against him, my voice hardening with the reminder of what he did as I fire back, "I think they got it when you all but fucking pissed on me to mark your territory."

The bastard smirks and tucks my hair behind my ear. "Don't give me ideas, khudozhnik moya."

I like to think I'm open minded, try anything once and all that shit. But the thought of being pissed on is too much and I poke his chest to test his muscles and push my argument into him.

"Try it and I'll do the same to you."

He relaxes back in his seat and pulls away as he laughs lightly recalling a memory that has me softening.

"When Viktor was a baby he used piss on me all the time. I think it was like a game to him, see how many bodily fluids he could get on me."

He's a different person as a father, well, when he allows it to show. This Valentin is the best one to exist, he's softer, sweeter, and somehow even more dangerous.

He turns to me with a smile as I soak up each little story, and there's longing deepening his features.

"It's his birthday in three days, you'll be there."

The soft demand has me nodding. "He's family."

There's nothing but conviction in my voice and he straightens staring straight ahead. The question leaving his lips is so quiet I nearly miss it. "And what am I?"

A victim of my sisters greed.

I stare at the tarmac and take a deep breath relaying facts. "My nephews father."

All the air is sucked out of the car. It's like a gavel has been slammed down. There will always be these moments when we forget, and something pops the bubble.He knows it too; we can't give in to our childhood dreams because he twisted it. He made it dirty and impossible.

We drive in silence. His eyes keep flicking from the road to me and I don't react. I have too many memories of me doing the same when we were kids and he'd take me to get things I'd need for my commissions, but that infatuation is mixed with pain that I want to ignore. His voice is slow when he breaks the silence to ask, "Is that all I am?"

I look for a reference of where we are so I can escape. It's only a few blocks to my temporary studio and I beg for a reprieve.

"It's all you will ever be. Drop me here, I have some work to finish."

The asshole keeps driving and ignores me taking the turn for the studio and I'm a child holding the door waiting until I can run away.As soon as he pulls into the reserved space I'm out before he can shout me back. There's so much guilt attached to my feelings. Everything I felt with innocence has become sordid and dirty because of the one person I was supposed to have from birth, not just Valentin.

Losing your parents is expected, you know you'll outlive them. Even if they chose the most horrific path for me to get there. But Carly should have been by my side, a sister in more than blood. It's not even fucking malicious; she literally did not give me a single thought while doing everything she did.The blame is on her because he was a kid, but I still hate him while knowing it's not fair.

I turn all the lights on as I step into the studio and the door doesn't slam behind me straight away. Obviously he would follow me, he has no understanding of boundaries. Heat covers my back and it's his own special brand of torture – proximity and arguing. There's nowhere for me to run short of locking myself in the bathroom. It might be less embarrassing to pretend I have diarrhea than get in another argument with him.

So, I keep walking and pretend he doesn't exist as I go to one of my workbenches and put my bag away. A low whistle makes me turn around and the filthy fuck raises an eyebrow pointing at my paint supplies.

"Is that why you needed to come here?" He laughs at his own pun like a dork.

I cross my arms over my chest, and I point out what the idiot is too perverted to grasp. "It's a muller."

Picking the glass muller up by the long handle, he holds the base in his palm and strokes it while looking in my eyes. "It's a dildo, Dani." The deadpan tone doesn't match his smirk.

I grab the pigments and binding oil to prove him wrong and focus on an insignificant argument rather than the bigger one. He doesn't move as I walk towards him, but he stops stroking the muller as though it's a dick. His chest presses against my arm as I dump the pigment on the slab. It's not until I've already shook some out that I realize the mix of colors, the one I've been perfecting for over ten years to match his eyes.

Swallowing around the lump in my throat of happy and toxic memories, my voice comes out rough. "Come here." Directing Val on where to stand, I mix the binding oil and show him how to use the muller. "See, it's for paint not your fantasies."

He looks down at me with a smirk and cups my jaw in his palm. His eyes darken as he pushes against my cheeks until my lips open. "This is my fantasy." Then spits straight into my mouth.

My body reacts on instinct swallowing it down. I like it and I hate that I like it. Why does Val get to hold every part of me, write new wants and unearth desires I've managed to hide when it can't be more?

Punishing him for having control over me, I hook my arms around his neck and jump up wrapping my legs around his waist. It takes him by surprise, and I pass every sweet wish I had into him. He groans into my mouth, and I move my head back when he tries to deepen the kiss. I torture us both knowing what I'm about to do. His hands land on my ass with a dull slap and he kneads my flesh making me moan. He turns and sits me on the counter. It's the perfect height to give me relief and he traces the seam of my lips with his tongue while I remain stubborn fighting him, without fully moving away.

I stroke down his chest and wrap my legs around him tighter, feeling his abs clench under my fingers. I grip his belt pulling him impossibly closer and we both groan as I ask against his lips, "You want to know my fantasy?"

His hands roam all over my body unable to find a fixed point to focus and he begs so beautifully, "Yeah, I'll make it a reality."

Slowly unbuckling his belt, I lean back watching the lust play out in his eyes as I rip it out of the loops. The force has him rocking into me and I hold it limply in my hand moaning to the ceiling as he kisses down my neck.

It's too good, my body is begging me not to do it. Using my brain for decision making rather than any other organs, I push against his shoulders. Valentin has the saddest pout on his pretty face, and I lift up sitting on my knees. Holding his belt in my hand, I cup his cheek with the other to distract from what I'm doing and press a chaste kiss to his lips. It works and he chases me when I move away.

I move up until I'm standing, and he holds my ankles. My voice is slow and playful, and I enjoy having him below me for once.

"My fantasy is, having you, under my control." He curses long and low, his fingers flexing around my legs, and I smile sweetly. "Arms up for me, lindo ."

He's too caught up in the beautiful lie and raises his arms above his head. His height is an advantage with the low fixing coming from the ceiling and I thread his belt together in a figure eight before securing his wrists on either side of the thin metal bar. Once he's in place I look down proud of myself.

My smile feels evil as I cup his face and give him one last kiss.

"You should have driven away."

His eyes snap open as I jump down and my steps stumble when something knocks against my ankle. The loud clang behind me comes straight away and I fucked up underestimating his strength.