Series: Series by Ker Dukey
Total pages in book: 112
Estimated words: 107407 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 537(@200wpm)___ 430(@250wpm)___ 358(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 107407 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 537(@200wpm)___ 430(@250wpm)___ 358(@300wpm)
“Z?” I whisper, grasping his jaw and tugging him toward me until his forehead rests against mine. “It’s going to be okay. I promise.”
I’m praying with everything I am that I can keep that promise as I finish turning the key.
Releasing him, he nods, removing his hand from mine. “One Mississippi, two Mississippi…” he begins mumbling under his breath.
Pushing the front door fully open, I call out to Alyona, deliberately lowering my voice to avoid startling her and risking a boot or a blade in my face. Given that an assassin woman ended up dead in her bathroom, I’m not taking any chances. “It’s just us,” I say, my shoes tapping against her tiled floor.
Viktor stalks past us, clearly oblivious to Alyona’s training and ability to defend herself.
“Shit,” Viktor barks, rushing toward a slumped-over Alyona.
She’s propped up against Roza’s bedroom door, a phone in one hand and a kitchen knife in the other. Her blonde hair hangs haphazardly around her face, brushing the floor. Dropping to my knees beside Viktor, I can sense the panic in him as he gently lifts her chin. Just then, I notice her eyes snapping open wide with shock, and in one swift motion, she jolts awake and swings the knife out instinctively, the blade slicing cleanly through Viktor’s tie as he narrowly dodges the attack.
“Woah, woah, calm down! It’s me, Viktor,” he barks out, moving back to avoid another swing.
“Vi…ktoor?” she stutters, her voice trembling as recognition slowly creeps into her expression, mixing confusion with relief. “I don’t feel gooood.”
Blowing out a shaky breath, I reach for the knife, carefully pushing it out of her trembling fingers and out of reach. Scooping her into my arms, I whisper softly, “It’s okay, love. We’re here now. You’re safe.”
Her eyes well with tears as she looks up at me, her voice barely above a whisper. “No, you hate me, you hate me,” she insists, her words thick and slurred.
Yeah, well, I hate myself more for fucking loving you. Because loving you nearly killed me when you left.
“Whether I love you or hate you, it doesn’t matter. I’ll always come for you, liybimaya.” My love. It’s a promise wrapped around my soul.
“She’s on fire,” Viktor says, pressing the backs of his fingers to her forehead. “We need to get her cooled down. Now.”
“A bath,” I announce, jerking my head in the direction of Alyona’s room. She has a shower and a bathtub in her en-suite.
“Your brother didn’t come inside,” Viktor announces once we’re in her bathroom and he's filling the tub with cold water. I balance on the edge of the tub clutching Alyona in my arms.
“Go tell him she’s okay. Tell him I need him.”
He leaves and Zahkar appears in the doorway thirty seconds later. His eyes fall on Alyona, who is limp and pale in my arms.
“She just has a fever, Z. I need you to help me get her clothes off,” I explain, urgency creeping into my voice.
Without a word, Z nods. He approaches and begins to strip away her clothes carefully, placing each piece in a pile by the sink. Blue and black bruises spread across her fair skin like grim artwork. The cut on her stomach is raised, inflamed and swollen, with red, patchy skin encircling it.
“Shit, that looks infected,” I murmur.
Without hesitation, Zahkar removes his own clothes and doesn’t even wince when he steps into the cold water and sits down. He holds his arms out for me to transfer Alyona to him.
“No,” she cries out, gasping when her bare skin hits the cold water.
“It’s okay, I’ve got you,” Z finally speaks, his voice a soothing whisper as he gently tucks a loose strand of hair behind her ear. She burrows into his chest with a quiet sigh, seeking comfort in his warmth. She curls around him, drawing close like a flower leaning toward the sun, desperate for his light to mend her.
My eyes trace down their entwined form and my lungs constrict at the beauty of them together. We missed her so damn fucking much it’s painful. Despite myself, my dick thickens at the sight of their naked bodies. Flesh to flesh. Home in each other’s arms.
Leaning over the edge of the tub, I grasp a bright yellow sponge shaped like a duck and gently squeeze it, sending cool water cascading over Alyona’s shoulders and down her chest. The liquid glistens against her skin as I carefully pour it over her forehead and run it through her long strands of hair, creating a small waterfall of droplets that trickle onto Zahkar’s chest. We stay in this moment, our breaths mingling and filling the air with a soft rhythm, until we’re interrupted by Viktor knocking softly on the door.
“Doc is here,” he states without stepping inside.
Alyona manages to stand on her own while I dry her off, the cold bath having cooled her fever. She’s more beautiful now than she’s ever been. Her round, full tits with peaking rose nipples brush against my arm as I bend to soak up the drips running down her stomach. Her breath catches at the contact. Her pussy is glistening from the bath water, and it makes my mouth flood with saliva.