Cruel Paradise - A Mafia Romance Chapter 151

I circle her clit with my finger until she’s a quivering mess. Then I go deep, pushing my fingers knuckle-deep inside her until her moans turn to muffled screams.

I don’t even care that Vadim can probably hear us above deck. All I want right now is to make her see just how special she is to me; just how beautiful.

Her hand twists back and clings to my neck. She pulls my face towards hers and we share a messy, desperate kiss. When we break for air, her nipples are so hard they’re in danger of ripping right through the fabric of her bikini top. Unable to resist, I push my hand underneath one of the cups and squeeze.

How can she, even for a second, entertain the thought that she’s not desirable or beautiful? The woman would drive me insane even if she were wrapped head to toe in layer after layer. I grind into her from behind as I wring the orgasm from her sweet little cunt.

“See?” I hiss in her ear. “Do you see how totally mesmerizing you are? Look at yourself.”

“Ruslan…”

“Look at yourself.”

I twist her face until she’s forced to meet her reflection in the mirror. Her cheeks are flushed, lips swollen, and there are goosebumps all over her skin.

“See?” I slide my tongue down along her neck. “Fucking perfect.”

Then I drive home my point by bearing down on her clit with my finger. She gasps, her body jerking into mine as she comes violently all over my hand. Then I toss her towards the bed, bend her on all fours, and drive myself into her.

I fuck her hard and fast. It takes only a handful of thrusts before I pull out just so that I can finish all over her skin, to mark her as mine, as beautiful, as fucking irreplaceable.

We really should do family boat days more often.

38

EMMA

“Do you have a children’s menu?”

I have to bite my knuckle so I don’t laugh out loud. We’re in one of the fanciest restaurants in New York City. The only reason the kids were even allowed in at the door is because Ruslan tipped the maître d’ five hundred dollars when we got here.

The waiter seems to think it’s as crazy of a question as I do. He blinks slowly. “I’m afraid not, sir.”

Fyodor doesn’t seem in the least bit put-off. “Then you’ll cook whatever the kids want to eat, yes?”

Ruslan’s father has always seemed so amiable and mild-mannered to me. And yet, when he poses that question-that’s-not-really-a-question at the waiter, he does it with a subtle air of menace that threatens all sorts of retribution if declined.

That’s my reading of it, anyway. The server seems to agree. He nods like a bobblehead. “O-of course, sir. What would the, um… children like?”

Fyodor turns to Reagan and Caroline first, who are both sitting on his right looking extremely pleased to be sitting at the grownups’ table in a very grown-up restaurant.

“I want pizza,” Reagan declares.

“I want mac and cheese,” Caroline decides.

Josh glances at me and my heart melts just a little. “Go ahead, sweetheart. Choose whatever you want.”

“A cheeseburger,” he says quietly. “With fries.”

“Excellent choices!” Fyodor proclaims, clapping his hands together. He passes the menus to the pale-faced waiter and dismisses him with a click of his tongue.

I glance towards Ruslan, who’s sitting next to me doing his best not to smile too wide.

Caroline waves at me from across the table. “Auntie Em, can we go see the fish tank?”

“Fish tank” is a bit of a misnomer for the aquarium in the middle of the restaurant big enough to house a pod of dolphins, but I let it slide. “Go ahead. Just don’t be too loud. And don’t get in anyone’s way—” The kids are already out of their seats. “—and don’t break anything!”

Fyodor chuckles and pats me on the back of my hand. “They’re children. If they break anything, I’ll pay for it.”

“I appreciate that, but you really don’t have to do that. Or any of this, in fact,” I say, gesturing to the opulence surrounding us. The sound of champagne being uncorked a few tables over is the perfect complement to my where-the-hell–even-are-we sweep of the hands.

Fyodor just waves away my words. “I’ve waited a long time to be a grandfather. I was starting to think I would never get a chance to see one. And now, I have three—no, four grandbabies. And I couldn’t be happier.”

“Hooo boy,” I breathe. “Keep this up and I’m gonna be sobbing all over the table.”

He just pats my hand again. “Sob if you need to. I’ll replace the tablecloth, too.”

I snort and everyone joins in the laughter. Everyone except Vadim, who gives me a tight smile that doesn’t quite reach his eyes.

I’ve been trying to make my mind up about Ruslan’s uncle for the whole of today. We chatted a little on the yacht, shared a drink, swapped a couple of stories, even laughed once or twice. There were moments when I thought I could like him and then there were moments—like this one—when he made me feel like I was being watched.

Maybe it’s just the contrast between the brothers. Fyodor makes me feel like I’m already part of the family. Vadim makes me feel like I’m being interviewed for the role… and he’s not so sure I’m gonna make the cut.

“That reminds me,” Fyodor says, sticking his hand into his jacket pocket. “I have something for you.”

My palms start to sweat. “For me?” I ask, voice rising to a pipsqueak. I glance nervously at Ruslan. What is this? I mouth to him.

He just shrugs. Okay, so he didn’t know about the gift his father was going to give me at the fanciest restaurant known to man?

Oh my God—it’s in a massive Tiffany box.

Oh my God—is he giving me jewelry?

Should I even accept?

Before I’m done with my mental freakout, Fyodor pops the silver clasp and pulls the lid open. Inside, sitting on a plush black cushion, is the most beautiful diamond necklace I’ve ever laid eyes on. A trio of huge teardrop diamonds hanging from the chain, glistening like fresh frost.

“Whoa…” I whisper before my eyes rise to Fyodor’s. “I… I don’t know what to say.”

He smiles. “It belonged to my wife.”

I feel like my head is about to explode. When I glance over at Ruslan, he looks as taken aback as I feel. His eyes are wide and fastened on the necklace as though he’s seeing his mother again.