15. Mira
fifteen
Mira
" V iktor should be here any minute." Gideon raises his tumbler, ice clinking against crystal.
"Great, sounds like a real opportunity. I mean, expansion is good, right? More opportunities, more racing, more—"
My hand settles on his chest, cutting off his rambling. His heartbeat hammers under my palm, and he's already hard just from the contact, visible through his dress pants as he shifts his stance to hide it.
"Breathe." I steady my voice so it doesn't betray how rattled I am. "You're going to be brilliant."
Cole's voice comes through my earpiece with that measured tone that means he's concerned. "Nitro, your vitals are concerning. When's the last time you ate?"
Before Jax can respond, Remy's laugh fills the channel. "Fifty says they don't make it through appetizers."
"That's a sucker's bet." Asher's deadpan delivery carries his signature dark humor. "Look at his pupils. Classic arousal response mixed with starvation."
When did touching him start feeling this natural?
"I have to say, when you two reconnected after Long Beach, I wasn't surprised." Gideon leans back in his leather chair, enjoying this. "The chemistry was obvious even when you were Sterling's date, Mira."
Cole's voice cuts through again, all business now. "Target approaching. Frost has overwatch from the tower, full visual on all exits."
Viktor approaches through the lounge, weaving between cocktail tables with lethal confidence.
His pale eyes immediately note our position: how Jax has unconsciously angled himself between me and the room, how I keep my hand on his chest like I'm claiming territory.
Violence barely contained beneath expensive tailoring as he stops three feet away, perfect distance for threat assessment.
"Gideon, my friend!" Viktor's accent carries old-world menace beneath polished charm.
"Viktor, you know Jax of course." Gideon gestures toward us with his whiskey. "But do you remember Mira from the Long Beach event? She was Sterling's date that night, but apparently our boy Jax made quite the impression. Mira, Viktor Kazakov."
Viktor circles us slowly, predatory, forcing us to track his movement. "Ah yes, the beautiful woman who can't stay away from the dangerous racer. How... romantic."
The way he says 'romantic' makes it sound like a weakness.
"What can I say? I have my moments." Jax's arm slides around my waist, pulling me against his side so desperately that our hips collide. Viktor's eyebrows raise at the graceless need in the gesture.
"Indeed." Viktor's smile holds threatening promise as he lifts my free hand to his lips, forcing me to step slightly away from Jax. The separation makes Jax's breathing audible.
"Beautiful women make every business discussion more pleasant. And you, my dear, seem to have..." he pauses for a moment and his eyes narrow slightly, "excellent taste in men."
Invitation colors my voice, breathier than planned as I lean into Viktor's space. "Jax mentioned you appreciate fine things, Mr. Kazakov."
"Perfect. Let's move to a more private table." Viktor gestures toward the restaurant's elevated dining section, away from the main bar area. "Better for business discussions."
He starts walking, expecting us to follow. "Sterling sends his regrets. Pressing business kept him in Washington. But I'm sure we'll manage without him."
Business in Washington. Right.
"He'll be sorry he missed this." Gideon drains his whiskey and stands, moving to walk beside Viktor. "But you're in excellent hands."
Asher's clinical voice fills my ear. "Heart rates at 140. Both of you. That's tachycardia territory."
Cole's response is sharp. "Maintain operational focus."
"They're vibrating at frequencies visible to the naked eye," Remy adds, and I can hear him trying not to laugh. "Like tuning forks in heat."
Viktor leads us to a corner booth in the restaurant's quieter section, intimate seating where upholstered walls provide some privacy, but we still have a view of other diners and the bar area beyond.
"After you." Viktor gestures, forcing us to slide in first, trapping us against the wall.
The leather whispers as I settle beside Jax, immediately draping my leg over his thigh to claim space and maintain contact. His hand finds my knee before I've even finished moving, thumb tracing possessive circles against bare skin that make my breath catch.
Christ, I need more.
The server materializes with the first course, artfully plated appetizers that neither of us acknowledges. The interruption gives me a moment to breathe, but Jax's thumb never stops its maddening circles.
"So, tell me about these West Coast opportunities," Jax starts, his whole body moves as he talks, hands gesturing, shoulders rolling. "Gideon mentioned logistics coordination, complex timing, and I'm wondering about—"
I lean across him to reach for my water glass, deliberately pressing my breast against his arm. My lips brush his jaw as I whisper, "More about the containers."
His entire body jerks at the contact, knee hitting the table's underside. His hand clenches on my thigh hard enough to bruise as his scent fills my lungs.
Through comms, Remy definitely chokes on something. "Did she just—"
"Professional. Operation." Cole's words come out clipped, each one a bullet.
Fuck, he's responsive.
"These container operations." Jax shifts forward, elbows on the table now, trying to look engaged while his thumb draws circles on my inner thigh. "How do you manage security? That seems like the most complex element."
The Viktor leans back, making us lean forward to hear him. Power play.
"Light patrol schedules, automated systems with twelve-minute gaps." His attention drifts to where Jax's hand has disappeared under the tablecloth. "We also have contacts within Port Authority providing updated schedules."
My fingers trace patterns on Jax's knuckles while processing this intelligence, and I shift closer, my breast pressing against his arm again. His deceptively elegant hands flex and tighten with each touch.
"That's impressive coordination." My voice wavers as Jax's thumb finds sensitive skin.
"My associates handle international connections while I manage West Coast distribution." Viktor swirls his drink, the ice clinking with each deliberate movement. "We work with various partners. Alexei Petrov coordinates the European pipeline, for instance."
Jax's whole body goes rigid. His hand clenches on my thigh hard enough that I gasp. Viktor notices everything.
Alexei. Holy shit, finally.
"Petrov. International expansion must be... challenging."
"Old friends." Viktor waves his knife dismissively. "Different territories, occasional cooperation."
Cole's voice cuts through, urgent. "Financial transfers confirmed. Multiple offshore sources. This is bigger than—"
I miss the rest because Jax's hand slides higher, fingers spreading possessively across my inner thigh. The tablecloth hides it, but Viktor knows. He's watching us like we're dinner theater.
"Vitals are all over the place," Asher observes with clinical interest. "Fascinating physiological response."
Remy jumps in immediately. "Ten bucks says Mira cracks first."
"You're betting on—" Cole starts, then stops. "Never mind. Just maintain cover."
During the break between courses, I reach for the tray the waiter presents. My hand shakes visibly as I select a chocolate strawberry, and Jax tracks the movement like a starving man. When I bring it to his lips, he leans forward too eagerly, and juice runs down his chin.
I lean forward to lick it off without thinking, tongue catching the sweet trail from his jaw to the corner of his mouth. The taste of chocolate and him makes me dizzy.
Through the earpiece, Remy definitely chokes. Then coughs. Then manages, "Did she just—"
"Affirmative. In front of Viktor." Asher sounds genuinely surprised for once.
"Pay up, everyone," Remy crows. "Told you appetizers was the limit."
"You keep touching me like that," Jax's voice drops to something dangerous as he whispers in my year, "and I'm going to bend you over this table in front of everyone."
Viktor's eyebrows climb toward his hairline. He sets down his scotch glass with a soft clink. I freeze, pressing back against the leather. This isn't nervous, rambling Jax. This is someone else entirely.
Cole's voice goes deadly quiet. "What the hell is happening down there?"
"Holy shit." Remy sounds gleeful.
A sophisticated brunette at the bar has been watching us for twenty minutes, repositioning herself twice for better angles. Now she pushes off her barstool and approaches with swaying hips, designer dress catching the light.
She stops beside our table, one hand on her hip. "Excuse me," she purrs, addressing me while her eyes stay locked on Jax. "Your boyfriend is incredibly attractive. If you ever get tired of sharing..."
Heat floods my system. I'm moving before I think, rising slightly from the booth to face her. "I don't share."
The words come out quiet, but something in my tone makes the brunette's confident smile falter. Her eyes widen as she takes in whatever she sees in my expression.
The brunette stumbles backward on her heels, stammering an apology before fleeing toward the restrooms.
Jax's hand finds my waist and pulls me back down, thumb resuming those claiming circles on my thigh. "Dangerous women are so much more interesting than safe ones. Especially when they're possessive."
Viktor chuckles, raising his glass in mock toast. "Young love. So passionate, so territorial. Reminds me why I prefer business relationships. Much more predictable."
After another hour where Viktor mentions shell companies while watching us deteriorate, he stands and straightens his jacket. "Table seven. Shall we test Lady Luck?"
The walk to the casino floor feels like miles. Jax bounces with each step, fingers drumming against his leg, spinning his keys, adjusting his collar—constant motion that speeds up near the gaming tables.
At the blackjack table, he practically vibrates in his chair. Leg bouncing, fingers tapping complex rhythms against the felt, whole body shifting and resettling every few seconds. His free hand immediately finds my thigh under the table like magnetic attraction.
Cards whisper across felt as the dealer works. Viktor studies his cards with the same calculating look he's been giving us all night. I lean my whole body against Jax's shoulder, breast pressing into his arm as my hand trails down his chest. "Ask about his associates."
His breathing changes at my touch—chest expanding, holding, releasing slowly like he's fighting for control.
"These associates you mentioned. How extensive is your network?"
"International scope." Viktor watches us more than his cards. "Partners from Ukraine to California. Racing events provide perfect cover."
I shift closer, my hand finding his knee under the table while my thigh slides along his. The dual makes his whole body tense.
"Security measures for these operations must be sophisticated."
"Encrypted radio frequencies, changed daily." Viktor's smile turns knowing. "Operational security is paramount."
"Fascinating." I practically crawl into Jax's lap to whisper in his ear. "You're being such a good boy, following my lead so well."
His entire body shifts, muscles coiling. The scattered energy crystallizes into something predatory. "Careful, sweetheart." His voice carries an edge that makes me shiver. "Keep talking to me like that and I might stop being so well-behaved."
Viktor observes our deterioration with obvious amusement. "Passion in business partnerships can be useful. Provides motivation that money alone cannot buy."
"Either this is method acting or you two need to get a room. Now." Asher's deadpan delivery makes Remy laugh through the comm.
After Viktor calls it an evening, we navigate through the casino floor toward the quieter corridor areas. The second we round the corner out of sight, Jax spins and shoves me against the wall next to the elevator. His whole body cages mine, hands bracketing my face.
"Seventeen days," he pants against my mouth. "I can't—Mira, I'm going to die if I don't—"
"Security camera," I gasp, but I'm already yanking at his belt, pulling him closer.
Cole's voice cuts through sharp and urgent. "Abort. ABORT. You're in full view of—"
"Let them continue, Jesus, look at them." Remy sounds sympathetic.
"Security approaching in forty seconds." Asher's clinical now.
"I'm not observing my brother's... activities on casino surveillance." Cole's voice carries real pain. "Withdraw, NOW."
Jax lifts me against the wall, my legs wrapping around his waist as he presses closer. His scattered nervous energy has transformed into focused hunger.
"You've been driving me crazy all night, acting like you own me."
His mouth finds my throat, teeth grazing. "You want to see what happens when you push me past my limits?"
"Well, well." Viktor's voice cuts through the haze like a blade. "Young love. So passionate. So... exploitable."
We freeze, still tangled together. Viktor stands ten feet away, his knowing smile more dangerous than any weapon.
His cold eyes move between us, assessing every detail. "Enjoy your evening."
He turns and walks away, footsteps echoing down the corridor with dangerous confidence.
Cole's voice goes deadly in my ear. "He knows. He fucking knows you're not really together."
My blood runs cold. But Jax's hand finds mine, fingers interlacing, squeezing once.
"Let him know," Jax says quietly, watching Viktor disappear around the corner. "Doesn't change anything."
For the first time since he ran into me, I realize he's right.
We're not pretending anymore.