Chapter 24
Kinsley
Dancing With The Reaper
“Alek doesn’t like that word,”
I said sweetly as I looked into Nikolai’s dancing green eyes.
He had a tall brunette woman draped on his arm. She looked stunning, like a fashion model. There was a comfortability between them. Something told me they were definitely close. Lovers, for sure.
I tore my eyes from his probing ones, warmth flushing my cheeks and heating my veins. His eyes roamed my entire body, lingering on my breasts. He shouldn’t be looking at me like that, especially with his girlfriend there. She must have agreed with my sentiments because she whispered something in his ear.
“Jenna, you’re forgetting yourself,”
he warned the woman, raising an eyebrow at her. She immediately lowered her eyes, and her body responded to his words.
“Yes, Sir,”
she replied almost instantly.
Even without her response, my submissive training instantly recognized the subtle signals of their bodies. My face flamed with heat like I was witnessing something I shouldn’t. I looked away and spotted Ivan getting out of a car. He held his hand out, and I squealed.
“Surprise,”
Alek whispered in my ear.
I clapped my hands together. Walking toward us, clinging to the mountain of a man, was Sarah. Her hair, the color of sun-ripened wheat, fell in gentle waves around her shoulders. I leaned in to hug her.
“Can you believe this?”
Sarah whispered in my ear. Knowing her as I did, I knew she wanted to squeal but refrained.
“I’m so glad you’re here,”
I exclaimed, letting her go before stepping back.
As excited as I was to see her, my eyes couldn’t help but take in her date. Ivan King was breathtakingly massive. Bigger than both Alek and Nik, he stood at least six feet four inches tall and was easily over two hundred pounds of pure muscle.
I tried to imagine him as a baby and kept coming up empty. He had dark hair like Nik, but his eyes were a mesmerizing oceanic, blue-green color. I’d never seen eyes like his before. His beard was fuller than Alek’s, and warmth spread through me as he studied me.
He cocked his head to the side, nodding. I was momentarily transfixed and froze as his eyes slowly traveled down my body. My stomach fluttered at the attention.
It was as if his eyes were undressing me in front of everyone, and I squeezed my thighs together. Heat rose to my cheeks and spread down my chest as he chuckled.
“Hand it over, Ivan. I told you my boy would pull it off,”
Nikolai spoke, breaking the stare down between Ivan and me.
Ivan dug into his pocket and handed a crisp one-hundred-dollar bill to Nik. Aleksandr laughed, and he and Nik did some secret handshake like children.
“Never bet against me, baby brother. Now, if you don’t mind, this beautiful woman has promised me a dance,”
Alek said, putting his hand on my elbow. I shivered at his touch and boldly took his arm with one last look at Nik and Ivan.
“I don’t recall promising you that, Mr. King. However, you did come through for me with the tape. So I’ll consider it. But only after you’ve fed me.”
I lowered my voice and smiled seductively at him as desire filled his eyes.
“I’ll never leave you hungry, kotyonok. Come,”
Alek responded, and his words were like an intimate caress.
Somewhere from Seattle to Portland, high in the clouds, I’d found myself transforming. I’d recognized I was tapping into my training and let it happen. Fragmented memories of seeing X entertain men in a dating capacity, how to be charming and attentive, intertwined with the present, offering me a unique perspective and strength.
In my desire to overcome my past, Owen helped me realize that, while it would always be a part of me, it gave me a level of resilience and made me powerful. It might be a risky decision, but I had to start somewhere. It was all about trusting my intuition and unearthing an authentic version of myself. I wasn’t a shattered little girl anymore.
I was a thriver, ready to rewrite my narrative and create my own future. The wine helped, and having Aleksandr look at me the way he was made me feel bold and alive. If this was what dating felt like, I had been doing myself a disservice by avoiding it.
I knew I could be as sophisticated as the woman hanging off Nik’s arm or anyone else we’d meet tonight. The surprise of Sarah being here only helped me relax. It was a sweet gesture, and I would show him that I appreciated it by enjoying myself.
Each of the King brothers wore designer tuxedos, cut to precision. Black and bold across their wide shoulders, with gentle lines around the waist and tucked-in crisp white shirts—they were magazine ready. The sharp creases in their slacks and shiny shoes completed the ensemble.
I looked around the room and noticed several tall banners next to tables. Each one showcased some of the work the various foundations were doing in the Pacific Northwest communities.
“Aleksandr King, will wonders never cease? Do you have a date with you this evening? My girls will be devastated.”
An elderly woman strolled up to him, smiling warmly. She studied me closely, and I flushed from the scrutiny.
Who is she to Alek?
“Madame Pierce, this is Kinsley. If you only knew the struggle it took to get her to agree to accompany me. Be kind, and don’t go tattling.”
He hugged her.
“Ahh, do you have stories that you can share about Alek? I think Madame Pierce and I should have a sit-down,”
I teased as a look of horror crossed his face.
“Maybe another time. There’s someone else I’d like you to meet.”
He bid Madame Pierce a farewell and steered me toward a handsome older gentleman and a dark-haired woman whose backs were to us.
The closer we got, the harder it was to breathe. They both turned from who they were talking to, and I stopped dead in my tracks. This was not happening.
“Father, Mother, you look amazing tonight. I’d like you to meet a friend of mine, Kinsley. Kinsley, these are my parents, Christopher and Sophia.”
“Daddy Diplomat,”
I whispered stupidly. Thank god only Alek heard me, but his ensuing laughter turned my face a bright red.
“You said you weren’t coming,”
his mother said, looking at me with a shocked expression.
“That was because I was waiting for her to answer me. I didn’t want to get your hopes up.”
Alek brought my hand up to kiss it, and I shooed him away.
“He’s not lying. I only just said yes a few days ago. I mean, it’s not like I said ‘yes to the dress,’ in that sense. Well, technically, I did say yes to the dress—this one, anyway. But I did say no to the lingerie. It’s just dinner and one dance, that’s it,”
I rambled.
I wanted to crawl under a rock. There went every bit of training I’d ever received. Awkward could not even begin to describe how badly I messed up my introduction. Dealing with parents hadn’t been on the list of potentials we’d been taught.
“Well, you look lovely in the dress, so here’s to that,”
his father finally said after a few moments, but it felt like a lifetime to me. He smiled at Aleksandr and stopped a waiter who was carrying around flutes filled with wine.
Thankfully, Nik and Ivan arrived a second later with their dates, and I was saved from any other embarrassing moments.
Leaning over and pulling on Alek’s coat, damn him for being so tall, I hissed, “You’re in so much trouble.”
“You babble when you’re nervous. I love it.”
Jenna, Nik’s date, seemed to have met his parents before, from the level of comfort between them. They also seemed warm to Sarah. I couldn’t help feeling like I’d upset his mother by showing up.
“Mr. and Mrs. King, we need you for a photo shoot,”
a man with a camera interrupted.
“We’ll all chat later. It was nice seeing you again, Jenna, and a pleasure meeting you Sarah, Kinsley.”
As they walked away, I could see his mother whispering to Christopher. The resounding chuckle from their father was embarrassing, and I downed the glass of wine.
Scratch dating from the to-do list. I’ve changed my mind.
“Shall we, kitten?”
Alek led me over to a table, and his brothers and their dates joined us shortly after.
Alek pointed the chief out. “I’ll introduce you to him later. That beautiful woman with short hair is his lovely wife. You’ll love her. She has a way with people.”
I studied the couple. They were looking into each other’s eyes at the moment, blocking out anyone else. Then the chief looked over toward us and smiled brightly. He lifted his glass to Alek and then whispered something to his wife. Her face lit up with laughter as she glanced over at us. My face flushed; they were talking about me. Wonderful.
“What is it, Kinsley, that has you looking so flustered?”
Nikolai interrupted my inner tirade.
“It’s nothing,”
I lied, glancing away.
Another waiter came to take our drink order. My nerves were shaky, so I ordered another glass of wine.
“How do you know Alek?”
Jenna asked almost right away. She kept her tone light, but I glanced at Nik and saw him watching her closely.
“Somehow, he heard about my world-famous Danishes and came to see me at the café where I work. I haven’t been able to get rid of him since.”
“Those must be some Danishes,”
Ivan remarked with a wink, his voice lowered.
“I’ve yet to have any. I’m hoping that will change after tonight,”
Alek said, leaning over to brush a piece of my hair back.
“Don’t count on it. I honestly only came so I can report you to the chief.”
I toasted him and took a sip of my wine.
“The night is still young. Don’t say no this early,”
Alek said.
There was that hint of promise again. The words were innocent enough, but the look in his eyes was dark and dangerous. Would it be so wrong to indulge a little? My resolve wavered once more with a simple look from him. Emotions swirled inside me. I’d liken it to being carried along by a turbulent river current.
The attraction I had for him was scary but exciting all at the same time. I may have died twice over, figuratively, but that didn’t mean I was dead inside. If others could overcome trauma and have healthy relationships, why not me?
With little to no effort on his part, my apprehension melted. I could do worse. How many girls lost their virginity to bumbling boyfriends in high school? Ones who had no idea what they were doing? There was no doubt, if I were to decide to sleep with Aleksandr King, it would be amazing. I had a feeling he’d know exactly what to do with me.
“What’s that look for?”
He leaned in, the movement sensual and confident.
Yeah, he’d know what to do with me.
“I think I may have lost my mind. Do you happen to know where I may have misplaced it?”
I leaned further in, closing the distance. The move surprised him, and his eyes flashed with desire.
As the words slipped out of my mouth, a mix of nervousness and curiosity flooded my mind. The constant tug-of-war of my thoughts left me wondering if I could do this.
With a flicker of intrigue filling his eyes, and that undeniable attraction he always seemed to level at me, he said, “Kotyonok, I’ll help you find anything you’ve ever lost if you’ll keep looking at me that way.”
His voice was laced with a sensuality that had my knees weak, and it was a good thing we were sitting. Despite the vulnerability peering into my eyes, layers of skepticism lingered within.
It danced with the uncertainty and shadows of my past. Could someone like Aleksandr, a player, truly be interested in the real me? Or was he merely using his charm and wit to unravel the secrets I held?
“Um, I wonder how true that statement is,”
I mumbled.
It was a subtle way of expressing my doubts and guarding my heart, even as I found myself drawn to him. Self-preservation whispered cautionary tales, reminding me of the dangers of trusting too easily.
“Stick around and I’ll show you.”
He cupped my face; his thumb ran across my bottom lip.
The waiter came by with our drinks and to take our food order, disrupting the moment as he cleared his throat and looked at Alek.
Without even looking at the man, he answered, “The lady will start with a side salad, no dressing.”
My eyes widened as he moved his hand to trace my hairline. “For dinner, she’ll have the filet mignon, medium-rare, baked potato with only butter and extra cheese.”
My mouth dropped open, and he winked. How the hell did he know what I would have ordered? He looked at me with a brilliant smile.
“Did I guess right? I can tell from the look on your face you’re wondering how? Let me put your mind at ease. I showed the menu to your friend. She was kind enough to tell me. Seems, hands down, you are a meat-and-potatoes kind of girl.”
My eyes flashed to Sarah; she shrugged her shoulders with a huge grin. She was probably thinking she was helping get me laid. Little did she know, I didn’t need help in that area. She turned her attention back to the menu. Glancing at Ivan, I noticed he, too, was still looking. Nikolai’s eyes were taking in the room.
It was Jenna’s unwavering gaze, devoid of warmth or welcome, that unnerved me momentarily. Cocking my head to the side, I stared back at her as if to ask, what? Clearly, we weren’t going to be besties anytime soon. Perplexed by her complete disapproval of someone she’d never met before, I was happy when she placed her order and directed her gaze to the waiter.
As the elegant music played in the background, the chief of police and his wife made their way through the crowd of elegantly dressed guests. With his head held high and a confident smile on their faces, the chief looked at his wife.
The love and affection he held for her could be seen by everyone in attendance. They approached our table, and the chief extended his hand to the King brothers in greeting, while his wife leaned in for warm hugs. Alek made introductions all around.
“Does this mean no complaint form is necessary, then?”
the chief joked while his beautiful wife swatted his arm.
“You stop,”
she murmured to her husband.
Turning her attention to me, she inquired about my teaching dance. I flushed, wondering why on earth Alek was discussing me. It turned out their four-year-old daughter loved to dance.
“You could come down anytime during the week. I’ll be there. I’m at the studio usually from noon to three,”
I told her.
“That would be great. I’d love to grab a coffee with you and get some details on the different styles.”
“Absolutely. With her being so young, it’s really the perfect time to get her involved. I’m sure we can find one she’ll take to,”
I said, stealing a glance at Alek. He studied me intently, and the scrutiny had me shifting in my chair.
The conversation flowed, and I enjoyed listening to the lively discussion and resulting laughter. However, just as the chief was beginning to recount a humorous anecdote, a harried-looking assistant approached our table, whispering in the chief’s ear.
He looked disappointed as he apologized to us before he and his wife followed the assistant. As they turned to leave, Alek caught my eye and gave me a genuine smile, conveying the warmth and sincerity he had shown throughout the evening.
“You’re a natural.”
The compliment had me feeling bashful.
“Thank you,”
I murmured.
I figurately patted myself on the back and heard Summer bear in my head.
“Nailed it! That was flawless. You may have blown it with the parents, but you have redeemed yourself beautifully. Keep it up.”
My confidence increased a smidgen, and I turned my attention back to the occupants at the table. Dinner was served shortly after and was excellent. The steak was so amazing, I had to temper myself not to inhale it like a starving beast.
The Kings teased one another and made light conversation. I could watch them banter for hours. Their faces were animated as Nik told us a story from when they were in school, about a girl he and Alek had thought was cute.
“How the hell was I supposed to know you’d asked her out already?”
Nik scoffed.
“And that right there, Crow, was the exact day I decided to narrow down my portfolio. Blondes for life,”
Ivan mused.
Alek shook his head, rolling his eyes. He turned to me and lifted my hand to his mouth, kissing it.
“Tell me, have you had your fill? Did I earn that dance?”
His eyes were on fire, and he reached over and tucked one of the loose strands of my hair behind my ear.
“You’ve been fairly well-behaved, I suppose. And you sent the waiter back for more cheese.”
I tried to keep my voice even, but the thought of dancing with Alek again had my heart beating fast. I remembered how his hard body felt pressed into mine and how I wanted to grind on him so badly.
“Save one for me, malyshka,”
Nikolai said, lifting his drink to his lips.
I swallowed hard. Was he joking?
I was mesmerized as his full lips wrapped around the glass. His mischievous green eyes twinkled with humor, and mine flicked to Jenna sitting next to him.
“She won’t mind, will you, Jenna?”
His question seemed almost a challenge to her.
“Of course not. Whatever pleases you, Nikolai,”
she breathed, looking at him for approval. Jesus, I was right about my earlier assumptions. There was no denying her words and her facial expressions.
“All for one, and one for all. Save me one too, little love,”
Ivan’s deep voice rumbled across the table as he stared at me. Alek fumed, and Nik laughed, but my heart fluttered at the name.
Did he just nickname me along with Nikolai? What was happening here?
“All for one, and one for all? What does that mean?”
My voice shook.
“Don’t worry, you’re safe with me. You’re not blond. But just so you know, in our house, we always save the best for last.”
His voice was low and deep, with a commanding baritone that made my stomach flip-flop.
“You are not the best dancer, Brother,”
Alek argued, standing and taking my hand.
Leading me away, he said, “Come on, kotyonok, they just want to give you a hard time, is all. Tease you because they have nothing better to do with their lives.”
He gave them a look as if to say, stop fucking this up for me, and I tossed my head back in laughter. They were obviously close and cared deeply for one another. It made me both happy and sad. Happy because that type of comradery existed for them. Then sad, wondering if Autumn, Winter, Summer, and I had been allowed to live together with Owen, if we would have been similar?
As we walked onto the dance floor, I noticed his parents were nearby. He and his father nodded at one another. His mother flashed me a small smile, but her green eyes, so much like Nik’s, fired question after question my way.
“Tell me something, have your parents not seen you on a date before?”
“Very rarely, and only a few times here in the States.”
His voice was mellow and soft.
“How long have you been here?”
“About a year and a half.”
He twirled me close to his body as I gasped. “Why the shocked look?”
“Well, now it makes sense the way your mother keeps looking at me.”
“And how is she looking at you?”
I lost myself in his teasing banter and light-heartedness. “Like I’m stealing her firstborn.”
After the final notes of the previous song played, there was a brief interlude, and it enveloped the dance floor, leaving behind a hushed anticipation. Looking at Aleksandr, I was hit with the sudden feeling of all the air leaving my lungs.
His hand, warm and reassuring, found its place on the small of my back, pulling me closer. A charged silence rippled through the air, and I couldn’t stand the intensity of his gaze, so I looked down.
“When you do that, it does things to me. And it makes me want to do delicious things to you,”
he growled, his fingers running along the back of my neck in the most sensual way.
“When I do what?”
I asked, looking up once more.
“Bow your head so prettily, your eyes lowered, and the way you tremble so.”
As he said each phrase, my body reacted as if he were asking me to do it.
The music started, and I froze. Not this song.
“The Power of Love”
trilled from the speakers. It was one of my mother’s favorites. I wanted to run until he lifted my head. His eyes bored into mine, and he cocked his head to the side, reading my emotions.
He stepped back and circled me slowly, giving me space to think. His eyes never left mine, and he looked so primal. As he came around, he brushed one of my hands. His eyes were so intense.
Then he was behind me, and his lips hovered over my pulse point. The little hairs on the back of my neck stood at attention. Goose bumps erupted as he lifted my arms and pulled me backward against his body. Then, gently, he guided me back up.
My heart pounded, and a current, hot and white, ran through me. Dancing with him felt electric. The sensation slithered its way down deep in my stomach. My pussy clenched, and before I could comprehend how my body was responding to the seductive way he was handling me, he had me in frame position.
We moved like we’d done this exact dance before, but I was simply following his lead. Desperately, I scrambled for mental equilibrium, trying to reconcile my feelings for this man. Then his lips brushed mine ever so slightly, jolting me. His eyes held mine, commanding my attention. It was too much.
“Eyes on me, kitten.”
Shivers ran up and down my spine, and he was very aware of his effect on me. As we glided along, I gained a little more control. That was, until he placed his hand on the back of my neck and tilted my face toward his. He began nuzzling my neck on both sides like he was trying to find which side he preferred.
A low growl emanated from his throat. My fingers gripped the soft material of his jacket, and I held on for dear life when his lips grazed my cheek. It was when they found my ear and I heard him whisper “So fucking beautiful”
that I shuddered in his arms.
He pushed his nose into my hair and held me for a split second before bending me backward. His powerful arms balanced me as his lips trailed down the front of my dress. A small moan found its way out of my mouth, embarrassing me. My face flushed, and I could barely breathe as he pulled me upright again.
Not realizing the song had ended, I let him hold me longer than I should have. His fingers lingered on the bare skin on my sides, almost tickling me. The tension was thick, and I only then remembered his parents were here before I stepped back from him.