Chapter 22 #2
Every curve was more rounded, her breasts fuller and her hips perfect for me to grasp and hold onto.
Even the angles of her face were different, although somewhat hardened by whatever had transpired in the last three years.
At least I knew she’d thought of me more than once. There went my cock pushing against my trousers. The need for her was brutal. Whether she knew or appreciated the fact, she’d embedded herself under my skin.
Dear God, the hunger was off the charts.
I stood studying the exterior of the club; the garish outdoor decor and the number of people waiting in line were impressive.
She’d met a couple of people, who’d bypassed the bouncers without a hitch.
However, from what I’d seen inside her apartment, she wasn’t dating anyone.
God help the person if she was.
As we stood silently watching the comings and goings, a group of twenty-somethings walked by, mentioning the purpose of the night’s festivities and Kirill half choked.
“A rave? Isn’t that for kids?” he threw out with a wry smile. “No offense, sir, but you’re not getting any younger.”
“Evidently raves are active in Paris.” I buttoned my jacket, eyeing the entrance. “Keep watch. If anyone looks suspect, call me.”
“What are you going to do with her?”
“If I call you, then you can leave.”
He chuckled. “You just need to remember not to draw attention to yourself.”
“We’re in Paris. I know only one person.”
Now he snorted. “You know people everywhere, my Pakhan. And even sporting a beard, you’re highly recognizable.”
I tossed him an amused look. “At least I know I’m unforgettable. And why not perpetuate the latest rumor?”
When he mimed a huge explosion, even tumbling against the side of the car, I shot him a look. The end was near. I could feel it in my bones. But I would control the narrative.
Including with the woman.
As I headed to the entrance, as expected, the bouncer tried to stop me until I flashed him enough euros he could take a couple of weeks off.
The velvet rope was pulled aside and I was allowed in.
It would be good to be the Pakhan again.
I moved through the crowd, constantly scanning the perimeter.
There were two levels within the facility, both jammed with people dancing.
Lights flashed everywhere, vivid neon colors splashing across the ceiling, floor, and every wall, shimmers also dancing across the bars.
There had to be five hundred people in the club.
As I moved through the crowd, I sensed there was some fear within the crowd. I was older, dressed differently, incapable of blending in. As if I cared. I was here for a sole purpose.
Her.
Until I found her, I would remain on edge.
Until I could fully protect her.
Until she was mine.
I purchased a drink and continued moving through the crowd.
Finding her was easy. All I’d been required to do was find the group of people curious about why a dog had been allowed into the establishment.
She was front and center of a group of people, including several men who were watching her intently. And even from where I stood, I had a perfect view of the fact they were undressing her with their eyes.
I’d never been a jealous man but tonight was different. Everything about my world was different including its purpose.
Tonight I would enjoy the fruits of my labor, my hunt and protection successful.
I lifted a glass in reverence, taking a deep breath. “Very soon, my beautiful healer, you will be mine.”
Exactly as I’d promised both her and myself.
* * *
Rafaela
“You look fabulous, darling. I can’t believe you came out with us tonight.” Jules had been right by my side from the moment I’d stepped off the metro, he and his on-again, off-again boyfriend keeping me company while we’d walked to the club.
Even while a few other students had joined us when a couple of blocks from the club, everyone laughing from still being in celebration mode, I’d been lost in my own train of thoughts. All involving Kazimir.
Another level of anxiety had been set off like a handful of bottle rockets the moment I’d stepped onto the street.
Someone was watching me.
Maybe I was a little bit crazy, all the fantasies I’d tried to ignore for so long resurging like a tidal wave. Yet I could feel someone, his energy and his strength, his power and prowess.
Thoughts regarding the man on the sidewalk were never far from my mind. Given the metro hadn’t been crowded, I’d watched every stop, every person who’d gotten on, terrified I should have stayed behind locked doors.
But I’d promised myself I wouldn’t live that way.
Not after everything I’d been through. So here I was, trying to enjoy a night on the town and my stomach full of knots.
I moved toward the balcony railing, peering over the crowd below.
There were hundreds of people crowded close together, dancing the night away.
With the low lighting, I couldn’t make out a single face.
Yet every inch of my skin was on fire, electrified from some unknown heat source. And the inner voice that I’d relied on more in the past three years was poking and prodding me.
He’s here.
Him.
While I wanted to shove aside the thoughts, I couldn’t. My instincts never lied.
I was certain he was here, watching me.
Stalking me.
Hungering for me.
Tiny electric prods swept through me as excitement boiled my blood.
No. I wasn’t going to do this. I returned to where everyone was crowded around a table, grabbing my drink. Yet I couldn’t stop scanning the room, cognizant Golden was constantly nuzzling my leg.
The buzzing sensations continued. I glanced over Jules’ shoulder, scanning the crowd as I’d done at least ten times in ten minutes.
“Are you okay? You look as if you’re expecting someone.”
Laughing, I shifted my gaze toward Jules, hoping to reassure him. “Not at all. Just glancing at the crowd.”
“You can’t lie to me, girlfriend. You’re hoping that sexy Russian shows up. I know you.” Jules was pointing a finger in my direction, the little twirl bringing another laugh.
I threw my arms up in retreat. “What if I am?”
“Then I say go for it. You’re like a little nun.
You need to get out and par-tay. You know what I mean.
” He did a little bump with his man, which caused Golden to woof.
I’d been very cautious over the years, rarely going to clubs.
Tonight was a little freeing even though I had no doubt I was being watched.
“I know. I’m fine. I’m just a little tired from the long day.” I squeezed his arm.
“You’re not leaving, are you?”
“No, just going to the ladies’ room.” While I knew my behavior was risky, I couldn’t help finding out for certain.
My heart skipped several beats as I moved to the stairs, willing my little fur baby not to try to pull away.
I scanned the crowd, longing to see the powerful Russian, yet I realized I was facing a ridiculous pipe dream.
When all I could see were sweaty faces in the crowd, joyous intoxication taking an obvious toll, I suddenly felt very out of place.
I’d wanted so much to fit in, to free myself of the fears and anxieties that had followed me through every year of my life, but this club wasn’t going to be where that happened.
Kazimir hadn’t come for me because he was dead.
I’d heard the gunshots.
I’d awakened, realizing he’d left me. His scent had lingered and in rushing toward the window, I’d seen a half dozen guards racing away from the house.
I’d gone outside, ignoring the alarm blaring from breaching the security. That’s when I’d heard the shots.
Pop! Pop!
I winced as the memory crashed into the forefront of my mind.
The same sadness I’d felt one too many times suddenly became too overwhelming. I was stuck in the middle of hundreds of people I didn’t know, a crushing blow of suffocation causing another wave of panic.
I could see the man’s face from years before, his evil smile and the sound of his laughter echoing in my ears the same way it had when he’d discovered me under my bed.
The same claustrophobic nightmares after he’d been caught and killed formed ice in my veins.
And for a few seconds, I couldn’t see anything in front of me but a wave of foggy shadows.
I’d been fifteen years old, the bastard managing to drag me from my hiding place, my screams dying in my throat.
Even now, I could feel his hot breath dancing across my skin the way it had after he’d clamped his sweaty hand across my mouth and nose. He’d threatened to kill me if I uttered a word. Then he’d touched me and…
A single castrated whimper left my throat even as the vision faded.
But the hot breath remained, surfacing across the side of my neck and cheek.
Everything around me faded into the distance, all time coming to a solid standstill.
As I pressed my fingers against my lips, a masculine scent floated around me. No, it wasn’t possible. It couldn’t be.
I didn’t dare move for fear that I was hallucinating. The scent was exactly what I’d detected in my apartment, the strong scent of desirable musk wrapped around a hint of citrus and an earthy fragrance that created a series of goosebumps.
The single growl from my sweet girl was little more than a deep rumble, but I heard it. Enough that my grip on her leash tightened. She didn’t go wild, nor did she try to pull away. But her tail very slowly whapped against my leg, the low-slung sound shifting to a clearly, more high-pitched whine.
“Calma, bambina. Calma.”
Telling her easy and that she was a baby girl seemed to calm her. Meanwhile, her Mommy dog was beside herself, fearful that my instincts were wrong.
My body swayed, the little pitter-patter of my heart drowning out the echoes of fear. Very slowly I tipped my head over my shoulder, unable to see anything, but in a strange yet wondrous set of circumstances, the entire crowd around me had faded into nothing but shapes.
The spiraling electricity was enough to cause a loss of breath.
He was alive.
Alive.