CLAIMED BY THE DEVIL DON.

The warmth of his body had long since faded, yet the memory lingered, a silent echo in the sheets, in the pervasive quiet. The bed beside me lay empty, the cotton cool beneath my fingertips, but his scent, dark, earthy, unmistakably masculine, still clung to the air. His gaze from the night before haunted me: possessive, unreadable, yet carrying a vulnerability that unsettled more than it comforted. Today, incredibly, marked our first official date. A surreal notion, considering he had already staked a claim on my future with the subtle force of an oncoming storm.

He departed soon after, leaving the day to stretch long in his absence. The silence felt unfamiliar, his presence having carved out more space in my world than I cared to

admit. I plunged into work, attempting to reclaim some semblance of control. But

beneath every action, the pulse of anticipation beat steady and strong.

I chose the forest green silk midi dress with careful deliberation. The fabric moved

like water as I slipped it on, flowing with every step, elegant, yet understated. A quiet rebellion. A reminder, perhaps, that I was still my person within the formidable force of nature that was Vladimir. My hair was pulled into a simple low ponytail, my makeup minimal, just enough to highlight what was already there. In the mirror, I still saw Isabella. But there was a new sharpness in her gaze. Not fear. Not submission. Something closer to defiance.

A soft knock broke the morning's stillness. I didn't need to guess who it was.

Vladimir stood in the doorway, dressed in his usual commanding black shirt and pants that emphasized his powerful build. His dark hair was pulled back into a neat bun, drawing attention to the sharp angles of his undeniably beautiful face. In that moment, his gaze held an intensity that both captivated and slightly intimidated me, a potent blend of control and something akin to anticipation that mirrored my own tumultuous emotions.

"You are ready?" he asked, his voice a low murmur that seemed to stroke my skin.

"As I'll ever be," I replied, the edge of sarcasm not lost on him.

He extended his hand. I hesitated, then took it. "Where are we going?" I inquired, but he merely brushed off the question, typical of Vladimir.

By nightfall, a sleek black car arrived. We drove in near silence, the city lights gradually giving way to open skies and winding roads. The further we traveled, the more the noise of my thoughts faded, replaced by the quiet hum of something larger, more profound.

The car came to a stop in a vast field. Before us stood a hot air balloon, its colossal, domed envelope glowing softly in the night. My breath hitched. It was a dream I'd never spoken aloud, not to him, at least.

"How... how did you know?" I asked, my voice laced with astonishment.

A small, smug smile curved his lips. "Caroline told me. In fear."

I barked a laugh, shaking my head. "I knew she would crack."

The balloon rose into the night sky with a gentle grace, the city melting into a glittering mosaic below. Up there, above the world, surrounded by silence and stars, the space between us subtly shifted. It felt safer to speak the truth in the air.

"My father..." I began softly, "he leads a syndicate. Not like yours, different operations, different principles. But powerful. Dangerous. And your family... they hate him. I think they hate all of them."

Vladimir turned to me, his expression unreadable, but I saw the flicker, the brief parting of the armor. "I was told he had no daughter," he said, quiet and clipped.

"He kept me out of that life," I said, my voice steadier than I felt. "My mother left him years ago. I lived with her. I still see my brothers, but we're... distant."

He stepped closer, his hand settling on my waist, firm and grounding. "I do not care

about your family," he said, his voice low, absolute. "I hate your father. Your brothers.

But not you."

His words struck with unexpected force, brutal in their clarity, yet strangely comforting. He didn't flinch at the truth. He accepted it, claimed me anyway.

I leaned into him, the kiss that followed fueled by more than relief. There was hunger in it, a desperate need to close the space between us. The basket rocked slightly as we pressed together, the silk of my dress sliding beneath his touch, his hands moving with purpose and heat. His lips claimed mine again and again, devouring, coaxing. One hand slid down my spine, pausing at the curve of my hip before pulling me closer, until there was no air between us, only fire. The quiet roar of the burner above us echoed the pounding of my pulse.

His fingers found the hem of my dress, trailing upward with tantalizing slowness,

pushing boundaries I hadn't imagined crossing here, like this. My breath hitched as he grazed bare skin, a silent invitation written in touch. I responded in kind, my body arching, answering the call of his.

There was nowhere to hide in that basket, no walls, no curtains, only darkness, wind,

and the thrill of altitude. It made everything more raw. Every movement felt like

a confession. Every gasp, a surrender. He pressed me back against the wicker side, his mouth never leaving mine, his hand slipping beneath silk, claiming skin that burned under his touch. The sound that escaped me was involuntary, shamefully loud, but he only growled low in response, a dark, feral sound that thrilled and unnerved me in equal measure.

We didn't go further, not here. Not yet. But we went far enough to know we would. That we wouldn't stop next time. His control held, just barely, and mine unraveled in his hands.

When the balloon descended and we stepped back onto solid ground, I felt anything but grounded. The sky had changed something within me. The car ride back was quiet, but no longer awkward. His hand remained in mine. His gaze sought mine often. There was

comfort now. And tension, the kind that simmered just beneath the surface.

We arrived at my apartment. He came down and opened the door for me, and we

walked up to my flat and inside. Sitting on the couch in the living room after turning on the lights, the place seemed cold, as if Caroline had left a long time ago. I looked at him, this dangerous man who had turned my world upside down, and asked the question I'd been carrying all day.

"Why are you like this?" My voice was soft, unsure. But the question was real.

His entire demeanor shifted. The man who had flown me into the stars vanished,

replaced by someone colder. Harder.

"My father," he said. "He made me what I am."

I wanted to push, to know more. But the shutters had come down. His jaw clenched. His eyes, so often expressive in private moments, now revealed nothing. I recognized the boundary for what it was. I let the silence settle between us.

I stood up and walked to my bedroom, not having the strength to face the cold look he gave me. I preferred not to entertain it. I heard his footsteps following me, but I chose to ignore them, walking into the dark room. I turned on the light and felt his eyes boring holes in my head. I turned, and the look he gave me was something I couldn't

understand, but I could see lust pooling in his eyes, not innocent like mine. The control I had exerted that night, to keep from jumping his skin, was immense. I needed to feel him. In the dim glow of my bedroom, that boundary finally broke.

He came to me with fire in his veins and restraint already slipping. Our bodies collided like waves and rock, crashing, testing, yielding. He moved with a dominance I had come to expect, but underneath it was something deeper. Desperate. Almost reverent.

"Strip, Bella, I want to see you," he murmured, making my legs tremble. This man was something else entirely.

I moved my hand slowly, undressing and meeting his gaze. His eyes roamed over my body, settling on the matching red panties I had on, giving the night a daring vibe.

"Do you know how much I want to forget everything I said about taking things slow and just rip these off you and fuck you hard on the bed?" His eyes were so dark that each word was a shockwave of intense desire.

"Do it," I knew I was playing with fire, but I was willing to burn for this.

"You don't know what you are saying, malyshka." I looked him straight in the eyes, walking up to him as we stood in the middle of the room, both our gazes screaming what we wanted. I placed my hands on his shirt and pulled him close.

"I want you to claim me like you always say." Perhaps I was speaking this way because of what I was feeling; I hoped I wouldn't regret this tomorrow. He immediately attacked me in a soft but dominating kiss, stealing my breath away. Our tongues fought for dominance, and he won, his hands worshipping more than claiming, his mouth tasting skin as if memorizing it.

I pulled back for air and watched as he stripped his shirt and trousers, leaving him only in his briefs. His imposing and beautiful body made my throat dry. He grabbed my waist and lifted me.

"You have been a bad girl for the past few days, but I won't punish you now. But once

we land in Russia, I will make sure you receive your punishment." For some reason, I had a feeling I would enjoy this punishment. He stripped me bare on the bed, laying me flat. I started feeling cautious about my body.

"Don't hide from me, malyshka, I want to see you all and feel every curve of you," he said while kissing every inch of my body.

"We have a flight to catch very early, but I want you to ride and sing my name

throughout this night. You need to rest." Something about him being thoughtful just

warmed my heart. I gave him a short nod, which earned me a smack on my already

pulsing pussy.

"Next time, words, malyshka."

I replied immediately, "Yes." He rubbed his hand on my bud, making me shiver with

intense pleasure, and then he stuck his finger inside, twisting and pushing in and out fast and hard, making me feel so good, even with his big finger.

"Ohh, fuck," I breathed out immediately as he added two more fingers, stretching me

further. At this point, my voice was louder.

"Fuck... Vlad, I need more!"

He smirked, "Oh, I will give you more." He pulled his fingers out, making me hiss, and

then pulled out his cock. Fuck, this thing is too large. How did he contain it before?

"Don't shy away now, we all know this is exactly what made you pregnant." This man had no filter. I tried to think of a comeback, but was silenced when he entered fully and hard, making me gasp.

"Fuck, Vlad!" He smirked and picked up pace immediately, not giving me a second to adjust. The feeling was too much. His hands were in my hair, pulling it; his mouth was marking my body; his cock was diving fast inside me, hitting my G-spot.

"Don't stop, please, let me cum," I spoke breathlessly.

"I love it when you beg, good girl." With that, he did not stop for a second and kept hitting me hard, his hands now on my throat, stealing every chance of air I had, making the whole thing more intense.

His grunts echoed deep in the room, making my insides tighten more. He moved with strength, purpose, overwhelming in his intensity, and yet, he never lost control. He watched me, gauging every reaction, every plea.

I met him with everything I had. Every moan, every arch of my back, every whispered curse was an answer to his questionless demand. I wasn't conquered. I burned with him. I chose to be consumed. My orgasm came crashing hard. "Ahhh-fuck, Vladimir!"

"Yes, lyubov, scream my name!" And I did just that. He released deep inside of me. A certain tiredness attacked me immediately, my eyes barely opening. I felt him stand up

and leave. A few seconds later, he came back with a wet cloth, cleaning me up.

After he was done, he walked away to dispose of the rag and crawled onto the bed, grabbing me in his arms. His hand stroked slowly up and down my spine, soothing, anchoring.

He kissed my forehead. "Rest," he murmured. "We have a long day ahead."

As sleep took me, I realized something with startling clarity. I didn't know where this road would lead. But I was on it now, with him. And somehow, impossibly, that no longer terrified me.