The Arrangement (17 page)

When his cock was buried balls deep, her nails clawed into his back, and glass crunched under his shoes. Finally, he felt like he was home. Viviana whined a sound that was so full but airless at the same time, her lashes fluttering along his neck.

“Love you,” Anton whispered. “You know I do.”

Their love was the only thing his lies didn’t own.

Viviana woke to warm lips trailing a burning path from the corner of her mouth across to her cheek. There were fingers between her thighs, teasing lines over the sensitive lips of her pussy, making her body feel alive and revving to go. The scent of stale whiskey and lingering cigarette smoke hung heavy in the air.

Ignoring the way her body wanted to respond to Anton’s touches was an impossible task. When her hips rolled into his hand almost involuntarily, and fingers slipped in between her folds to thrust up knuckle deep, her gasp couldn’t be contained. With skilled precision, he found her g-spot and curled his digits, making fluid gush between her legs at the touch. A thumb flicked up to press at her aching clit, rolling gentle circles over the nub and making her jerk into his body.

“Mmm, you’re so fucking wet and ready for me,” he hushed in her ear, burying his face into her neck. He suckled and kissed, teeth nipping with a faint sting determined to bring Viviana from her sleeping stupor. “Wake up just a little more for me, baby. Open those pretty eyes so I can watch them when you come.”

Unfortunately, the couch they’d fallen asleep on in his office wasn’t the most comfortable spot, considering something was digging into her back in the worst damned way. It made focusing on his motions and voice a little difficult.

“Stop.”

He froze immediately, withdrawing from her sex. “I just thought …”

Viviana’s eyes popped open at the barely hidden quake in his voice. More than once he’d woken her up in that very same way, heating her body to a fever, chuckling dark and deep when she shook and came so surprised and relieved. Their frustrations from the night before weren’t what urged her to stop him, but she could understand how he would misinterpret it in that way. She found his cheek pressed to hers, gaze trained downward, and those wet fingers of his were now grasping roughly to her thigh with a shake he couldn’t quite hide. Whatever he must have felt, it was a little more than disappointment at her refusal, and it probably tasted a lot like shame.

“No, that’s … I didn’t mean it like
that
.”

“You’d have every right to.”

Yeah, she probably would. If the night before was any indication of the kinds of arguments she could expect in the future, she hoped to hell she’d get a decent time lapse in between them. The physical tax it took was nothing compared to the emotional toll. In fact, while her scalp still stung from where he’d grabbed her hair, and every muscle in her body was screaming for a hot bath, none of that made a difference to the heavy weight on her heart.

“Look at me, please.” Those blue eyes of his lifted, but she sensed how hard it was for him to do it. The bloodshot gaze he leveled on her said he likely wasn’t feeling too well, either. “Do you even remember how much you drank or what you said? Did you mean it?”

He wet his lips, drawing her gaze to the bob of his Adam’s apple as he swallowed with an audible sound. “Mean what, because I said a lot of things.”

“Any of it. All of it. Give me something, Anton.”

The afghan blanket that covered them was twisted in his hands. He tugged it up around her shoulders a little tighter. Wrapping his naked legs with hers, it caused the hard length of his erection to press to her stomach, and made his morning desire known.

“A lot of my business is done under the influence of strong liquor with men who could drink me under the table. I try not to say things I don’t mean, even if I’m acting like a stupid fool. Otherwise, it could lead to nowhere good.”

“Try not to,” she echoed quietly.

“Yes,
try
. And most times I failed miserably, so I’ve taken to using one of Nicoli’s old tricks where my alcohol is watered down significantly without anyone else knowing. While others are stumbling drunk by the end of the evening, I still have my head clear when I need it most. It might break our code, but drinking too much often leads to guns being brought out when they don’t need to be, or fists flying. Makes for messy situations I only have to clean up later.”

Viviana wanted to smile at his admission, but the sadness in his eyes and tone rang clear. “But?”

“Mistakes happen,” he said. “Would you like to know why Nicoli began having his liquor watered down?”

“Shoot.”

“Exactly, shoot. Or, a
shooting
to be precise. One that took away his wife.”

Air caught painfully in her throat. “Oh.”

Anton hummed a miserable sound, frowning. “My grandmother used to enjoy being a part of whatever dealings she could that he would allow. Usually it was the loudness and Russian culture that kept her going with him. The atmosphere gets a little rowdy, especially with the older generation. He always said it reminded her of home.”

“You drinking out of anger isn’t okay. Especially if it’ll lead to another repeat of last night. You were hiding things and I let it go, but I expect an explanation Anton. Last night … that bothers me.”

It truly did. More often than she could remember, too much liquor led to issues in her own family. Everyone always felt things needed to be celebrated with some kind of alcohol, be it babies, dealings, or whatever. No one ever seemed to know their limits. Things were said that couldn’t be taken back. Grudges were held. Stupid, little things that led to bigger issues. Viviana didn’t want to handle that with Anton, too.

“I keep any social drinking at home, and only with people I most trust, like Ivan. Last night was brought on by something else entirely.”

“That’s not my point. And you didn’t explain yourself.”

“I know,” he replied, just as softly. “I understand what you’re saying. I’m telling you I hear you, Viviana. I need you to trust me when I say I will tell you. I’m not hiding it purposely, I just can’t right now.”

“I’m not okay with that, either.”

“I know, but it’s the best I can give.” Anton sighed before rubbing a hand over his face. “There’s also the issue of drugs, I suppose. They float in and out of my businesses more than water, but I haven’t touched a chemical in years, not since I was doing my rounds as a brigadier and in need of something to keep me awake and aware for Nicoli’s calls and nonsense. It didn’t matter, though, because every single time Nicoli noticed the high in my eyes, his disappointment was the first thing to be voiced.”

“Years?” Viviana asked, wanting his confirmation on that again.

“Like I said, chemical wise, no. Remember that night in Barbados with my smoke kissing your lips? You took my shotgun hits like a pro.”

Oh damn, just the way he voiced that old memory sent her lust in a tailspin. Viviana managed to nod; a little bit of weed was the last of her concerns. Something akin to memories and excitement skimmed over her skin like a dancing, rolling hum. That night was the first time she’d ever tried pot, but certainly not the last. Many of her firsts had been given to the man beside her.

“That’s a rare pleasure, and I keep it very private,” he said.

“I’m okay with that, on occasion.”

He grinned slyly and she felt her own form in response. “Good to know.”

“And thank you,” Viviana added, her voice above a whisper.

“
Fucking hell
. For what? After last ni—”

“For explaining yourself without making excuses. For telling me the truth about the rest. We could have just ignored what happened and went about it differently.” Without warning, Viviana found her body rolled over. Anton was behind her then, his steel hard cock sliding deliciously along the crack of her ass. “What—
oh
.”

Tender kisses started at the base of her spine while his hands rounded the globes of her backside. Eventually, his mouth moved upwards, hot breath touching down to her flesh as his tongue peeked out to lick and taste. Already, she wanted to beg; was so ready to plead for his cock and love; needed him to take her like only he could, despite the things hanging in the air like an anvil ready to fall.

“Yes, I remember exactly what I said to you last night, and I meant every word. I said I was sorry, and I am,” he murmured darkly against the blade of her shoulder. “I said I love you, and I do.” A broken sound tumbled from her parted lips as he brushed hair over her shoulder. “I was being a coward and did you wrong. Acted like a jerk when you couldn’t possibly understand because I wasn’t giving you a thing to go on. I’m not so much of an asshole that I can’t admit I have faults, Viviana. Some of them are sure to bleed onto you, whether I mean for them to or not.”

“Won’t you explain what brought it on?”

A kiss touched down to her cheek. “Eventually.”

That was enough for Viviana. It was more than enough. If Anton was anything, it was a man of his word.

With one hand gripping along the curved arm of the couch, her free hand found purchase on his bare thigh. Airless and wanting, she pleaded for his touch as his strong hand rolled over her back and shoulders. The most tender and fond words whispered in her ear. The tip of his cock rubbed along her slit, only entering her pulsing sex just enough to tease and stretch the sensitive tissues of the entrance.

When Anton’s hand hooked around her throat with the gentlest of grip, she felt his cock finally slip through the wet, swollen lips of her pussy and begin taking her like she so wanted him to. He took his time working her clamping muscles, thrusting in halfway before slowly withdrawing and plunging right back in to reach a bit deeper. Three sweet strokes and he fitted her to the hilt, the head of his dick hit her cervix in the best way—he had her filled so wholly, stretched her like no other.

Only him. It was only ever him that did that for her.

Viviana burned with pleasure, blood singing and nerves humming. Leaning over her back with an arm wrapped around her middle, he was close and covering, protecting and loving, but still not nearly close enough. Her arms trembled as she buried her face into the soft leather of the couch and cried his name when the slow moving rhythm of their hips began.

The sounds of his cock fucking her pussy filled the room, skin slapping, heavy pants turning fast and ragged. Anton pulled their bodies up, propped on their knees with her back tight to his chest. His hand still held tight to the base of her throat and sweat started to bead along her pebbled flesh. His hand around her middle moved up over her breasts, his calloused thumb rolling over her peaked nipples.

“Touch, Vine … My God, baby, touch and feel
us
.”

When she didn’t—because she couldn’t think to move—he was fast to force her hand downwards with his. Between her thighs spread so wide, their joined hands found her sensitive folds and his cock soaked with her arousal. The vein in his shaft pulsed at her touch, hips slammed a little harder, cock reaching her a little deeper.

There was unrestricted power in every thrust of his body. Viviana let her head fall to his broad shoulder, feeling his lips open and press to the side of her face with a shuddering exhale. It was too much and not nearly enough; her nerves turned into live wires that snapped with electricity ready to bite and sting and burn. Viviana was sure she was dying in the best way. His name in her mouth was a broken record on repeat. Every slow, measured stroke of his cock stretching and filling her pushed wanton, rolling cries from her lungs faster and higher.

“Goddamn,” he ground out as she felt her inner walls begin to clamp down. “Come on, give me all you got. Don’t hold that back from me.”

The orgasm had already sent her flying. A cattish cry ripped from her throat, leaving her feeling raw. Twisting against his hold, her body jerking from the force of pleasure and lust raging through her system, but Anton kept his hold on her throat tight. When his movements turned harder, more frantic and desperate, Viviana knew he was right there, too. The strangled groan he buried into the back of her neck was punctuated by his hips meeting her backside one hard, last time.

Tremors rocked, the ecstasy of bliss slowly washing away. Seconds ticked by, the cool air washing over her skin and making her shiver. Viviana needed a moment to breathe, and by the quick rise and fall of Anton’s chest, he clearly needed one, too. She could feel their mingling fluids dampening their fingers, but he didn’t make a move to release his hold or remove his softening cock from her body.

“Happy fucking birthday to me.”

• • •

Viviana rubbed Rocco’s belly, giggling a happy sound when his tail thumped a fast beat on the floor. Anton had been so preoccupied in his office that she had been left to her own devices for much of the morning and well into the afternoon. After a long, hot bath, warm breakfast, and a short walk to the park with her pup, she was finally becoming bored.

Some of her morning had been spent preparing part of her gift for Anton’s birthday. A gift that left her backside a little tender, but her body raging with anticipation. Given his distractions upstairs, she was grateful he had yet to notice her sudden aversion to sitting down. It was just one more first she wanted to give him, in her own way, and she was so damned thankful some of those things she ordered online came in packages that were purposely marked to hide the items within.

“You’re spoiling my dog.”

The deep voice came from the kitchen’s entrance. Viviana looked up at the sound, surprised to see Anton dressed in a sharp black suit that hugged his body handsomely. The top two buttons on the silk shirt had been left undone, exposing his throat and part of his chest. As he attempted to button the cuff of his jacket, Viviana laughed before deciding to help him with his plight. With the cuff done up properly, she patted his middle teasingly.

“I thought you said he was
my
dog so he could be whatever I wanted,” she mocked.

Anton raised a single brow. “You’re turning him into a puppy again. I already paid for his training once. He’s supposed to be an attack dog and now you’ve got him practically begging for snacks and tummy rubs,” he grumbled.