Chapter 158

Elena:

I smiled when I woke up to find myself lying in Vladimir’s arms.

The man was shirtless while I was wearing a nightgown, and though he didn’t lay a finger on me, I was more than a little happy when he chose to have me leave that room and stay in his instead.

It’s been a week since Konstantin chose to give me to him, and in that week, I have never felt more safe. 

“Good morning,” he said, and I raised myself to find him smiling at me. He pulled me to him, connecting his lips with mine in a gentle kiss. And it wasn’t until I heard a low purr coming from his chest that I pulled away, raising an amused eyebrow at him. 

“You really need to tell me the way you are able to purr, because I doubt that any normal human can do so.” I said, and he sucked in a harsh breath. It was like this whenever I asked, but I could tell that it seemed to be an involuntary habit whenever he was happy. 

“How’d you sleep, malyshka?” He asked, dismissing the topic. 

“Good, it seems to me that I find myself more relaxed knowing that you are by my side. Your embrace really does help me relax.” I said, choosing to be honest with him. He smiled in response, and I sat up, rubbing the sleep from my eyes. “But you’re leaving today.”

“Elena…”

“What if he hurts me while you’re gone?” I asked, voicing out my concern. “If he knew about the two of us and yet didn’t speak nor did he address the topic…”

“Where I am going, he is going to want me to come back. He won’t have you being hurt when I do, malyshka.” Vladimir said, assuring me. His eyes studied my expression, and I took a deep breath.

“May I ask where you’re going? I never got the chance to ask before, but…”

“I am going home,” he said, making my heart drop. I shook my head in question, and he wrapped his arms around my waist, stopping me from moving. “I have a few things to tend to there, and Konstantin has arranged a meeting with my old Pakhan. I am going to be representing him for a few deals…”

“Vladimir, you’re not coming back…?”

“I will die before I leave you in this hell hole, Elena.” He said, stopping me as he pulled me to straddle his lap, forcing me to look him in the eye, wanting me to have my focus on him and him alone. “I will only be away for a week. I am going to tend to things there and when I am back, I am going to be here by your side. But I am going to need you to wait for me.” 

He ran his finger over my waistline gently, despite it being covered with the thin fabric of my dress, and I couldn’t help but take a deep breath as I found myself not only getting lost in my thoughts, but also afraid of what is to come. His eyes met mine and he nudged my nose with his. “We are going to leave this place, together, very soon, malyshka. But you are going to have to trust me.”

“I trust no one in this world but you, Vladimir.” I said, and he smiled. He connected his lips with mine before I could say a word, and though I couldn’t help the heavy feeling that settled in my chest, I knew to trust that he would be back for me. But him leaving wasn’t the thing that I was afraid of. It was Konstantin and what he would be doing when he leaves.

He squeezed my waist gently, grinding against me as he did, keeping his lips pressed with mine. I let out a low moan, and he groaned as I felt his cock growing inside the fabric of his boxers and sweatpants. My nightgown being as light as it was didn’t help with the feeling, and though I would have normally resented any other man’s touch, my body had me leaning to his. Heat traveled through my body, and this time, I wasn’t under a drug, I didn’t need to be. 

Vladimir cupped my cheeks, his touch a little more aggressive, needy, and possessive, but I could tell that he was making sure that he didn’t hurt me. 

“Fuck,” he hissed, forcing himself to pull away and let my cheeks go. He rested his forehead against my own, stopping his movements all together as he did before opening his eyes to look at me. “I am going to keep getting more and more carried away if this proceeds.”

I smiled and shook my head as a blush formed on my cheeks. I looked down at his chest, and Vladimir cupped my cheeks again, my skin hot against his hands, and he smiled at me. “You are one beautiful woman, have I ever told you that?” 

I blushed at his words, and he smiled, running his finger over my waist. My heart raced against my chest and him lowering his hand to my hips didn’t make things any better. His eyes darkened, and for a second, I could swear that they even changed in color. 

“I am going to need you to wait for me.” He said, snapping me out of my momentary happiness as he reminded me that he was leaving. “There would be a lot for me to explain when I am back, but I am going to need you to be willing to listen to what I have to tell you.”

“You know that I always will be,” I said, and he smiled. “Regardless of what you intend to tell me, you know that I am going to want to listen to you.” 

“I know, baby,” he said, making my eyes widen at the new nickname. He smiled at my reaction before leaning in to kiss me. “How about I go and shower? You can shower when I leave and I will have the maids prepare a nice breakfast for us? I’ll start getting ready after that, yeah…?”