Maria
The dark road seems familiar to me, but I’m not sure why I have this feeling of deja vu. “Where are we going?” I ask my father as his truck navigates through traffic past the dirty piles of snow.
“Back to the inn,” replies Dad. “We’ve been requested to come to a meeting.” Dad’s mouth is tight as he concentrates on the route.
My heart skips a beat, but I keep my warring emotions inside.
“You don’t look happy about it,” I reply softly.
“Sorokin knows how Gunsyn died,” he replies. “Mikhail and I are oath breakers. Sorokin has every right to kill us both. But we’re getting a hearing instead.”
“That’s good, isn’t it?” I ask, confused.
“Yes and no.” Dad sighs loudly as he slows down for the exit. “Maria, you have to accept that things might not end in our favor. If something happens to me, you’re to go live with your uncle Vito. The feud is over, so you’ll both be safe.”
“Nothing bad will happen.” I lower my voice and grip the seat to steady my nerves. “You and Mikhail did what you said you would do for the Bratva. You rescued Mercy, ended a feud, and killed three traitors. What more do they want from us?”
“There will always be something more to demand,” Dad replies bitterly. “I’ll be staying in the cabin with Chuikov’s men. You and Mikhail will have the inn to yourselves.” He glances over at me. “You can say your goodbyes there. If it comes to that.”
We don’t speak as the truck continues down the road. Fear and apprehension produce a weird feeling inside me. The uncertainty of our situation roils in my stomach. I want to see Mikhail, desperately, but what if this truly is the last time? Joy turns to ash in my mouth when the truck stops in front of the inn, and suddenly, I don’t want to get out.
But I do. I cannot hide from consequences forever.
Dad doesn’t say anything as I get out of the truck and walk toward the front door alone.
The wind blows snowdrifts across the path. The evening air is cold, freezing my cheeks, and I pull my coat tighter. In those few steps, I feel incredibly alone as I imagine life without Mikhail or my dad. I push open the door and step inside, scanning the living room for him. The moment I enter, Mikhail rushes toward me and takes me in his arms.
His lips press against mine, and it chases away all doubts as I hold onto him tightly.
“Maria.” He holds me closer. “Don’t worry about me.”
I take a deep breath. “I want to go with you and Dad to the hearing.”
“You can’t.” His voice is hard. “You have to be somewhere safe. Your father wants you to go stay with your uncle.”
“No.” I shake my head. “I want to be there. I want them to see me and know why we should be together. They have no right to do this to us.” I take hold of his arm. “I’m not scared of them.”
For a moment, we stand there, our gazes locked on each other, and the weight of our situation bears down on us.
“Maria, you never belonged in this world.” Mikhail looks at me sadly. “Don’t fight to be a part of it.”
“I’m not fighting to be part of this world,” I tell him. “I’m fighting for us. To give our child what I never had. Ivanov or Lanzzare, they have no right to tell us how to live our lives.” I look him in the eye. “And I won’t let them.”
He nods. “Very well.”
My hand holds Mikhail’s tight as we enter the cozy bedroom. I pull away and run my fingers over the lampshade before turning to face Mikhail. The glow of the light heightens the color of his eyes. In an odd way, it feels like we’re at home. In a home I would’ve imagined if our lives were different. My nerves twist, wondering what he’ll say when he peels away the layers of clothing and reveals the fullness of my belly.
I take a deep breath, trying to calm the butterflies as I slowly pull away each piece of clothing. First the large coat. Then the scarf. Then my hat. Slowly, the fullness of my pregnancy takes shape, and I hear a soft gasp when I pull the red sweater over my head. When my gaze locks onto his emerald-green eyes, I can see them heat with desire and something else I can’t quite place.
I slide my skirt off my hips, revealing lacy black panties, and bite my lip, waiting for his reaction.
Mikhail steps in front of me, and his fingers trail down my belly before cupping it. “You’re beautiful, Maria,” he whispers. He leans in and presses a soft kiss to my bare shoulder. “Turn around,” he commands, and I do it without hesitation. Mikhail holds me against him, pressing hard against me. He reaches around and runs a possessive hand over my belly. And with that single gesture, he claims me again.
“Are you afraid?” he whispers.
“Not when I’m with you,” I admit to him.
“What about tomorrow?”
“Not if I’m with you.”
His hand moves up to stroke my hair. “Our future.” He speaks softly as he presses a kiss to my neck. “You’re mine, Maria. And I’m yours. No one will take you away from me.”
A shiver of fear and excitement races over my bare skin at his words, and I turn to face him. My heart pounds as he slowly unclasps my bra and it falls to the floor. My full breasts are exposed to his hungry gaze. Mikhail leans in to taste my heated skin and strokes my nipple with the tip of his tongue until it’s stiff.
“Mine,” he growls against my skin, his hands moving down to cup my ass and pull me closer. He grinds against me as the sounds of our breathing fill the room.
I move my body against him, arching into his hardness as he lifts my leg, his fingers digging into my thigh. I moan softly, feeling his heat between my thighs as Mikhail stands between my openlegs. He kisses me until I pull away for air, and then gazes into my eyes. I’ll never have this again if we don’t fight for each other.
His lips trail a path down my throat, my neck, my chest, to my belly, kissing and touching my full curves. On his knees, each touch sends ripples of love through me, heightening my arousal for him. His warm breath tickles my navel as he reaches my pussy and presses a soft kiss there.
“You are my world, Maria.” His voice is rough with emotion as he pulls off his clothes. “My everything.”
In bed, his body is pressed against mine. The hardness of his cock is against my thighs, and I whimper softly as he pushes to enter me from behind. His hand cups my belly possessively, before his thumb circles over my swollen clit.
“Forever,” he whispers against my ear. I cry out, pushing into him as his erection rubs against my clit then slides back in. Mikhail teases me with his hand, letting me rise and then drop again until I beg.
Our lovemaking is urgent yet tender, each thrust harder than the last. Mikhail pushes into me with a force that takes my breath away. He whispers against my ear that he’s not going to let anything or anyone take me from him.
“Mine,” he pants. His teeth graze my neck, leaving a searing trail of pleasure and pain. “Always.”
I gasp as Mikhail strokes my sweetest spot, and shock waves hurtle through me. I cry out his name, feeling the release between my thighs and then all over.
Mikhail reaches his peak, and his warmth fills me up and soothes me. His kisses are bruising now, but I don’t care. I reach for hishand and hold it against my chest tightly, knowing this could be our last night together. His breathing gradually steadies, and I fall asleep in his arms, my heart heavy but my body sated.
In the morning, we make love again, slower this time, gentler. We share breakfast in bed and talk about nothing and everything. I ask about his galleries, and he asks about Holtsville. We pretend our lives are normal and that everything is okay. But we both know our time is running out, and the tension remains, hanging over us until we hear the truck horn.
I dress slowly while Mikhail goes outside to speak to my father. When I come out, they’re deep in conversation, and the tightness in Dad’s expression has relaxed into a half-hearted grin. Maybe there’s hope?
Mikhail presses a kiss to my cheek and whispers, “I love you.”
I squeeze his hand as I get into the truck. Looking back at the inn, he waves as the truck pulls out onto the road. I stare at the scenery as we drive along and think about Paige Barinov. From what I’ve learned, she figured it out and didn’t give up. I won’t either.