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“Nik,” she squeaks. “Oh, fuck.”

I move my hips faster. She bites the pillow again. I have to keep my teeth gritted to stop from making any noise. Pressure is building inside me, especially when I focus on her thick, creamy ass flattening against my abs. I can feel her juiciness flowing. The thought of my cock sliding between her round cheeks and into that precious hole, the image of it, almost makes me explode.

I burst into a quick rhythm, completely lost to her now. Owned by her. Consumed by her. She has more control over me than anyone ever has. Her sweet, perfect slit. Her thick body. Her bravery. Her soul. Her forgiveness.

When her muffled moans change tempo, I know she’s close.

She moves so sensually, rocking with me. I’m massaging her ample breast, indulgently focusing on her tight nipple. This is something closer than the mad fucking in my office. We slow down even more. We try to stay in this moment as long as we possibly can.

When I feel her break, I explode, falling over the edge with her. Her pussy grips my cock, lets it go, grips it, over and over. I hold her against me, kissing the back of her neck as I empty completely.

Once I’ve caught my breath, I go to the trash basket and clean up, then slip out the door to wash my hands. I move through the house, conscious I don’t want to wake Zoe. I meant what I said. I want to do right by her daughter.

When I return, Serena’s sitting on the edge of the bed, the lamp on. She looks flushed and happy. And a little unsure.

I pull her to her feet. “I should go,” I say, kissing her gently on the lips.

She nods. “I’m sorry. Yeah. This has been risky enough already. But that was…” She smiles shakily.

I smirk. “It always is, whether I’m screwing Iris or Serena.”

Her cheeks redden. “The first two times, they were screwing.”

“This was making love. You’re right.”

“I didn’t say that.”

I pull her in for a kiss. “You didn’t have to.”

She wraps her arms around me, moaning, then pushes me away gently.

“I’ll see you soon,” I tell her.

I leave the apartment, nodding to Dmitry, then ride the elevator down. When I’m in the car, she sends me a text from the Iris number.

Iris: Just remember, you can’t save everyone. And maybe I’ll have to save you.

X: I’m going to make this right. Then we can go back to falling in love.

CHAPTER 25

SERENA

The next morning, Owen tells me he’s got word from Rafael that he’s ready to meet. Today. As soon as possible. My hand crushes a cookie. That’s supposedly the reason I’m here. To bring more cookies to my new neighbor.

Owen looks at me with determination in his eyes. He’s scared, but I know he’s thinking of his sister. He’s thinking of all the evil shit Rafael Cordero has got away with. I remember every time he insulted me and flashed that silver-toothed grin at me.

I summon my resolve, ignoring the guilt when I think about going behind Nikolai’s back. But if I told him I was planning on this, he’d stop me. He still doesn’t understand that I’m going to save him, even if I literally told him in a text last night.

One half of me screams out to call Nikolai, lean on him. But the mama bear knows I have to do what’s right.

“We need to slip the guard,” I murmur.

“Yaroslav Sokolov.” Owen swallows. “The Sokolov brothers don’t miss much.”

“But they don’t expect us to sneak out,” I say. “I’m going to create a distraction. Be ready to run from your apartment door to the staircase.”

“Not the elevator?”