Once my sweatshirt was open, she shifted down my legs and commenced kissing my scar from the bottom of my neck to my pecs. When she reached the end of the scar, she lifted her face, her cheeks red and her skin flushed with need.

“Zoya,” I whispered; then she rose from my lap and got to her feet. Never breaking my gaze, she kicked off her boots and snapped open the button of her black pants.

Reaching down into my sweatpants, I grabbed my hard cock and began stroking along the length. And I watched; I watched Zoya as she slowly pulled her pants down and kicked them to the floor. She wore no panties, and as she stepped closer her pussy came into view.

Pre-come leaked from the tip of my cock at the sight. Bending down, Zoya pushed the material of the sweatshirt from my shoulders. Releasing my cock, I shrugged it to the floor just as Zoya unbuttoned her blouse, her tits bared as the material parted.

She stood before me, unmoving, until I held out my hand. Zoya walked forward, and as she stood over my legs I ran my hands down over her chest, my fingers running over her hard nipples and down to just above her pussy.

Zoya’s breathing was labored at my touch. She lowered down until she was on her knees and, pushing her hand into my pants, pulled out my cock, pushing the material farther down my legs. My head tipped back at the feel of her soft small hands stroking up and down my dick, her thumb rubbing over the head, spreading the wetness.

Zoya stood up and, as she pressed a kiss to my lips, she guided my cock toward her, the both of us groaning low as she pushed herself down. Her tight cunt fisted my cock, and needing to touch her, I slid my hands round to grip her ass. Zoya moaned again when I palmed her flesh, and she dropped down until I was completely inside her.

We both stilled, and Zoya’s hands threaded around my neck, her tits that were peeking out of her shirt close enough to scrape against my hard chest.

Using my hands as a guide on her ass, I lifted her up, her tight pussy strangling my dick as I pulled it out, leaving only the tip inside. Then I guided her back down, the feel of her tight wet heat driving me insane.

Zoya’s head rolled back as she sat right down; then it fell forward as I lifted her again. Her forehead pressed to mine, and her hips began to move, slowly rocking back and forth.

“Valentin,” she called as her arms tightened around my neck. “My Valentin,” she added with a strained sad whisper.

My heart almost stopped in my chest as she called me hers. Unable to hold back, I released a long groan and used the grip on her ass to build the speed of my thrusts.

Zoya whimpered as I increased my speed. I could feel her skin heating to the same scalding temperature as my own. And I could see the same pleasure on her face as the pleasure ripping through my every cell.

Her small body pumped up and down, and with every soft thrust a flush built more and more on her face.

My breathing lowered as my balls began to tighten. Small moans began slipping from Zoya’s mouth. Her pussy started squeezing at my dick, and taking one of my hands from her ass, I brought it round to press against her clit. Zoya fell forward, her body jumping at the feel.

“Valentin,” she whispered, and ground herself harder against my hand. Her lean thighs tensed as she rocked even harder.

“Kotyonok,” I groaned as pressure built in my groin. Then I pumped, I pumped into her harder and harder, until a soft cry tore from her throat. Zoya stilled, and in the dull light I saw her mouth drop slightly open. At the sight of her beautiful face, caught in pleasure, I came. My head fell against her neck as I roared out my release, possessing this little Georgian with it.

My body jerked as my prick released the last of my seed. When I calmed, my breathing hard and labored, I felt Zoya’s breath clouding over my neck.

Without saying a thing, I wrapped my arms around her waist and pulled her close. Zoya’s arms caged my head, and that’s how we sat. We sat like this for a long time, just holding each other.

It was our good-bye.

My blood boiled when I tried to think of something I could do, but if I fought back I sentenced Zoya to death, and Inessa to a life of cruelty at the hands of the Master. But if I did nothing Mistress would drug Zoya and make my life twice as bad, forcing me to watch Zoya and my sister being raped by her sick guards.

“My mama used to say something to me all of the time, Valentin,” Zoya spoke. I realized I’d been squeezing her to my body too tightly. Her small hands ran over my scarred shaven head, followed by a kiss. “She would say, Change the things you can control, and let go of the things you cannot.” On my hearing her words my eyes pricked and a burning feeling engulfed my throat.

“Zoya…,” I said her name, but I had nothing else to offer.

Zoya pulled back and covered my cheeks with her warm hands. As I met her big brown eyes, she said, “This is a hopeless situation. I know that.” She sighed, and I could see her trying to be strong—her quivering lip betrayed her fear. “I have come to learn that I was born into a life of violence and crime. It seems it is a destiny from which neither of us can escape. Whatever happens next will happen. That is our life.”

I shook my head and squeezed her hard. My cheek rested against her chest, and I said, “I hated Georgians, hated Georgian females in particular. But I can’t hate you, Zoya. You’re the only good I’ve ever known. You’re the strongest person I’ve ever known.” I sighed, and rearing back, I pressed a kiss over the place of her heart and said, “My little Georgian.”

Zoya’s breathing hitched in her chest, and she whispered, “Valentin.”

She never got to say anything else. I never got to kiss her soft lips again, because as I held her close the door to the room opened and a Wraith blocked the entrance. I flipped Zoya from his view, showing the Wraith my back. A cold laugh came from his throat, and he ordered, “Get up! Mistress is ready for you.”

I glanced down to Zoya, whom I had pushed against the corner of the wall, and with sad eyes she nodded her head. “Do not fight. I don’t want to see you hurt again.”

I closed my eyes, trying to cool my raging blood. When I opened them, I took a deep breath. Lifting Zoya in my arms, I picked the sweatshirt off the floor and pushed it over her naked body. “Put it on,” I whispered. Zoya took the sweatshirt in her hands and quickly dressed. I zipped up the zipper and tucked my cock back in my pants.

Straightening, I turned to the Wraith guard, and he flicked his head for me to follow. Placing Zoya on the floor, I reached for her hand and wrapped her fingers in mine. I had stepped forward to move when the sight of her hand in mine pulled me to a stop. Zoya’s free hand landed on my arm.

“Valentin?” she asked, her black eyebrows pulled down in question.

Lifting our joined hands, I brought the back of her hand to my lips and kissed the silky skin.

“Baby?” Zoya asked again, and my heart melted at that term of endearment coming from her lips.

I shook my head and fought back the image in my head.

“What?” Zoya pushed again.

“This,” I said, and held up our joined hands. “We will never do this. We will never walk in the open air. Free. With our hands like this.”

Zoya’s face shone with sadness and her gaze dropped to our joined hands. “I used to watch people on the streets from my window and dream of the day I would do this with the man who would steal my heart.” Zoya’s lip hooked into a loving smile, and she asked, “You have dreamed of that, too?”

Staring at Zoya, memorizing every part of her face, I said, “Not until you.”

Zoya had moved to kiss me on my lips when the Wraith guard reappeared in the doorway, crackling Taser in hand. “Move!”

Resisting the need to kill, I pulled Zoya behind me. We followed the shadow down the hallway and up some stairs. The Wraith opened a door and took us toward a room at the back of the mansion. When we walked through the door, my stomach fell. The room was dark but large. Sitting in the center of the room were two small beds with straps attached to the frames. And on the back wall was a stack of large screens.

Zoya’s hand tightened in mine when the lowest screen showed Inessa. I stepped forward just as Mistress entered from a side door. Seeing her walk in, dressed all in black as always, her hair scraped back off her face, I whipped round to face her. “You bitch!” I snarled.