Chapter 22
Lainey
“I’m still thinking an alpaca is an excellent idea.” I casually glanced over the rim of my glass at the hunk of a man finally relaxing. He’d been on edge on day, refusing to tell me why. After a lovely afternoon out shopping and enjoying the sights, Nina was fast asleep.
We had soft music playing in the background, dim lighting and the ocean breezes coming in through the open door. Being here with him was more than just exciting.
It was comforting. As if we’d known each other our entire lives.
I’d yet to tell him, but spending the time with him doing nothing yet everything meant more to me than if he’d taken me out to a fancy dinner.
This was what living and family was supposed to be about.
Not hanging out in hotel rooms or surrounded by paparazzi.
I was still grateful for every experience I’d had, but teaching Nina over the last couple of days had reminded me why I’d always wanted to be a teacher.
“Oh, yeah? Now, where would we put it? In the living room or the den?” Sasha was curled on the couch.
His shoes were off. His feet were propped up on my legs.
With his long hair slightly tousled from the day spent in the breeze, his shirt mostly unbuttoned revealing his chiseled abdomen, and the goatee that was absolutely the perfect size and shape, I could barely keep my eyes off him.
Even better. He was wearing shorts.
Sighing, I settled onto the couch, trying to think of the appropriate answer. “The pool area. You have a two-bedroom cabana that could be turned into a very special llama house. That would work.”
I was certain he’d spit out his vodka, but instead, he lifted a single eyebrow. Why was it that every move he made was sexy as hell?
He cocked his head, placing his arm behind his head. Dear God, the man was so sexy I was even captivated by the mischievous smile that he’d worn most of the afternoon.
“You have it all figured out.”
“I do.” Which wasn’t the truth in the least. The time we’d spent together meant so much, but it felt as if we were in a glass bubble and at any moment the protected surface could be shattered.
While Nina hadn’t been bothered in the least by being followed all day by two men carrying weapons, I’d constantly felt their presence, hating being followed.
Being protected. Maybe my thinking was hypocritical since I’d had Bernie and Danny by my side for years.
“I’m glad someone does.”
He took a gulp of his drink, his eyes suddenly unfocused. I’d heard him on the phone several times. He’d tried to hide his frustration from me and from Nina as well, but I was learning all the little tics and signs about the man. At least he’d seemed to enjoy the afternoon.
“Maybe no news is good news,” I suggested.
“Not in my world, Lainey. Often those poised for an attack use the absence of violence or threats to prime their victims.”
“So you’ll react to anything tossed your way.”
He nodded. “A tried and true war tactic.”
“You mentioned another side of your family in Moscow. You’re not close?
” I’d overheard conversations and with what little he’d told me, I’d managed to put a few pieces together.
Whatever had occurred months or years before had forever changed the family.
In my mind, it had brought them even closer together.
His laugh was bitter. “Not the man from Moscow who wished destruction on our family. From what my father told me, which wasn’t much, Uncle Yuri is a piece of work.”
“Why the rift?”
The way he rubbed his chin kept my eyes locked on him.
When he trusted someone, he wore his emotions on his sleeve.
Until then, he barely offered a smile. I felt very lucky to be trusted by him.
“Uncle Boris and my dad weren’t open and eager to talk about the reasons for the rift.
Part of it was because they left Moscow instead of hanging around during a time when there were daily violence and bloodshed on the streets.
Do my brother and cousins believe there’s more to the story?
You bet. There always is with Russian families. Secrets and lies.”
“Are you warning me?” I cooed.
Using his foot, he tickled my stomach. “Absolutely. Be careful with what you’re getting yourself into.”
“And what is that? What are we doing?” I hadn’t intended on blurting it out, but here we were. Paradise wouldn’t last forever.
“It’s whatever you want it to be.”
“Ah. You’re giving me a choice.”
“Of course. Just keep one thing in mind. If you try and run, I will hunt you down.”
“Oh, words to make a woman shiver.” His heated expression kept tingles jetting through me. I leaned back, adjusting my leg, absently rubbing his foot.
His eyes were suddenly hooded. “Just a promise made.”
There were so many things I wanted to say to him, but for some reason, I was having difficulty expressing them. Which wasn’t like me in the least. I’d been more relaxed being with him in the tropical environment than I had in as long as I could remember.
I’d filled a notebook with songs I’d written, all of them inspired by the man sitting in front of me.
I even had a special birthday song I’d prepared when he’d hidden himself away in the office contacting God knew who.
He was more worried now than when we’d left Vegas. I’d never seen a more protective man.
“I heard what you did for Bernie.”
“You did, huh?”
“Yeah, I did. You’re something else. Bernie respects you, and trust me, he doesn’t respect many people.”
“So he told me.” His grin was such a powerful draw I could barely contain myself. “Incidentally, the offer goes to Danny as well.”
“So you’re stealing the two men who’ve protected me for years for yourself. Now, how is that fair and what am I supposed to do?”
The room suddenly pulsed with a silent craving.
There’d been so many surprises with Sasha. In less than two weeks, he’d opened up and in doing so, he allowed me to free the chains I’d placed around myself. I would forever be grateful.
That’s why I shouldn’t have been surprised at his quick movements, but my tiny yelp proved otherwise.
He jerked up, immediately dragging me forward until our faces were barely inches apart. “Yeah, I took them from you because you’re going to have me keeping you safe. And if you don’t like it, you can take it up with my attorney.”
“Is that a threat or a promise?”
With slow and easy actions, he took the drink from my hand, placing both on the table. As soon as he slipped his hand under my hair, squeezing my neck, I shuddered. “As every member of my family has stated, I never make threats. I only make promises.”
How many times had he captured my lips? How many times had he kissed me with so much passion I was left breathless? Countless incredible times, but this one seemed even more intimate, as if this was his final laying claim to a woman who belonged to him.
I was thrilled even though the future was unknown and there were a half dozen obstacles that should keep us apart. At that moment I doubted either one of us cared.
He swept his tongue inside, taking his time tasting me. I pressed one hand against his chest, wrapping the other over his shoulder to tangle my fingers in his hair.
He chose that moment to pull me down on top of him. I don’t know why, but I felt more like a teenager than I had in a long time. Taking his time, he explored my mouth the way I was doing with his. I could envision doing nothing but this for hours.
Yet I had a strong feeling since his cock was hard as a rock that he wouldn’t indulge me. He was already ravenous. I could also tell by the way he was devouring my mouth and the deep growls.
I wiggled, creating a wave of friction between us. He broke the kiss, chuckling in the dark way that he knew drove me crazy. “Be careful, little butterfly, or I might ravage your body.”
Shifting again, I pushed up from him, straddling his body. “I was kind of hoping you’d say that.” He watched with a primal leer as I ripped off my shirt, tossing it aside.
“Goddamn, you’re beautiful.” Cupping my breasts, he flicked his thumbs back and forth across my already taut nipples. “How did I get so lucky?”
“Don’t forget that.” I unbuttoned the last three buttons on his shirt, yanking both sides open. As soon as I pressed the palms of my hands on his heated skin, we both moaned.
He struggled to sit, somehow managing to tug his shirt over his head, tossing the material aside. His breathing was hot and heavy, his eyes dropping ever so slowly down to my legs and back. “And all mine.”
His possessiveness was enthralling, keeping me tingling from excitement.
From there, we were frantic to remove our clothes, both laughing as we did just like we’d do if we were kids. Fearful of being caught. Trying to make the most out of our time together. When we were finally naked, I resumed the position, kneading his chest the way he was fondling my breasts.
I swished my hair across his face, laughing as I did. As I shifted back and forth across his cock, he shook his head. “You should know better than to tease me, malen’kaya babochka. I play to win.”
As if to prove his point, which was so like him, he dragged me up until I was sitting on his face.
“Shit.” The expletive slipped past my lips much too loudly. I slapped my hand over my mouth. The last thing I wanted to do was to wake Nina. Certainly not while we were engaged in sinful activity.
Sasha didn’t waste any time slipping his tongue past my swollen folds. I was forced to grip the back of the couch as my body swayed. His tongue should be listed as a weapon and I had no defense against what he was doing to me.
With every guttural sound he made, I was pushed into a trance that I never wanted to leave. He licked me fervently while his hands wrapped around my thighs, keeping me spread wide open for him.