by Leslie North
Viktoria grabbed the silver and royal blue cocktail dress out of the tiny closet and hung it on the hook on the door. She almost hadn’t packed the decadent but flirty dress, but now she was glad she did. What did one wear to a fashion show staged in the Brewery District anyway—
“You won’t need that,” Lee’s rich voice rumbled from the doorway. He leaned against the frame with his thumbs hooked into his belt loops. “We’re not staying.”
Viktoria tore her gaze off the gorgeous, masculine display he made. “Yes. We are.” She rummaged in the bottom of the closet for the silver and diamond Aquazzura stilettos that paired perfectly. He wasn’t talking her out of going, but maybe she could gain his acceptance by making him understand. “I know you don’t get it, but I have to network. Hiding away is hurting my standing in the negotiations, and I have to do everything I can to save what I’ve built.”
She placed the heels below the dress, then laid out the appropriate jewelry. “Did you know that I did all the preliminary work on establishing the new division for the company?” She faced him. “Or that I projected the profit and loss over the next ten years and proved the company had to diversify into other materials to stay healthy and profitable? I also set up the initial round of trade negotiations here in the U.S., but I’ve not been allowed to participate beyond the bare minimum.”
Lee’s expression lost its surliness with every word, and awe and pride shone subtly in his eyes. She couldn’t repress the burst of warmth she felt at that. Even after she hurt him, he still respected her accomplishments. Why couldn’t he just be the heathen she’d first labeled him? Her heart railed at the unfairness of meeting this perfect man when she couldn’t have him.
Sauntering toward her after he closed the door, he scratched the scruff on his chin. “Viktoria,” he said gently when she wanted him to yell so she could vent her frustration, “do you really believe you need to put your life on the line? No trade deal is worth that.”
“If I’m not helping with the deal, then why am I here?” she asked, knowing he didn’t have the answer. It was a question she’d been afraid to voice, yet found herself confiding in him. “All my life…I’ve…” She struggled to explain. “…If I’m not proving myself, then…”
His fingers combed through her hair. “If you’re not contributing,” he continued in the same soft tone, picking up where she left off as if reading her mind. “If you’re not the perfect daughter and business partner, then you won’t be valued or loved. Right?”
She could only swallow at how accurately he’d summed up the root of her anxiety.
“It’s a fear I understand.” He pecked her cheek, his amber eyes filled with compassion. “That concept of finding your place in the world. I struggle with it myself. In my case, my father just passed away and my retiring from the career I loved has left me adrift.”
“Oh, Lee.” She caressed his cheek. “I’m so sorry.”
He nodded, then shrugged. “My oldest brother, Chance, just retired from the Navy and the second oldest, Harris, is about to become a dad and I see him retiring from the Marines soon if he hasn’t already. But they’ve both found women to love and help them grieve for Dad.” He swallowed, his eyes shading bleak. “They have partners to help them transition to civilian life, and new futures they tell me are more than they ever imagined.”
“You’ll find your place,” she stated softly. “And you can tell me anything you want about your father.”
“I don’t know why I just confessed that—”
She closed the distance and sealed her mouth over his, needing him to feel she meant it. He stiffened, but she kept kissing him. His fingers twitched in her hair, then he groaned and took over the kiss.
In a blink, the tender kiss blazed into an inferno. He plunged into her mouth, his tongue swirling wickedly with hers. “You’ve got my head so twisted,” he murmured between kisses. “I can’t see straight.”
“I’m sorry I hurt you,” she responded, then delved inside his mouth. He grunted, and she pulled back to lick a trail down his throat. “I shouldn’t have called you my chaperone or my jailer—”
“I like the thought of being your master though,” he chuckled, reaching behind her to unzip her dress.
“You would.” She grabbed the hem of his T-shirt and yanked upward, forcing him to move his arms. Her dress hit the floor at the same time as his shirt.
“Christ, you’re beautiful,” he exhaled, his amber eyes turning feral as they took in her lacy lingerie.
“And you’ve got too many clothes on.” She attacked his belt.
He picked her up, making her yelp at the unexpected action. Not many men could lift her so easily, let alone toss her on the mattress. She bounced twice and laughed at the butterflies winging in her stomach, then pouted at the realization that she was alone on the bed.
“Where did you go?” She sat up and found him kneeling, untying his boots. She used the time to unstrap her heels and lose her panties and bra. Sliding the nightstand drawer open, she took out the box of condoms she had placed there after he left earlier and grabbed one.
Air left her lungs when he stood naked at the end of the bed. “Talk about beautiful.” Holy God. Honed, chiseled muscles filled his entire body, and he had an uneven skin tone with tanned and weathered areas, proving he’d been a soldier in uniform. The tattoos gave him a bad-boy edge made fiercer by his feline eyes.
“I like the way you look at me.” He prowled to the side of the bed, stroking his long, hard cock in his hand.
“Yeah?” she purred, settling on her knees. “Will you like it if I do this?” Bending forward, she licked the head of his dick and he hissed out a breath.
Stilling his hand, he held his cock toward her. “Do that again.”
She traced her tongue down his length until she got to his fingers. He cursed and rested his other hand on the back of her head. Backtracking, she widened her mouth and swallowed him as far as she could, then slid back.
“Jesus,” he exclaimed hoarsely and she kept up a steady rhythm. “You are so fucking sexy.” The hand on the back of her head smoothed over her hair and down her spine. “This ass.” He lightly smacked one of her cheeks raised in this position. “These breasts.” His fingers flattened and stroked up her stomach. He cupped each breast in his palms and squeezed.
She moaned around him and his hips bucked forward. Without a warning, he pulled out of her mouth and pushed her backwards. She flopped on the bed, her breasts bouncing, and he snarled as he grabbed her calves and knelt on the floor. Pulling him toward her, he threw her legs over his shoulders and licked from her entrance to her clitoris.
“Oh God,” she groaned, lifting her hips. “Do that again,” she repeated his order and moaned when he did, then he feasted. Holy God, did he feast. His tongue twirled and flicked, spiraling the tension in her to the point of pain. “Stop teasing me,” she snarled, squirming under his wicked mouth.
A satisfied male chuckle puffed against her, then he assaulted her clit. Sucking hard, then flicking the end with his tongue. Her orgasm hit so fast, she screamed, her hips bucking with every pulse.
He snatched the condom off the mattress and slid it on while she lay boneless and satisfied. “I like this look even better,” he murmured wickedly as he climbed on the bed. “Clean my face,” he demanded, placing his mouth close to hers.
Normally she’d balk at following any of his orders, but the thought of tasting herself on him turned her on even more. She wanted to take her time, but the second her tongue rasped over his stubble, something savage took over her and she couldn’t get enough.
He growled and jerked her hips up with his hands and slid his hard dick inside her. Pulling out, then sliding back in again, he rubbed right over a spot that made her whimper and sit up. She pushed him sideways, and he allowed himself to fall on his back on the mattress. His hands clamped on her hips and he helped her climb on top. Guiding him back inside, she exhaled at how he spread her inner walls and filled her. Sitti
ng down on him, she found that spot again and she rode him hard, rubbing his head over it again and again.
“Fuck, Viktoria,” he groaned, his fingers biting into her skin. “You’re a goddamn fantasy.”
Her breasts bobbed and bounced in a way that wasn’t exactly comfortable, but she couldn’t slow down. Electricity spooled in her blood, tingling her channel and building—
Explosion. She cried out as her vision blacked and her orgasm ripped through her.
He took over, slamming his hips against her as he pumped upward, then he threw his head back and shouted.
Slumping forward, she curled around him, trying to catch her breath. Warm, strong arms held her tight, and she wished she could have this forever. She wished she was free to choose him for herself.
Unsure how much time had passed, she finally stirred against him. “I’m loath to bring this up now.” She shifted her head to claim a piece of the pillow so she could see him. “But I hope you understand why I have to go tonight.” Her fingers traced over his jaw line, and she couldn’t stop staring at the amazing color of his eyes. “It’s important. I swear I wouldn’t go if it wasn’t.”
He blinked and sighed.
“I’ll be careful,” she rushed to say. “I’ll take whatever precautions you deem necessary, and afterwards we can come straight back to the plane and take off immediately. We don’t have to stay overnight.” Her palm flattened and she searched his face for a hint of what he was thinking. “Just…please, trust me when I say I have to do this.”
Lee sat up, taking her with him. He brushed hair off her shoulder and lightly bit that spot she’d come to think of as his—that space between her shoulder and neck. “You make it impossible to say no when you ask so nicely and throw logic at me.”
She laughed, the vise squeezing her chest and snapping free. “Believe me, you do the same to me.” She strolled to the shower, piling her hair on top of her head to keep it dry. Quickly washing since she’d already showered not long ago, she stepped out of the stall and spied him taking the simple necklace she planned to put on tonight.
“I’ll be back with this,” he stated, waltzing out of the room in only a pair of black dress pants she hadn’t known he owned.
Thirty minutes later, she’d re-styled her hair into an artfully messy updo, retouched her makeup, and donned her dress and heels.
“Holy shit.” Lee ground to halt just inside the bedroom, her necklace dangling from his hand. “You’re going to cause a riot.” His feral eyes turned fiercer as they inspected her party dress, and she couldn’t resist executing a runway worthy turn. A low growl made her smile so wide, she showed all her teeth.
“Thank you,” she beamed, striding to him. “You’re going to cause a riot of your own.” He’d added the blue button-up shirt, making him look hotter than sin, though she cringed at his black boots completing the otherwise perfect outfit.
“Please don’t take any chances, okay?” he asked, securing the chain around her neck.
“I won’t,” she answered softly, loving this domestic moment and wishing she didn’t crave more.
15
“Mike, Andrew, do you see anything?” Lee asked into his comms, pressing his ear to hear the response over the blaring techno music. His nerves were on edge, and he felt like a caged animal, scenting danger but unable to see it.
“Some godawful fashion,” Mike grumbled from his position near one of the emergency exits. “Do people really wear this stuff?”
“I see at least four beers I wish I could sample,” Andrew replied from his spot near the bar.
The organizers had chosen Magnus Brewing Company in the heart of Columbus’ Brewery District for the fashion show for some unfathomable reason. They had converted the second floor the brewery used for events into a catwalk with rows of chairs on each side. Blinding lights lit the stage while music accompanied the men and women strutting down the center.
Weren’t these things usually in ultra-posh places the masses couldn’t normally access? The rich wooden beams and columns mixing with the hardwood floors gave the space a very masculine feel which seemed incongruent to a women’s fashion show.
“You’ll be out of your misery soon,” Lee answered Mike, strolling along the side wall, unable to keep still. “It’s ending.”
“Thank God,” Mike muttered. “We heading out after this?”
“No,” Lee answered flatly, still pissed at learning about the after-party, which Viktoria hadn’t mentioned until after they arrived at the brewery. “I need you both to help me keep an eye on Viktoria.” He wished he could’ve left one of his team on the plane, but too many factors were outside of his control, and he’d had to call Mike in to meet them once he learned about the party. Without being able to do reconnaissance beforehand, he needed them to help cover Viktoria in the large crowd. Of course, the pilot and copilot were still with the plane, so at least it wasn’t completely abandoned. Not that they were trained security, but they were better than nothing.
Five minutes later, the show ended and the house lights sprang on. Viktoria jumped up from her front row center seat and hugged Katrin, a huge smile enveloping her face. Lee pushed and shoved through the throng to reach Viktoria’s side, but couldn’t seem to catch up to her. The women waltzed at the head of the pack toward the exit and Lee tried even harder. Katrin’s security team blended into the crowd, getting closer to the women than Lee could manage.
Fuck. Adrenaline flooded his veins, and he had to breathe like he learned in the Rangers to control the jitters it brought with it. This would be a prime time to snatch her. He didn’t trust Katrin’s team and until he, Mike, or Andrew were by Viktoria’s side, he couldn’t relax.
Something silver caught the light as Viktoria and Katrin exited the event room and headed for the wide staircase on the side.
Knife? Lee’s heart seized. “Mike, Andrew, are you close to Viktoria?” he barked, twisting and contorting his body to wend through the high-class crowd making their way up to the roof for the after-party.
“I’m closer than you,” Andrew replied.
“Do you see a knife?” Lee snarled, jerking his head to peer through shoulders.
A lifetime later, Andrew answered, “Negative. Katrin gave Viktoria a silver bracelet and put it on her wrist.”
The relief flooding Lee’s body made him giddy, but Viktoria was far from out of danger. Until he had her on the plane, in the air, she wasn’t safe.
The crowd disbursed through the doors onto the roof. Lee charged forward, finally catching up to Viktoria standing twenty yards from the festive bar.
Viktoria whirled and blinked up at him, just as Katrin pointed a claw-like fingernail at him.
“What are you doing?” Katrin hissed, moving closer. “Security does not mingle.”
Lee scanned the roof and sure enough, along the perimeter, men in dark suits stood, watching their charges from afar. Including Andrew and Mike. “Her safety comes first,” Lee retorted through gritted teeth. “Where she goes, I go.” He looked to Viktoria for backup, and his stomach knotted further at the cool gaze peering back at him.
“It’s not proper for security to follow me,” Viktoria stated in the silence.
“Viktoria—”
“You heard her, Lee,” Katrin snapped, cutting him off. “Know your place.” She wound her arm through Viktoria’s and slowly pulled her toward the center of the crowd.
Lee remained, staring after them. Tiny pinpricks of pain spread in his palms from his nails digging in but it helped him to stop following anyway.
“Oh my god,” Katrin sneered loud enough that Lee could still hear, “that Neanderthal thinks you’re his woman, doesn’t he?” She shook her blond head. “You fuck the help, you don’t fall in love or answer to them. He needs to learn you’re above him.” She cackled and patted Viktoria’s arm.
Viktoria didn’t laugh, instead she motioned to the room. “Point out the key players so I can formulate my attack plan.”
Pain lanc
ed his heart, robbing him of air. She didn’t correct Katrin or stand up for him, she just moved the conversation on to another topic. Like she agreed with the nasty statements. He thought they had worked through this, but obviously, he’d been wrong again. Straightening to his full height, he stuffed the pain deep. I won’t be a chump a third time. The only way to get through the night was to focus on the job.
Finding a spot near the center perimeter, he leaned his back against the metal railing and crossed his arms.
In her shimmery silver and royal blue dress, Viktoria shined like a sexy siren beneath the little white lights strung across the roof-like canopy.
A gentleman in a well-cut suit—obviously a member of the high class, not Lee’s slum class—handed her a drink and Lee gritted his teeth to keep from marching over and snatching it away. Doesn’t she know it could be spiked with a drug?
Viktoria laughed at something he said and the man peered down the V of her dress. Two more rich men flocked to her side, and Lee could see the lust in their eyes. One cocked his head and blatantly stared at the expanse of her long legs made even more provocative in those high, fuck-me heels.
After a few more minutes of flirting, she extracted herself from the men and strolled to another group containing couples. Her smile charmed everyone, but it didn’t fool Lee. No light reached her eyes.
Three men in dark suits emerged from the thick crowd and marched toward Viktoria. Lee shot off the railing. Pacing their movements, Lee closed in. He didn’t recognize the men from the other two attempts to kidnap her, but that didn’t mean anything. Whoever was after Viktoria seemed to find willing kidnapers to strike no matter where they ended up.
Viktoria meandered away from the mixed group, still carrying the drink. She set the full glass onto a small chest-high table as she passed and waved to someone across the way.
