Page 145 of Bratva Jewels Box Set
Turning my head to the side, I say, “Not going to say no to having your thighs wrapped around me.”
A hard hand slaps my back as she begins to rub the oil into my skin, which makes me chuckle. Wow, her fingers are amazing as they begin to dig into the tension clinging to my muscles.
“I used to work in a day spa when I was studying.”
That explains why her fingers are magic. The more she works the heavier my lids feel, and the next thing I know, I’m falling asleep.
I stand looking out at the swirling ocean as a storm rolls in. The waves are crashing against the beach and yet I walk toward them.
“Elena!” I call to the sea. “Where are you?” I hope someone will reply, but no one does, no one ever does. “Let me save you!” I scream into the wind, but my words are carried away and dissolve into the nothingness.
I step further into the waves. I need to find her, she must be here. I scream her name over and over. I’m soaked, the cold Atlantic water chilling my bones, but I don’t care, I have to find her. She has to be here, she can’t just disappear like that.
“Elena!” I scream out into the ocean as a wave hits me, filling my mouth with salty water before knocking me over. I’m pushed deep under the water, swirling around the darkness unable to find my footing. When I eventually come up for air, I’m hit by another wave and its power knocks the wind from my chest. Another wave hits me, and the next thing I know I’m floating out to sea in the turbulent water. The angry waves pull me far away from the shoreline and further into the darkness.
Then my feet find the sandy floor, and I’m able to stand up.
“Elena!” I scream one last time. It is all I have left in me.
Then I hear her voice.
“Maxim!” She sounds like an angel calling me from beneath the water.
“Elena, I’m coming.”
“Maxim!”
I’m so close.
I follow her voice further into the ocean. She has to be here, but I can’t see anything. I swear she was there. I feel her around me, she’s close.
I do one last sweep of the inky black ocean, and then I see her.
“No. No. Not my Elena,” I scream as a disfigured, bloated corpse floats by. Her eyes are open staring back at me with those forest-green eyes. Her skin is white, pale, her lips are blue. There are marks on her wrists and ankles as if she’s been locked up and the metal has rubbed against the skin.
She is dead.
“No!” I scream.
10
GRACE
Maxim is snoring away underneath my fingers. I’m proud of myself for being able to relax a man like Maxim in under five minutes. I do feel bad that he’s been suffering every night with our sleeping positions. Tonight, maybe I can be the big spoon and give his neck a rest.
Suddenly, Maxim starts twitching violently underneath me. The once-relaxed muscles are now contorting with each jerky movement.
“Elena!” Maxim mumbles.
Who the hell is Elena? Is she his ex? Why is he thinking of her when I’m the one touching him?
“No.” He sobs as he thrashes wildly about, bucking me off him.
I land beside the lounge on the pavers with a thud.Ouch.Standing up, I shake myself off and try to wake him from a nightmare he is clearly having.
“Maxim, it’s just a dream,” I whisper not wanting to startle him.
“No,” he cries out again. It’s heartbreaking hearing him sound so distressed. Whoever this Elena is, something terriblehappened to her. Did he kill her? Was she one of his victims and he is now plagued with guilt over killing her? He said he doesn’t hurt women, but was she the first and only time he had?
