VLAD (The V Games #1)(41)

“You’re beautiful,” I murmur.

She smiles at me. “Thank you. Now get naked.”

“Naked?” I chuckle at her boldness, but rise to my feet. She’s so damn cute in a black tank top and tight, black yoga pants. Her feet are bare and I have the urge to kiss them. Never in my life have I wanted to kiss someone’s feet. But with her little painted toes wiggling, I’m thinking kissing her feet sounds entirely too enticing.

Pulling off my jacket, I drape it over the back of my chair. Her brows are furrowed as she watches me. I pluck through the buttons of my vest and lose it along with my tie. I slowly undo my dress shirt, enjoying the hungry way she’s watching me.

“How’s your cunt?” I ask.

Her cheeks burn bright red. “Fine.”

I chuckle and slide the shirt off my shoulders. When I tug off the wife beater, I regard her with a lifted brow. “Want me to keep going?”

She swallows and nods. “I know what I want to paint. Keep going.”

Amused, I unbuckle my belt and send my slacks to the floor, kicking out of them and my shoes. She points at my socks, and I laugh. When I start to pull off my black boxer briefs, she stops me.

“Leave those on and sit back down. You can go back to sleep if you want.” Her embarrassment fades as she busies herself with her paints.

“I was just sure you wanted to paint my dick,” I tease.

She lets out a cute laugh. “Typical male. It’s not all about the penis. It’s about the male form.” Her skin flushes. “Not just any male. You.”

I settle into the chair and sprawl my legs out. Seeing her look so damn adorable in her element has my cock hardening again.

“Hey now,” she says playfully, “keep that thing in check. I have a man to paint.”

I chuckle. It’s real and uncharacteristic for me. She makes me feel free, unburdened, and young. She makes me feel like a man and a boy all in one. I’ve never felt so relaxed around another person before. I’ve taken my clothes off, but she makes me feel naked. Like I’m baring not just my skin and body, but also my soul.

I scratch at the side of my jaw as I stare at her. She’s beautiful when she paints. Her eyes seem to glaze over as she sees parts of the world nobody else sees. I find myself enraptured in her stare. After a while of her quietly painting, I start to drift off again.

“Vlad?”

“Mmm?” I don’t open my eyes.

“Keep doing what you’re doing.”

What am I doing?

The sounds of her light breathing lull me to sleep and dreams of her bombard me as I drift deeper into the unknown. This thing between us won’t last—it can’t—but I want it to. With all that I am.

Keep doing what I’m doing?

That shouldn’t be a problem.

Even if I have to keep doing it in secret.





I wake buried under a mountain of covers. A yawn steals over me as I push the blankets away and squint at the morning sun. I look over at the chair in my room, but Vlad is no longer there. Vaguely, I remember him carrying me to bed after I fell asleep.

Everything hurts.

I feel bruised and used.

But I also feel good too.

My pussy hurts, but triumph surges through me. I did it. I managed to distract and get the great Vlad Vasiliev to fuck me so he won’t kill my sister. Easy. I’m a genius.

Except now, I feel like I’ve made things ten times more complicated. Sure, I allowed my sister to sleep with Ven without interruption by distracting her fiancé into taking my virginity, and if that isn’t screwed up, I don’t know what is.

I slide out of my bed and rush over to my painting. It’s crude and messy, but I love it. Vlad, asleep and vulnerable. I’ve never seen anything more beautiful, except the real thing, of course. I could stare at him like this for hours.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

“Irina,” Diana calls out on the other side of the door. It’s then I realize it’s closed and locked. I didn’t panic. I felt safe last night. The thought is surprising, and I tuck it away to ponder later.

“Coming!” I shove the canvas under the bed and rush over to the door.

When I open it, she is a picture of perfection. She no longer wears a scarf, but she’s covered her love bite with makeup. “Good morning, lazy buns. Do you know what time it is?”

I shrug. “No. Why?”

“It’s just not like you to sleep the day away. Especially with all that banging going on down the hall.” She sighs as she regards me. “Thank you.”

I lift my brows. “For what?”

“For distracting Vlad. I knew you were trying to protect me. I’ve been careless, and I’m sorry you felt you needed to pick up the slack. Thanks for distracting him.” She looks around and eyes the paints on the floor. “Yuri said you were painting Vlad for me. Where’s the painting?”

“Uh, he took it. You can’t see your wedding gift early,” I say in exasperation. I quickly change the subject. “Did you…?”

She blinks slowly and smiles. “We took the stolen opportunity, yes. Made love, and then I sent him away from my room before anyone would notice.” She toys with a lock of messy hair that’s fallen loose from my bun. “One day, you’ll understand what it feels like to have sex. It’s unlike anything you’ll ever experience.”