The Marriage Ultimatum (City of Dreams Series) (14 page)

“Nobody should go through life a bastard,” he said.

“Stop saying that! Alex is…Alex is…” Sabrina hesitated.

“I say it because I know the feeling.”

****

He paced to where she sat on the leather chesterfield, stood inches away from her knees, six-foot-three inches of muscled menace in an evening suit. Sabrina tilted her neck back to see the hollowed planes of his face. His jaw had hardened, and his voice took on a lethally flat tone.

“In case you need another clue—I know what I’m talking about because I’m a bastard myself. I could say an orphan as well, but my parents are probably alive and well somewhere. I wouldn’t know. I wouldn’t wish it on Alex, and I certainly didn’t wish it on the kids I left behind when I left Russia. But you have to face facts.”

Sabrina swallowed her shock. Of course, it made complete sense now that he should be so sensitive to the court of public opinion as regards to his relationship with her and Alex. And she could hear her own thinking in that last phrase. How many times had she told herself she had to face facts, face the harsh reality of her life as a sole provider to her little brother?

“Alex is mine. I’m his family. We just…” Her voice broke as she sought to explain how she knew, she just knew that if they had a little financial cushion, when she finished college and she got an even better job, then life would be good. But oh, it was so scary doing it alone.

She looked down at her hands on her lap as she fought for control and a clear head. Saw the enormous emerald and its circle of diamonds gracing her right ring finger.

Vlad offered them, above all, security. And hadn’t that been her main goal, her entire reason for working these past years?

She raised her head and pushed back the hair that had tumbled onto her face.

“I will say okay, if I can add a couple of conditions of my own.”

Vlad inclined his head. He looked cautious, curious. “What are they?”

“The money should all go to Alex. I don’t want it, so my portion should be earmarked for his education. And after I complete my degree, I want to find employment. Nothing that would mean I would be separated from him but soon, if he’s happy and secure in school, I can work during those hours.” Her chin lifted and her eyes dared him to find fault.

“Sabrina that’s completely unnecessary…”

“I’m not finished yet. My final addition is that if one of us falls in love with somebody, we can divorce.”

“That’s unacceptable.”

She folded her arms across her chest, mimicking him. “You’re being unreasonable.”

“Falling in love is too ephemeral of an idea. If one of us truly wants out, the other one should agree. We’re not teenagers. I don’t believe in love, but I do believe that a child should have two parents.”

“But—” Why couldn’t he see that he might feel differently if some fictional Ms. Right came along?

He shook his head again. “Nyet. We can’t put emotion into a contract. I agree to add the other terms but not that one. No more negotiation. I have been more than generous. Sign.” He consulted his watch again. “I don’t want to be late.”

****

Watching at his side as Vlad delivered the keynote speech at the Gala for the foundation, one of the many she had learned this evening he had either founded or supported, Sabrina had to admit the man she was living with, sleeping with, and engaged to marry was a complete enigma.

He spoke eloquently in two languages about the plight of the children of his homeland. He thanked all for their generosity and managed to lift spirits and deflect the curious murmur that surrounded his appearance at this event with Sabrina by his self-deprecating remarks about their own engagement. He raised Sabrina’s ring-clad fingers to his lips and bade the audience to wish them well. Champagne glasses and vodka shots were lifted in their honor, and Sabrina could almost have believed they were the parents of Alex and a happy, newly engaged couple.

If she had known that she would have to play such a public role at the event, she might have been paralyzed with nerves beforehand. As it was, she had once again enjoyed choosing another couture gown to wear, this time a high-necked, Asian-inspired, deep green satin sheath, leaving her hair down as usual, because that was what Vlad preferred.

She had ceased being self-conscious of the wayward waves when she had gotten a professional trim and a lesson in keeping the long mass of it sleek and somewhat under control. She’d learned how to pull a smooth swathe of it to the side with a bejeweled barrette and was rewarded by the long, frankly lustful look Vlad gave her as he settled back in the town car as Sergei drove them to the Waldorf. She turned away from his indecent gaze, because the effect of it was all too visible as her nipples hardened into tight points.

“Stop that,” she said.

He let out a throaty chuckle. “Make me.”

****

In spite of her presence or maybe because of it, the event had generated a ton of excitement and record amount of additional contributions.

She congratulated him. Regardless of everything else between them, he was doing well. It was an aspect of his character that was completely outside of her expectation, and her innate honesty demanded that she say something.

****

He shook his head at her thanks. How to tell her, and why would he want to, that the need to give back was, in part, a guilty compulsion. He had managed to leave that sad life far behind and so many hadn’t.

When they’d reentered the penthouse afterwards, he walked straight into his office. He stared down into the late night cityscape of lower Manhattan, at the lights of a thousand cars motoring along the darkened streets. But once again he was seeing the dingy quarters in the cinderblock building on the outskirts of St. Petersburg where he lived with one hundred and fifty other boys, the squalid place that either smelled of urine or antiseptic. The ‘home’ he couldn’t wait to escape.

Then he turned to where Sabrina was poised at the door characteristically ready for a quick escape, and his mouth quirked in what he knew was a grim farce of a smile.

“No one really knows the full story of my journey to where I am today. What I told you about myself is not in the public domain, and I revealed it only so that you would understand my belief that what Alex needs are two married parents. Whether you want that for him or not.”

At that last sentence, Sabrina’s chin jerked up and then she shook her head. “I wasn’t about to tell anyone your secrets, Vlad, but it looks like you’re never gonna get that. And of course I want Alex to have two parents. Why wouldn’t I? Sometimes things just don’t work out the way a person wants.”

She raised her hand as if to push her hair away and then let it flutter back to her side, thereby denying him access to whatever thoughts were swirling behind her mercurial eyes.

Some devil made him press.

“Did you think you loved him? The guy who fathered Alex? Are you waiting for him to reappear to claim him? Claim you? Oh that’s right.” He heard his voice take on an ugly edge. “Who knows who that guy might be? I guess you decided I’m your best option, so you’ll settle?”

Fast as light, her hand winged toward his cheek, but he guessed her intent and grabbed her wrist before she could make contact.

“You think you know all about me, Vlad, but you haven’t gotten any of it right! How is it okay to make those terrible accusations? What planet are you on that you think I would ever willingly do something that wasn’t in Alex’s best interests?

“Let’s face it Sabrina. You saw a chance to sell me out, and you took it so…”

“Really? Why wouldn’t I want to sell myself to you? Is that what you figured? Why wouldn’t I want to be a rich man’s whore, a bastard’s wife? Gee, let me see.” Sarcasm dripped.

His vision went red as her words sank in. He tugged her wrist and in a moment she was in his arms. “You don’t complain in my bed. And whore or wife, that’s where I want you.”

He put one possessive hand to the back of her head and one on her rear and dragged her into hot contact with his raging arousal. He didn’t kiss her lips but put his mouth, his teeth to the side of her neck where the thin satin neck of her gown covered the quivering cord that lay there. He bit down lightly and she let out a keening moan that he quickly silenced with his mouth on hers.

He pushed her back against the door and took her mouth in a deep, punishing kiss. She opened for him, as he knew she would, as they both knew she would. His hand encountered the line of tiny buttons that went down the back of her dress and he let out a frustrated growl.

His hands came back around her front to cover and torment her satin-covered breasts as he continued his assault on her lips. But it wasn’t enough and suddenly he couldn’t wait. If he didn’t have her right now, he knew he would disgrace himself. He anchored his fingers in the neck of her gown and yanked. The fabric gave way immediately, parting down the middle and he dropped the handful of satin, watching, mesmerized by her pale flesh, as the dress fluttered and fell, pooling at her feet.

He was left with the sight of Sabrina’s shocked face and her gorgeous body clad only in a tiny satin thong. He pulled her in and put his mouth to her breasts, now bare for his enjoyment; first one and then the other, reveling in the little panting breaths she emitted, the feel of her hands clutching his hair. The urge to have her became too much to withstand and why should he?

He unzipped himself swiftly and yanked the tiny scrap of satin down her thighs before he inserted one long finger into her slick entrance almost coming when he encountered the damp warmth that signaled her readiness. He surged into her muttering, “Wrap your legs around my waist.” Sabrina complied immediately, little whimpers escaping her lips.

With a groan, he sank deeper and held her there for a long moment, his body shaking as he fought to hold still and savor the tight welcome, enjoy the close grip of her thighs before finally he gave into the urge to pump. As he plunged deep again and pulled back, his teeth grazed her neck once more until her excited cries as she came apart compelled him to cover her mouth with his. As they exchanged increasingly hungry kisses, he pounded into her remorselessly until he finally let go into his own release.

He dragged his lips from hers, rested his forehead against hers. For a long moment, there was only the sound of their labored breathing. Even after he opened his eyes, he still didn’t know where he was. He felt so high he might have been on another planet.

It had been better for him than it had ever been, with Sabrina or with anyone.

He felt both sapped of all strength and energized enough to take on the world.

He straightened from his position and, smoothing his hands along the soft skin of her thighs as he gathered her close, eased her body away from the door and down along the length of his, until her feet, still covered in four inch heels, touched the rug.

****

In the aftermath, Sabrina was trembling. Whether because of her complete nudity or the aftershock or both, she was standing barely upright and shaking. As she watched, Vlad adjusted his clothing, he was still fully dressed, and raised a hand to smooth back his hair.

Faint marks were beginning to appear on her neck and breasts and even her wrist. Vlad turned away from her and the urge to soothe the pink marks with his tongue. He knew, because of her fair skin, they might be purple bruises by morning. But still just moments after this last time, he knew that if he touched his mouth to her, he would have to have her again right now. His cock hardened at the thought.

His shook his head to clear it. Had he injured her back? They had come together against the oak door of his office. His hands clenched into fists and he forced them to relax so he didn’t scare her further with the violence of his thoughts.

“Your back? Did I hurt you?” His voice was a rasp. He reached out to turn her to see, but she shook her head and stepped back, away from his hand.

“No, you didn’t; it’s fine.” Her eyes were enormous and glazed, almost fevered looking.

Unable to resist, he reached out and ran his finger along her kiss-swollen lower lip. Reflexively, her tongue appeared and she licked her lips. He removed his tuxedo jacket and put it on her, guiding her arms into the sleeves as if she were a child.

“Wait here, I’ll send Mrs. Egan home.”

****

As he shut the door behind him Sabrina sank onto the couch, her body weak and her mind churning with scattered emotion. She was spent, exhilarated, confused, satiated. She was a mess.

She tugged his jacket around her to cover her thighs. It smelled of the ocean-inspired cologne he favored and the essence of Vlad himself.

She had to pull herself together and come to terms with what had just happened and what it meant. She had to acknowledge what it said about her that just now she’d been so overwhelmed with the obsession to have Vlad that she’d totally forgotten about Alex and Mrs. Egan. She had forgotten about everyone and everything in the world besides the driving need to be taken by him.

Her beautiful, once-worn gown lay destroyed like a rag on the rug. Her body continued to tremble and pulse in the aftermath of their lovemaking. It didn’t even feel like her own body anymore. At this point, every inch of her skin felt stamped as Vlad’s. But the most lowering truth she had to accept was the hold he had taken of the unseen places. Her mind. Her heart.

Chapter 11

You Can Run

What kind of madness had seized him that he had ripped her gown off her and taken her up against the door in his office where Peggy Egan or even Alex could have heard or walked in at any moment?

Her words had riled him for sure. But he knew he felt this overwhelming compulsion, this completely primal urge to possess her, since the day he met her. Angel or devil, whore or wife, he swore he didn’t care. He wanted her every moment of every day and this week’s worth of time together had only been a drop in the bucket toward what he continually desired.

So now, he could have it. Have her. They were now linked legally. She had signed on the dotted line. So why had he been so out of control just now? Why hadn’t he calmed down? Why couldn’t he just decide to keep his hands off her now? She had agreed to his terms. What the hell was wrong with him?