Chapter 9 #2
“Know what that reminded me of?” Alyona chuckles, wiping away a tear.
“The time when you decided to open a bottle of champagne using a sword that Christmas after Papa died. Only you ended up slicing the curtains in half, and the champagne showered everyone in the room. I swear, I thought your father was going to kill you.”
“I thought he was going to kill me, too,” I say, bringing the bottle to my lips.
“It wasn’t your smartest move,” she admits, taking a chip from the bag between us. “But it did make me giggle for weeks just thinking about it.”
I still smile at that memory. It had been months after Alyona’s father died, and she had barely cracked a smile the whole Christmas holiday, but I was desperate to change that.
The kiss changed everything for me. She was on my mind constantly, other girls tried to get my attention, but they may as well have been invisible.
The day she walked into Christmas dinner looking so beautiful but so sad, I knew I would do anything in my power to make her smile.
I thought of dumb shit to cheer her up like dressing up Bones, the family dog, as Santa and teaching him to howl “Jingle Bells,” which came out sounding more like a yowling cat.
“Remember Bones?” I ask her. “I swear once that dog learned how to sing, he never stopped.”
Alyona snorts, her upturned nose wrinkling in amusement. “That poor long-suffering pup. Growing up with the three Kozlov boys.”
“Are you kidding?” I exclaim. “That dog had the best life of any pet I know. He roamed around like he owned the estate, kind of like we used to.” And then because I am feeling bold, I say, “I miss laughing with you. I miss the kind of fun we used to get up to.”
She sighs deeply and stares out at the sea in front of us. “Yeah. Me too.” She pauses for a moment, her brows drawing together. “Sometimes I forget to have fun. I’m young, I’m in my prime, my life shouldn’t be so damn serious. Even more so now that some psychopath is after me.”
It’s the mention of her age that suddenly clues me in. “Hey, it’s going to be your birthday soon.”
She shoots me a dirty look. "Don’t remind me. I’m going to be so annoyed if I have to celebrate on this boat." When I pull a mock-offended face, she hits my arm. "It’s not you. Well, not entirely. But I want to be with my brother, Rowan, Kira, and get back to … normal life."
“Is that what you really want?”
“I … I don’t know what I really want anymore.” Her eyes meet mine, the air between us is heavy with everything we are not saying. It’s then that she reaches out, her finger tracing down the scar bisecting my chin.
“Where’d you get this?” she asks.
“When we were ambushed by the Antonovs. It’s not the only war wound I walked away with, but it’s the most visible.
” It’s been nearly three years since Kira’s father, our family’s greatest foe, ambushed me, my brothers, and our men when we thought we were saving Georgia after she was abducted.
Turns out, Georgia ended up saving us, but not before an epic battle ensued, one that nearly killed Georgia, and left my brothers and sister, Kira, in rough shape.
At the end of the day though, we’re all still standing.
“Right,” she replies, still not breaking eye contact. The energy shifts around us, and I can’t look away, even if I wanted to. Heat blasts through my veins, and it takes everything in me not to lean forward and—
“Sorry to interrupt, mates!” A voice I’ve come to associate with nails on a chalkboard carries over the sea breeze.
It’s big, it’s brash, and it’s unmistakably from Down Under.
Jack appears on the edge of the deck, and despite his words, he doesn’t look sorry at all.
“The deck crew spotted a pod of dolphins playing off the starboard side of the boat. I thought Alison would be interested in watching.”
But the only interest I can see reflected in his eyes is directed at my fiancée.
Fake or not, I don’t like it. I stand, turning on this jerk who somehow thinks it’s acceptable to disturb a couple having a private drink.
“Thanks for the tip, buddy, but we’re in the middle of something. How about you give us some privacy.”
“‘Course. Never meant to intrude.” His words of apology don’t match the glint in his eye. Recognizing that hardened look all too well—it’s one I see in other criminals, in other bad men, like me—I make a mental note to ask Dima to dig into his background.
I’m on the verge of telling him to get lost, but a second thought stops me.
This is a perfect chance to remind this dipshit that I’m her man.
At least I am on this boat. “No worries, brother.” I clap him on the back harder than necessary.
“On second thought, if Aly wants to see the dolphins, why not?”
Alyona stands, the look on her face says What the fuck are you playing at? but she doesn’t push the issue. Instead, she strolls by me and tells Jack to lead the way.
“Yes, Jack, lead the way,” I echo, sounding too cheery, causing Aly to throw me another questioning look over her shoulder.
“What?” I whisper as we head towards the upper deck. “I like dolphins, too.”
She snorts. “News to me.”
Jack leads us to the starboard railing where a few other crew members have gathered. It’s dark here, most of the overhead lights extinguished, there’s only a few deck lights illuminating our path, and of course the stars twinkling overhead.
Jack settles on the other side of Aly, so she’s sandwiched between us.
He leans down and murmurs into her ear, “Just keep your eyes on the water, they can pop out at any moment.” But unlike Aly who is scanning the surface for signs of activity, Jack Off here hasn’t looked towards the water once. His eyes are solely focused on her.
Fucker.
But I’m just as guilty. She’s captured my full attention with the hopeful way she’s staring out at the water even though the dolphins have yet to make an appearance.
Tendrils of dark hair have escaped her bun, flowing in the breeze, her eyes sparkling.
I don’t question my next move, probably because it feels so natural, and it’s what any fiancé would do.
Especially a man looking to stake his claim.
My arm fastens around her waist to bring her taut ass flush against my now hardening dick.
I will it to behave, but the fucker has a mind of its own when it comes to her.
Aly’s breath hitches in her throat and her body tenses against mine.
I’m sure she’s about to shove an elbow into my ribs when a splash in the distance pulls our attention out towards the water. Saved by Flipper.
A pod of dolphins appears below us, leaping and playing in the water a few feet away.
“Oh my god,” she breathes, her eyes wide while she drinks in the scene below. “They’re amazing.”
“Aren’t they?” Jack agrees, but the mudak hasn’t even glanced at the water once, his eyes are still roving over the woman in my arms. I’m about to knee him in the nuts. Instead, I do one worse. I give him a show.
Leaning down, I let my breath dance over the nape of her neck, followed by a brush of my lips that summon tiny goose bumps in their wake.
“What are you doing?” she whispers, but it comes out a little breathy, a little undone, just the way I want her.
“Just enjoy the show.”
She swallows audibly, but instead of pulling away, she relaxes against my chest.
Her body seems to like me a lot more than her mind does, so I use what I can to my advantage.
My lips brush behind her ear, her favorite spot.
Her breath catches in her throat, and her head rests against my pec.
I’m sure it’s part booze and part dolphin magic, but to feel her soften against me is fucking intoxicating.
This isn’t about Jack Off anymore, and it’s not about me staking my claim. Touching her just feels right. For the first time in a long time, everything in my world aligns. Like pieces of a puzzle have snapped back into place. It’s a feeling I’ll chase forever.
With her body still flush against mine, we watch in silence as the dolphins splash around. Jack talks quietly with his colleagues but steals glances at Aly now and then.
“It’s like they’re putting on a show for us,” Aly murmurs.
Jack is quick to jump in. “Or they’re showing off for the beautiful girl watching them.”
I roll my eyes. What a charmer with these stale-as-shit lines. Just for that, I trail my fingertips over her arms, and a subtle shiver runs through her. She’s not just playing a part right now, her body is responding to my touch.
"What do you think, butterfly?" I ask her, deliberately using her pet name, letting it hang in the air between us. Aly’s eyes flicker back to mine, a knowing smirk tugging at her lips.
"I think they’re more interested in showing off for each other than for any of us," she responds, her body brushing against mine. Whether it’s to keep warm in the evening breeze, or for some other reason, I don’t care.
I make sure Jack is watching when I lean down, my lips ghosting over her ear, "I don’t give a fuck about the dolphins. Holding you is the highlight of my day. Fuck, the highlight of my year.”
She doesn’t say anything, just keeps her eyes on the water, but her body leans further into mine, and that’s all the response I need.
A few minutes later, the dolphins have had enough of our attention and head off in another direction. With the show over, members of the staff slowly disperse, but Jack stays rooted to the spot. I look up and give him a big, fake smile. “Those dolphins are really something, aren’t they?”
His tone is light, but his eyes are ice when he answers, “Smart too.”
“Oh, don’t give them too much credit now. Not as smart as you think they are.”
“Maybe you’re underestimating them.” His smile is gone, as is the pretense that we’re talking about anything other than him and me right here. Fierce competitors.
Aly sighs and steps away from my chest. I miss her warmth immediately, but I’m guessing she’s done with the pissing contest we’re having over here. In any other situation I’d solve this issue with my fists or a gun, but that’s not going to fly here.
“Anyhow,” I say in dismissal, “thanks for the hot tip on the dolphins. We’ll catch you later.”
Jack looks from Aly to me and then back again. “Yeah, sure. Enjoy your night.”
The moment Jack stalks away, I can sense the spell is broken. Aly pivots towards me, hands on her hips. “Seriously, Leo, was that really necessary?"
“It was. It was very fucking necessary,” I respond.
She blinks up at me, as her pulse pounds in her throat. “No PDA, that was part of the rules.”
I reach out and run a thumb over her bottom lip.
The red stain is still holding on, as stubborn as she is.
“I don’t give a fuck about the rules.” As her gaze locks with mine, my skin sizzles as if I’m standing too close to a roaring fire.
I bend so my mouth is directly beside her ear. “I needed to touch you.”
Her eyes flicker shut for a moment, lips parting slightly as if to let out a breath she’s been holding for far too long. "Leo," she begins, her voice shaking as she opens her eyes. She swallows hard, and I can see her struggle, caught between what she should say and what she wants to say.
My hand moves from her lip to cup her cheek, thumb tracing circles on her flushed skin. I don’t know what I want from her, I just know I can’t be in such close proximity to her and not touch her perfect skin.
Finally, she shakes her head, loose strands of hair framing her face. “I can’t do this,” she says, her voice barely above a whisper.
Her words slice through me, leaving a cold emptiness that’s far worse than the heat of rejection. And with that, she retreats, leaving me standing alone in the darkness.