Page 13 of Twisted Vows

“Deadly serious,” I affirmed, leaning against the brick building. “The bratva demands complete loyalty, and it’s hard to give that when your attention is divided.”

A heavy silence settled over us, the weight of my words hanging in the air like a tangible presence. Malachi’s gaze hardened, his jaw clenching as he processed the implications of my decision.

“So, that’s it, then?” he said, his voice laced with a rare note of vulnerability. “You’re just going to walk away?”

I held his gaze, my expression resolute. “It’s the only way to maintain our focus, our commitment to the cause.”

Malachi’s lips pressed into a thin line, his eyes flickering with a myriad of emotions that he struggled to conceal. For a moment, I thought he might argue, might challenge my resolve with the same fiery determination that had forged our unbreakable bond.

But then, with a barely perceptible nod, he seemed to acquiesce, his broad shoulders sagging ever so slightly. “If that’s what you think is best,” he said, his tone laced with a hint of resignation.

As we lapsed into silence once more, the weight of our decision settled over us like a shroud. Yet, even as I steeled myself against the allure of Nika’s captivating presence, a part of me wondered if we were making a grave mistake—if, in our quest to protect the bratva, we were sacrificing a part of ourselves that could never be reclaimed.

Chapter Six – Nika

The memory of our tense exchange lingered in my mind like a persistent ache, refusing to fade into the recesses of my consciousness. As I busied myself behind the counter at Jitter Beans, my gaze would invariably drift toward the corner booth where Malachi and Rurik had become familiar fixtures.

Today, however, their presence was noticeably absent, leaving an inexplicable sense of emptiness in the air. I was replaying our previous encounters, dissecting every word and every subtle shift in their expressions in a futile attempt to unravel the enigma that surrounded them.

I couldn't stop analyzing the way Malachi’s eyes had narrowed ever so slightly when I’d probed about their lives, and the subtle tightening of Rurik’s jaw as he’d deflected my curiosity with a carefully constructed mask of indifference. Every nuance, every unspoken gesture, seemed to carry a weight that hinted at a world far removed from mine.

As the morning rush subsided, my mind wandered, conjuring images of the two men engaged in activities that my imagination could scarcely fathom. Were they soldiers for the notorious Yelchin bratva, as the rumors whispered? It seemed likely.

A shiver of unease coiled around me at the thought, a tantalizing mixture of fear and intrigue in the pit of my stomach. I knew better than to pry, to tempt fate by delving too deeply into the shadows that seemed to envelop them, and yet, the allure of the unknown and the promise of unraveling the mystery that surrounded them was increasingly difficult to resist.

The gentle tinkle of the bell above the door jolted me from my reverie, and my breath caught in my throat as I turned to greet the newcomers. Malachi and Rurik approached, making my mouth dry.

As our gazes met, I searched their expressions for any hint of the familiarity that had once existed between us, but their faces were impassive masks, as if they’d erected an invisible barrier between us and the world they inhabited.

A pang of disappointment lanced through me, mingled with a sense of resignation. Perhaps it was for the best. With a polite smile, I stepped forward to take their order. Their voices were monotone, and I hastily finished taking their order, feeling uncomfortable with my thoughts.

Yet, even as I turned away, the weight of their presence lingered, and deep within me, a part of me knew that no matter how hard I tried, I’d never be able to resist either one of them if they gave me any encouragement.

I tried to banish my thoughts and finished my shift, relieved when the door to my apartment clicked shut behind me hours later. My mind buzzed with thoughts of Malachi and Rurik. I couldn’t shake them from my mind, their powerful bodies and intense gazes leaving me breathless and wanting.

I kicked off my shoes and padded down the hallway, my fingers tracing the cool, smooth surface of the walls as I made my way to the bathroom. The tension in my body begged for release, and I knew just the way to find it.

I turned on the faucet, the sound of rushing water filling the room as the tub slowly filled. The scent of lavender and vanilla wafted through the air as I poured a generous amount of bubble bath into the water, watching as the bubbles multiplied and swirled around the surface.

Stripping off my clothes, I stepped into the warm, inviting water, sinking into the depths with a sigh of relief. The heat enveloped me, soothing my aching muscles and calming my racing thoughts. I closed my eyes and let my head fall back against the edge of the tub, hair fanning out around me like a halo.

As the water lapped at my skin, my thoughts drifted back to Malachi and Rurik. I imagined their strong hands roaming over my body and their lips pressing against mine in a hungry, passionate kiss. My breath hitched as I pictured them standing before me, their eyes dark with desire as they slowly undressed, revealing the hard, chiseled planes of their muscular bodies.

My fingers trailed down my chest, teasing my sensitive nipples before continuing their descent to the apex of my thighs. I let out a soft moan as I touched myself, the sensation sending a jolt of pleasure through me.

In my mind, Malachi and Rurik closed in around me, their hands exploring every inch of my skin as they kissed and nipped at my neck and shoulders. I could feel their hard cocks pressing against me, their desire matching my own as we moved together in a frenzy of passion.

My fingers worked in rhythmic circles over my clit, the pressure building as I imagined Malachi’s mouth on my breast, his tongue teasing my nipple while Rurik’s fingers danced along the sensitive flesh of my inner thigh. I teetered on the edge of coming, trembling with anticipation as I chased the release that I so desperately craved.

As the fantasy played out in my mind, my body coiled tighter, the pressure building to an almost unbearable level, and then, with a final, desperate thrust of my fingers, I tumbled over the edge, convulsing with waves of intense pleasure.

I lay there, panting and spent, as the water cooled around me. My mind was a whirl of thoughts and emotions, my body still humming with the aftershocks of my orgasm. My fantasy was just that—a fantasy—but the desire that it had awakened within me was very real.

As I climbed out of the tub and wrapped myself in a soft, fluffy towel, I wonder what it would be like to truly be with Malachi and Rurik. To feel their hands on my body, their lips on my skin, and their passion igniting a fire within me that I never knew existed.

***

I sighed as I wiped down the counter for what felt like the hundredth time that day. The bell above the door jingled, and I looked up to see Malachi and Rurik walking in. My heart skipped a beat as I took in their imposing figures. Recalling my fantasy sent a twinge through the apex of my thighs.

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