Mafia Boss's Fearless Lover (The Karzhov Crime Family series Book 1) (7 page)

He had to sit on the edge of the jetted tub as she walked towards him. He let his eyes travel the length of her body and back up, his body responding and demanding satisfaction.

Now that Katya had some of her questions answered, she was beginning to come to terms with the fact that life, as she knew it, was gone and in its place was this complicated, intriguing, and sometimes dangerous existence. The stress of the afternoon, combined with the residual stress of the last few weeks, had a small pinpoint of pain just beginning behind her left temple.

She needed stress relief, and she needed it now. If that stress relief came in the arms of a gorgeous male, one she was rapidly coming to trust and respect, who was going to complain? Certainly not her.

As she walked the few feet that separated them, she saw the flush climb in his cheeks, his eyes darken with desire, and the way he clenched his fists upon his thighs. It seemed someone else was a little stressed as well.

When she was standing directly in front of him, she met his eyes and softly asked, “Care to join me? That tub looks big enough for two.”

“You are such a confusing creature,” Nikolai murmured softly, letting the backs of his fingers trail over her collarbone, over one breast, not stopping until he had reached her hip. He pulled her closer, inhaling her sweet fragrance, before covering her nipple with his warm mouth.

He knew he needed to figure out what was going on with Danil but she presented a temptation he found himself incapable of resisting.

“Why am I confusing?” Katya asked, leaning into his kiss, moaning when his free hand came up to play with the breast his mouth was ignoring.

“When I first saw you,” he murmured against her skin, his tongue circling her nipple then taking it into his mouth. Releasing her, he looked up and completed his thought, “I was turned on by the naughtiness I could see simmering inside of you. The way your body moved had every male in the club panting after you. But then, you joined me in the booth and showed me you still had an air of innocence about you. You can still blush, a remarkable feat for any stripper, I assure you.”

“I was self-conscious.”

“Exactly. Most strippers have absolutely no compunction about baring their bodies. You on the other hand felt embarrassed.”

Katya could feel herself blushing then as he finished talking and wondered if that was a bad thing or a good one.

“When I tried to do the right thing last night and you came on so strong, I decided the innocence I thought I’d seen was a figment of my imagination.”

“It was, and it wasn’t. I may not have had lots of real experience to draw from, but I’m an avid reader. Last night was lots of ideas from books I’ve read, all put into practical application,” she added with a shy smile.

Nikolai wrapped his arms around her back, pulling her to him and hugging her close, “Whatever it was, I have to tell you I’ve never felt such pleasure.”

“And you would have lots of experience to draw from?” Katya asked, trying to keep the jealousy from her voice.

“Some. Believe me, the passion that is between us is not something two people find every day. It deserves to be treated with respect, nurtured, and allowed to grow.”

Katya started to shiver as she stood on the cold tile, wearing nothing but his arms wrapped around her back.

“You’re cold. Get into the tub.”

“But—”

“Give me ten minutes to look at the journals, and I promise to come back.” Nikolai held her hand while she stepped over the tub and settled into the warm water. “I’ll bring us something to drink, shall I?”

Katya nodded, “That sounds good.” She leaned her head back against the tub; grateful she’d taken the extra second after undressing to put the hair tie he’d unearthed to good use.

Nikolai watched her for a moment and then left the bathroom, mentally chiding himself for the lascivious thoughts that filled his mind.

The things I want to do to her! First, information. Second, pleasure—and lots of it.

They had two days in which to learn about each other, for him to instruct her in the ways of the organization, and to give and take as much pleasure as two people could from each other.

It sounded a little like paradise to him.

Nikolai made short work of perusing Karina’s journals, finding enough evidence to confirm his suspicions and seal Danil’s fate.

The man had acted with extreme malice against his sister. Nikolai wondered if Danil had also acted with extreme malice against him at some point. Was he responsible for the leaked information on their recent drug shipments? Was he secretly sabotaging the organization’s activities, trying to discredit Nikolai’s leadership and make a place for himself at the helm?

Tossing the journal back onto the side table, Nikolai headed to the kitchen and poured a glass of vodka for himself and a glass of orange juice for Katya. Thankfully, his driver had called ahead and his housekeeper had made sure the kitchen was well stocked before they arrived.

She and her husband operated the bait shop at the entrance to the lake and made sure the lake house was kept in good repair and stocked with food whenever Nikolai needed to get away. Only his most trusted men knew the location of the retreat, and he was relieved that Danil had never been on the receiving end of the information. It had never been necessary, and Nikolai had never felt a burning need to share everything with the man. It would seem his intuition had been helping him all along.

Picking up the two glasses, he pushed the thoughts of Danil, the organization, and how the situation would be dealt with from his mind. Giving his banked desire free rein to pulse through his bloodstream, his body hardened at the thought of what was to come.

He pushed the door to the bathroom open, stepped into the slightly steamy room, and stopped to watch the woman who was quickly weaving herself a place in his heart and life.

                                                                                    ***

Katya had her eyes closed as she relaxed in the warm water. The simmering desire Nikolai had stoked was just barely contained and she let her mind wander to the night before. She’d made a conscious decision to push away the worry over Danil and her place in this new world. There was nothing she could do about anything tonight; therefore, there was no reason to let the worry eat away at her heart and mind.

She let her hands trail across her abdomen under the water’s surface, remembering a much stronger touch. She let her fingertips trace an intricate pattern on her stomach, mentally tracing the curls of ink that adorned Nikolai’s strong arms.

I wonder how long it would take to trace each black line with my lips?

She envisioned Nikolai spread out before her, lying on his stomach, his arms spread out to the side. She would start with her fingertips, tracing a single line up the back of his arm, across his broad shoulders, and then down the other side. Soon, she would use both hands to follow the inky paths, pressing into the muscles as he groaned in pleasure.

Katya was so lost in her daydream, she didn’t hear Nikolai set the glasses down on the counter, nor did she hear him slowly remove his clothing.

Nikolai watched her undulate under the water, seeing her hands drawing circular patterns on her stomach and wondering what daydream had put that siren’s smile on her lips. Deciding to find out, he carried the glasses closer, before leaning down to gently kiss those lips.

Katya’s eyes flew open, startled from the luscious dream, but settling once she saw the object of her desire bending over her, naked as the day he was born.

God, he’s so gorgeous.

Without conscious thought, her hands lifted from the water, aligning her fingertips with the farthest ends of each tattoo and began to follow the lines up his arms.

“What were you thinking about?” Nikolai asked, nipping along her jaw even as his body hardened with her touch.

“You. These,” she whispered, moving her head back to give him access to the pulse point beneath her ear. “That feels good,” she murmured.

“Good. Scoot forward a bit.”

When she complied, he stepped into the large tub, settling his frame into the water behind her, his thighs bracketing her slim hips, one on either side. “Lean back,” he whispered into her ear, cradling her shoulders in his palms as she did so.

Katya could feel the hard muscles of his hairless chest against her back, and then lower, the evidence of his arousal pressing into the crease of her butt. When his hands dropped over her shoulders, claiming possession of her breasts, she let her head drop back on a sigh of pleasure.

She is so responsive to my touch…
Nikolai had never had a woman respond to him so easily. Katya totally gave of herself when they were together, showing her pleasure and giving him access to every part of her.

Within a few moments, the touching was no longer sufficient. Nikolai needed to be inside her in a desperate way. Pushing her forward, he climbed from the tub then lifted her out in his arms. He carried her into the large walk-in shower and set her on the tiled bench. It was tiled from floor to ceiling and multiple showerheads provided water from three sides and the ceiling.

Katya looked around with lust-drugged eyes, watching as Nikolai adjusted the water temperature before engaging the varying sprays. After adjusting everything to his liking, he pulled her to her feet, crushing her chest against his own while he claimed her mouth in a lascivious kiss.

This wasn’t a gentle wooing but a full out assault on her senses. Rather than fight or protest, she relaxed and let him take her on a sensuous ride. His hands never stopped moving, tweaking a nipple here, pressing her against his groin there, dipping between her thighs, but never quite taking her over the edge.

“Nik, stop teasing me, please,” Katya pleaded when he once again withdrew his fingers from her core, having taken her to the brink of climax before pulling back yet again.

“I like hearing you beg,
milaya moya
,” Nikolai murmured against her lips.

“I’m not begging. That was me threatening bodily harm if you don’t finish what you’ve started,” Katya threw back at him, annoyance and unfulfilled desire thickening her voice.

“So demanding. Well then, your wish is my command. Hold on and don’t let go.”

Katya did as he commanded, putting her arms around his shoulder.

He put his hands behind her thighs and lifted. “Wrap your legs around me.”

Nikolai slid his hands up so that they were supporting her butt on either side, feeling her strong legs wind around him, bringing her into direct contact with his groin. He took one step, bracing her upper back against the tiled wall, warmed by the steam from the water cascading down around them. Katya gasped softly in anticipation.

“Look at me, Katya,” Nikolai urged, nudging her chin up with his mouth.

Katya was mesmerized by what she saw in his eyes: desire, lust, and…there was something else, but she couldn’t put a word to it.

Nikolai held her gaze as he slid into her body, watching for any signs that he was causing her discomfort, smiling when he finally seated himself fully within her. He began a gentle surge and retreat rhythm, gradually building the passion back up in both of them.

“Nik?” Katya asked, licking her lips and hearing him groan in response.

“What?” he managed to say, focusing on maintaining his steady rhythm and not giving in to the need to pound her until they both fell headfirst over the cliff.

“I…,” Katya stopped, unsure how to continue. Nikolai had touched a place in her heart, but having never felt this way before, she didn’t trust the emotion trying to get out.

“Shush,” Nikolai told her, seeing her struggle to find the right words to express how she was feeling. “We’ll talk later. Right now, I want to hear you scream my name again.”

Katya tightened her legs around him, eliciting a deep groan and bringing a smile to her lips. When he increased his tempo, she moved with him, the water flowing over them. The steam rose, and soon she could barely make out his face. Her sight was no longer her primary sense, now it was all touch and feel.

The sensations within her spiraled out, like a mushroom cloud, expanding until she could no longer hold back her pleasure. She flew over the edge of bliss, screaming his name. She dimly heard him follow right after her, his harsh breathing mingling with hers several minutes later amidst the sound of the water hitting the tile.

When Nikolai trusted his arms and legs to function correctly once again, he eased out of her then let Kat slide down his body to gain her own feet. They took turns washing each other, and then drying each other off with towels. When he carried her to his bed, he tucked her in next to him, spooning his body around her before kissing her once and then drifting off to sleep.

Katya tried to stay awake. It felt so good to be safe in his arms but minutes later, she joined him in a peaceful nap.

Nikolai woke several hours later, his stomach reminding him they’d not eaten dinner. He’d spied a casserole thawing in the fridge, with the cooking instructions taped to the top. Extracting himself from the bed, he grabbed a pair of lounge pants and headed for the kitchen.

After putting the casserole in the oven and setting the timer, he retreated to the small porch and the journals once more. As pleasant as the last few hours had been, he knew that reality would intrude soon and something had to be done to make Danil pay for his crimes against his family. The man deserved to die for his betrayal, but first Nikolai needed to find out if he was actively working with the East Coast organizations, or if he’d simply been acting alone and it had backfired.

Either way, at the end of the day, Danil Yakimov was a dead man. He just didn’t know it yet.