Where the Snow Falls (Seasons of Betrayal Book 2) (14 page)

In other words, she took nothing he gave at simply
face value
.

From what she just gathered, Amelia was … interesting to him.

Well, then.

Violet turned back to Amelia. “Whatever happens, happens.”

It wasn't that simple.

She was a little worried.

Terrified was more like it.

Angry that she had yet to even get a fucking call from Kaz since he’d been gone … but still, she was concerned.

“Your father will kill him,” Amelia said quietly, that fire in her eyes dimming just a bit.

Violet never dropped her old friend’s stare when she replied, “He has to catch him first.”

For as much bravado as was in Violet’s tone, she didn’t feel it quite the same way in her heart. No, in there, a heavy weight rested like a poisoned ball ready to explode.

Because Amelia was right.

Alberto Gallucci seemed like a simple, laid-back man from afar.

He was anything but.

He did not make idle threats.

“Was it really worth it?” Amelia asked. “All of this—the mess it made—was he worth it?”

For that, Violet didn’t hesitate. “Yes.”

Konstantin pushed off the arm of the chair, standing straight and offering the jar of pickles he held to Amelia once more. “Pickle?”

Huffing like she was just goddamned tired of his games, Amelia snatched the jar from Konstantin’s outstretched hand and pulled a pickle from it. “There, now shut up.”

Konstantin only smirked in response and took the jar back without a word.

But he did turn to Violet.

“Oh, I forgot,” he said.

Violet looked up at him. “Forgot what?”

“You have a plane to catch tonight. You should probably pack your bags.”

“Oh, but Daddy has missed you,” Kaz whispered to himself as the garage door slowly rolled up, revealing his Porsche on the other side.

Just a couple of days before, he’d had the car shipped back from Chicago. How long had it been since he felt that kind of power beneath his hands? It was supposed to be just a car, just a material possession that he enjoyed occasionally, but it was just another reminder of what Vasily had attempted to take away from him.

Behind the wheel, he took his time starting the engine, wanting to savor the sounds of gears shifting and bringing the beast to life.

He was home.

Backing out of the garage, Kaz headed toward the same airstrip he had driven to when they were leaving the city. It only seemed fitting that the same brought them back again.

Since his return, Vasily still hadn’t surfaced, and if he knew what was good for him, he would remain out of sight. There hadn’t been an urgency to finding Kaz when he disappeared to Chicago, but now, every single man of the
Bratva
was scouring for any trace of the old
Pakhan
.

For all intents and purposes, Kaz was now head of the family, and because of it, head of the organization as well.

But he knew his leadership was conditional, only sealed once he brought them both the heads of Vasily and Alberto. He didn’t mind the first—he would gladly kill the man—and not just because of his part in Gavrill’s death, but also for all the shit he caused for Violet.

The latter did not worry him. Not that he couldn’t see that the man answered for what he did, but he couldn’t be sure what Violet’s reaction to that would be. Kaz had a great hatred for his father, and it took an emotion like that to do what Kaz planned.

Violet might have been upset with Alberto, but that didn’t mean she hated him.

There was no guarantee Violet would condone what he was doing … It may even prove unforgivable in her eyes.

Only time would tell.

By the time he reached the airstrip, he could just see the blur of the jet in the distance. Feeling that familiar kick in his chest at the thought of seeing Violet, he was a little more anxious than he should have been considering it had only been a few days since he was last with her. They had spent months apart, contenting themselves with phone calls in the middle of the night, so mere days shouldn’t have meant anything.

But he couldn’t deny that he missed being with her, seeing her at his side.

It was about time he brought her home, but it wasn’t just because he missed her that he was finally bringing her back—there was more to it than that.

And this, just like the Alberto thing, was non-negotiable for him.

And just like with that, he had no idea how she would react.

Another ten minutes had passed before the jet was rolling to a stop, the door to it opening moments later.

Seconds,
too
many fucking seconds, passed before he finally caught sight of her. Green eyes alight with happiness as she hurried down the short flight of stairs. He only had enough time to brace himself before she barreled into him, arms squeezing around his neck, her legs wrapping around his waist.

Kaz caught her with a chuckle, returning her embrace. “I missed you too,
krasivaya
.”

She didn’t respond, but he could feel it in the way she clung to him that she was glad to be back. Nothing felt quite as good as having her exactly where she was.

“Let’s go home.”

The journey back to his apartment was a short but comfortable one. It amazed him how quickly she affected his mood—how it only took seconds before he was feeling lighter somehow. She was exactly what he needed.

It spoke of her trust in him that she didn’t look nearly as bothered as they made it into the heart of Brighton Beach toward his old apartment building—not that it would be his for very much longer. But until he got the particulars worked out, it would do.

Upstairs in his apartment, he dropped his keys on the counter, shedding his jacket next. Now that he had taken control of the
Bratva
, he was busier than usual, constantly keeping in touch with more than a dozen men. It was tiring work, and he had barely been able to get away tonight to grab her from her flight.

But he made the time—one of the benefits of being the boss, he realized.

She had barely dropped her bags, turning to face him with words on the tip of her tongue before he was crossing the floor.

Cradling her face in his hands, he tilted her head up to meet his gaze. “Whatever it is, we can talk about it after,” he said a moment before he kissed her, thrilling in the way she gave in almost immediately.

A moment later, she drew back just far enough to ask, “After what?”

After he showed her just how much he missed her.

“Didn’t I promise you once a day?” Kaz asked.

Violet’s lips curved into a knowing smile. “I think it was twice, actually. And you’re behind a few days.”

Kaz watched her unflinchingly when he replied, “Oh, I think I can make up for that missed time. No worries.”

God, why did that sound so bad?

But good, too …

“Speaking of days,” she said quietly.

Kaz’s brow rose high. “What did I say, hmm? Whatever it is, we’ll talk about it after.”

His strong hands traveled down the column of her throat with the softest touch, but still just as sinful and promising as ever. Then the pads of his thumbs dragged a little firmer against her skin, silently assuring without even having to say a word that what she liked—what she always wanted from him—was close behind the softness.

Violet sighed against Kaz’s lips when he pressed another kiss to her mouth. “You always know just the right thing to do, Kaz.”

“Did you expect anything different?”

“No,” she admitted in a whisper.

How could she?

He was her one perfect person made just for her.

No … of course, she didn’t expect anything different from him.

Kaz leaned forward again, his lips grazing over hers, and then a buzzing started, freezing him solid.

“Ignore that,” he muttered, kissing her hard and pushing against her until her back hit the door. Violet gasped into the ferocity of the kiss, feeling his teeth scrape along the seam of her lips until she gave in and his tongue struck against hers. The buzzing of his phone eventually stopped, but only after his hands had found their way up the skirt of her dress and fisted into her panties.

Kaz was just attempting to pull the panties down her thighs—rough enough to sting—when the buzzing started again.

“Fuck,” he swore severely, pulling away and reaching for the device in his pocket.

Before Violet could even think to move, Kaz was back on her, gray eyes boring into hers, lips curved into a wicked smirk, and then his mouth was at her ear.

“I’m going to have to take this, but while I do …”

Violet’s hand grabbed his leather belt, wanting to keep him close. A shudder worked its way over her skin when he continued with, “While I do, you get your ass to my bed and be naked by the time I get in there, yes?”

She couldn’t even fucking speak.

The phone buzzed again.

“Violet,
yes
?”

Something was dark in his tone—his words had an edge she hadn’t quite heard him use before. And maybe that worried her a little because she wanted to know what caused it and why.

But maybe the sound of it turned her on a hell of a lot, too.

“Yes,” she said.

“Go.”

Violet didn’t wait around to be told again; she simply pushed off the door the second Kaz lifted the phone to his ear with a snarled, “What the fuck do you want?”

She felt just the faintest graze of his fingertips slide along the curve of her backside over her dress as she bolted for the back hallway that would lead to the bedroom.

On her way, Violet began shedding the few bits of clothing she had on, leaving them to lay wherever they fell from her hands. If nothing else, Kaz would have a trail to follow, not that he’d need one to find her.

She probably should have asked about things the first moment she could. Like why she was back in New York. Her father. His father.

Everything
.

Right then, with the sensation of his gaze still lingering on her body as she stepped into the shadows of the hallway, she really didn’t give a single fuck.

He’d said the bed, but Violet went to the windows first, a goddamn nagging sensation working its way into her chest as she grabbed the slightly opened curtains and yanked them closed.

There would be no more pictures.

Not again.

Behind her, somewhere in the apartment, she could hear Kaz’s murmurings. Sharp, heated Russian words. He spoke far too fast for her to pull even a single word out of his conversation that she might understand.

Not even a name jumped out …

Despite having taken off all of her clothes except her matching lace underwear set and the suede heeled boots—Kaz
had
asked for naked, after all—Violet moved to the edge of the bed, sitting down to toe the heeled boots off and kick them aside.

She hadn’t even straightened back up completely before Kaz was darkening the doorway.

And damn, was he a sight.

In just a few short minutes, he looked like he’d walked a fucking mile to find what he wanted instead of the short distance of a room and a hallway to get to his bedroom. His tie was hanging loosely from his hand before it dropped to the floor and he took a step farther into the room. He’d unbuttoned his dress shirt. Although, guessing by the crumpled look of the silk, he’d actually just yanked it open instead of fussing over the buttons.

And his belt was undone, his dress pants unbuttoned and unzipped, showcasing that hard V of his groin.

Violet knew right then … there would be no softness between them that night, not like there usually was mixed in with the roughness of their fucking.

It was just that hard glint in his gaze as he looked her over, sliding that silk shirt off his shoulders and down his arms as he walked closer, that told her everything she needed to know.

He missed her.

Wanted her.

Something was wrong, likely.

He wouldn’t want to talk about it.

She really didn’t mind.

“I thought I said naked,” Kaz said, coming to stand in front of her at the edge of the bed.

Violet chewed on her bottom lip, staring up at him. “I’m working on it.”

“Not fast enough. I thought we went over this once—what I ask, you do.”

“No, when you ask, I answer.”

Kaz’s grin grew a little more sinful in the dimness of the bedroom. “Actually, you’re right. But we can work on the other thing, too, no?”

His hand came up, palm cradling the side of her face, and his thumb stroking over the seam of her lips. The second time the pad of his thumb swept across her mouth, he stopped in the middle, pressing down a little to part her lips without even speaking.

Violet complied, opening her mouth just enough to take his digit in and suck, tasting the heat of his skin dragging along her tongue.

She enjoyed nothing more than taking Kaz in her mouth when he demanded it of her. There was never a question, just his sharp words and a husky groan of her name that followed right behind as soon as her lips tightened around his cock.

That was what she wanted then.

That sight.

His sounds.

The taste of him in her mouth before and while he was fucking her.

It was almost primal, and she loved it.

She hadn’t even said a thing, but the way her gaze flicked down to his unzipped fly must have been enough because Kaz shoved his pants and boxer-briefs down just enough to free his already hard cock in his palm. He stroked himself with a tight fist, bruised knuckles turning nearly white.

That low groan—husky and thick—she wanted to hear was right on the tip of his tongue. Muscles tight and teeth clenched, he watched her from above.

Violet’s stare wavered between Kaz’s face and his hand around his cock.

He lifted a brow at her, almost mockingly.

He knew exactly what she wanted, and he wasn’t going to give it to her.

What I ask, you do
.

“Kaz—”

“No,” he murmured.

Violet blinked, and she pressed her lips together when his thumb swept across her mouth again.

Kaz smiled just a little. “Open that pretty mouth for me, Violet.”

“But—”

“Open.”

She did, letting him slide his thumb into her mouth once more before he withdrew the digit and ran it across her lips, leaving a trail of wetness.

As slow as his hand had moved one second, it struck blindingly fast the next, fisting into the hair at the nape of her neck and driving her forward, making her back straighten. Kaz flashed her another knowing grin as he slid the crest of his cock against the seam of her parted lips, never quite letting her have more than just the taste of her tongue sliding along the soft flesh of the tip.

“If you think this is torture for you,
krasivaya
, just imagine how it feels for me,” he told her.

Violet didn’t really have to
imagine
anything. She could see it in the tension crawling over his muscles, how his gaze flashed with lust, and the way his hand tightened in her hair a little bit more to hide the shake.

Yeah, she knew.

“Just a taste. Get me wet,” Kaz said, a thickness coloring his words, “but don’t make me come just yet.”

Violet barely had time to prepare for his next move before he had let go of the base of his cock with his one hand, pushed at the back of her head with the other, and then grabbed under her throat as he filled her mouth. With his palm flat to her throat, Violet had no choice but to relax the muscles in her throat as his length slid all the way in and then back out again. Her lips tightened around his cock, and her teeth grazed the pulsing vein along the underside of his shaft.

Kaz chuckled, his fingertips drumming on her throat as he fucked her mouth. “Yeah, shit, I missed this.”

But as quickly as he’d given her a taste, he was pulling away. Withdrawing his cock from her mouth, he released his hold on her throat and hair.

He tipped his chin down at her, saying, “Take it all off—the rest of it. Get it off now.”

Violet felt like it took her fingers way too long to unclasp the hooks on the back of her bra, never mind pulling the lace fabric off her body. By the time she was kicking the matching panties off, Kaz had already shed the remainder of his clothes and was kneeling down on the bed, forcing Violet back on her elbows.

His mouth found hers—hot, demanding, and hard. She sucked in a shuddering breath when his hands spread her thighs. He hooked her legs around his hips, and his cock lined up perfectly to her bare sex. One second he was there, and the next, he flexed forward, taking her fast and deep.

That immediate sensation—being stretched and filled, even as wet and hot as she was—still ached.

Violet only craved more, only asked for
more
.

Kaz’s fingers threaded into the waves of her blonde hair, fisting tight and then tugging hard enough to make a sting radiate over her scalp as he urged her head back until the muscles in her throat protested with a burn. Another angled, brutal thrust of his hips filled her all over again, and made her cry out. His teeth found the cord on her neck, adding a sharp pain to the bliss currently lighting a fire through her nerves and over her skin.

Her thoughts and wants came tumbling out in a mess of words.

There
and
fuck
and
don’t stop
because just a few fucking days were too fucking many with this man.

Too. Fucking. Many.

“Louder,” he rumbled against her throat. “Scream a little louder for me, Violet.”

Her hands fisted into the bedsheets, and she met him push for pull, nearly there but just barely hanging on.

And as always, his words took her over that first cliff.

Falling, breathless, and spun.

Mine, Violet
and
every single inch of you is mine
.

Had she ever been anything different?

She couldn’t remember a time when she hadn’t been his now.

Violet didn’t have time to crash down completely from the orgasm racing through her blood. She didn’t even have the chance to take a single breath before Kaz let out a harsh breath and pulled away from her
again
. She only saw a flash of his gray gaze before he spun her around, and her knees hit the bed, her ass high in the air.