Chapter Twenty-Two

The solarium was already filled with beautiful exotic flowers, but tonight they were accented by white lights on dancing strings. A single bottle of champagne was on ice with two glasses beside it on a table in the middle of the floor.

Destiny stood looking out of the glass at the setting sun with her back to the door and her hands clasped together.

Anatoly walked inthe room quietly. For a moment, he just wanted to observe her. She looked amazing from what he could see. Her very shapely, petite frame was put on display in a way he had never seen in the simple black knee-length dress.

He walked to the table and poured them both a glass of champagne. Certain that she could hear his footsteps, he walked up beside her and looked out at the sunset too. It was so peaceful and serene, a perfect start to their first evening together.

“Happy birthday,” he said, turning to pass her the glass.

She looked up at him with fresh tears in her eyes. They had streamed down her cheeks and onto her dress.

“Renee, what’s wrong?” Anatoly asked in a deep, gravelly voice.

Renee took a deep breath. She tried to smile to mask the pain radiating from her beautiful face, but her voice cracked in pain, giving her away. “I’ve been waiting for today for so long, Ana. And all day, I kept thinking that this all was going too perfect. Even when I got here and saw all that you had done, even after I had witnessed this...” she held the CD in her hand. “I still couldn’t believe that you had done something so special.”

Anatoly wiped her face. He tried to make sense of what she was saying, but he was hopelessly confused.

“Your friend, Destiny, stopped by the shop today.” Renee looked away. “She asked me to take a look at this CD. It was supposedly a book trailer that she wanted to surprise you with. After I got dressed to come over, I remembered it and popped it into my computer.”

Anatoly felt his heart breaking. He didn’t have to ask what was on the CD. He already knew.

“Renee, if you could just let me explain,” he begged.

Renee laughed. Her sobs clouded her eerie sarcasm. “If you can explain having sex with this woman in the pool while everyone watched, I’d really like to hear it.”

“I found out that she was a cop, undercover and trying to set me up. So, this was my way of getting her off my back.”

“I’m sure she was grateful for your counter measure.” Renee turned away from him.

Anatoly realized that both of his hands were still filled with the glasses. He placed them on the windowsill and sighed. The beautiful sunset was officially ruined. “It was stupid. I wish that I had never done it.”

She whipped her head around to face him. “That’s just it, Ana. I know that there must be something wrong with me, because I know what you have done. I know what you are capable of even without seeing it with my own eyes, and I could take that. The killing. The guns. The mafia.” Her voice drifted off. “But I quickly found that I can no longer take the idea of you being with another woman. And seeing that with my own eyes killed me.”

“on’t do this, Renee.”

“You did this, Ana.”

“It was before I realized that I wanted to be with you.” He allowed the words to clumsily fall from his lips.

“I’ve known for a while that I wanted to be with you, and it’s my fault, really, for never telling you, but I’m old school. You know. I still think that a man should chase you, not the other way around.”

“So because of some woman that I screwed who means nothing to me, you’re just going to walk away?”

“Yes.”

“I can’t...” Anatoly felt his frustration boiling. Pulling at his tie, he opened his shirt to breathe. Sweat formed on his forehead again. Turning red, he clenched his jaw. “Why are you doing this to me?”

“Doing this to you? You’re so fucking selfish, Ana. I didn’t do this to you.” She hit her chest. “I didn’t set you up like this. The woman that you just finished...”

“That was weeks ago.”

“Oh, forgive me! I guess that I’m bringing up old shit!” She grabbed her purse. “This was such a mistake.”

“Why can’t we focus on right now, on this very minute? Are you really going to hold me accountable for everything that happened before this point? Do you think that is fair?”

“Life isn’t fair, Ana. You of all people know that. And yes, I am going to hold you responsible for your actions, because it takes a lot of balls to do something like this. It takes a monster. Do you realize how disgusting this is? Or can you justify it in that brain of yours because it protects your precious Vory.”

Anatoly paused. He’d never heard her say that she knew exactly what he was.

Renee shook her head. “That’s right. I know. And I took a really long look at myself today and asked myself what the hell I was doing, knowing who you really are. Boss Anatoly Medlov. The Medlov Organized Crime Fucked Up Family. I don’t want to end up like Royal. I don’t want to be just another dead woman buried because of your past. I don’t want women showing up with sex tapes and men showing up with blood vendettas and...”

Anatoly was desperate. He felt her quickly slipping out of his hands again. The hour glass was pouring the last of their sand right in front of him.

“Royal’s not dead.”

Renee stopped her rant and frowned. “What? Okay, now you’re just being cruel.”

Anatoly walked over to her. The click of his shoes against the hardwood floors only magnified the silence. “I just left Prague. Royal is not dead. She’s alive and so is her daughter. In fact, she’s pregnant again.”

Renee held her stomach. Stepping away from him, she let the tears fall from her face. The look in his eyes told her that he wasn’t lying. Only the truth of his confession was more painful than the lie that he’d been hiding.

“The family thought it best to protect you and to keep you out of things that you might not understand. Royal wanted to tell you but...”

“Stop it!” Renee cried. “Just stop fucking talking!” She screamed louder, pointing at him. “What is wrong with you people? You can’t just play everyone like pawns in a damn game!”

He’d never heard her curse so much. Reaching out to touch her, he tried to calm her. “Renee, you mean everything to me.”

“Liar! You’ve watched me in pain for years,” she cried. “And you could have told me. You know that I wouldn’t have told a soul, but instead you watched me mourn that woman.”

“It was to protect you.” His voice was low, steady.

Renee put her hand up in protest. “It was to protect yourself.” Turning away from him, she tried to leave, but he quickly grabbed her, wrapping his arms around her waist.

“Let go of me!” She fought, flaying her arms about, trying to hit him, but he picked her up off the ground. One high heel fell to the ground. “Let go of me, Ana!”

“No!” he growled. “No. Renee, please.” He put his mouth to her ear. His breath burned her skin. “I love you.”

Completely obliterated by his truth and his words, she crumbled over in his strong arms. With her back nuzzled into him, she cried out, still trying to fight, but he continued to restrain her.

Anatoly refused to let her go. He refused to see her just run out of his life. Not without a fight, he said to himself. His grip broke her iron will. They both collapsed onto the ground.

The golden sun had finally gone completely down, and a bright, vibrant moon had emerged. They were left alone in the darkness with only the white lights high above them in the rafters to illuminate the room. The hollowness of the airy space made their quiet movements echo.

Anatoly could feel her body trembling, but he knew that it was more than just pain. There was also want, both hers and his. The silence was thick with raw emotion, choking out any ability to lie. Vulnerable and bemused, he cradled her. His grip had become a blanket that shielded them both from the outside world. In that moment, they were alone with no present or past.

Carefully and ever so gently, he turned her face towards his. She shifted her body slightly and looked up at him, her big brown eyes full of rage and visceral passion.

Anatoly swallowed hard as he watched her. His thumb wiped her tears and slowly he pulled her mouth to his

“I love you,” he said again. Where only months ago when Victoria had confessed her love for him while they made love and he had denied her, he willingly said it to Renee. As he said the words, he knew that the reason he had not given them to Victoria was because the words, the act, the fact belonged to Renee. The only thing he wasn’t sure of was how long he had loved her. As he held her, he felt as though it had been had a lifetime. There was no awkwardness, not need or desire to flee. He wanted to melt into her, to become one with her. He meant the words to the core.

The words rushed into her like a wave of intoxicating drugs. He clutched her tight to him. The heat from his body warmed her, igniting a hungry flame deep inside.

Renee cried. “I love you, Ana.”

“I’m so sorry for what I’ve done. I know that you can’t begin to forgive me for all of it.” The tears formed in the sides of his crystal blue eyes. “But I need you to know.” He smiled. “I’m so lonely for you, Renee. I’ve tried to fill the void in my life with other women, but I can’t. I can’t replace you. I can’t...” He suddenly felt light headed. Having never been so honest about his own emotions, he suddenly felt afraid. He held her tighter. “What am I supposed to do without you? You’ve been there for me the entire time since my father left. There were so many days, so many situations that I only got through because I knew that when I came home, you’d be there.”

“I don’t know if I can continue to be, though. Ana, this is so hard.” She buried her head in his chest. “This is so damned hard.”

“Think about it. Give it some time. But don’t tell me no tonight. Don’t turn me away. Give me a chance to prove myself, first. I’ve never needed to prove myself so much to one person, not even my father.”

“I’m going to need some time.” She knew that her strength had left her, but she also knew that she had to be honest. “There is nothing left for you to prove. I just have to have some time to digest all of this. I know it sounds selfish, but it’s the truth. What my heart feels is so overwhelming.”

Morning would come with the daylight and so would their changed reality. She had to make sure that they would both be ready for what that would mean for them. But she also knew that tonight, she would give in to him.

Anatoly read her face. He felt her resolve.

This time as he leaned in to her, it was not to talk. Both of his hands moved to her soft face and he pulled her into his kiss.

She turned all the way around to receive him. Her lips parted, warm and full, fleshy and wet. Desire engulfed her. Their minty breath mingled and heaved into each other.

As their mouths touched, slow and sensual, a whimper escaped her. His taste was decadent, mixed with the fragrant sandalwood cologne on his skin and clothes. She wrapped her arms around him, tangling her fingers in his feathery, cu locks.

On his knees in front of her, holding her, caressing her face, he continued to search her mouth, sucking her bottom lip, tasting her velvety tongue, kissing her until she was weak. His nimble fingers ran down to her throat, stroking her skin as he slipped his tongue in and out of her mouth, tickling her senses with the least of his masculine sexuality.

She had thought about kissing his full, rose-colored lips a thousand times, but never had she imagined that it would be this good.

He focused intently on his deed, pouring himself into her. He became hungrier for her—all of her. Snatching his suit jacket off, he returned to her quickly.

“Let’s go to my room, da?” he said, gazing into her eyes. “I want to make love to you there.”

The verbalization of their action made Renee even wetter. Her thighs were slicked together under her clothing. Nodding, she reached out and grabbed his hand as he helped her up.

It seemed to take forever to get to his room tonight. They walked hand-in-hand through the quiet home, down the long halls, up the stairwell, down the corridor to the master bedroom.

When they got to the door, Anatoly slowly twisted the knob and pulled her inside.

For the first time in his life, he was genuinely nervous about sex. It was important to him to make this the best that Renee had ever experienced, but his desire had accelerated to a point of near madness. He ached to have her. The blood pumped through his veins and rushed to his already pounding heart as she stood in front of him.

Renee toyed with his desire. Seductively stripping her clothes off, she brushed her small hands over her skin as she undressed. He’d never known how sexual she could be. Her eyes were hooded. Her lips wet and open. With a kinky grin, she dropped her dress at his feet, then proceeded to slowly take off her bra. Trailing her hands down her torso, she slipped her fingers into her panties, then pulled them down to her ankles.

He dropped to his knees to help her take them off. She still had on her fish net high-thighs. As she went to take them off, he stopped her.

“Leave them on,” he growled. “And the heels.”

Still on his knees in front of her, he breathed close to her slick thighs. She bit her lip as she watched.

“Is there anything else you want me to leave on?” she asked, looking down at him.

He grabbed his suit jacket and pulled out the blue Tiffany box. Opening it, he looked up while offering her the diamond bracelet. And with a devilish grin, he said, “Just this.”

Shocked, she put her hands to her mouth, but he quickly pulled her wrist to him and placed the six-carat bracelet on her. It sparkled in the celight, reflecting around the room.

As she marveled at her $50,000 gift, he marveled at her clean-shaven vagina. In a swift movement and still on his knees, he cupped her curvy behind in his hands, pulling her close to him. His meaty tongue lapped at the top of her mound, licking her exposed, sex lips and titillating her meaty surface. The musky scent of her body transferred to his mouth, making him harder in his pants.

Moaning, she watched him dip lower, tilt his head to a perfect view and slip his tongue in between her labia. The tip of his tongue snaked up to find her clitoris. Sucking at it, he felt her tremble above him as he drank the wetness from her body, cleaning her dry.

Anatoly stood up, mouth wet and picked Renee up off the ground. Her short body cradled into his embrace as he carried her to the large bed covered in rose petals. He laid her down carefully, splaying her legs open.

She gazed up at him. He was still in his black dress shirt and black pants, looking powerful and magnetic. The sleeves were rolled up to his elbows, showing his many tattoos. His chrome watch glittered in the light. His eyes sparkled nearly as brightly as the bracelet on her right wrist. He looked amazing, dominating.

Unable to control herself, she reached out for him. Her hand caught the back of his neck. He came to her, kissing her again with a fierce passion. One hand stroked her neck and collarbone, the other made its way back down to her sex where he slipped a finger inside of her and rested his thumb on her clitoris. As he was massaging and kissing her, she began to whimper, squirming under him and completely pliable to his every demand.

Anatoly trailed a kiss from her cheek to her neck, then moved back to her hot, aching sex. He parted her lips with his fingers and blew against her exposed body. Arching her back, she felt him lap her sex again. She moaned. He licked. She moved, he adjusted. She clenched. He kissed her, sucked her, tongued her until she finally felt herself begin to shake. He bent to her, kissed her dry again. Finally, he stripped out of his clothes.

In all the time that they had been around each other, she’d never seen him naked. His taut muscles were carved into his sleek skin. His body was a temple of deep valleys of sinewy flesh with marble rock-hard definition and tanned golden-bronze skin embellished with intricate tattoos. And his erection silenced any question of his bloodline. Like a true Medlov, he left nothing to question. His width and length were testament to his manhood – to his dominance.

But Anatoly paid little attention to himself. He was too engulfed in finally seeing after many years what Renee actually looked like. This was odd for him, exhilarating. There was no question in his mind that he would dominate her, but he wanted her to enjoy it. Sex for him, for the most part of his life, had been a one-way pursuit. The woman had only been there to please him, but not Renee. He was only interested in her pleasure.

Renee’s short stature made it easy for him to sweep her compact body in one gaze. Her baby soft skin was a deep, rich shade of mahogany that only darkened around her nipples, the dip between her legs and her delicate knees.

There was a perfect little beauty mole in her inner thigh and a birthmark on her hip. Her areolas were large and inviting, pebbled nipples ripe and perky. He longed to taste them, but he was saving them for last, for when he was completely inside her.

The wideness of her hips was just right for absorbing the raw shock he intended to transfer. He wanted nothing more than to pound his body into her, feel his sweat on her stomach, taste every inch of her until he had it committed to memory.

Erotic thoughts began to multiply in Anatoly’s head. She had an inner belly button. He liked those most for the finish. He glanced into her eyes. She swallowed hard, realizing that he was actually strategizing his attack.

“Is there anything that you don’t like?” Anatoly asked, kissing the inside of her leg and slipping on a condom. His eyes were hooded and dark. His breaths were deep and heavy, each exhale drawing attention to his carved abdomen.

Renee bit her lip, feeling his tongue against her ankle, snaking against her skin. “No. Is there anything that you don’t like?” she asked.

He smiled deviously. “No.”

Anatoly kept his possessive eyes on her as he dipped in to her lips. His stare was so carnal until it aroused Renee to near orgasm. Her burning legs opened to fit him comfortably between. Though she was mildly embarrassed that she was already soaking wet again, there was no way to hide it. He was slowly sliding his erection through the wetness as he kissed her mouth. Still, he had not penetrated her.

The wait was driving Renee crazy. She longed for him to be inside of her. Lifting her hips, she moaned and palmed her breast.

Anatoly slipped his hand behind her and helped elevate her hips. Without a word, he guided himself into her.

“God, you’re so tight,” he whispered.

Renee whimpered at the feel of his body. Liquid heat united them in a locked position. Stretching her body to the brink, he finally went for needy her breasts, begging for his sincere attention. His breaths made them harden more, and within seconds he was suckling one in his mouth and holding the other in his hand, fondling it between his deft fingers.

Renee was unable to speak, unable to breathe. Everywhere that he could be, he was. Inside of her. On her. Kissing her. Rubbing her. Touching her. Screwing her.

Unable to take the constant bombardment of raw, hot sensations, she finally screamed out in ecstasy as her sex spasmed. But her recognition of her weakness only made Anatoly stronger. In long, coiling strokes, he moved in and out of her body, in and out of her wetness, pumping deeper and deeper into her. The sound of their bodies slapping together only drove him madder. He kept his own orgasm at bay, and continued to draw hers out.

“Ty prinadlezhishʹ mne,” Anatoly said in her ear. You belong to me.

She looked up at him in wonderment. It didn’t take a linguist to know what he meant. It was in his eyes, in his kiss. Love.

The sheets were soaked. She moved against his body, feeling his sweat in between them. Knees buried into the bed, arms holding her thighs, he punished her body in a rhythmic pattern of passion.

The burn in her eyes fueled his passion. In one motion, he had pulled her to her side. He continued until she was nearly out of breath. Reaching for him, unable to put her hands in one position for more than a second, she grabbed the sheets and tore them from the mattress. Her cry intensified his desire. He reached back and slapped a burning, hot palm to her ample backside, then rubbed the pain into her skin. The sting left her panting.

Unable to control himself any longer, he buried himself deep inside her. With a hand full of her black hair in his hand and the other hand around her neck, he pulled her up to him.

She could smell his cologne as he slipped his finger in her mouth. His hot breath hissed at the back of her neck. Low whimpers became moans as he broke the walls of her tension, flooding his body with her thick liquid. She felt her body tensing, words forming on her lips to tell him that she was so close.

Knowing she had reached her point, he turned her around to see her face. Now, on top of her, he pumped into her body. Face-to-face, they both climaxed. Holding each other tight, kissing and moaning, they collapsed into each other’s arms.

Anatoly looked over at her, wrapped in his embrace, exhausted and happy.

“I...I really do love you,” he said again, trying to catch his breath.

She looked up into his eyes and smiled. “I love you, too.”