His Queen of Clubs (Vegas Underground 6)

“Nothing. It’s just… this is really nice. Very thoughtful. And…” I can’t seem to stop the flood of unexpected tears. “I don’t want to fall in love with you, Vlad.”

Alarm flashes over his face. We stare at each other, both apparently terrified by what I said.

“Don’t—” he grits, like speaking pains him. “Don’t say that, or I’ll never let you go.”

“I won’t say it,” I say quickly, turning away.

He catches me, but doesn’t turn me back. Just wraps his arms around me from behind.

A few more tears fall. Emptiness descends. Emptiness, but also surrender. I gave him my vulnerability. He gave me his.

There’s a peace that comes with it. He’s not letting me go. But he’s holding me. He’s got me in a way no one has before.

There’s something to that, right?

I drag in a shaky breath. Turn around in his arms and lean my head against his strong chest. His heartbeat sounds against my ear.

I do love him.

It’s illogical and stupid, but I guess you can’t tell the heart anything.

“Come on,” he says, stepping backward, but still holding me with one arm. “Try Zoya’s french fries or she’ll be mad at me for all the work.”

I let out a watery laugh. “Are you kidding? I’m going to eat every last one of those fries. Well, maybe I’ll save some for Mika.”

“I guarantee Zoya made him his own.” I hear a smile in Vlad’s voice, and I tip my head up to see it.

“Zoya’s fond of Mika, right?”

“Da.”

“I can tell. That’s so sweet, considering how she seems like a crotchety old lady the rest of the time.”

Vlad chuckles. “She is a crotchety old lady. But she takes good care of us.”

Standing over the tray, I grab a fry and dip it in the ketchup, which also appears homemade. It tastes different, but not bad. “Mmm. She does take good care of us.”

Vlad slaps my ass lightly. “Get in bed. I’ll feed you.”

I roll my eyes, even as I obey. “My hands aren’t tied, buddy.”

He waggles his brows. “I can remedy that situation.”

Chapter 14

Vlad

“How long are you keeping me locked up in here?” Alessia straddles me in bed the next morning and my brain scrambles.

I grip her hips and yank her pussy over my thickening cock. She gets wet immediately, grinding down. Her youthful breasts brush my chest.

“Hmm?” she prompts.

Oh what? Right, there was a question.

“Until I believe you’ve learned your lesson.” I palm her ass, squeezing the ripe flesh until my cock’s so thick it hurts.

Alessia sits back. “I won’t run away again.” Her tone is serious, the teasing quality gone. It has the ring of a promise.

I tug her hips over mine again, but she grabs my wrists to stop me.

“I mean it, Vlad. You have my word. I don’t know if that means anything in the bratva, but in my Family, it does.”

I’m not inclined to believe a woman’s promise ever, whether she’s Italian or Russian, but I don’t say that.

“Why would I believe you, zaika?”

“I heard what you said yesterday. You could’ve taken a life for a life. My brother’s. But you didn’t. You’re just taking this time from me. I’m willing to honor that exchange.”

Ah, Alessia. Ever giving. Ever sweet.

I reach up and grasp her nape, pull her face down to mine and kiss her hard. “One condition.” I roll our bodies so I’m on top now.

“What’s that?” Her cheeks glow with color, eyes are bright.

“You’re mine in this bed now. No more refusing me. I want you, I take you. Understand?”

“But I don’t have to beg?”

I laugh. It’s unreal how this woman can make me laugh. “You will beg, zaika,” I tease. “But you don’t have to.” I climb off to get a condom. “Don’t move.”

She stays.

I grab her hips and pull her to the center of the bed. “You are a perfect woman, you know that?”

“Am I?” Delight shines on her face. She’s so expressive. So lovely.

“Da. Beautiful.” I kiss the flat plane of her belly. “Kind.” Another kiss. “Funny.” I part her legs and flick my tongue over her clit.

She shrieks and tries to close her legs.

“Uh uh. Keep these legs open or I’ll spank that pretty ass of yours again.”

Her inner thighs tremble, but she keeps them open, arching and releasing her pelvis as I trace the inside of her labia with my tongue. I torture her until her moans grow high-pitched and desperate, and then I shift up and roll on a condom.

“Mine,” I growl as I shove into her.

She doesn’t deny it. In fact, she wraps those long legs around my back and pulls me in deep.

Chapter 15

Alessia

“Why are you nervous, Alessia?” Vlad’s watching me closely. He just showed the doctor out the front door and now he stands in the doorway. He brought the doctor in to examine me and take my blood work.