Sweet Redemption_Sweet Duet, Part 2 Read online

  “Liam. The minute you hear from our guy, phone me. I need to know everything that happens in that building.”

  Pouring two fingers of whiskey, I slam them back before I do it again. I can’t sit back and do nothing while Isla could be risking her life to keep me safe, but I have to be smart.

  “Thomas, has anyone been watching us today?” I inquire.

  “I had someone on us during the day, but they left about an hour ago.”

  “Right. I think I’ll take a walk. I’ll ring you when I need you.”

  “Keep your phone on, so I can at least track you, if something happens.”

  “They’re not after me, Thomas. They want sweet, innocent Isla for some unknown reason. But things will become crystal clear very soon…”

  Fuck, I hope…

  Knocking back one more whiskey, I set off on foot.

  The city is still full of people trying to find their way home from work, out for dinners or shows, and just hanging around with friends taking in the fabulous sights of Sydney and the harbor. Making my way through a mall, I decide to purchase some causal casual clothing from a shop I wouldn’t normally buy clothing in. I need to not look like myself.

  Wearing cargo pants, DC shoes, and a t-shirt, holding my suit in a plastic carry bag, I feel comfortable and more relaxed. The bus pulls up outside the mall and I give the lady driver change to take me to Bondi Beach.

  The thirty-one-minute journey gives me time to message Kolton, making certain he has taken care of any listening devices wired to Isla’s apartment. Thank Christ he found no video devices in there since they’re harder to dismantle.

  Strolling toward Isla’s apartment, my instincts from my younger years kick in. I stop and canvas the building before going near it. In the darkened shadows of the medium sized apartment block, I discover, after another twenty minutes, there is no one watching her house at the moment, possibly because she’s not here.

  She’s with the monster already!

  Darkness helps me blend with the building.

  Going to her door, I use my tools swiftly and effectively. Old skills come in handy… I am inside her apartment, shutting out everything and everyone else but me and Isla, when she returns.

  Now all I have to do is wait. She will forgive me by the end of the night, for the hardest thing I have ever done…

  “I’ll give you two days, Isla. Two days to contact your mother, brother, and friends. To organize what you desperately can’t live without when you live with me. The rest will be given away or taken to the dump.” Dimitri’s brusque voice invades my ears, while his hands rest firmly on my shoulders. “Don’t make this harder than what it has to be, my love. You will have the perfect life, no worries, no work commitments, and anything you desire. Every woman will be envious of you.”

  What can I say, it sounds like my dreams come true…but a nightmare has taken hold of my life, completely this time…

  Still in utter shock, I smile politely as I wriggle my way out from under his hands when the car door opens, allowing me to escape this ordeal, if only for a day or two.

  His voice stills me as I try and get as far away from him as possible.

  “Loved ones can be hurt easily, Isla. Sleep well, my love.” Then the large black car moves away, leaving me to crumble apart by myself.

  My body hasn’t stopped shuddering since he declared I am to be his wife. Breathing in shallow breaths, my legs aren’t going to support me for much longer. I walk hastily up the path to my door. Shaking without an ounce of control, I open the door. My legs buckle, landing me inside on the floor, in a heap, separating me from the reality of the big, bad world.

  Tears slip down my face, but my body is too mentally and physically exhausted even to cry.

  It would do no good anyway…

  I crawl slowly along the floor to my bedroom. Spotting my bed, I heave myself up and land on it, covering myself with my favorite rosy blanket. Sealing my eyes, not caring if they were never to open again.

  The nightmare I have been enduring was a premonition…

  My limbs and mind are limp, weak, and exhausted. Fuzzy and in a whirlwind, my mind slowly shuts down, dragging me into an unconscious state.

  Air slowly passes through my mouth. In…out. In…out. Gentle strokes caress my hair. My nerve endings start to tingle.

  This dream feels so real…

  “Shhhh… I won’t let anyone hurt you, my Sweetness. Shhhh…now.”

  Lips touch mine, melting my body. They’re moving exquisitely and skillfully over mine, stopping the world for a short space of time. Involuntarily, my lips work in unison with the intrusion. Tasting them, smelling him, bringing my lifeless body back to life.

  But it can’t be my heaven, he left me, I am nothing to him.

  So why do these lips fit mine so perfectly? Why can I feel in my heart without even seeing his beguiling face, that it is Alex?

  I fell in love with the way he touched me without using his hands, although his hands are very, very nice too, craving his protection and dominance while repairing the innermost aspects of me. He knows the whole me.

  But he left me when I uncovered my dirty past to him. He told me I could tell him anything and he would never leave me, yet he did. My hands want to lash out at him, my feet should be kicking him, reminding him that he left me. Shouldn’t I be screaming at him to get away from me, that he told me that we can’t be together and that I must leave. Arranging a flight for me within the hour. The pain I felt then, still lingers inside me.

  I will always want him…

  I will always need him…

  It is only a dream…

  “I’m here now, Sweetness. Forgive me, Isla, please forgive me.” The voice. The kiss. The smell. All Alex…

  Scared to open my eyes, ending an incredible dream, I lay there motionless. Nothing moves but my eyelids, letting in the most magnificent sight I have seen in days. Striking light blue eyes marred by deep lines. A darkness and sadness surround them.

  My hand carefully lifts to his chin, feeling the long stubble which has grown on his handsome face.

  “Alex. You can’t be here. It’s not safe for you to be here. Dimitri…he…”

  “Quiet now, close your eyes, and listen with your heart, my Sweetness. I have caused you pain, but believe me, I have been feeling every ounce of it too. Hearing you confess tore my heart apart. How have you survived, strong girl? You amaze me.” Light sweeps of his lips brush over my cheeks. He sits down on the bed next to me.

  “You are the strongest person I know.” His chest heaves in a lungful of air. “But I knew Sokolov would come for you, hurting you if you were to pursue another man. I couldn’t let that happen.” His fingers massage my scalp while his voice continues.

  “My uncle and the family found information on him and know of his mafia ties and underworld activities.” A menacing look overtakes his face. “I can’t risk you being hurt trying to save me, so, for all intents and purposes, I have been told to leave you alone. To stay away from you until we sort out how we are going to destroy Sokolov.”

  Alex stumbles over these words, disclosing the great deal of pain behind them.

  He didn’t want to leave me… He’s been told to stay away?

  My eyes open. I hear what he is saying, but he left me. Striking his chest with my fist, I exhale and groan with anguish. He left me… I bang them repeatedly, tears spilling down my cheeks. The bed wobbles underneath me. I want him to know how much he hurt me. He lets me beat his chest until my arms have no strength left in them and I am sobbing uncontrollably.

  “Shh now… I have you. I’m here for us. If you will have me?” His mellow, deep voice, his words, it’s what I have wanted to hear since I walked up the steps to his private jet and flew from Las Vegas back to Sydney. I have him here, in my bedroom. My wish has come true. I’m so confused and hurt but astounded and relieved that Alex is back…

  Wiping my face with my hands, I look into his sincere eyes. Alex is here for me.


  “You hurt me, Alex. I know I deserved it. I placed you and your family in a dangerous position. It’s still dangerous.”

  “We will fight this together if you still want me.”

  Sniffling, there’s not a shadow of doubt in my mind, that I will always want Alex. I move my body back from the side of my bed, silently inviting him to lay near me. The bed dips further and I feel the connection between us flowing once again. A powerful quake bolts through my body. I sigh a breath of relief as his arms enclose me. My body melts into his, my strength is back where he belongs. Nuzzling into his neck, our hearts beat rapidly in sync with each other’s. The heat between us radiating into my skin, running through my veins.

  Not needing to hear more, questions can wait. I care only that he has returned. I wrap my arms tightly around his formidable body. How quickly my body remembers his touch.

  “Sleep now, my Sweetness. Even when you can’t see me, trust I will always be here.” His voice carries to my ears and I feel his touch upon my heart.

  My body is burning, the fireworks are about to ignite. Nothing has felt this good before.

  He is staking his claim…

  Being woken by skilled hands and mouth is something I want to get used to. I voluntarily open wider. There’s a desperation in his touch as his tongue wildly flicks over my clit and inside me. His pleasurable moans alert me to the way Alex is holding back, letting me lose myself to these sensations building inside of me.

  My hips gyrate, and my nipples stand to attention. My eyes are still closed, helping me concentrate on the beautiful pandemonium going on within my body. Short gasps leave my throat as his strong fingers roll my nipples, rotating between that and cupping my breasts. Alex heightens my sexual trance each time he flicks his tongue with expert precision over my clit, while squeezing my nipple, bordering on a delectable pain.

  Where have my clothes gone? Christ, who cares. It’s oh so mind blowing…

  Sensing that I am close to no return, he leaves me… Wanting… Needing… Craving his touch…

  My eyes open just as he leaves his position between my legs, moving himself so he is lying against my chest. Holy hell, he is the complete package-impenetrable muscles, tattoos, drop-to-your-knees handsome, and expert knock-me-off-my-rocker sex skills.

  The thud…thud…thud of his chest is in time with mine.

  We are both breathing, panting hard, pouring our love into each other with our eyes. The fact that we haven’t told each other we love each other doesn’t matter. The ferocity of it can be felt.

  This will be dangerous if anyone sees us together as we won’t be able to hide our connection…

  With a determined slow focus, Alex’s cock slides over my sacred spot, teasing me, before he moves his hips so he is fully within me. Our panting increases as our bodies take on a life of their own. Thrusting…touching…sliding…crushing…twisting…

  If this is to be our last time, then we are both making sure we never forget it.

  Underneath his broad chest, the friction increases against my skin. My hands roam his taut skin. They clasp around his neck, capturing him, not willing to let him go. Our thrusting increases, and I move my legs to open wider so he can fully enter me, hitting that glorious spot, driving me insane with pleasure.

  The muscles in my arms become weak, allowing Alex to change my position so he is kneeling in front of me, my knees being pulled to his sides so my legs wrap around his back. Binding us together as he moves slowly now in and out. In… Out… In… Out…

  “Ohhh, so delicious, ohhh fuck, you’re driving me insane, Alex. Harder, faster, Alex, please.” I somehow manage to mumble out directives in between taking a breath.

  “This is us together, Isla, don’t ever forget how fucking great this feels and looks, my Sweetness. Remember this.”

  My breasts bounce as Alex’s control starts to wane. Lifting my ass higher so he enters me deeper still, I feel him wholly inside of me, hitting me with his large cock further within than any other time before. The determination, force, and domination he is displaying turns me on even more, if that’s possible.

  “Keep your eyes on me, Sweetness. Trust me when I tell you, I will protect you.”

  How is this God talking?

  Sliding his cock out to the tip, he slams as hard as he can back into me, then again and again. He’s not being gentle, he’s marking me as his and I absolutely fucking love it.

  Containing myself no more, I join in pulling back and lifting my hips, rubbing my clit, heightening our pleasure, our connection. We find our release together. Holy Hell…

  Gripping and straining as one, the burning ignites and blasts, imprinting it to my memory forever.

  Alex kneels above me. The sheen from the sweat on his naked body entices me to touch him, taste him. Our bodies still joined makes it difficult for me to reach my head forward so I can start the process again.

  Peering into the darkness, searching for my reaction, Alex moves his legs so his body is resting next to mine. Breaking our physical contact but not our intimacy. Our eyes level, I can see the concern circling his features.

  Quietly Alex says, “Do you forgive me, Isla?”

  “There’s nothing to forgive, Alex. Although if that was your way of saying sorry, I may have to think twice about forgiving you. You may have to say sorry over and over again.” I chuckle to myself.

  My head and heart feel a lot lighter knowing that Alex is here. Forgiving him is a no-brainer. My body wants him, my brain wants him, every particle within me wants him. I need to trust his words and his actions. Like we vowed to do days ago.

  His hand touches my hair, smoothing it between his fingers. The shadows casting across his face reveals a troubled man, not the light-hearted, carefree man from Las Vegas and the previous week. My fingers skim across his tattoo, close to his cock, which seems to be recovering at a speedy rate.

  Goody…

  “What do these five rings mean, Alex?” Laying together, talking, it seems the perfect time to ask about these, since I didn’t have the courage last time I saw them.

  Alex takes a deep sigh and places his hand over mine. He lifts it up, placing it over his heart.

  “The five rings are a symbol of loyalty. Each of my family members have this symbol on them. We would do anything for each other. If one of my brothers needs help, we are there, no questions.”

  “You have brothers?” I ask, genuinely eager to hear about them.

  My hand still rests on his heart, his hands pull me closer to his chest, nestling me closer to him.

  His voice sounds calm and reverent.

  “Isla, I have no genetic brothers, just Sarah, but the brothers I speak of are my family, my extended family from Italy. Uncles, cousins, men that give their lives for each other.” His intense eyes never leave mine. “Our family has a very long history of helping each other when there is danger. We only fight to protect what is ours. If enemies try to take something of ours, we join together to bring that evil down.”

  The love he has for these men is evident in his tone. The same look he had when he asked me to trust him those few days ago is now upon his face.

  “Seth, Liam, and Jared are part of this family, Isla. I would die for them, just as they would for me. It’s that simple. We are all highly trained in specialized areas and, I guess, lethal when we need to be.”

  I try hard to not make a sound, letting Alex reveal more of himself to me, but this information doesn’t sound realistic.

  Although who would have thought the Russian Mafia exists…and in my life?

  “What does this mean, Alex?” My head swims from his words. I have enough danger in my life, and now I’m adding more? Pulling my head back to I can see his complete face so I understand the enormity of what he is telling me.

  “This means you’re protected and safe, Isla. The family is working around the clock to plan Sokolov’s end. It will happen. But we will need the element of surprise when we strike.” The carefree Alex from
moments ago leaves. Alex has a serious look on his face. “That is why I’ve been asked, rather told, to stay away from you and my men. Sokolov is no fool and he will be tracking our whereabouts continuously.”

  “Alex, he kills people. I can’t have you or your family hurt because of me. I will work this out on my own. I have to.” I try to move so I’m resting on my elbows, so he can see my sincerity, but he holds me tighter and closer.

  “I don’t think you will ever get how much of me belongs to you, Sweetness. If you’re hurt. I’m hurt. I am yours. I’m not going anywhere, trust me when I say it.” He kisses me reverently on my head. “You entered my life out of nowhere and have meant the world to me ever since. I can’t explain it. But it is real, and you will be free of Sokolov and his hold on you as soon as we can safely make it happen.” Kissing me, passion pours out of his lips as his arms envelop me, filling me with hope.

  Maybe I will get out of this mess…

  Realizing that I haven’t uttered a word for a minute or two, caught up in my own thoughts, Alex moves away marginally. I stretch my hands out, recapturing his firm body, pulling him toward me. Showing him my gratitude is something I want to do. Words fail me, but actions speak louder than words anyway. Noticing the clock on my stand says 3:16am, plenty of time to start round two.

  I sit bolt upright. Conversations, facts, words flood my head. Wife…living with me…by my side… loved ones can be hurt…heir!

  I’m to become Mrs. Isla Sokolov… In three months…

  Trembling takes over my body.

  “Shhh… It’s all going to be okay.” Alex tries to shield my body and mind by caressing my back and shoulders, nipping and sucking on my neck. But he doesn’t know… He blows a gentle wind across my ear, sending shivers throughout my entire body. My nipples are at attention. Heat is building below. Fuck, how does he make my body respond so rapidly to his? I can’t let this go on… No more lies.

  “Alex. I’m to be married to Dimitri.”