Chapter 69 069

Chapter 69 069
Mikhail

I should have known Irina wouldn't let it go. We had been on three dates now.

They were three awkward, stilted attempts at building some kind of connection before the ceremony, and each time she tried to escalate things physically, I made excuses and claimed I wanted to wait.

I claimed that tradition mattered to me. She hadn't believed me then either.

When she asked to speak privately after dinner, cornering me in one of the sitting rooms, I knew what was coming. I just didn't know how aggressive she would be about it.

The door closed and she rounded on me immediately.

"We need to talk about what's wrong with you."

"Excuse me?"

"Don't play innocent, Mikhail," She crossed her arms.

"I've tried to move things forward with you three times. Three times you've made excuses or pulled away. Last time I kissed you, you barely responded. When I touched you—" Her eyes flashed. "You didn't even get hard."

My jaw tightened. "I told you, I prefer to wait."

"Bullshit," She moved closer. "I've been around enough alphas to know when a man wants me, and you don't, so either something is medically wrong with you, or you're lying about wanting this mating."

"Irina." I sighed, feeling a mild headache slowly creep onto my skull.

"Show me I'm wrong," She started unlacing her dress. "Right now. Prove to me that you're capable of wanting me."

"What are you doing?" I asked, my eyes growing wide.

"What I should have done on our first date," The dress loosened and slipped off her shoulders. "I'm not going into a mating blind, Mikhail. I need to know my mate actually functions."

The dress fell to the floor and she stood there naked, her body on full display. She was beautiful, objectively. Curved in all the right places, skin flawless, breasts high and full.

She knew the effect she should be having, but all I felt was revulsion.

"Well?" She ran her hands over her breasts, down her stomach. "Does this do anything for you? Or are you going to stand there looking like you want to be anywhere else?"

I couldn't speak or force my body to respond.

Her hand slipped between her thighs. "Maybe you need more incentive," She touched herself, her fingers circling her clit, and let out a deliberate moan. "I'm wet for you, Mikhail. I’m ready. All you have to do is come here and take what's yours."

My stomach turned instantly.

She pushed two fingers inside herself, gasping. "Don't you want to feel how tight I am? How good I'll be wrapped around your cock?"

Her other hand squeezed her breast. "I'll do anything you want. Any position. Any time. I'll be such a good mate for you. Just show me you can actually fuck me."

"Stop." The word came out harsh.

Her hands stilled. "What?"

"Put your dress back on."

She stared at me, naked, exposed and furious. "Are you fucking kidding me?"

"I'm not doing this."

"You can't!" She grabbed her dress but didn't put it on, just clutched it against herself.

"That's the problem, isn't it? You literally can't. I'm standing here naked, touching myself, begging you to fuck me, and you're not even hard!"

"This isn't appropriate." I let out a shaky sigh, running my fingers through my hair.

"What's not appropriate is my potential mate being unable to perform!" Her voice rose. "Do you have any idea what this means for me? For my pack? We're supposed to produce heirs, Mikhail. How the fuck are we supposed to do that if you can't even get it up?"

"There's nothing wrong with me."

"Then prove it!" She threw the dress aside and stormed toward me, pressing her naked body against mine. "Touch me. Kiss me. Show me you're capable of being a real mate."

I grabbed her wrists and pushed her back, not roughly but firmly. "No."

For a moment she just stared at me, shock and fury warring on her face, then her eyes narrowed dangerously.

"There's someone else."

My blood ran cold. "What?"

"That's the only explanation," She yanked her dress on with sharp, angry movements. "You're fucking someone else, that's why you can't perform with me. Your cock is already claimed."

"That's ridiculous."

"Is it?" She laced her dress viciously. "I've seen the way you disappear some evenings. How distracted you've been. I thought maybe you were just nervous about the mating, but now..."

She laughed bitterly. "You're fucking someone. Some woman you're trying to hide."

"That’s not tr—"

"Don't," She held up a hand. "Don't insult me by denying it. I can see it on your face," She moved to the door, then looked back.

"I'm going to find out who she is, and when I do, this whole arrangement is done. My father will be furious, your brother will be humiliated, and you'll lose everything."

The door slammed loudly behind her after she left.

Fuck. Fuck.

I stood there for a moment, my heart racing. This was bad. If she started digging, asking questions and watching me, it would be catastrophic, but first of all, I needed Natasha.

I needed to wash away the wrongness of what just happened.

I made my way through the darkened hallways, checking to make sure no one saw me before slipping into her room.

She was in the small bathroom, steam curling around her from the basin of hot water. She looked up when I entered, startled.

"Mikhail?"

I pulled her against me, needing to feel her and needing to erase the memory of Irina's hands on my chest, her naked body pressed against me.

"What happened?" Natasha asked, concern in her eyes.

"Irina," The word came out rough. "She stripped naked. Touched herself. Begged me to fuck her. She said I needed to prove I could perform."

Natasha's eyes widened. "Because of before—"

"Because I can't get hard for her. I could never get hard for her," I cupped her face. "She knows something's wrong. She's suspicious. She thinks I'm fucking someone else."

"Is she going to tell Dimitri?"

"Not yet. First she wants to find out who," I kissed her desperately. "But fuck, Natasha, standing there watching her touch herself, all I could think about was you. How wrong it felt. How much I didn't want her."

Something possessive and fierce flashed in her eyes. "Good."

I kissed her harder, pouring everything into it. She made a soft sound and her hands fisted in my shirt.

"I need you," I growled. "I need to feel you. I need to remember who I actually want."

"Yes."

I lifted her onto the edge of the small counter, my hands working at her dress. She helped me and then she was bare, water droplets still clinging to her skin.

She was so fucking perfect.

I dropped to my knees and pressed my face against her stomach, breathing her in. "You're so beautiful," I murmured. "So fucking perfect."

My hands slid up her thighs, spreading them, and I kissed my way up to her breasts. They were soft and full, her nipples already hardening as I traced my tongue around one peak.

She gasped, fingers threading through my hair.

I took my time, worshipping her. Sucking her nipple between my lips, flicking my tongue over it until she squirmed, then switching to the other breast, giving it the same devoted attention while my hands kneaded the soft flesh.

"Mikhail." She whimpered.

I massaged her breasts, feeling their weight in my palms, thumbs brushing over her nipples in slow circles. She arched into my touch, breathing ragged.

"I love your body," I murmured between kisses. "I love how you respond to me. I love these perfect tits."

One hand slid down between her thighs. She was already wet, slick and ready. I stroked through her folds, teasing before slowly pushing one finger inside.

She clenched around me, gasping.

"That's it," I breathed, working my finger slowly. "That’s it baby.."

I added a second finger, stretching her, my thumb finding her clit and circling it in time with my thrusts. My mouth returned to her breast, sucking hard while I fucked her with my fingers.

"Please," she moaned, hips rocking. "Mikhail, I need you."

"I know."

I withdrew my fingers and freed my cock from my trousers. I was achingly hard. I had been from the moment I touched her, because this was right. This was who I wanted.

I positioned myself at her entrance, the head of my cock pressing against her slick heat. "Look at me."

Her eyes met mine and they were dark with desire.

I thrust into her in one smooth stroke and we both groaned. She was tight and hot, her body welcoming me.

"Fuck," I breathed. "You feel so good."

I started to move. Deep, claiming strokes that had her crying out with each thrust. Her legs wrapped around my waist, pulling me deeper, and I gripped her hips hard enough to bruise.

"Mine," I growled. "You're mine."

"Yours," She gasped. "Always yours."

I changed the angle and she nearly screamed, nails digging into my shoulders. I could feel her tightening around me, getting close, and I reached between us to stroke her clit.

"Come for me," I demanded. "Want to feel you come on my cock."

She shattered, her whole body convulsing, and I fucked her through it, prolonging her pleasure until I couldn't hold back anymore.

My release hit hard, pleasure searing through me as I emptied myself deep inside her. I buried my face in her neck, breathing hard, holding her close.

"I love you," I murmured. "Only you. Always you."

"I love you too." She whispered.

When I finally pulled out, my seed was dripping down her thighs. The sight sent primal satisfaction through me.