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  “It means I need to remove myself from the equation,” Persephone said, fighting tears.

  “Remove yourself from the – ? No!” he exclaimed upon realization. “Hell no!”

  “That’s the only alternative, Vanya! There are too many things at stake here. My life, my limbs, what anyone who wants that intelligence plans to do with it. Those things supersede my happiness.”

  “Leaving isn’t the answer! You can’t just run from people and your past forever.”

  “You’d be surprised how effectively one can.”

  “Dammit! Would you just stop and think of another way to go at this with me? We can figure this out!”

  “We can’t!” Persephone insisted, raising her voice. She wiped her tears away. “There isn’t another way around it. I’m not giving your father what he wants, and I can’t stick around to have him try and take it from me. That’s all there is to it.”

  “That’s all the there is to it?” Vanya growled low. He sucked in a long breath through his nose as he advanced on her. It felt like steam and he knew his face must be red. Pulsing with anger, he grabbed her shoulders and pulled her toward him.

  “I can’t believe you would try to walk out on me like this. I want to make one thing very clear to you. I am not letting you go. You’re staying here and you need to get used to it.” Vanya scowled down at Persephone, daring her to say otherwise. Her cheeks filled with rouge. Fury overtook her visage. He’d seen the look just once before, when he’d ordered her away after he shot a man that would have killed them both.

  “You think you’re in fucking control of me? Let me tell you something: I’m here right now because I want to be. I can be gone. I can leave anytime I feel like it, and there is nothing you or any-fuckin’-body can do about it,” Persephone spat back. She pulled away, but her answer only drove Vanya to grip her tighter.

  “Don’t you dare test me. I’ve been so good because I love you, but I swear to God you better not run from me.”

  “Or what, Vanya? Really? Are you gonna lock me in your dungeon? Have Max follow me everywhere?”

  “If that’s what it takes. I’m not playing with you, Persephone. If you try to walk away from me, the kid gloves come off.”

  “They just fucking came off,” Persephone rejoined, wrenching away successfully and sweeping past him. “This isn’t going to work, Vanya. I have to leave.”

  She didn’t get far before he caught her shoulders and roughly turned her to him, not budging when she tried to jerk away. His rage grew, but it was nothing compared to the fear that was overwhelming him.

  “Where the hell do you think you’re going!” Vanya demanded.

  “I’m leaving, right now.” She tried to yank herself from him with no avail.

  “Like hell you are.”

  With ease, Vanya pushed her down onto the sofa. When he would have advanced on her, he thought twice and shoved a hand through his hair. He began unbuckling his belt.

  “You must be out of your damn mind,” Persephone hissed through gritted teeth. When he came toward her, Persephone jumped from his reach and crouched on her feet at the other end of the sofa. She looked ready to attack. Vanya was struck by the feral gleam in her big brown eyes. She reminded him of an incensed predator. At that moment he realized Persephone was ready to pounce or flee. She was seriously going to fight him.

  Vanya went forward to snatch her. She tried to back up on the couch, but he was too fast. He grabbed her ankle and pulled her toward him. Kicking at his abdomen and twisting her body, she quickly rolled from beneath him when he would have landed on her. Instead of moving away, Persephone lunged up and bit his arm. They wrestled together as he tried to restrain her.

  She gave him several good hits that would soon become bruises. In fact, there were times when he suspected she was holding back. She had yet to bust out any of those martial arts moves he had heard about. At one point, her thighs encased his neck, blocking his airway. The grip was so tight, and he wasn’t sure how to pull her off without causing her harm.

  The erotic nature of their entanglement wasn’t lost on Vanya. He loved being between her legs and his dick was reminding him of that fact. It had shown up to the struggle some time ago, awakened by their roughhousing. Vanya knew there must be some part of Persephone enjoying this. Earlier he’d witnessed her satisfied smirk after she’d landed a sound slap to his face. They’d scuffled playfully several times, but arousal was the only thing those carefree bedtime sessions had in common with the way they grappled now. Fear and anger loomed behind their restraint. Vanya was afraid something they’d both regret would happen if this went on much longer. It was time to turn the tables.

  Catching a whiff of her arousal, he slid his hand up her dress and began to massage her ass. Persephone’s surprise was immediate. She gasped. It was all Vanya needed to flip over, drag her under him, and pin her body with his.

  He had to give her credit. Persephone was good – really good. If she had truly intended to inflict lasting harm, she might have gotten away. She’d held back, however. It was the advantage he needed.

  Vanya was an athlete. His strength and weight - combined with all the wrestling moves he learned with the twins as a child and then perfected in middle school competition - eventually took Persephone down. He’d had to pull every trick in his book, but he finally subdued her. By the end, they were unbelievably hot for one another.

  Vanya used one hand to restrain her wrists and the other to pull down and kick off his pants and briefs while toeing off his shoes and socks. He used his lower body to spread her legs. Holding her, he rose from the floor and sat her on the couch. After ripping her black lace panties, he fell to his knees before her, restraining her thighs with encircling arms and her wrists with clenched fists.

  “I’m not out my of mind,” Vanya looked at her intently, uttering the first words spoken since their physical altercation began. “I’m thinking straight for the first time.”

  With that, he stuck his tongue in her pussy. Her juices immediately flowed forth and trickled into his mouth. Vanya gave a long, laving lick from her ass to her clit, ending the survey with flicks of his tongue. His lips latched onto her clit, suckling at it like a nipple until it was hard and stiff. Up until then, Persephone had been trying to squirm from his grasp. She’d even pulled at his hair and ears at one point, but when he got a hold of that clit she gave in. Persephone’s clawing fingers pushed his face further into her center.

  Vanya smiled. Her small surrender allowed him the freedom to pleasure her manually as well. He guided two fingers inside her as he alternated between licks and sucks. She moaned and Vanya capitalized on her growing ecstasy. He spit on her clit and moved the pads of his other fingers to swish back and forth over her little bud at a blurring speed. That and the tempo of his pumping fingers had Persephone coming with harsh shudders.

  Vanya gave her no time to recover; he simply got on top of her, rearranged their bodies lengthwise, and shoved his hard cock inside her. He thrust in and out of her body immediately and lost himself in her beauty as she cried out to him. Her eyes were closed and she pulled down the collar of her dress and bra to expose and squeeze her nipples.

  He bent down and kissed her savagely, making sure she tasted and smelled her essence all over his mouth. He took the kiss, delving into her mouth with his tongue, ending with a sharp bite to her bottom lip for good measure. Vanya pushed himself up as he continued to stroke. He then slowed his pace until Persephone looked up at him. His voice was stern, but its tremble betrayed his arousal and struggle for control.

  “I’ve been so fucking sweet and gentle because I love you so much. Accommodating, conciliatory Vanya. I’ve tried to be good, but I realize I haven’t done you any favors by doing that. You’ve never really been acquainted with Ivan Kirillovich.”

  “Are you fucking hearing yourself right now? You need to listen to the words coming out of your mouth because they are insane!” Persephone raged at him, rising up on her forearms. She grab
bed onto his shoulders and rotated her hips against him in an attempt to gain a more dominant position. Vanya wouldn’t have it. He was burning inside and her attempt to defy him only stoked his fire. Maintaining eye contact, he pushed her back down, snatched her wrists in his hands, and pinned them by her head.

  “Persephone, listen to me,” Vanya whispered harshly.

  Before responding, she gulped. Vanya could tell she was afraid. Her eyes were wide and alert; he rarely called her by her full first name. In that moment, he was glad she feared him. He wanted to punish her for thinking she could just abandon him.

  “What?!” Persephone bit out after regaining some composure.

  “I can’t let you walk away from me. I’m not going to let you take that job in LA,” Vanya ignored her blink of surprise and kept speaking as he moved against her. “Yeah, that’s right. You’re not the only one that can do some snooping.” It was only job she’d applied to outside the area, but the fact that she’d done it and hid it from him was infuriating. Vanya knew she would be livid after learning that he’d been checking in on her application process, but he’d felt he had no choice. She’d been pulling away from him for months and she needed to understand that he was now in charge.

  A strained silence hung between them. They panted breaths at each other’s faces, and even though she remained quiet and cross, Persephone threw herself against his rough thrusts. Her pussy was damn hot and it made Vanya’s balls tighten.

  He closed his eyes, lowered himself so that their flesh pressed together, and began to hammer her pussy. While biting her neck he remembered to play with her clit to make her come before he exploded inside her. Vanya wanted there to be no doubt in her mind who provided the loving she craved.

  Persephone’s hand crept under his shirt and her fingernails scored his back and ass as she fucked back as hard as Vanya gave. She began chanting his name in both frustration and arousal and erratically bucked her sex against him. With shrieks of “yes” and “fuck yes” she shattered and gushed on his cock – the second time she’d bestowed that honor on him.

  Mad with lust, Vanya pulled out and turned Persephone around. He impaled her mercilessly from behind and then brought her back against his chest. One of his large hands gripped her neck and held her right ear against his lips. The other hand ripped the collar of her dress, tore at her bra, and seized her left breast with a grip that made the full brown globe redden. Vanya unleashed the power of his body on his love, driving into her while grunting commands.

  “Do you feel that? It’s me taking what’s mine, Persephone. Mine. This is where you belong. Right here with me. You’re going to take a job here in the city and when you cool off we’ll get married and move in together. Do you understand me?”

  When he received no answer he bit her ear and awaited confirmation. When he felt he’d waited long enough he growled loudly, pounding her with every word. “Do you understand me!?”

  “Yes!” Persephone whimpered. Vanya knew that she was close to another orgasm. Whispering against her ear, he said all the dirty things she loved.

  “You can’t leave me. We belong to each other, sweetpea. We’re meant for each other and we need each other, hmm. Who can give you love like ours? Who can fuck this sweet little chocolate cunt just the way you like it, babe? Who makes you come over and over and fills you up? When he gives you all his seed? When he takes you like a naughty little bitch in heat? Tell me! Tell me and I’ll come. I’ll shoot my load inside you. You’ll get all my come, sweetpea.”

  Vanya ignored her whimpers of “please.” He knew his words would work her up, but he didn’t want to give her what she wanted until she completely surrendered. The hand on her neck dropped to her clit and she began to shake. He could feel everything as her orgasm triggered his; the cool air of the living room, their mixed sweat between her dress and his shirt, and best of all, the incredible sensation of Persephone’s tight, wet pussy squeezing his dick for dear life.

  “Here it comes, Percy. Tell me who does it for you. Tell me who you belong to. Tell me now!”

  “You, Vanya, oh, my God!” Persephone cried and fell apart all over again.

  “Ahh! Ah! Fuckin’ take it. Take it! Ah!”

  Vanya came with a roar and wrapped his arms around her. His groans of satisfaction didn’t stop until his body went lax. He maintained his tight embrace for several minutes as they panted against one another. Persephone’s hands rested on his forearms as she spasmed intermittently on his cock. She tried to disentangle their bodies when he finally softened, but he hugged her closer. Slowly and gently, he pulled out of her and carried her to the bedroom.

  He placed Persephone on the bed and tried to ignore her refusal to look at him. She was still angry, but he vowed that they’d work it out in time. They had to.

  Vanya removed his shirt and tank top before going to the bathroom and retrieving a warm washcloth. Now nude, he kneeled before her and pried her legs open, keeping his eyes glued to her face. Persephone’s lids were narrowed and her jaw was clenched. Her irritated stare focused on the bedside table.

  There were no signs of the gratitude and contentment that she usually expressed when he washed her after they made love. She pulled her chin away when he tried to kiss it. When she was clean, he threw the washcloth in his hamper and put on some boxers from his drawer. Persephone still sat on her side of the bed, legs dangling, but the rest of her body was immobile. She’d pulled up her bra over her breasts and removed the torn dress. Vanya entered the bed on his side and moved behind her. Persephone shrugged off his touch on her shoulder and continued to glare at anything but him.

  “Let me finish undressing you,” Vanya insisted softly. “Lay down and talk to me.”

  But Persephone did no such thing. She just sat there. A pit expanded in Vanya’s abdomen with each passing moment. His stomach nearly flew into his esophagus when she sprang up on wobbly legs. Persephone snatched a dress from a hanger in the closet headed to the living room. He followed her and watched with panic as she slipped the frock over her head and began toe on some boat shoes.

  “Percy, stop it.”

  “Vanya, how could you possibly think that would endear me toward you? ‘Hey, woman, I’m keeping you under lock and key until you get over this and love me again.’ Yeah, right!”

  “You still love me, and I love you,” Vanya interjected testily.

  “Whatever, Vanya. This isn’t some ‘Beauty and the Beast’ shit. You’re obviously in some sort of state or mood right now, so I’m going to be very clear. I am leaving. I’m gone. We think we know each other, but we obviously don’t, because you sure as fuck don’t know me.” Persephone grabbed her purse and moved toward the front door. She turned the doorknob, but the steel of Vanya’s voice halted her progress.

  “It’s too late for you to go out right now. If you walk out that door, I will have Max tail you everywhere. I’ll sleep on the couch or whatever you want, just don’t –”

  “Just stop, Vanya!” she shouted. With that, Persephone stepped through the door and slammed it closed. He could hear her stalking down the hall toward the elevator.

  Vanya quickly retrieved his phone and pressed two on his speed dial. “Persephone is coming downstairs, follow her… no, just don’t let her leave once she gets there. Send her back up when she wants to leave and call me when she’s cooled down… you’ll know. You won’t hear any shouting.”

  Vanya hung up and closed his eyes. His body ached. Their wrestling match had left marks on his neck, arms, and torso. He could feel the red, raw scratches on his back and ass. Vanya made to slump down on the sofa but stopped himself when he noticed the evidence of their coupling on the seat. He picked up the panties he’d torn from her body, made his way back to his bedroom, and threw them in the hamper. Sitting on his bed, Vanya realized he wasn’t proud of the way he’d taken her. It wasn’t rape, but it wasn’t quite lovemaking either.

  In all their time together, as rough as he and Persephone were, they had never just fucked
. Even years ago, when they’d brought each other to climax in the library; that was lovemaking. They just didn’t know it yet. The sex they’d just had didn’t resolve anything. It just hurt.

  Not even a shower could sooth the guilt and angst that were welling in him. He let water beat against his body until he was pruned. Vanya barely had the strength to exit and went straight to his bed rather than drying off. Sleep evaded him, and he tossed and turned, wallowing in Persephone’s scent. It was a poor substitute for having her cuddled next to him. Dread took over without the heat of their argument to fuel him. How were they going to get past this?

  ☐

  Persephone only went to Finn’s apartment to make sure that Max felt like he was affective at his job. He was good, but not good enough. He had no idea she’d left through the adjacent building. When she’d arrived at her own place, she disabled the audio tap he’d placed in the living room. Peter’s visit had revealed some security measures Vanya had taken without her consent. They were well-meaning, but in light of their fight, she resented it. She’d reconnected the tap after she packed several changes of clothes. The sounds of Gretchen, her summer sub-letter, would keep Max ignorant of her visit until he and Vanya realized she’d left Finn’s apartment minutes after arriving.

  The airplane air irritated her nose, and if she wasn’t so paranoid, she’d have gone to sleep. Benny Velasquez was escorting her during her extraction, and Persephone supposed that should have made her feel a bit better, but it didn’t. She suspected that he thought of her as an unnecessary nuisance. After all, when her parents died, it was he who had said Persephone living outside of the department’s watchful wing would only delay the inevitable. Here she was, years later, headed to godknowswhere and proving him right.

  Velasquez was fifteen years younger than her mother and Peter and had worked with them both. Persephone always thought that was odd, because Velasquez was more curmudgeonly than someone twice his age. She had vague memories of him coming over for dinner when she was a child. Still, she didn’t trust him not to off her if she fell asleep. After all these years, she still didn’t really know what her parents and Peter did. Looking at the situation from Velasquez’s side of things, she supposed her death would save a lot of money and personnel hours.