I think of the email from the lawyers about the vineyard, and my stomach knots. I don’t know what arrangements are being made now that I’m marrying Desmier, but I don’t want my father owning the vineyard anymore. That vineyard is the last untainted thing in our family, and its care lies with me.
“I inherited a vineyard from my grandfather. I was told it was his pride. He owned Sidorov Developments and other businesses, but that vineyard was his everything. I was going to give it to my father and Viktor to take care of because they had plans. I don’t want to do that anymore. I’m sure you won’t either. I got an email from the lawyers today asking me to get in touch, but I can’t deal with it.”
He brushes over my cheek with his thumb. “I’ll deal with the lawyers. And we’ll talk more about things like the vineyard after the wedding. Okay?”
“Okay.”
“Good. Now, enough of this business talk.” He kisses me, and it feels like he’s trying to distract me.
It works, and I kiss him back.
After a few moments, he moves away and smiles, the seduction in his eyes luring me to get lost in him. “It’s one a.m. Anastasia. Do you remember what we were doing yesterday at this time?”
I don’t know if I’ll ever forget. “Yes.”
He lowers his face to my neck and places a line of kisses over my skin. At the same time, he undoes the strings holding my bikini top together and takes it off. My bikini bottoms come off next, leaving me as naked as he is.
My bare nipples brush over his chest, hardening on impact when he pulls me closer. Then he grabs my ass, lifting me so I can wrap my legs around him.
My body erupts with pleasure the moment his cock pushes into my passage. He slides against my walls, his cock filling the void that previously left me empty and wanting.
He groans into my ear, muttering words in Russian I can barely make out because he feels so damn good inside me.
Then, slowly, he moves in and out of me, stretching me again and going deeper with every thrust.
"Ah...oh..." I breathe out, holding on to his shoulders when he speeds up. “Desmier.”
“That’s right, baby girl. It’s me. Always me.”
Pinning me against the wall, he angles me so he can fuck me harder and faster.
His body pounds into mine and I savor the sounds of us, our bodies smashing together against the water. Like everything about him, he overwhelms me with consuming fire.
Thrusting harder and rougher until it’s painful, he takes me over the edge. My body shudders, unable to stop the ravenous dose of raw pleasure he’s giving me.
"Valkyrie," he growls, his voice sexy and strained as he climaxes.
Desmier hammers into me one last time, and twinkling stars erupt before my eyes when I come. My skin sizzles like it might burst into flames and my mind scrambles.
I cling to him, feeling the rapid fiery beat of his heart pounding against mine. Then I find myself choosing again.
This time to be the fool who wants him, instead of the worrier.
It hurts less.
I don’t think I can go back to what I was.
Even if this—whatever we are—destroys my heart.
Chapter30
Desmier
Aleksander Ivanov stands and looks at me.
His dark gaze then wanders to all the men in the room who make up the Bratva leadership.
We’re at the headquarters building in the city. There are thirty of us seated around the large rectangular table in the center of the boardroom.