Page 23 of The Bratva's Captive

And I sure as hell wasn’t supposed to cave to the desire of a rugged, demanding man who showed that he cared about me in the slightest.

But as I hung my head and willed my heart to slow down, I allowed a small smile of triumph and greedy pleasure that I’d let it happen anyway.

Just this once.

It’s only one time.

No harm in living a little.

Right?

10

MAXIM

The next morning, I headed into my father’s office to handle business. I was rested, ready to face today’s problems. And I knew I had that gorgeous blonde to thank for helping me get my head clear like this. Sex was an excellent stress-reliever, but something about her tempted me to smile even this much later after I saw her go.

Women begged me to fuck them. And they were always appreciative of how good I made them feel. Something about that blonde last night put a whole new spin on the wordsthank you. She’d offered to show me her gratitude with a dance, but she blew my mind with how much more she’d wanted. How much more she could take.

“You look way too happy to be dealing with this bullshit,” Nik said as he entered our father’s office.

I blanked my expression, not wanting to explain that it was a memory of the beautiful stripper that had me smiling. No woman ever lingered. The morning after getting some, no lasting impressions remained. Sex was just sex. Every pussy was ultimately the same.

But nother.I had to stop thinking about how good she’d felt. It wasn’t like I’d revisit her. I hadn’t gotten her name, but before I left that club, I ordered my soldier to stay at the party and ensure that no one bothered her. It was the least I could do after she rode me so well.

“Who says I’m happy?” I replied to my younger brother as he dropped photos and papers onto Father’s desk. While Grigory was back, having returned from Miami in the middle of the morning, he was sleeping in a while yet, leaving business to us.

“You’re smiling,” Nik observed, watching me closely.

I shrugged and picked up my cup. “What can I say? The coffee is exceptionally strong today.”

He arched one brow and lifted his head slightly to toss his too-long hair back. “Whatever. What do you make of this?” He gestured at the documents he’d tossed onto the table.

I had been informed of the issues at one of the Ivanov-owned bars. Nik received word of the problems with a motorcycle gang causing trouble there late last night, but while the bodies had been removed after the brawl and the witnesses were questioned, I was sleeping off the pleasure from that blonde.

I bet she slept well too.With a graceful and athletic body like hers, she had to be used to the strenuous activity of dancing. And fucking like that. Without any conscious effort, I recalled how good she looked draped over me. How perfectly she’d rode me, her tits bouncing, her ass so plump and ripe for me to hold on to. Still, after we both came and she eased off my lap, I saw how shaky she’d been on her legs, as if the orgasm I gave her had rocked her world. When I took off the condom I’d hurriedlyslipped on before penetrating her, I smiled at her holding on to the wall to steady her steps.

“Maxim?” Nik peered at me closely. “What the fuck is wrong with you?”

I shook my head, annoyed now that the stripper was so stuck in my thoughts. “Nothing.”

“You’re not paying attention.” He sat and watched me pick up the papers. “What’s going on?”

“Nothing.”

“You said you were going to that Gemini event last night.”

I nodded, trying to focus on the pictures of the bloodbath that happened last night at our bar. “I did.”

“Did something happen there?”

“No.”Yes.I found the hottest stripper and enjoyed giving her a chance to fuck me hard. Now was the time to shove her out of my mind, though. Facing Nik, I cleared my throat and held up a photo that one of the soldiers had taken when they went to handle the cleanup. “Do you think it’s related to anyone we know?”

Nik shrugged, not seeming convinced that I was concentrating. “Hugo looked at those already, and he seems to think the brawl or that gang are connected to the Romanos or the Kozlovs.”

“I agree.” Tapping my finger on one of our men, I scowled. “But this fucker is a dead man walking.”

My brother didn’t argue that fact. He cracked his neck from side to side to get rid of the kinks. “Damon’s got him in the basement now.”

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