Page 104 of The Tsar's Obsession
The somber occasion of Yuri’s funeral and then the visit to Kirill’s hometown were painful, depressing, and heartbreaking. But it was a journey—ourjourney together. We were linked forever.
In Russia, his men almost bowed to him, a level of respect that I didn’t know existed within the lifestyle he lived. Everyone called him by his first and patronymic name, which he confessed he hated but had no choice.
Once in Moscow, my future husband took me to see what he called ‘one of our homes’. This wasn’t exactly a home, more of a monstrosity of an estate outside the capital. It resembled a castle and stood among tall pine trees, close to a beautiful forest and a pristine lake only a hundred meters away. The grounds were exceptionally well taken care of, with small houses throughout the large outdoor area and staff ready to fulfill his every wish. All encompassed by a tall fence meant to keep others out, which I noticed was a staple here.
“Why do you have such a large home here?" I mused as he gave me a tour of the mansion, and I wondered why he kept and maintained something so gigantic for only himself.
Kirill shrugged and smirked. "Because I can, I guess. Tomorrow, I'll invite some friends over, and we can go to the sauna, and then after, let's go to Moscow for a few days?" He waited for my answer, wanting to make sure that I was okay with his plan.
The juxtaposition in his behavior was jarring; he was a chameleon. His men latched onto his every authoritative word and glance. Yet with me, Kirill morphed into a soft-spoken, caring, and loving man, ready to fulfill my every wish.
And so, the next day, cotton candy clouds floated over my head as I slowly swayed in a hammock, my backside aching slightly with every swing. Smoke of firewood permeated the clean air, and I wondered if my mom saw the same beauty in this country that I saw. Russian nature felt majestic and unique, and I understood how much Kirill could miss a place like this. But he never lingered on the bittersweet; he just powered through every day.
The sauna night kicked off with a bang when a group of men showed up with their wives in tow. Like a prized possession, Kirill introduced me to every single person, their smiles and names all blurring into one.
“Oh my gosh, let me see!” A beautiful woman with long, flowing brown hair zeroed in on my engagement ring when I and a few ladies lounged around with wine and hors d’oeuvres instead of going to the sauna. “Katya, I said to you, many years ago, you should have gone after Kirill.” She turned to someone else and scolded with sarcasm. “Look at that ring! Have to ask my husband for an upgrade now.” The woman shook her head in fake disappointment and laughed.
The trend was undeniable: stunning body, long flowing hair, flawless skin—each woman was like a model. A few had their lips done—a little too much. Nonetheless, I had a fun time with everyone and practiced my language skills while I found out about the lives of Russian crime boss wives.
“Hello. My name is Danila. You’re Mia, yes?” A young man with a kind smile approached me somewhere in between sauna sessions that I wasn’t participating in. Strangely, he looked a littlelike a younger version of Kirill. His dark blonde hair had the same curl, and his ocean blue eyes sparkled in the afternoon sun.
“Hi Danila, nice to meet you.” The young man took his seat beside me with confidence, never abandoning his smile. We both sat in silence for a few seconds as we looked on at the well-landscaped backyard. Kirill spoke with a friend in front of a fire pit, his naked, tattooed chest never ceasing to turn me on.
“So, you’re the one he switched continents for, huh?” Danila spoke with assurance, and I had to take a second to understand what he asked. I wasn’t sure what to respond. Kirill’s move was made without any input of mine, and I didn’t know anything about him when it happened. I stayed silent, but this stranger continued as if we’d spoken many times before. “He looks cute, you know? The way he’s wrapped around your little finger.”
Danila’s playful tone sparked something inside me. Kirillwaswrapped around my finger, wasn’t he? That particular thought hadn’t crossed my mind before, but it was precisely these words that fanned the flames of lust inside me. Yes. He was. Kirill was mine, andIruled him.
With that, my young companion threw a wink my way and abandoned me with my own thoughts.
The festivities lasted into the late night, and after many toasts and songs, the last couple cleared out sometime past midnight when I was about to be railed into oblivion by my future husband, the man who belonged to me.
The missing piece of flesh on my butt cheek was still feeling raw, but I was looking forward to feeling the pleasure with the pain.
"Come on, let's close up the sauna, and I'll show you what you missed." Kirill hugged me from behind and walked me into the wooden sauna house, his scent alone sending wild goosebumps around my body.
Our footsteps were muted as we wandered through the rooms decorated in wood that smelled of fresh birch branches and cedar. Sweat began to collect at my hairline, and I watched the samebeads of salty liquid grace the back of his neck and naked spine. I had been deprived of his body, his touch, and the feeling of his skin on mine for so long that I was ready to literally beg.
But as if unaffected by the same affliction as me, Kirill wandered through the small, hot rooms and stepped into the sauna itself, droning on about how it all functioned and facts I already knew. That’s not why I agreed to come inside. Working quickly, I pulled the door shut and trapped us in the lingering heat. The smile on his face told me he already knew what I was about to say.
"If you don't fuck me right here, right now, I’m not going to marry you." My lips were so close to his, but he didn’t come closer, teasing me with that devastatingly beautiful smile.
"Oh God, that’s the most serious threat anyone has ever thrown my way.” His deep voice was like black velvet blanketing my entire body. “You dare intimidate the Tsar?” His naked chest was against mine now, and I struggled to keep my eyes open and my thoughts straight.
“I’m the only one who dares,” I responded with a giggle, but there was no denying how much I loved that. I wielded immense power over him—the most powerful man. I was unrestrained.
Flush against his chest, his strong hands began their slow and sensual trip up my back. God, help me, he melted all of me, always. My man’s lips moved into the crook of my neck, and that action alone made me feel high.
“It seems that I have way more discipline than you, Sunshine.” The light embrace we shared was the only thing that existed in the universe. Just us, trapped together in the heat of the sauna, our whole lives ahead of us.
"Perhaps," I admitted. "But I had a piece of my flesh taken out because of your bad life choices, and here I am, in your arms..." A quiet moan escaped me as I was losing the ability to stand on my own two feet. "The least you can do is indulge me. Plus, who said I have even forgiven you for everything yet?” He tasted sweet, familiar,mine. “You have to earn it..." I purred in hisear while his hands made their way inside my shirt, the touch of his skin on mine hotter than the blazing coals in this room today.
"Mmm...Sunshine, I’ll do whatever you want to earn your forgiveness...but I'm too scared to hurt you...you’re limping when you walk." He turned serious and pulled back. It was going to hurt tomorrow anyway, whether we did anything or not.
“Gently,” I encouraged him. “It's healing, and I'm certain that it will withstand your long-awaited touches. Come on...you know a good husband listens to his wife."
The last sentence sent a whole new tsunami of need through me, my own words turning me on. It hadn’t fully settled in yet, but calling us husband and wife had a noticeable effect on us both. Without waiting a second longer, Kirill finally smashed his lips with mine, his tongue inside my mouth, my body all his for the taking.
Between the needy kiss and suffocating hug, my flimsy t-shirt and bra flew off within a second. I caught a glimpse of his hungry look, ready to tear me apart, just the way I wanted.
