Chapter 14
Aleksandr
It's Game Time
The kiss bothered me all day. She was utterly intoxicating. Her scent, her taste, her sweet, sexy body. When was the last time I lost control like that? I asked myself that question damn near half the day. She purposely taunted me, and I stood there, allowing it.
“She on her way?”
Nikolai asked. I nodded.
We had Sarah in the office, lying down on the couch. When Nik and I left, she was sleeping with her head on Ivan’s lap.
My eyes scanned the nightclub, the pulsating beats of music vibrating through the air, as I restlessly tapped my fingers against the sleek bar top. The scent of expensive cologne mixed with perfume wafted around me. The club was packed, and the girls on stage moved their bodies in sync with the rhythm, creating a tantalizing show.
The atmosphere was electric, charged with anticipation and people looking to fulfill some deep desires. And on a normal Friday evening, I’d be game to join them, but not tonight. My attention kept veering toward the entrance, searching for any sign of Kinsley’s arrival.
I checked my phone for what felt like the hundredth time, my impatience mounting with each passing second. I had the camera pulled up so I could see when she was at the door. Thomas, one of our bouncers, had been given instructions to play with her a little.
“You okay? You seem nervous, and that’s not like you. What gives?”
I frowned at Nikolai. Sometimes it sucked having someone know you so well that they could pick up on the slightest deviation of your normal pulse. I was about to tell him to fucking mind his own business when Marcus arrived.
“Alisha and Jenna are looking for you guys.”
The bartender poured Marcus a glass of water, knowing he didn’t drink alcohol. A groan of frustration rumbled through my chest. This was the last thing I needed. I glanced in Alisha’s direction and then abruptly turned to face the front. She approached nonchalantly as if her presence was an unexpected coincidence.
“Fancy meeting you here,”
she greeted as the two of them took a seat. Her eyes sparkled with a glimmer of mischief as she waited for a reaction.
“Not really. I own the place. I’m here frequently, but you already know this. The real question is, what are you doing here?”
I arched an eyebrow at her, my annoyance simmering beneath the surface.
Alisha’s smile faltered for a brief moment, her attempt at stirring up my emotions visibly failing. She should’ve known better; our rules were simple, and she’d agreed to them. I sipped my drink and glanced at my phone again. Recovering quickly, she feigned indifference as she shrugged her shoulders.
“Well, I’m here with Jenna tonight,”
she remarked, her voice carrying a hint of defiance. “Thought it might be fun to have a girls’ night out.”
Keeping my gaze fixed ahead, I could only hope it was true. She’d commented on more than one occasion about me being distracted over the last few nights, and the last thing I wanted was a scene. I replied, “That’s nice. Enjoy your night, then.”
“Maybe later, when you’re not—”
“Not now,”
I snapped, my voice devoid of the usual gentleness I reserved for her.
Nik turned at my sharp tone to watch the exchange unfold. The fucker was being thoroughly entertained, apparently. A mischievous grin played upon his lips.
I shot a quick glance at him, my irritation clear for all to see. “You need something, Crow?”
The asshole shook his head and asked the bartender for another drink, thinking better of trying to engage me, then whispered something into Jenna’s ear. I turned back to Alisha.
Her black hair was curled tonight, framing her pretty face, and her brow furrowed while desire shone in her hazel eyes. Alisha was a confident woman, carried herself well, and had a natural charm about her. Her lips parted, and she made one last attempt to protest, but I silenced her with an unwavering stare.
“Do we need to review our rules?” I barked.
Silence ensued as she blinked, trying to regain her composure.
“Please don’t make me repeat myself,”
I emphasized, my tone softer but still firm. “Answer my question.”
Understanding flickered in her gaze, her disappointment mingling with a reluctant acceptance. She stood and took a step back, resigning herself to the situation.
“No, Sir. I don’t need a review. I’ll leave you to whatever it is that has you so worked up,”
she murmured, her voice tinged with dismay and a hint of brattiness. “Come on, Jenna. Let’s go dance. Catch you later.”
Nik barely waited for them to walk away before he started in on me. “Well, this is a first,”
he chimed in, a hint of smugness in his voice. “I’ve never seen you so caught up in someone you barely know. The mighty Reaper, brought to his knees by a mere girl.”
I shot a glance at him and then at Marcus as he pretended not to be invested in our brotherly exchange. “Don’t start, Crow. This is a serious matter we’re dealing with.”
Nik smirked. “Oh, of course…serious business. I’m a bit confused though, is the investigation the serious matter? Or is it your preoccupation with a woman who seems to have you wrapped around her finger in the span of only a few days?”
“I’ve no idea what you’re talking about. I’m doing my part. What—”
“I can see the laser focus, Reap,”
Nik interrupted me, feigning a serious expression and furrowing his brow.
His words filled me with the urge to punch him in the face. My jaw tightened as amusement flickered in my brother’s eyes. Damn, it was a good thing I loved him.
“You find this hilarious, don’t you?”
I took another sip of my drink.
Nik’s grin widened as he nodded, his playful banter unabated. “Absolutely. It’s not every day I get to witness my brother squirming over a woman. You’ve got it bad, and I can’t wait to let Bash know all about it.”
My annoyance briefly gave way to a wry smile as Nik’s teasing nudged a small crack in my guarded facade. “You’re enjoying this way too much. But you’re wrong on all ends. I’d just like to solve this case already.”
Nik clapped a hand on my shoulder. “Mm-hmm, keep telling yourself that. But don’t worry, I’ll be here to keep you grounded. Do you want me to intervene if it looks like your heart is starting to wander into uncharted territory?”
“Fuck you,”
I mumbled, rolling my eyes.
“Not tonight. I’ve got a headache,”
Nik said, rubbing his temples as Marcus erupted in laughter.
I joined in. Nikolai’s playful jabs were exactly what I needed to refocus. As usual, he knew the way to help me clear my head.
I glanced down at my phone and grinned, feeling strong. “It looks like the little sparrow has finally decided to grace us with her presence. It’s game time, gentlemen.”
She was on fire, actively arguing with Thomas, shoving her ID in his face. I told him to give her a hard time since she looked younger than twenty-one. I glanced once more at them and realized Thomas had reached his limit and stepped to the side to allow her in.
Having just finished my drink, I nearly choked. That clear head I’d achieved was completely gone with one look at her.
“Holy Mother of God, is that the same girl from the picture? No fucking way,”
Nikolai exclaimed in awe, pushing past me to get a better glance.
Thomas was having a hard time not gazing at her breasts. Her dress made me feel equally savage and like I needed to cover her. Never mind that we owned this damn strip club and there were literally tits everywhere. What the fuck was she thinking? I dialed him.
“If your fucking eyes look at anything other than her face, I swear I’ll kill you myself. Bring her to me now,”
I growled.
Nikolai and Marcus chuckled loudly. I flipped them off.
Her dress was a long black maxi with two slits up the sides, and as she walked toward us, it separated, showing the creamy expanse of her legs and thick thighs. If that wasn’t bad enough, the damn V-neckline went clear down to her navel.
She was wearing a choker that had a long, braided whip that hung down between her very exposed cleavage. Her black heels gave her a little more height, but she still looked short.
For the first time since I learned of her, she wore her hair down, and I was completely mesmerized. It was long and thick, with rich brown curls. Red and gold highlights weaved throughout her tresses that flowed past her waist and bounced as she walked toward us.
Something inside me snapped. I had intended to greet her nonchalantly, but the kiss we shared earlier, and all that exposed skin, made that impossible. Holy fuck, she looks hot.
I could only stare in awe. She had practically every man in the club’s attention. Hell, even Nik was drooling. She couldn’t have chosen a more appropriate dress—it was as if she chose it specifically for him.
Our eyes met, and there it was. The distinct twin connection we shared. We were both imagining pulling her around by that whip and unchaining it from the choker. Bending her over the flogging bench and bringing it down across her bare ass. The sensitive skin would go from alabaster, to pink and then red.
“Damn, I’d love to spank that ass,”
Nikolai breathed.
Fucker, I knew it.
She sauntered over to us, her face set in sheer determination.
“What the hell are you wearing?”
I asked, grabbing her arm. She looked down at my hand and raised her eyebrow.
“It’s called a dress. You said sexy, did you not?”
She flicked her eyes around the club, taking in the girls on stage.
“You’re practically fucking naked,”
I growled.
She threw her hair over her shoulder and laughed. She fucking laughed. I wanted to rip my T-shirt off and throw it over her body. This was an entirely new emotion for me.
“You’re joking, right?”
She shook her head, and that sweet scent of honeysuckle hit me. My eye twitched, and I ground my back molars together.
“Do I look like I’m joking? Every man in here can damn near see your nipples.”
Jesus, get a grip. I couldn’t believe the words flying out of my mouth.
“Well, seeing as my nipples are properly covered thanks to my pasties, that’d be a lie. And every man—Aleksandr, that’s a bit of a stretch. I mean, look. That man isn’t looking at me.”
She indicated Marcus, who was grinning from ear to ear, listening closely.
“That’s because he works for me—”
“Now, that one over there, you’re right. He can’t seem to keep his eyes off me. If I had more time, I’d ask him to dance. But seeing as that’s not what I’m here for, maybe you could direct me to my friend.”
“Your friend?”
I asked, feeling bewildered. Maybe I shouldn’t have had that second drink.
“Yes, Sarah. Remember? You called, demanded I come and get her, or you’d call the cops on her? Or did you lie to get me here?”
Her voice rose in anger, and a bright-red blush dotted her cheeks.
“Office. Now,”
I ordered, worried she was gaining the upper hand.
“You have no manners at all, do you?”
She put one hand on her hip, which only made my dick harder as the movement accentuated her sexy body.
Nikolai stepped around me and moved toward her, taking her hand.
“Malyshka, ty razbudila vo mne chto-to davno zabytoye,”
Nikolai cooed in Russian. Baby girl, you have awoken something long forgotten inside of me. He brought her hand up to his lips.
Did he really just say that to her?
I glowered at him as Marcus shook his head in amusement. The fuckers were getting a good laugh at my expense tonight. Her beautiful eyes grew wide, and the slightest hint of understanding registered before she covered it. I watched her closely. If she understood Nik, then she knew her new nickname was kitten, which was so fitting.
Taking a deep breath, I said, “Nikolai, Kinsley. Kinsley, my brother.”
She blinked several times, her mouth hanging open. Her gaze traveled down his face to his forearm, and her expression fell. The crow etched in black ink on his arm told her all she needed to know. The body of the crow was a skull. Yes, he’s dangerous too, kitten. His clean-cut looks often fooled people. I smirked at her, raised my glass, and finished my drink.
“Where’s Sarah?”
she demanded once more.
“Follow me,”
I commanded. I put the glass on the bar and turned back toward her.
“To where? I don’t trust you. Where the hell is my friend?”
She glared, flipping her hair back and exposing her neck. I stepped closer and grabbed the whip, pulling her toward me.
The music pumping in the background dimmed in my ears, and a rush of her sweet scent enveloped me. I closed my eyes, savoring her. She gripped my forearms, and her hands on my bare flesh felt like an electrical current running through my body.
What kind of power did this woman have?
Nikolai cleared his throat. More for my sake than hers. Fuck, the amount of shit he was going to give me later.
“This way, baby girl.”
He took her hand, pulling her toward him. “Your friend is in the office with Ivan,”
he added with a boyish smile.