Vanquished (The Encounter #3)(46)
I gave a genuine smile, partially gazing down at her as I took the steps. “I’m a romantic. Let me just take care of you the way I know how.”
Arriving at my bedroom, I opened it and immediately took her to the king-sized mattress. Carefully laying her down, I situated her pliant body then covered her with the feather comforter.
“Are you comfortable enough?” My eyes lovingly roved over her beautiful face, noting everything about her, even the slight evidence of the dark circles that were forming beneath her eyes. She was exhausted, and she was trying to champion it out by not complaining.
She merely nodded with half-lidded eyes. “You’re here; that’s all I’ll ever need.”
If she wasn’t so haggard, I would have showed how those words affected me and my loins, but I had to set that aside for a later date. There were important things I had to discuss with Julien.
After bending down to kiss her forehead, I whispered, “May you have the sweetest dreams, ma belle. Je t’aime.” By the time I was done saying those words, I wasn’t surprised to find her fast asleep.
I stared down at her sleeping form, full of wonderment and overwhelming love. Then I reluctantly dragged myself out of there and immediately went to seek Julien, who was at the bar in the process of making himself a drink.
“We have a problem,” I uttered before giving him a nod, wanting a drink for myself.
“How exciting, and here I thought life was becoming a bore.”
Ignoring his blatant sarcasm, I downed the entire drink that he handed me in one go, savoring the steady burn of the alcohol.
“Constantin came to see me. Unfortunately, the bastard had some interesting news to share that came with a hefty price tag.” The cost didn’t matter. What I loathed was the man himself.
Setting my thoughts of the rotten man aside, I told him my uncle’s story before weaving back towards Isobel’s history and how, in the most f*cked up of f*cked upness, hers was intertwined with mine.
Julien’s immediate suggestion was to take Isobel to New York with him tomorrow. He had a point, but at the same time, I argued that it might be best to face Benedikt and negotiate a way to get out of this mess without hurting Isobel.
So we went on, discussing the best route to take, hoping to accomplish both.
Once we agreed upon the decision, I bid my friend good night. I took my time before entering the bedroom as quietly as I could. Then, for a suspended time, I simply gazed at her with such longing it ached deep in my soul.
“I love you, Isobel.” Whatever happens, know that I love you until the end.
My body ached to be inside of her, but I persevered by seeking the bathroom and giving myself a cold shower. I didn’t let up until my body was manageable, and my cock wasn’t raging hard.
Exiting the bathroom, I strode into the walk-in closet and pulled out boxer briefs. Normally, I detested such whilst sleeping, but tonight wasn’t about me. This was about Isobel. I had to control my instincts, which were to ravage her body until I was exhausted. And by slipping next to her without anything on, I might be more than tempted.
Slipping into the bed, I let out a contented sigh as I pulled her body against my own. The very feeling of her warmth against mine meant everything to me. This was how love was, and I didn’t want to ever let it go.
Moments later, I groggily woke to the sight of Isobel straddling me, f*cking my cock to her heart’s content. She moaned and panted with her hair unraveling around her, looking like the beautiful siren she was. There was no sight more stunning than the woman who owned my heart using me with gusto because she simply couldn’t resist me. Well, the feeling was bloody f*cking mutual.
No woman, upon vague recollection, f*cked hard the way Isobel f*cked me.
Afterward, I submerged back to unconsciousness with a smile on my face. So much for restraining myself. The joke was on me.
Pieces of heaven surely were found each time I was with her, in her arms, loved by her and no one else.
This fight would all be worth it.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Hugo
The cracking from the wood in the burning hearth exuded warmth into the room, yet nothing seemed to warm me.
It had been two days since Julien had left, and I was still waiting for any sign from the Russians. My business was being run through my computer while I patiently waited for any development. I was positive someone would show up soon enough.
The crucial part of this process was the waiting game, and I could wait forever if I had to. There was nothing in this world I wanted to acquire more than a future for my children, and I could almost taste it. I was almost there. All I had to do was stay calm.
I walked out of the library, temporarily halting going through contracts because I was in dire need of a stiff drink.
“I finally get to meet the great Hugo Xavier,” a heavily accented voice boomed out into the hall.
Immediately halting my steps, I swung to the side to see who the intruder was. As much as I had tried, nothing could have prepared me to face the one man who had been dictating my fate, crippling me into the man I had become.
“You mean, you finally get to put a face to the innocent person you’ve cursed.” There weren’t many photos of this man since he didn’t like the media. Therefore, I was a tad shocked to find he quite old. The man was most likely in his late eighties, if not older.