Total pages in book: 58
Estimated words: 56507 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 283(@200wpm)___ 226(@250wpm)___ 188(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 56507 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 283(@200wpm)___ 226(@250wpm)___ 188(@300wpm)
Maybe I didn’t want to believe it, but hell.
She’s moving so quickly now, rocking on my dick, using my shoulders to pull herself closer and then push herself away. When the orgasm hits her, she closes her eyes, but then she opens them like she’s mad at herself, like she doesn’t want to miss a single second of what we’re sharing.
She moans and nods like she’s begging for my release. My vision blurs. Every single inch of my skin tingles. The end of my cock throbs as the seed pulses out of me, wave after wave of it, making my tip pulse as I empty myself inside of her.
Finally, I collapse atop her. She wraps her arms tightly around me, her breath coming fast in my ears, high-pitched and flooded with pleasure.
“I love you,” she whispers, then bites my shoulder. “Sorry,” she mumbles.
“I love you too,” I tell her huskily. “So much, Ania. More than could ever make sense.”
“It was just a couple of days ago we were pretending we hated each other.”
“It was always pretending,” I say. “When we saw each other in the studio, I was supposed to be the bad guy. You were supposed to be my prey. Even then, I knew you were special. I knew we had something special.”
“Me too,” she whispers, “which means we’re nuts.”
“Then let’s be nuts together,” I say, “because I’ll never stop loving you.”
CHAPTER 32
ANIA
A Few Weeks Later
“Penny for your thoughts?” Mom asks as we wait backstage for our act to be introduced.
“How are you so calm?” I say, my voice shaking.
Mom smiles and gives me a knowing look. “Believe me. I’m not, but it’s a mother’s duty. I shouldn’t really talk about mother’s duty. Shut me up!”
I touch her hand. “Mom, you’ve done that so many times since the craziness.”
That’s how we’ve started talking about the kidnapping, the lodge burning down, the stuff with the Kozlovs—the craziness. It’s like we can make it as sanitized as possible so that it doesn’t completely tear us apart.
“You don’t need to,” I tell her. “I know you weren’t there in the beginning, but we’re together now, and that’s all that matters.”
She squeezes my hand. “Then I’m doing my best,” she says. “I can’t let you see how nervous this is making me. If you’re going to dance in front of people, I can make the effort, too.”
“My mind’s all over the place,” I mutter as the music from the last act rises to a crescendo, our cue that we’ll be on soon.
“When the time comes, you’ll kill it, Ania. I know you will. You’re far more capable than you give yourself credit for.”
I smile, letting her words fill me up with confidence. The last few weeks have been a whirlwind. First, there was the police investigation into Roman Kozlov’s death, including three videos recorded from nearby buildings. Yet after Teddy’s company paid off two college loans, three houses, and gifted three new cars, all through a front business, the videos mysteriously disappeared.
Then, I decided to stay on the East Coast with Aiden. Dimitri and Mikhail were against it initially, but then they talked with Aiden. I’m unsure what was said, but it quickly changed my brothers’ minds. They’re back in Vegas, enjoying their lives, wives, and futures.
I spend my days with Aiden and my evenings practicing with Mom for the show Teddy is sponsoring to showcase new talent in the city. Since we’re both nervous as heck about performing, we made a deal. We’d perform as a double act. I’d provide the dancing, and she’d contribute the music.
I peek around the corner of the curtain as the singing act winds to a close. A way-too-loud gasp explodes from me when I see my brothers sitting in the front row beside Aiden. Mila and Lia are there, too, with Drake sitting at their side.
“I didn’t know they were going to be here,” I say.
Mom smiles knowingly.
“But you did!” I go on.
“Remember, the crowd doesn’t have a face. Don’t worry about them. We’ll go into autopilot anyway.”
I swallow. “I hope so.”
Mom touches my arm. “They’re here for support because they know you’re going to do so, so well.”
Soon, there’s no more time for nerves. We walk onto the stage, and I realize Mom was right. The moment she starts singing, it’s like we’re back in the studio. The only tricky part is not closing my eyes from the nerves. Luckily, I had a decent meal about five hours ago, so my body feels nice and fueled up, thanks to Aiden’s dedication to helping me overcome my battle with food. I miss a step or two, and Mom’s voice falters once or twice, but when it’s over—I can hardly believe it—people are on their feet, clapping for us.
I finally look down into the crowd, my breath coming fast. Lia and Mila beam up at me. Drake’s got a big grin on his face, and I wink at him. But where’s Aiden?