Warning: This chapter is rated M

Chapter 8

Linka reached their shared room, breathless from the two flights of stairs. It was dinner time but she was not hungry in the slightest bit. Instead, she decided on a bath to calm her racing thoughts. She did not know what else to do with herself.

The Russian girl soaked in the bubbles until the water had turned almost cold, but she was so drained emotionally she barely took note. She scrubbed and cleaned her skin until it turned red, toweled off slowly and meticulously, then dried her hair with great care. She knew she was wasting time. A sort of sadness swept inside her heart, cutting like a Siberian wind. Was what Wheeler had implied true? That it was too difficult, that it wouldn't work between them? And it was all because of her? Was it her pride, the way she carried herself? Was her skin so thick, was she so unreceptive to love? It reminded her of a wall, where balls just bounced off the hard surface. Could nothing get through her, had fear conditioned her so deeply?

Linka sniffled and held the tears at bay. She'd give anything to shake off that sense of doom invading her and just be cuddled by Wheeler. Her uncertainties dissolved in his arms. All was silent there. When she wondered why that was, she could only conclude that when she was close to him, her heart took over. Curse her logic, then!

Linka pulled on one of Wheeler's shirts and sighed at the smell of his skin on it. She grabbed two tall flutes and a bottle of champagne from the fridge before settling down in front of the fire. The rugs were luxuriously soft, like a polar bear's warm fur, and Linka extended her legs out before her. She filled one glass and offered a small toast to herself, perhaps the most pathetic girl in that entire hotel. After all, how many other women there were sitting by the fire sipping champagne alone? Well, not unless you counted self-pity as company.

The bottle was three quarters empty by the time Linka heard the door to the room open. Her eyes settled on Wheeler, and immediately, she could tell he had calmed down. His shoulders were more slumped, his head not held quite so high, his hands shoved in his pockets. Linka was amazed she could read him so well and suddenly felt a wave of tenderness for him. Was it possible for her to be so comfortable yet so guarded around him? He probably knew her better than anyone outside her family, too, and she watched him taking off his coat and shoes before languidly sitting down beside her on the floor. He did not speak right away and kept fidgeting with his fingers, his eyes lost in the flames before them.

Linka took a deep breath, then held up a flute for him to see. "Want some?" she asked, trying to put as much sweetness as she could into her offer.

Stunned, she saw that Wheeler was nodding yes. She asked if he was sure, after all, he almost never drank, before pouring him a glass of the bubbly liquid.

Wheeler poured it down in one breath, surprising her. He must have needed it just as much as she had.

"I didn't mean to snap at you earlier," he spoke softly, twirling the empty glass in his fingers by the delicate stem. "I guess… you're not the only one capable of gettin' jealous."

Linka sighed a little and tucked her legs underneath her on one side. "Yankee… maybe… this whole vacation has not turned out the way it was supposed to, nyet?" Her tone was wistful as she looked at him out of the corner of her eye. The flames danced over his strong profile and she was proud of his good looks, all of a sudden. He'd been right. She hated it when other girls threw themselves at him, even more so when he flirted back with them. It was not fair that they could laugh at his jokes or stroke his skin or get lost in his eyes. Linka suddenly realized she wanted these things to belong to her exclusively. Her Yankee was not meant to be shared!

Wheeler shook his head and readily met her eyes. The determination there caused her heart to skip a beat. And it took only a moment for him to gather her up in his arms and lay her down so that he was hovering above her, his weight resting on his elbows.

"Babe, it doesn't have to be so difficult between us," Wheeler said, his eyes boring a hole through hers. His fingers took to tracing the contours of her face before they caressed her lips. "It's time that we… simplify things, I think."

Then, his mouth was on hers, slow and sensuous, and Linka offered no resistance. She let herself be convinced by his warm contact, her arms winding themselves around him, until she could feel his body pressing into hers. It was dangerous, sure, but she needed for him to fill that aching void inside her. No one else would do, she realized suddenly, parting her lips for him in order to deepen their contact. His hands were caressing her thighs, up her hips and over her stomach, and she moaned at the soft contact. His movements were sure, like his kisses, and she let herself be carried far, far away.

Wheeler impatiently discarded the shirt she was wearing, until his hands were cupping her generous breasts inside the flimsy lace bra. His mouth was fire on her neck as he probed every inch with his tongue, and Linka purred incoherently. She stole a peek at his well-toned chest as he quickly undressed above her, before her hands replaced her glance and she took to stroking the strong muscles. With rough movements that spoke high volumes of frustration, Wheeler freed her from her bra and panties. But instead of feeling self-conscious at his hungry examination of her naked body, the blonde girl was filled with a sense of lust so strong it took her breath away.

"Jacob," she whimpered as his mouth paid special attention to her exposed breasts. Something inside her had called out to him, using his given name as if she wanted to get as close as possible to his core. She felt inebriated, intoxicated by him.

"Babe, I want you so much," Wheeler was breathing in her ear, pulling up her long legs so that they could coil around him. His fingers took to caressing her knees and calves in the process.

Linka's heart was a jackhammer as he plunged inside her suddenly, and she instinctively moaned as he filled her. The animalistic nature of their connection both stunned and excited her, and immediately, she moved her hips against his, wanting more of him.

"Damn, babe…" Linka heard him whispering, just as lost as she was, seeking out her mouth as if she were water in the desert. Wheeler's quick pace was bringing her over the edge and she realized there was nothing more she wanted at the moment. Fulfillment, sweet release. Finally letting go of control.

Waves of pleasure washed over her and she cried out loudly, and it was more intense than Linka could ever dream. Breathing hard as if she had just won a marathon, Linka laid her head back down and let go her hold on Wheeler just a tiny bit. She felt like a balloon deflating, an ice cream melting. All strength was deserting her, yet she felt incredibly at peace, happy.

It took them both a few moments to recover, before Wheeler took to tracing lazy kisses on her skin, small kisses on her lips that caused her to smile.

"That's the first time you've called me Jacob," he was smirking a little as he rested his head in the crook of her neck. His tone was relaxed and warm. It caressed her skin like wool.

"Mmm, tonight was a good night for a lot of first things, apparently."

Linka heard Wheeler's soft chuckle at her words before he lifted his head to look in her eyes. She blinked against his intense glance and moved to kiss his lips tenderly.

"This was the first real amazing time for me. The rest is just a blur compared to tonight."

The Russian girl blushed and nodded slightly. "For me, too, Yankee."

Linka let herself be held by him as he turned them over, and she lay on his chest, content. His caresses on her bare back were warming her heart and she felt a motion of giddiness. It was so incredibly different, and liberating, to finally lay skin to skin, with no barriers between them, nothing but raw emotions in the air. She felt protective of him, didn't want to leave the shelter of his arms.

They lay silently for a while, but Linka's brain was working overtime even though her body was inert. Was the Yankee experiencing the same type of feelings that were swirling inside her heart? Surely, it had been more than just the physical aspect shared between them? Right?

When she could take no more of her tortuous thoughts, Linka slowly lifted her glance to Wheeler's face. He gave her a sweet kiss but she pulled away after just a moment.

"So… what next?" Linka's voice had come out much smaller than she intended, and she gulped down a knot of anxiety in her throat. But she had to know, her mind would not allow for any peace until she had some certainties from him, that their impromptu lovemaking had left its mark on his heart just like the one she felt.

"Just give me five minutes, darlin'."

"Yankee!" Linka slapped his arm and gave him a stern look which she knew was mixed with a ready blush on her cheeks. "Not that! What I meant was… what just happened… where does that leave us?"

His eyes were amused as he newly kissed her lips and Linka lost her concentration for a moment.

"It means you're stuck with me," grinned Wheeler against her mouth.

"Maybe you think I am too intense or serious about things, but…"

"I like it that you're serious about things," Wheeler interrupted her promptly, seeking out her eyes.

"Are you? I mean, about… this?" her voice was low and her heart beat was accelerated. She had possibly never been more afraid in her life.

Wheeler brought the hand that was on his chest to his lips and kissed it slowly, never leaving her eyes. "Maybe I didn't do a good job showing you how serious I am about this, about you."

When he sought out her lips, Linka was once more incoherent. His hands on her body were tracing her curves, and she felt a tinge of disappointment when Wheeler stopped to bring her to her feet. He scooped her up in his arms in one effortless motion before kissing her purposefully again.

As if floating, Linka let herself be carried towards the bed, where Wheeler set her down with great care, never breaking their kiss. Her body was once more ignited as she rolled around the soft sheets with her Yankee, and he wasted no time worshipping her body with his mouth. Linka cradled his head in her hands, mumbling unintelligible things as desire assembled in her lower belly, taking over once more.

Unlike the first time, Wheeler took his time paying careful attention to her, saturating her with kisses and caresses and deep glances containing much more than just lust. The way he was delaying her pleasure was both heavenly and hellish at the same time, but Linka wanted to be wrapped up with him like this forever. She realized his attentions were vital to her, and when she moved against him, her actions were sure. The pleasure that followed was overwhelming and sweet, and Wheeler made it last longer than she had ever felt it before.

Exhausted but deeply satisfied, Linka cradled him in her arms, feeling like she could laugh or cry or do both. The Yankee had shaken up the foundations of her existence, nothing was real anymore. Or perhaps everything was too real, suddenly.

"Do you believe me now?" It was Wheeler's voice, and it was coming out in an amused whisper against her ear.

"Mmm," Linka murmured, awakening as if from a dream. "I think you will need to remind me many times over about your feelings for me, Jacob. You know, just in case I forget."

He laughed and she smiled, her eyes heavy as she drifted off. It was the most peaceful sleep she'd experienced in a while.