Submit (The Underground Book 4) (33 page)

“You know this isn’t about just you.”

He sighed, setting his forehead on the window pane. “Yeah.”

“My family…” Her voice was choked.

“I know, baby. I know. I’m so sorry. You did the right thing.”

“It’s safer if Yenin doesn’t think I’m in the picture anymore. He needs to think I quit my job, left you, and went to another city.”

“Belinda. No way can I let you do this. I won’t be able to rest a single moment while you’re God knows where.” His voice rose. He couldn’t help it. He needed her back at his side.

“Nikolav—”

“Belinda… This is hard for me. I don’t like you out of my sight. I don’t like trusting your safety to a stranger. I don’t like…”

“What?” she whispered after a pause. “What else don’t you like?”

“I don’t like you not in my bed.”

“I don’t like that part, either. I’m lonely. And Alena…”

“Yeah, I know Alena. Is she okay?”

“She will be.”

“Ivan’s pretty pissed. He punched a hole in the wall at Katie’s clinic.”

Belinda giggled, a little louder than last time. He loved that sound. “I bet Mikhail had a field day with that one.”

“Why would you say that?” he teased. “It’s not his clinic.”

“Ha. Was he surprised to find out his sister’s interested in Ivan? Or more importantly that Ivan’s interested in Alena?”

“Not sure. Surely he already knew.”

“Maybe.”

A few seconds of silence passed. “Belinda…”

“Yeah.”

“I love you.”

“I love you too.” Her voice was soft. Gentle. With a hint of tears.

“But you can’t stay there.”

“Nikolav—”

“I don’t like it. There are a lot of things I can tolerate, but this isn’t one of them.” Nikolav blew out a long breath, running his free hand through his hair.

“Nikolav—”

“I’m not going to back down on this. I can’t. It’s completely out of my comfort zone.”

“Nik—”

“Belinda, no.”

“Will you shut up a second and let me speak?”

He sighed.

“I’m not staying here.”

“Belinda— Wait, what?”

“I’m leaving in ten minutes.”

“To go where?”

“Home. You gonna meet me there?”

He couldn’t breathe. Was she for real? “Taylor’s gonna let you leave?”

“She doesn’t have a choice. I only consented to this to set up the mole. Or moles as it turns out. I still can’t wrap my head around it. Bill? And Patrick? Seriously?”

Nikolav ignored her change of subject as he spun around to find his shoes. “It’s late. Someone’s driving you home?”

“Yeah.” Her voice was softer again. “Couldn’t have slept alone in a strange place. But I need you to realize something.”

“What’s that?”

“It would be far more prudent for me to stay here. And you know it.”

“I know. You’re right. But I still can’t tolerate it.”

“As long as you recognize I’m right.”

He chuckled. “Do you know how often I’m going to concede you’re right about something?”

“Just this one time?”

“Probably.”

“Yeah, well, consider this,” she hesitated for effect, and then continued on a whisper, “there will be other times in the future when I’m right again. And you’ll get over yourself and continue loving me just like this time.”

He smiled. His throat burned. Tears weren’t his thing, but why did she have to be so damn cute and funny?

“Nikolav?”

“Yeah, baby?”

“You need to give the phone to Ivan. Alena’s probably freaking out.”

“I know.” The burn ran down into his chest. They would live through this. They would. And they would be stronger for it. “And I meant what I said.”

“What’s that?”

“I love you.” Those weren’t words he’d ever used with a woman before tonight. And they got easier each time he spoke them.

“I know. I love you too. If you pass the phone to Ivan, I’ll be that much closer to seeing you.”

“I’ll meet you at your place?”

“Yes.”

“’K. See you soon.”

He opened the door to his bedroom, found Ivan pacing the living room, and handed the man the phone without cutting the call. “It’s still connected.”

Ivan nodded, put the phone to his ear, and headed down the hall to his own bedroom.

Nikolav took a moment to breathe and pull himself together. He was going to see her. Tonight. Now. Soon.

He was in love with Belinda Gallo.

She was his.

They would get through this.

And they’d have the rest of their lives together.

Belinda smiled into her pillow as a warm hand snaked around her middle and smoothed its way up her naked belly to cup her breast. “Mmm.” She should be tired. But her body came alive immediately.

Nikolav nibbled a path up her arm, across her shoulder, and up her neck. He kissed the sensitive spot behind her ear and then sucked gently on the skin.

“Vampire,” she muttered.

He chuckled low and deep, and then his mouth continued to explore.

“What time is it? How long was I asleep?”

“It’s early. You can sleep when we turn ninety. Until then, I’d rather spend my time awake.”

She giggled into the pillow. “I don’t think I can operate on so little sleep. It’s been what? Two hours?”

“Maybe. About that. But I couldn’t sleep. I keep staring at your body, unable to keep from touching you to make sure you’re still here. I lost ten years off my life yesterday when you were inside your cousin’s house.”

“Mmm. I should have called my parents.”

“They’ll understand.”

“You think Yenin has men watching us outside right now?”

“Maybe. But he’s got to be running low on hired help by now.”

“God, I hope so.” She arched her chest and sucked in a sharp breath when he lightly pinched her nipple.

“Baby,” he began, his fingers still dancing across her breasts, circling her nipples and teasing them into submission.

“Hmm?”

“I need you to let me do something.”

“What’s that?” she mumbled, most of her attention focused on her breasts.

“Spank you.”

That got her attention.

“I know you’ve never been spanked before. And I get that. But I need the release.”

“What does that even mean, Nikolav? It sounds…abusive. Why would someone feel the need to hit another person? It scares me.” She twisted her body, landing on her back to look up at him. There was enough light streaming in between the slats of the blinds to illuminate his face. He looked so serious.

He shook his head. “It’s not about hitting. The purpose isn’t to hurt you. The purpose is to dominate you. If you offer your bottom to me… If you willingly let me spank your sensitive skin, it’s a sign of submission. It will give us both an incredible release. A euphoria you can’t imagine until you try it.”

She clenched her legs together and pursed her lips, hating the traitorous way her body responded to his tone. His words. The way he looked at her, as if she hung the moon. He wasn’t angry. He simply wanted her to give him this gift.

But would it be enough? What if she didn’t like it? What if she hated it and it was important to him?

She’d known this day was coming. He’d mentioned it often. And he’d been patient with her every night, taking care to make sure she felt cherished every time they had sex. Even though he was dominating her, he was holding back.

Eventually she needed to take this step. For him. Maybe for herself. And then they would know. “Okay.” She breathed out the one word of consent softly.

He flinched. “Yeah? Okay?”

“Yes.”

“I promise you won’t regret it.”

“Mmm. We’ll see.”

“Safe word?”

“Red.” She smiled. “Pretty sure I won’t forget it, but just so you know, I expect
stop
,
don’t
, and
fuck you
to also work in a pinch.”

He grinned. “Fair enough.” He let the tips of his fingers dance across her nipples again. And then he pushed himself to sitting and scooted back until he could lean against the headboard with several pillows at his back. “Come here.” He reached out with a hand as she rolled onto her stomach and crawled toward him.

She trembled. Nerves ate at her. She could do this. This was Nikolav. He would never hurt her. Would he?

He hauled her up next to him with his hands at her waist and searched her eyes. “Trust me.”

“Okay.”

And then he shocked her by turning her to the side and angling her across his thighs so her ass was presented front and center. She had no idea what position he had intended to spank her in, but this wasn’t it.

So exposed.

“Elbows by your head, baby.” His hand landed on her lower back and stroked her skin, up and down her spine and across her butt cheeks. “Brace yourself on them.”

She wormed her arms up to bend them and rest her forearms next to her face. She couldn’t breathe.

“Relax, baby. I’ll start easy.”

She couldn’t respond. Did she need to?”

For long minutes, he massaged her cheeks, squeezing and molding them until he lulled her into a calmer state of mind. This was Nikolav. He wouldn’t do anything to hurt her. She knew he needed to dominate her. She got that. She’d given him everything she could to accommodate that need. And she’d loved every second of it for the past week. But this…

Suddenly his hand lifted off her ass and landed on one cheek with a light smack.

She flinched, sucking in a sharp breath. It didn’t hurt, though. Just shocked her.

He did it again. Another swat to the other cheek. Lightly. Nothing like what she expected. And then he smoothed his hand over the skin and rubbed it. “You okay, baby?”

“Yes.”

His palm lifted again, and he swatted her three times quickly, harder than the first two, but not enough to hurt. She felt the sting, but what shocked her was how her pussy reacted. Each time his hand landed on her sensitive skin, she felt the vibrations in her clit.

Jesus.

She found herself wanting him to do it again.

And he didn’t disappoint her. Several more spanks landed on her butt, some higher and some lower. The ones that struck at the junction of her thighs and her ass cheeks made her more aware of her pussy than the higher ones.

She squeezed her legs together, stunned to find herself getting more aroused by the second.

“Baby. Oh, sweetheart. You have no idea how sexy you are right now.” He smoothed his palm over her heated skin again. “Your fists are clenched. Your legs are pinched together. How wet are you?”

She didn’t respond.
Oh. God
.

“Belinda, spread your knees.”

She took a deep breath and did as he asked, knowing she was opening herself up to an entirely new world. How did this happen? “Nikolav…” It scared the hell out of her. She shouldn’t be enjoying this. She’d done it for him. Because he wanted her to. It never occurred to her she would find it arousing.

“Relax. Feel. Let yourself enjoy the sensations.”

“I’m…”

“I know, baby.” He swatted her again. And again. Harder.

She lifted her head and moaned as each spank made a path to her pussy, her clit, even her nipples. So erotic. So fucking hot. She was going to come.

Jesus
.

“Let it go. It’s perfectly normal.”

Normal? How could this be normal?

He spanked that spot low and center again, three or four times in a row. The sting was welcome.

She wanted more so badly, she spread her legs farther.

And Nikolav got the hint. He stopped abruptly and thrust his hand between her legs, his other palm lying on her lower back to brace her. Good thing because she might have shot off the bed when his fingers thrust into her pussy with no warning.

She came instantly.

Hard. Shocking herself.

Her vision swam as she braced herself with her elbows and set her chin on the mattress.
Oh. My. God
.

“That’s it. So fucking sexy, baby.” He continued to thrust his fingers in and out of her, stroking her G-spot with every pass.

The orgasm should have subsided. Sensitivity should have taken over. She should not be aroused…

Instead she felt the slow build to another peak. She lifted her head. “Nikolav…” Her voice was deep. Low. Barely audible.

Suddenly, his fingers disappeared from her core, and she found herself flipped off his lap and onto her back. Before she could blink enough times to focus on him, he had a condom rolled onto his length and he was between her legs. He grabbed her knees and pushed them higher and wider.

Hovering over her with his cock at her entrance, he met her gaze. “So sexy,” he muttered before he pushed slowly into her. His eyes rolled back, and a smile spread across his face. “Always amazing,” he added.

The stretch was exactly what she needed, and her arousal shot higher when she combined the look on his face, the pressure of his cock, and the orgasm she’d just had.

Who knew sex could be this good?

Hell, who knew submission could feel so wonderful?

»»•««

“Remind me again why this is a good idea?” Belinda asked as she flattened herself against Nikolav’s chest and inhaled long and slow of his scent. What she wanted to do was breathe in pure Nikolav, but that wasn’t possible inside the speakeasy. Instead, she couldn’t avoid the scent of cigar smoke, cigarette smoke, and alcohol. Each one fighting to overpower the others.

The ground beneath her feet was a sticky, slippery smear of beer and assorted mixed drinks. The uneven stones were a century old and worn to the point that the ground was more dirt than stones.

Nikolav hugged her tighter against his chest with one hand. With the other, he loosely gripped Katie’s shoulder at his side. “Safety in numbers, babe.” His gaze didn’t meet hers. He constantly scanned the room as he had for the last hour.

“Who’s up next?” she asked in the momentary lull of the crowd. Between fights, the noise level dipped to an almost manageable volume.

“Leo.”

This was a particularly stressful evening. Not because some of the guys were fighting—they did that nearly every Friday night—but because three of them were on tonight’s docket. And that left two men to protect four women in the crowded venue.