31. Justine

31

JUSTINE

“ А нгел…”

I snuggle deeper into my pillow, praying the trickle of light filtering through my eyelids won’t wake me from the deliriously intoxicating dream I’m having.

My fantasy is so believable I can smell Nikolai’s virile scent lingering in my nostrils. It kicks my heart into a crazy beat and reawakens my libido.

Last night was tense, but it was also magical.

I was devastated when I thought Nikolai wasn’t attracted to me anymore. I understood having his competitors see me in such an unflattering light would have been hard for him. I just hated that it drew a line between us.

Nikolai is often misunderstood, and that’s what happened last night. I misread him completely, believing his desire not to touch me was more sinister than it was.

What he said last night, and the protectiveness radiating from his eyes… Jesus .

Discovering he was holding back his quest for revenge for me was mesmerizing. I’ve never felt more cherished than I did in that instant.

He wanted to hunt, but instead of tracking down the men who caused me pain, he stayed with me. That proves what I’ve always known. He isn’t just a man. He is an honorable one as well.

“ Ангел… ”

A trail of goosebumps rolls across my shoulders when a fingertip glides over my bare skin. Usually being snuck up on would cause me panic, but not an ounce of worry bombards me. I have no doubt who is touching me, as my body only responds like this to one man.

After taking one last long breath to relish Nikolai’s unique scent, my eyes flutter open. The heat lighting up every inch of my body surges when my full gaze collides with his icy-blue eyes.

“Hey,” I greet him, my voice groggy from just waking up. “How long have I been sleeping?”

I stop scanning the room for a clock when he replies, “A while. I didn’t want to wake you, but I need your help.”

I rise to a half-seated position. Nikolai isn’t the type to need help, so the fact he needs mine immediately piques my interest.

He brushes a wayward curl from my face before saying, “The woman we released last night, the young blonde girl…” He waits for me to nod, acknowledging I’m aware of whom he’s referring to before adding, “Could you understand what she was saying?”

Worry glistens in his eyes when I hesitantly nod. “She speaks in the Czech language.”

When his brows tighten, I explain, “I can understand her. I’m just not as fluent in Czech as I am in Russian.”

The crinkle between his brows smooths as a smile etches on his mouth. “Thanks for the reminder to be cautious about what I say in front of you,” he mutters with an impish wink.

He rises to his feet and heads into his walk-in closet. The mattress creaking at the loss of his weight drowns out my disappointed moan.

There must be something wrong with me. The knock to my head yesterday must have screwed with my senses.

Yesterday was… God .

How do you put something so mammoth into a short sentence? It was frightening, electrifying, pulse-quickening, terrifying, inspiring, wrong, good, evil, bad. That’s just a small handful of words I could use to describe the range of emotions I went through yesterday.

The first half of my experience was horrible, but deep down inside, I always knew Nikolai would save me, so it hasn’t affected me in the same manner my first tussle with a mafia kingpin did. I feel invigorated, like nothing can tear me down.

Sliding across the mattress, I join Nikolai in his expansive walk-in closet. He rummages through a set of drawers at the end of the ample space but stops when he detects my presence.

Air hisses between his teeth when his eyes rake over my naked form. His reaction shocks me. He put me to bed naked, so he is more than aware I’m without clothes.

His gasping response makes sense when his eyes stop on my hands resting at my sides. For the first time since I was mauled by a dog four years ago, my hands aren’t balled into fists. I’m standing before him as naked as the day I was born, but I don’t feel an ounce of shame.

Wow.

“Look at you. Graced with the confidence of a queen.” Nikolai’s voice is so rough nothing but his Russian heritage rings true in his tone.

My heart smashes against my ribs when he heads my way. His steps are slow and tempting, and they set my pulse skyrocketing. He walks with arrogance, but in a way I can’t help but swoon over. He is the true representation of good and evil wrapped up in one sinfully delicious package.

“Come to me, Ангел. Meet me halfway,” he croons, his tone half demanding, half pleading.

My feet jump to the command in his voice before my brain can cite an objection—not that it was going to. My heart and head are still speaking the same language. They both want the same thing. They want Nikolai.

When I stop to stand in front of him, he curls his hand around my jaw before sealing his lips over mine. Unlike last night, we don’t attack each other like wild animals. Our kiss is controlled and precise, tethering my heart to him even more.

It also proves I’m mentally unstable.

I’ve only known this man for weeks, but I am already falling for him so unequivocally I’m willing to do anything to have him in my life.

You’d think I’d be nervous about my silent pledge. I’m not. Nikolai has proven time and time again he will stop at nothing to protect me, so I’ll replicate his dedication. I protect what is mine, and Nikolai is mine.

After kissing me senseless, Nikolai aids me in getting dressed. I’ve lost count of the times I’ve smiled at his struggle to do the simplest tasks. It isn’t that he finds zippers and buttons difficult. It is putting my clothing on me instead of ripping it off that he finds challenging.

“Soon, Nikolai. Very soon,” I mock, mimicking his accent.

He rolls his eyes, acting unimpressed by my goading. It’s all a fib. I saw the faintest tug of his lips, revealing he wasn’t annoyed by my comment. He took it as a guarantee.

Curling his hand around mine, he guides me through his vast residence. There’s a vivacity in the air that was missing last night. It reminds me of the first day of spring. Warm, yet not overbearing. It’s quite peaceful, which is odd considering the events of last night.

As we exit a large flight of stairs, I smile a greeting to the two ladies who served me supper last night. I don’t know what those little chunks of sugar and butter I consumed were, but they were delicious.

When the housemaids’ eyes lock on mine and Nikolai’s conjoined hands, they giggle like schoolgirls. Their laughter is infectious, spreading through the small group of women gawking at us like wildfire.

“If you’re void of a task, I’m sure Igor can find you one,” Nikolai grumbles in Russian, his tone a stark contradiction to the man kissing me speechless mere minutes ago. It is rough and full of command, leaving no question of his anger.

The foyer falls into silence as the women dart in all directions. I don’t know who Igor is, but his reputation is fierce enough to scare the women.

“Don’t defend them, Ангел ,” Nikolai warns when he spots the contempt brewing in my eyes. “If you lose the respect of one, you risk the respect of thousands. They’re not employed to be your friends. They are here to serve you.”

I’m not going to defend them. I just want to… ah… Okay, I was going to defend them. But not because I feel sorry for them. I merely wish to remind Nikolai not all women belong to one of two categories. The more I drum that into his head, the better chance the women we rescued last night will be set free. Nikolai promised they would be unharmed and untouched under his watch, but the twisting in my stomach won’t be relinquished until they are released from captivity.

I know deep down in my heart that Nikolai’s reasoning for keeping the women isn’t as sinister as some may believe. He isn’t interested in using them for financial gain—the fortune he’s amassed over the past ten years is mind-boggling. It is the repercussions he could face if he is seen as weak by his enemies.

So, although I’d like him to release the women without delay, I also understand his objective. I always knew our relationship would be an uphill battle, so I won’t throw more obstacles in our way. Not yet.

My curiosity increases when our trek down the stairs of the Popov compound veers to the left. Usually we continue straight ahead. The smell of gasoline filters into my nose when we enter an industrial-sized shed hidden behind hedged greenery. The cause of the strange smell becomes clear when Nikolai directs me to a set of ATVs in the back right-hand corner.

After I close my gaping jaw, he says, “It is quicker to go over than around.”

If he’s anticipating his reply will ease my confusion, he needs to devise another tactic. I’m more confused now than ever.

Remaining quiet, Nikolai gathers a helmet from a stack on our left and then places it over my head. My heart gains an extra beat when he’s extra attentive not to touch the bump Malvina’s knock to the back of my head caused.

“What happened to Malvina?” I ask, incapable of harnessing my curiosity for a second longer.

Nikolai finishes securing the helmet to my head before answering, “I sent her back to Russia.”

“You did?” I ask, astonishment echoing in my tone.

The retribution he issued his father was quick and precise, so I’m stunned he didn’t handle Malvina in the same manner. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t believe he would have harmed Malvina. I just didn’t think she would get off scot-free either.

Nikolai throws his leg over one of the ATVs before assisting me onto the seat behind him. Once I have my arms wrapped around his waist, he says, “The punishment her father will serve her will far outweigh any penalty I could have invoked.”

His tone dips during his confession, indicating part of his statement was a lie, but since I can’t see his eyes, I cannot determine which part.

“If I feel her punishment isn’t severe enough, I will intervene, but until then, we must wait.” He squeezes my thigh with his big, manly hand, shifting my focus to more pressing matters than his ex-fiancée and her poor judgment. “If you wish to speak with Malvina, I can arrange it.”

Even though he can’t see me, I shake my head. “I said everything to her I needed to say. Some of our conversation didn’t need words, though.”

The veins in my neck thrum. I am shocked by the cattiness in my voice. I’m glad yesterday’s circumstances didn’t result in a lapse of the confidence I’ve been accruing by the bucketloads the past week, but I’m still stunned by my self-righteousness.

My worry is pushed aside for need when he laughs. My god his laugh is sexy. It is deep and manly, and it encourages recklessness in me that I’ve never experienced.

“So you’re the one responsible for the bruise on Malvina’s face?”

Nikolai’s tone indicates he’s well aware of my answer, but feeling coy, I reply, “She attacked me. I retaliated.”

I shrug like it’s no big deal. At the time, being shot at and having my hair wrenched from my head wasn’t my idea of fun. But right now, yesterday is far from my thoughts.

Nothing worries me when I’m with Nikolai. I know he’ll always protect me. That and his soul-stealing eyes are two of his most beautiful assets. For a man raised without morals or integrity, he has them in abundance. He just doesn’t realize it.

“Oh, Ангел ,” Nikolai growls, causing my pussy to quake. “You’re even naughtier than I first perceived.”

Gripping my thigh, he drags me forward, pinning my body to his. My erect nipples graze his back when I inhale deeply, sucking in his seductive scent.

Drunk on his intoxicating smell, I press my lips to his ear and whisper, “The good girls always want to tame the bad boys, but what happens when the good girl isn’t quite as saintly as the bad boy believes?”

The throb in my pussy reaches fever pitch when Nikolai growls for the second time. I feel the rumble from my nipples to my aching pussy, making me needy and hot.

I writhe in my seat, my excitement uncontained, when he replies, “Then that makes the bad boy the luckiest motherfucker around.”

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