Embrace of the Russian Tiger (Russian Mafia Kings #2)

Chapter 9

CHAPTER 9

T he bustling city noises surrounded me as I exited the sleek black car, the energy of people living their lives filling the air. It was the first time in weeks that I had been allowed to venture out without one of Maxim's guards shadowing my every move. The feeling of freedom, or at least a semblance of it, was exhilarating.

As the sunlight hit my face, I closed my eyes for a brief moment, relishing in the warmth. I was actually out. It felt surreal after being confined for so long.

Of course, I wasn’t truly free. I still had Maxim's men watching over me from a distance, and I could feel their presence even from afar. But this was progress. I had convinced Maxim to let me have some space and normalcy, even if it was only for a few hours.

"I just want to go to the library," I had told him.

He had studied me with his usual unreadable expression before finally giving in. "But you won't be alone."

His lack of emotion irritated me, but I didn't want to push my luck or ruin this small victory. So, I found myself walking through the busy streets of town towards the library, reveling in my newfound freedom.

The library was a grand old building just a few blocks away with a welcoming entrance. For a moment, I allowed myself to feel happy. The library had always been my sanctuary - even as a child lost in a chaotic world, books had been my escape and comfort.

As I entered the library, the cool air and familiar scent of old books enveloped me like an old friend. It was peaceful inside, and as I wandered through the shelves with my fingers trailing over the spines of books, I almost forgot about everything else - about Maxim, about our contract, about this life that had been forced upon me.

Almost.

I selected a light and easy book to lose myself in and made my way to the counter. The librarian, a friendly older woman, smiled at me as she checked out my book. I thanked her and clutched the book to my chest as I turned to leave.

And then I felt it.

A prickling sensation at the back of my neck, making the hairs on my arms stand up. I froze, scanning my surroundings, but there was nobody near me. The library was mostly empty, with only a few students hunched over their books in one corner. I tried to shake off the feeling, reminding myself that it was probably just paranoia from living under Maxim's constant watch.

But as I stepped outside and began walking towards the car that would take me back to the mansion, that uneasy feeling persisted.

Something wasn’t right.

I looked down at the book in my hands, and I see a small piece of paper sticking out from one. With a frown, I opened the book and saw it - a small envelope tucked between the pages.

I stopped walking and quickly glanced around, but the busy street continued on without acknowledging me. With trembling fingers, I opened the envelope and pulled out a single folded piece

You are not who you think you are. Maxim knows everything.

The words were scrawled in messy handwriting, but the message was clear. My heart raced as I read the note again, the world around me spinning for a moment. What the hell did this mean?

I shoved the note back into the envelope, my mind racing. Who had put it there? Who knew about me? And why would they say that Maxim knew everything? Everything about what?

My stomach churned as I climbed into the car, gripping the book in my hands. Maxim had always been a mystery to me—a man of cold calculations, someone who kept his secrets locked away. But now, for the first time, I was starting to wonder just how deep those secrets went.

The car ride back to the mansion was a blur, my mind spinning with possibilities. Was I being watched? Had someone been following me without me noticing? I glanced at the men who sat in the front seats of the car, their eyes trained ahead, oblivious to the storm brewing inside me.

By the time I arrived back at the mansion, I was a ball of tension, my body thrumming with adrenaline. I couldn’t sit still, couldn’t think straight. The moment I stepped through the front doors, I made my way straight to Maxim’s office.

He was there, as usual, sitting behind his desk, his expression unreadable as he looked up at me. The door clicked shut behind me, and the air in the room felt thick with unspoken words.

“Anna,” he said, his voice calm, but I could hear the underlying tension. “You’re back early.”

I didn’t waste time on pleasantries. “What the hell is this?” I demanded, tossing the envelope onto his desk. “Who’s playing games with me?”

Maxim’s eyes flickered to the envelope, and for a moment, I thought I saw something in his expression—something dark and calculating. But it was gone as quickly as it appeared. He leaned back in his chair, his gaze steady on mine.

“Where did you get that?” he asked, his voice cold.

“In the book I bought,” I snapped, crossing my arms. “So, what does it mean, Maxim? ‘You are not who you think you are’? What do you know that I don’t?”

He remained silent, his eyes narrowing slightly as he studied me. The tension between us crackled like electricity, thick and heavy.

“I don’t have time for games,” I said, my voice rising. “I’m not some puppet, Maxim. You owe me the truth.”

His jaw clenched, and for the first time, I saw a flicker of something raw in his eyes. But then he stood up, moving around the desk with that same controlled, deliberate grace that made him so infuriatingly unreadable.

“You don’t know what you’re asking for,” he said quietly, stepping closer. “I do not owe you anything. Who do you think you are, lapochka , barging in like this? Demanding from me?”

“I don’t care,” I shot back, my voice shaking slightly. “I want to know, what does it mean?”

Maxim stopped in front of me, so close that I could feel the heat radiating off his body. His eyes darkened, and for a moment, neither of us moved, the tension between us rising to a fever pitch.

“You’re still that naive girl, Anna. You do not demand from me. Are we clear?” he asked, his voice low, dangerous.

My heart pounded in my chest, my body reacting to the intensity in his voice, the dark promise in his words. But I refused to back down. I had spent too long being afraid of him, of this world. I wasn’t going to let him control me any longer.

“Try me,” I whispered, stepping closer until I could feel the brush of his chest against mine.

Maxim's deep, primal eyes flickered with a fierce desire as he stepped closer to me. His hands gripped my waist with a possessive strength, pulling me towards him until our bodies were pressed against one another. A spark of heat ignited between us, the air buzzing with palpable tension and electricity.

Without warning, he crushed his lips to mine in a rough, demanding kiss that left me breathless and wanting more. All the anger and frustration I had been feeling seemed to melt away in that moment, replaced by an overwhelming need for him. His hands roamed over my body with a sense of ownership, claiming me in a way that made my knees weak.

Despite knowing that I should resist, that I should push him away, I couldn’t help but cling to him and lose myself in the fire of his touch. His lips trailed down my neck, leaving a trail of heat and causing me to gasp as his teeth grazed my skin. And then, just as suddenly as he had started, he pulled away from me with ragged breaths and wild eyes.

"You don't know what you're doing," he rasped, his voice low and strained.

"I know exactly what I’m doing," I whispered back, my voice betraying the desire coursing through me.

For a moment, we simply stared at each other, the tension between us thick and suffocating. And then, with a growl of frustration, Maxim's grip on my waist tightened and his hands moved over my skin with a roughness that both excited and scared me. He wasn’t just touching me - he was claiming me. And instead of fighting back or pushing him away like I knew I should, I found myself wanting more of it. Craving his dominance, his raw power, his touch.

I should have hated myself for it. But in that intense moment, there was no room for hate.

He attacked my lips again with a hunger that sent my head spinning. It was as if he had been holding back for so long, and now all of that restraint had finally snapped. I could feel the full force of his desire, the desperation in every kiss and touch. And I wanted it - all of it.

With one quick motion, Maxim's hands moved to the hem of my shirt, and he pulled it off over my head, tossing it carelessly to the floor. The cold air hit my skin, causing me to shiver, but it was nothing compared to the heat of his touch. His fingers traced over the curves of my body, up to the swell of my breasts, teasing me with a gentleness that contrasted with the intensity of everything else.

"You're mine," he growled possessively against my neck, sending shivers down my spine. His lips found their way back to mine, pressing hard kisses onto my skin as his hands explored every inch of my body with a mix of dominance and urgency.

I could barely catch my breath, the weight of his words hitting me just as powerfully as the pressure of his body against mine. The tension between us had been simmering for weeks, and now it was boiling over. Every sensation, every touch, every breath felt heightened and magnified in this moment. The room was filled with the sound of our heavy breathing and rustling clothes as Maxim tugged at the waistband of my pants, swiftly pulling them down.

For a brief moment, he hovered over me, his chest rising and falling with ragged breaths, his eyes dark and wild with desire. There was something feral in the way he looked at me, as if he was fighting a losing battle against himself.

"Maxim..." I whispered, unsure of what I was even asking for but knowing that I needed him in a way that made my pulse quicken and my body tremble.

As his piercing gaze met mine, I sensed the inner turmoil and conflict raging within him. It was like a storm brewing beneath his composed exterior. And with one swift motion, he unclasped his belt and removed it, unleashing the last shred of restraint he had left.

His rough hands were on me again, pulling me closer as if the distance between us was unbearable. His voice was commanding and urgent as he ordered me to strip naked and lie down on the bed, spreading my legs for him. I couldn’t resist his demand, my body already betraying me with its uncontrollable desire. As I undressed, our eyes locked in an intense gaze, the heat between us palpable. I boldly sucked on my finger and slid it inside myself, watching as Maxim's throat tightened and he swallowed hard. In that moment, I knew I had gained the upper hand.

"Get on the bed now," he whispered hoarsely. Without hesitation, I stretched out on the soft sheets and parted my legs as far as they would go. The walls of my throbbing core pulsed with need and my clitoris felt like it was on fire.

I could feel Maxim's breath against my skin as he hovered above me. His lips trailed lower down my body, his touch sending electric shocks through every nerve ending. He teased me with kisses just above my waistband, causing my body to arch off the bed in anticipation.

"You don't know what you're asking for," he rasped, his voice barely audible but laced with desperation. Was he trying to warn me or himself about what was about to happen?

"I don't care," I panted, tangling my fingers in his hair and pulling him closer towards where I needed him most.

That was all it took.

With a guttural growl, Maxim discarded the final barrier between us and his mouth was on me once again. But this time, he was lower, his hot breath teasing my thighs. He gripped my hips firmly, holding me in place as the intensity of his desire consumed us both. It was a raw and primal act, with no trace of gentleness.

I had expected to feel overwhelmed or even frightened, but instead, I felt powerful. For the first time in weeks, I had Maxim at my mercy, unraveled and out of control. He had always held all the power in our relationship, dictating every aspect of my life. But now, as his skilled tongue worked its magic on me, I realized that I, too, had power.

And it was intoxicating.

Maxim's movements were precise and deliberate, each touch sending waves of pleasure through my body that had me gasping for air, my fingers digging into the sheets beneath me. He knew exactly what he was doing, and there was something maddeningly arousing about how he controlled my body even now - making me unravel beneath him, while I desperately clung onto whatever shred of control I had left.

I could feel myself teetering on the edge, the tension building within me until it was almost unbearable. My entire body trembled, and my breath came in ragged gasps as Maxim pushed me closer to the brink. And just when I thought I couldn’t take it anymore, he stopped.

A frustrated whimper escaped my lips as I craved more and begged for release. But Maxim wasn’t finished with me yet. He leaned over me again, pressing his body against mine and whispering hotly in my ear.

"I control you," he growled possessively, his voice rough and commanding. "Every part of you. Don't ever forget that."

His words should have ignited a raging fire inside me, but instead they acted as gasoline, fueling the inferno of need and desire that had been building within. I wanted to fight back; to tell him he didn't have power over me, that I was my own person. But in that moment, he did control me. Every breath, every heartbeat, every pulse of pleasure belonged to him.

Maxim's body moved with a primal ferocity as he positioned himself between my legs, his eyes blazing with hunger as he looked down at me. I was looking at his penis, admiring it. It was perfect. The length, the girth. Everything about it was so smooth. I squeezed it in my hand but suddenly Maxim slapped my hand away. He turned me around and put me in a doggie style position and then entered me with one forceful thrust, sending a shockwave through my body that made me cry out in ecstasy. The intensity of it all consumed me as I clung to him, my nails digging into his skin. There was no tenderness, only raw passion and desire driving us both to the edge.

Maxim's grip on my hips tightened as he pulled me closer, deeper, and I surrendered myself completely to him. He was fucking me from behind, moving faster and faster and I couldn’t help but start screaming.

“Shut up,” he told me. “Do not make a sound.” And then he placed a ball in my mouth and locked it from behind. My eyes became wide. Tears started dripping but I did not question anything. I wanted this. I really did. I was a bad girl.

Maxim's thrusts inside of me grew more forceful, the sound of his hips slapping against my butt cheeks echoing through the room. My blood was boiling, consumed by the intense connection between us. In that moment, nothing else mattered except for the heat and tension coursing through our bodies. I struggled to catch my breath as all my focus was on the sensation of him moving inside of me. I was getting closer and closer to the sweet release.

He walked around me, his erect penis now in front of my face. He jerked it a few times before releasing his hot semen all over my face. "You are not allowed to come, today," he said firmly. "I will tell you when. But not now, princess.” As he took out the gag ball out of my mouth, he brushed his hand against my cheek gently.

I was speechless. What a jerk.

The silence between us was deafening, the tension thick enough to cut with a knife. I searched his face for any sign of what he was thinking, but found nothing but an unreadable mask. The fire that had burned between us moments ago now reduced to smoldering ashes.

I wanted to speak, to demand answers to the questions that had been plaguing me. But fear and uncertainty kept the words locked in my throat.

Maxim stood up and began to dress, his back turned to me. The tension grew with each passing second until he finally turned to face me, his expression hard and cold once again.

"This changes nothing," he stated, his voice devoid of emotion. "You're still mine, Anna. Don't forget that."

And with that, he left the room, leaving me alone with the weight of what had just happened.