Page 21 of The Bratva's Plus-Size Bride

Each time I go out to see if Ella is free to work with me, they insist they’re in the middle of something that absolutely can not wait and send me back to my office. I’m sulking. Hours are ticking by, and I’ve barely gotten anything done. Determined to make something of the day, I put my head down and focus on Mrs. Kozlov’s proposed investments, and by the time I look up, the sun is setting, and my office lights are coming on to compensate.

It’s half past five, and for once, I don’t hear those two out there. My phone rings, vibrating loudly on my desk. It's the security line for the casino.

“Sorry to interrupt, but there’s trouble on the floor, Boss. Have a minute?” One of the security guards on duty asks, and he sounds nervous enough that I get right to my feet and head for the door.

“Be right there.” I hang up and shove my phone in my pocket, noting that neither Ella nor Anya is in the office as I pass by. Maybe they’ve already left for the day.

I take the elevator down to the main floor, a long ride from the top, and wonder what could be amiss. Disgruntled customers aren’t the worst of what’s happened in the casino. We’ve had shootouts, kidnappings, drug deals. A place like this invites a certain amount of illicit activity, so I’ve got one hand ready to draw when the elevator doors open.

A bald, burly security guard greets me. There’s no immediate scene of turmoil, but I’m not ready to relax when I know Ella could still be in the building. Nothing is going to happen to her. Ever.

“It’s just over here, Sir, but your assistant appears to be managing it. Luckily, she was on the floor when it broke out. She probably didn’t even need to call you down.”

“Always call me down,” I say, following him past the slot machines. “Especially if she’s involved. Why did you let her step in?”

I’m trying not to panic because seriously, who the fuck lets a young woman like Ella step in the middle of a potentially dangerous situation? The entire security team is about to get fired.

By the blackjack tables, I spot her standing between two groups of angry-looking men, appearing calm and comfortable. Not at all frightened. There are no guns or knives drawn, so at least my security is good for something. I slow down and keep out of sight. Now that it doesn’t seem like danger is imminent, I’m curious to see how she’ll handle a situation like this. If I’m ever going to bring her into the darker parts of my life, I need to know how she deals with a tense situation.

I’m poised and ready if shit goes south. Rival gangs, I realize, are taking note of the faces of the men she’s scolding. This was just a wrong place, wrong time situation.

“You can either take it outside, gentlemen,” Ella lectures, pinning each man in place with her glare, “and I do mean well outside. Off the property by at least half a mile. Or you’ll find yourselves banned from the premises. Your choice.”

There’s some grumbling, but it seems like neither group is looking to get thrown out of one of their favorite haunts.

“Lovely. Will you please escort these gentlemen outside, boys?” She waves to two security guards who were standing by and to my surprise, the men allow themselves to be escorted out.

Impressive. Ella is a force to be reckoned with, and I feel foolish for ever doubting her. She might be innocent and may not have the street smarts needed to succeed in the Bratva world, but she possesses an iron will. And damn, it was hot watching her dress down those gangsters.

I turn to the security guard beside me. “Follow them out. Take two more guys and just make sure they make good on getting entirely off the premises. I don’t need a shoot-out in the parking lot, making the news in the morning.”

That done, I approach Ella, touching her shoulder to let her know I’m there.

“Mr. Milov,” she says, turning. “I was hoping to handle that without them needing to call you.”

“You did,” I reply. “I wasn’t needed at all, they’re just instructed to call me for any security issue, no matter how small or well handled. I need to be aware of it all. We should discuss them in my office.”

I take her by the arm and lead her toward the elevator, heading for my office. What I don’t tell her is that I’m so turned on from seeing her in assertive mode that my cock feels like it’s about to burst. Somehow, I make it to my office before pouncing on her. The second the door closes, I walk her backward until her legs hit my desk and she’s got nowhere to go.

“You drive me crazy,” I say, setting my hands on either side of her so we’re face to face. “Did you know that? I can’t even watch you work without getting turned on.”

Her eyes flare and her mouth parts, all the invitation I need to lean in and kiss her. She tastes as sweet as she smells and the soft little sighs she makes when I’m kissing her have me ready to take her right then and there in my office.

I break the kiss and move my to her neck, nipping and kissing the sensitive skin at her nape, all the way down to her collarbone. “I want you.”

She puts her hands in my hair and throws her head back as I mouth her breast over her dress, my hand sliding up her thigh. All I need is for her to admit it. Admit how badly she wants me, too. The intense heat between her legs is all the proof I need that the feeling is mutual, but I vowed to wait until she asked for it.

What will it take to get her there? I’m losing my mind every second I’m not inside of her, but she’s holding back.Frustration mounts, keeping pace with my arousal, and I’m the one who pulls back.

“Out,” I say, pointing at the door. It’s harsh, but in that moment, I can’t cushion my words, can’t think of anything other than having her and with the vow I made, and that’s trouble. She has to leave before I do something I regret. “Out, now.”

Ella’s eyes widen in surprise, and she rushes past me, throwing one last glance over her shoulder at me and the longing on her face is the last straw. I lock it behind her and pull my cock out of my pants. It’s so hard it aches.

I never do this, jerk off thinking about a woman I can’t have. It’s pathetic, but that’s what she’s done to me, turned me into this mindless beast. I palm my cock, using the ample precum to lube it up and think of how it should have gone. I’d have flipped her around so that round ass was in my face and fucked her right up against my desk.

Five strokes in and I’m already about to blow. No woman has ever done this to me before, and it pisses me off that she’s got so much control over me. Pisses me off more that it’s my hand and not her tight pussy wrapped around my cock right now. She should be moaning my name with her head pressed to the desk, should be hanging on to the edge as I give her every inch.

Buried to the hilt in Ella is where I want to cum but instead, I spill it all over the shining wood desktop. The release brings me back to Earth, and with every slowing heartbeat, I marvel at how out of control I am when it comes to Ella. I grab tissues and wipe up the mess I made, feeling like a complete fool, especially when I realize I need a file from her to get any more work done. If I can’t get my head on straight, I’m never going to survive this.

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