Ruthless Mafia King: A Dark Bratva Arranged Marriage Romance
Ruthless Mafia King: Chapter 25

Nikolai’s wine cellar is four times the size of my room and just as impressive as the rest of the brownstone. I’m too tipsy to analyze the way this makes me feel. All I know is that being here is more pleasant than being caged in a windowless space, and I’ll enjoy it while I can. The glass of wine dangling between my fingers is just an excuse to feel more confident.

The bastard knows exactly what I like. Fine wines, for one. The cellar is stocked full of them.

“Have a look,” he urges, and pushes his free hand through his hair. “See if you find anything you like.”

“You sure you don’t want to lock me up in here?” I tease, lifting my eyebrows. “This is too good to be true.”

“Get used to good things, serdtse. I have a reputation for spoiling those I care about,” Nikolai says with a grin.

I hate that his words make my heart flutter.

“I guess this is nice of you,” I mumble, trying to keep my feelings to myself. The last thing I need right now is to show him that he’s growing on me. Even though I realize he’s not the beast I took him for, I still need to hate him.

“I’m glad you approve,” he replies.

“What else does this house of yours have?” I ask with a sultry voice, taking a step closer to him. “A bedroom, perhaps?”

Nikolai lets out a low groan, reaches for his tie, and loosens it. “You’re killing me.”

“Hopefully with as much pleasure as you intend to kill me,” I dare to tell him, rolling up on my toes and pressing my lips to his. He responds by wrapping an arm around my waist, drawing me in.

My brain is quick to point out that this isn’t too bad. He isn’t all beast. If there’s really no way out of this marriage, I should make the best of it. Why should I deprive myself of sexual pleasure when I have this Adonis determined to give me the world as long as it’s on his terms?

Heat settles in my bones, unlike anything I’ve ever felt before. It takes me a moment, but I finally realize what’s happening. He’s winning me over with every caress, transforming from a cruel beast to a gentle lover in a matter of a heartbeat.

Right now, he’s caring and passionate. Or maybe it’s the wine clouding my judgment.

“You want to see my bedroom?” he asks.

Breathless, I nod and take one of the bottles from its place on the shelf.

“Let’s take this with us.” I give him a once-over. Behind the fabric of his pants, his cock is rising up to meet me. My finger finds his collar, and I smooth it while locking eyes with him. It’s hard to break my gaze as the gray becomes hazy. His forehead meets mine.

“I’ll show you mine if you show me yours,” he jokes in a murmur.

His words are barely there, ghosting my lower lip and traveling down to my core.

“In that case, I’m ready to see what you’ve got,” I reply, well aware of the fact that I’m lusting after him like a horny vixen. Whenever Mila jokingly used her psychotherapist powers on me, she always said that my bad moods had roots in my sexual frustrations.

Ever since Nikolai fucked me, I’ve been feeling more centered. My mood improved, despite still being a prisoner and a forced wife-to-be. Maybe his cock is the magic key to melting my heart of ice.

The silly thought makes me chuckle against his lips. He pulls back ever so slightly and tilts his head to the side.

“Care to share the joke, serdtse?” he asks, his eyes narrowed on mine.

“Not really,” I mutter with a contented sigh.

He smiles and takes my hand in his. “Let’s go then. I can’t wait to unwrap you.”

He leads me out of the cellar, through the house, and up the stairs. There are other rooms, but I don’t pay attention to them because my sight is set on only one thing.

Him.

Only him.

And tonight, I’m done being angry.

I follow him into what appears to be the master bedroom. The walls are beige. There’s a small reading nook by the window, a grand fireplace, and a large, king-sized bed in the middle. Nothing exorbitant, yet it feels incredibly luxurious.

“The bedrooms on the third floor are equally comfortable,” he says, his hands slipping around my waist, “but this is where I’m hoping we’ll spend most of our time.”

“I don’t understand,” I say quietly. “Do you want us to share a bedroom, or do you want me to stay on the other floor once we’re married?”

“Staying apart would feel like you were my mistress,” Nikolai says, brushing my hair aside and bringing his lips to my shoulder. “You’re about to be my wife, and I want everyone to know it. But I also want you to be comfortable in this arranged marriage of ours. So, if you prefer to start by having your own space, I can agree to that as long as you don’t deny me when I come to you.”

I spin in his arms and face him. “You’d be willing to let me sleep alone?”

“I want you to share my bed,” he says. “There’s nothing like waking up together. But I do understand if you need time to get used to me.”

He grabs me by the waist and pulls me close, letting me feel every inch of his desire. It makes it difficult to keep my wits about me.

“Use the time to think it over,” he adds, offering me a smirk and a heated look.

He releases me, walks over to the bed, and sits down. He rakes a hand through his black hair, messing it up in a way that has me dying to ruffle it even more.

“That’s generous of you,” I murmur.

“Is it? Didn’t you hear about the part where I expect you won’t deny me?” he muses, tilting his head to the side.

The thought of him coming to me at any hour of day and night thrills me more than I’m willing to admit. I wouldn’t want to send him away if he came looking for me. Not anymore. Not when I know just how much pleasure he can give me.

“You’re a slave to your desires just as much as I am to mine,” I tell him, with a cheeky smile. “It’s a fair agreement, I believe.”

“Everything between us will be fair,” Nikolai replies, taking a moment to glide his gaze all the way up my body. It lingers on my lips. A smirk tugs the corner of his mouth higher. “Take off your dress, sweet Katarina.”

“Is that an order?” I tease, beginning to lift the hem of my dress playfully.

“Damn right, it is. I’ve been dying to touch you,” he rumbles.

In the late hour of the night and under the influence of the wine, it’s easy to offer each other little truths.

I slip the fabric up and over my head, knowing full well it will take Nikolai another three seconds to come take it from me. That’s exactly what he does, his gaze eating me alive as it travels all the way to my panties and back to my bra. I wish my thong was at least matching in color or style, but considering I can’t go out and buy things myself, he’ll have to deal with it.

As soon as Nikolai discards my dress, he pats his thighs. The look on his face shows that he’s waiting for me to straddle him.

I comply, reaching down and spreading my legs wide apart to allow my panties to brush his erection.

“Such an obedient girl,” he purrs, his mouth seeking the skin on my collarbone as his fingers dip between my legs and into my dripping center.

“Nikolai,” I whine when his thumb brushes my clit.

“Tell me what you want, serdtse,” he drawls into my ear. His movements are slow and torturous, all of his fingers buried inside my pussy only to pull them out. “Use your words.”

“How long are you going to test me?”

“As long as necessary.”

“I want . . . I need,” I pant, my desperation becoming more apparent. “Fuck, Nikolai. Stop teasing me.”

“Beg me, then,” he dares. “Only then will I give you what you’re asking for. I want to hear the words.”

He increases the pressure, and I moan.

“Fuck me, Nikolai,” I give in, pleading with him as if my life depends on it.