Page 57 of Owned By the Russian

She turned to him, a tiny smile playing on her lips, and his heart jolted.

Ilya wasn’t sure if he’d ever get used to how beautiful she was. How, even in the simplest moments, she managed to steal the air from his lungs.

Then, to his surprise, she nodded approvingly, her gaze sweeping over the space once more. “It’s nice,” she said, tilting her head slightly. “Could use a little more color, but besides that… I love it.”

Relief settled deep in his chest, like a knot unfurling, though he wouldn’t voice it. Instead, he noted the way her shoulders had started to droop, exhaustion catching up to her, evident in the slow blink of her eyes.

Instantly, Ilya felt stupid. Of course she was tired?she was pregnant, and he wasn’t.

“I should take you home,” he said, already reaching for his keys.

But she shook her head, her voice soft. “No, I’m too tired for that.”

She was already making her way toward the bed, her fingers brushing against the smooth fabric of the duvet. “I just want to rest. Close my eyes for a few minutes, maybe?”

Ilya hesitated for only a second before nodding. “Alright,” he murmured, toeing off his shoes. “Come here, then.”

The mattress dipped as she climbed in beside him, his movements careful, as if unsure of how close he was allowed to be at the moment. He hadn’t planned for anything more than rest. He told himself that having her in his arms was enough, that after everything, she needed sleep more than anything.

But the warmth of her body against his, the way she instinctively curled into him, made it damn near impossible to ignore the pull between them. His grip on her waist tightened slightly, his jaw flexing as he forced himself to stay still.

Then, she shifted, her breath ghosting against his throat as she whispered, “Kiss me.”

His muscles tensed. He pulled back just enough to look at her, his dark eyes scanning her face, searching for hesitation. She seemed tired and hungry all at once. Her eyes were slightly glassy, filled with want as she gazed at him through her eyelashes. Her lips were parted slightly, pink, waiting.

He pressed a slow, restrained kiss to her lips, testing her. “Is that what you want?”

She let out a small, needy sound against his mouth, her fingers curling into his shirt. “You can do better than that.”

Ilya exhaled sharply, his restraint hanging by a thread. His hands slid into her hair, fingers tangling firmly at the nape of her neck as he tugged her head back against the pillow. His mouth found hers again, no longer careful, no longer testing.

Then he kissed her, filthy and deep, like he wanted to brand the taste of him onto her tongue. His teeth nipped at her lower lip before sucking it into his mouth, swallowing the soft gasp she let out. He claimed her mouth like he was starving, like he was making up for all the moments they had spent without each other.

Valentina shivered beneath him, her breath coming faster, and when he finally pulled back just enough to look at her, her pupils were blown wide, her lips swollen and slick.

“Yes,” she breathed, her voice trembling, her fingers sliding up his arms, sending tiny bolts of sparks fluttering down to his toes. “That’s what I want.”

Ilya smirked against her mouth, his grip tightening in her hair, her body arching into him. “Then take it,Printsessa.”

He kissed her even harder, his hot tongue stroking against hers, slow and consuming, until she was gasping beneath him. Her fingers slid from the roots of his hair to his shirt, hastily popping open the buttons, desperate, impatient. She wanted him now, but Ilya had other plans.

He caught her wrists with one hand, pinning them above her head effortlessly. His other hand trailed down her side, teasing, barely touching. She writhed beneath him, frustrated, and he rewarded her with a slow, wet drag of his tongue along the length of her neck.

“Easy,” he murmured, his voice a deep rasp against her skin. “I want to enjoy you. Let me take care of you, Valentina.”

She let out a soft, breathless whimper, her body melting into the mattress. He smirked against her pulse, pressing a kiss there before grazing his teeth along the sensitive spot beneath her ear.

“Good girl,” he praised, his fingers ghosting over the thin fabric covering her thighs. “Now, let’s see just how well you listen.”

He kissed his way down her neck, alternating between slow, teasing licks and deep, sensual sucks, leaving a heated trail against her skin. His touch was unhurried, deliberate?savoring her, indulging in her, like he had all the time in the world.

Then, with one swift motion, his hand came down the center of her chest, fabric giving way under his strength. The blouse and bra tore apart in a single motion, the remnants slipping off her shoulders, forgotten. Valentina gasped, her back arching instinctively as the cool air kissed her bare skin?only to be replaced by the warmth of his mouth.

He tossed the shredded material aside and lowered his head, resuming his slow, wet assault, lips pressing reverent kisses along the swell of her breasts.

“You’re so beautiful,” he murmured, his voice thick, reverent. Then his mouth closed around her nipple, tongue swirling as he sucked deeply. Valentina bit her lip, brows knitting in pleasure as he lavished attention on her, the wet heat of his mouth sending jolts of electricity straight through her body.

With a slow pop, he released her, dark eyes flicking up to meet hers before moving to the other side, flicking with the tip of his tongue, teasing, tasting.

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