Beautiful Collision

by T. G. Ayer

  I surge to my feet and walk around him to get to the head of the bed but he catches my hand in his and stops me from passing him. I swallow hard and keep my gaze averted as he says, "Don't be embarrassed, Gray. You have a lot of talent. Just appreciate your ability." Easy for him to say when it's not him that's drawn a half naked Gray on a sheet of paper for all the world to see.

  I nod just to satisfy him. But I barely hear his words because the contact of his hand on my wrist is sending waves of heat sizzling through my blood to pool in my stomach.

  I tug at my hand hoping he will release me but all he does is pull me closer.

  I have little choice but to follow as he draws me between his legs. He's looking up at me, his face telling me he's thinking the very same thing I am.

  That this is a very, very bad idea.

  Then he rises and his fingers curl around my neck. They're shaking as much as my breath is shuddering in my throat. My hand goes to his forearm, sits there lightly, my fingers grazing those gorgeous tattoos. His lips are just a breath from mine and then they move away to whisper across my cheek. I'm sighing and my heated breath releases in a soft sob. His mouth returns and yet it's too much. I want him to kiss me but I just know if he does I'll explode into a million tiny pieces. I turn my head and his lips skim my chin and travel to my exposed neck, and he bends to place a fiery kiss on skin that is already aflame with need for his touch.

  I'm shaking now, my entire body quivering with desire, and from the short sharp breaths Thane is taking I know he is aching as much as I am.

  And it's as if nothing can stop me. The need overcomes everything my brain is telling me and I turn toward his lips. He moves with me, an erotic dance, swaying to an eternal unspoken rhythm. Our mouths meet wildly, in such a beautiful collision that I just know this is something special. Something we don't get to feel more that once in a lifetime.

  His kisses are deep and sweet and fiery hot and I'm certain I will burst into flames if he doesn't stop. But I don't want him to stop. Each touch of his tongue to mine stokes the fire in me, makes the need burn brighter every moment.

  Nothing else exists but Thane and me. And for the first time, the world is perfect.

  Thane sinks to the bed, using his left hand to pull me onto him to straddle his lap, and I adjust my position with care for his damaged shoulder. As he moves, he kisses me harder and more desperately and when I shift toward him, my position on his lap allows me to bring our bodies that much closer. Just that movement seems to make things slip over the edge of control. The heated intimacy of our bodies stokes desire to a fever pitch.

  Thane's hand edges beneath the hem of my tee, slides up sensitive skin and leaves molten heat in its wake. My hands do the same, dragging his tee away from his skin to give me better access to the planes and ridges of his body.

  When his thumbs curve around my waist and hover below my breasts it's like a switch turns on in both of us.

  His lips leave my mouth and we pull apart both breathing heavily. He's staring at me, his eyes heavy with desire and it's clear he wants this as much as I do but my brain is kicking in and screaming at me that I barely know this guy. Before I know it, I'm moving off Thane's lap to stand before him, my shaking knees barely holding me upright.

  "I'm sorry. That should not have happened," he says, his voice still rough with desire.

  I say nothing because a part of me doesn't regret it. Another part of me does agree. The guy's got a hole in his body, put there by me, and here I am throwing myself at him.

  And, I'm supposed to be hiding, not growing roots and exchanging passionate kisses with a guy I barely know. For all I know Thane could be Nikolai's man and here I am wanting him as much as he seems to want me.

  And as Thane walks out of my room I vow to stay as far away from him as possible.

  I try to find solace in sleep but all I get are memories.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

  Gray

  Six Months Ago

  "You have got to be shitting me?" I said shaking my head. Eight hundred and fifty thousand dollars was a freaking lot of money.

  A stifled snort emanated from behind us and I glanced back to see that Andrei had accompanied us upstairs. We were walking along a hallway. White tiled floors, no carpets, small tables of sculptures and antiques every few yards, extravagant paintings on the walls.

  At the next door on the right Yuri paused while Andrei slid past to let us in. As Yuri set me down on the bed, Andrei went to the windows. He drew the drapes and then dusted his hands as if satisfied he'd done a little work. I saw my bags sitting on a large box at the foot of the bed.

  Again the room was white, but this time the decorator had used a robin's egg blue as an accent. It appeared around the room, on the curtains, the seat of the chair at the dressing table and on the pair of chairs that bracketed a small table by the window. Even the bedspread was pale blue with little white bows.

  A stunning room, fit for a princess. And all I wanted to do was to go back to my apartment.

  I stiffened and turned on Andrei so fast he almost flinched. "Who is looking after my apartment while I am here?"

  "You need not worry. We locked up before we left." He nodded but for the life of me I couldn't recall either one of them paying any attention to closing or locking the door behind us.

  I sighed and tried not to think about it. "How long before the doctor gets here?" I asked wondering if I could soak in the tub a little.

  "I will place the call now. The doctor usually takes about twenty minutes to arrive." Andrei nodded and as I watched his face I saw how young he really was. Probably only a three or four years older than me.

  I forced a smile onto my face. "Thanks, but can you tell him to come in an hour and a half," I asked and when he frowned I said, "I want to soak in the tub. If my leg is broken he's going to put a cast on it and that will mean no more soaks."

  Then, Yuri laughed and shook his head. I turned my attention to him. "What?"

  To which he answered, "Of course, you can soak. Just put foot on side of tub." He was still shaking his head as if I was a little soft in the head.

  I laughed. "You do have a point there." I slid off the bed with care.

  Andrei rose, leaving with Yuri. On the threshold he turned back to me. "Yuri will be outside. If you want anything just call him."

  I nodded and smiled and when he closed the door my smile disappeared and my heart began to thud. I had this terrible sinking feeling that I wasn't going to be getting out of this house anytime soon. Sure, it was beautiful but it was simply a beautiful prison. I sighed. Grabbing my toiletries, I headed to the bathroom, but once I entered I saw I didn't need anything. The drawers and shelves were stocked with all manner and fragrance of toiletries.

  I looked for towels and found a small closet filled with colors and sizes galore. Behind the door was a floor length toweling robe. I grinned as I ran the water and dropped bath salts into it. I let the water fill and headed to my door. After requesting some orange juice and a snack I went back inside and waited on the bed, listening to the sound of the water as the tub filled.

  The orange juice and a slice of chocolate cake arrive, brought by a waif thin girl who didn't seem to speak much English. When I asked her name she dropped a small curtsy and said, "My name is Ilya," in an odd accent that reminded me of the way Yuri sometimes spoke. Otherwise, she was silent. I figured it would take a while for her to warm up to me.

  She left the room, giving me a haunted glance and I wondered what her story was. She must be ill, considering how thin she was. Her uniform hung on her body as if it were three sizes too large. And those eyes of hers stared at me for a while after she'd left. Dark, ringed by shadows and so sad and hopeless.

  I took the food and drink to the bathroom and sat on the edge of the tub, eating and sipping until the water level was perfect. I slipped inside the steaming water far too eagerly, and almost sank under the surface. I'd underestimated how large the tub was and now I slammed my foot
against the other edge to stop myself from being fully submerged. Only after it hit the side of the tub did I realize I'd used my hurt foot.

  The pain was excruciating and I let out a loud yelp and suddenly Yuri came running into the bathroom. He stood there for a second, looking confused. "What happened? Why did you scream?" He searched the room and found nothing. Then he turned his gaze to me. And immediately looked away.

  "I hit my ankle on the bath. I'm fine Yuri," I said from beneath the safety of the bubble-covered surface. Yuri just nodded and backed away slowly, until I was alone again.

  I leaned back against the edge of the tub and sighed as the warmth of the water soaked into my sore muscles. And as I lay there I made mental lists. Get a new phone. Call Suzi and bring her up to speed. Figure out where I'm going to stay.

  At last, with the water cooling and most of the foam gone, I rose from the tub and toweled off before slipping into the bathrobe. When I entered the bedroom I hurried to put some clothes on, suspecting that I'd spent longer in the tub than I had expected to. I was sitting on the bed, running a brush through my damp hair when a knock made me glance at the door. Yuri opened it, then pushed it wider and allowed a small woman to enter.

  "Hello, my dear. I'm Dr Roberta Plum but you can call me Bobby." She smiled and held out her hand, her perfect teeth brilliant white, her blond hair curled into a chignon at the back of her head. I took her hand hesitantly. She gave it a brisk shake then waved at my leg. "So let me see the damage, young lady." I swiveled on the bed, scooting back until I stopped at the mountain of pillows.

  Bobbi stared down at my swollen ankle and shook her head.

  "Is it bad?" I asked softly, already gaging from her reaction that it was.

  But, she didn't answer, just probed my bones around the joint, pausing only when I hissed with pain. "It's most likely a break. I'll have to get a cast on, but we need the swelling to go down first, before we put a lovely cast on you."

  "Just great," I mumbled. As if things weren't bad enough I now had to deal with a broken leg. I sighed and blinked back tears.

  "What's the matter honey? It's just a break. You'll soon be as good as new."

  I pursed my lips. "No, it's not that. It's . . . I missed my exams."

  Bobby looked at me and shook her head. "Honey, I think if you had gone in to school there would have been a bit of trouble. Or more specifically, the owner of the fists who did that to you, would be getting a bit of heat right about now." I fell silent for a moment as Bobby watched me. "So who owns the fists?" She was rummaging in her bag for swabs and ointments and it was easier for me to answer when she wasn't staring me in the face.

  "My brother."

  "No parents, I take it?" I shook my head sadly. "Where is he now?"

  I cleared my throat. "I'm not sure. He was here for a while but he left." I shrugged trying to make both of us believe that none of it affected me.

  And I think neither of us was very convinced.

  Bobby tended to my eye and my lip, before moving her attention to my ankle. A knock on the door and Ilya returned with two ice packs. She placed the tray on the bed and then disappeared. Bobbie barely reacted to the girl's presence, just grabbed the cold packs and laid them around my ankle, tying them in place using some tape. The cold felt soothing, a relief from the incessant throbbing heat of the injury.

  And then she was done. As she straightened she said, "I'd stay away from heels in the next day or so. In fact, I am recommending bed rest to ensure the swelling goes down. I don't want you making it worse." Then she grabbed a couple bottles from her bag and left them on the nightstand. "That's Advil and some Valium to help you sleep."

  With a quick wave she was gone, efficient and fast; she must not be charging by the hour. I lay against the pillows and soon I was asleep, the rigorous activity of the day finally taking its toll on my body.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE

  Gray

  My sleep is restless and filled with strange dreams. I dream of Ilya, the maid at Nikolai's house. And I dream of Thane. And in that dream I attempt to finish what Thane and I started last night. When I finally awaken I'm tense and still filled with unsatisfied need.

  This is bad.

  I drag myself from the bed and head into the shower where I try to wash away the tension that is coiled within the pit of my stomach.

  It doesn't work.

  Disgusted with myself, I throw on jeans and a tee and head into the kitchen to make breakfast. My meager stock needs to be replenished but I do have eggs and a few strips of bacon remaining.

  I'm almost done making scrambled eggs and bacon when Thane walks into the kitchen in bare feet. Suddenly I want him to walk over to me and kiss me senseless.

  I grip the handle of the spoon as I divide the eggs between two plates. The bacon follows the eggs onto the plates just as the toaster pops. He says nothing as I take the plates to the table and hurry back to fetch the toast. I'm embarrassed to look at him and he can tell.

  I'm reaching for the coffee carafe when Thane touches my shoulder. The mere touch of his hand on my body steals my breath from my lungs. I turn reluctantly, not wanting to look at his face but he puts a finger under my chin and lifts my eyes to his.

  "I know what I said last night but I need to clarify something." He speaks softly as he brings his body closer to mine.

  "What's that?" I ask trying to look away but unable to remove my gaze from his face.

  "I'm not sorry."

  Those words reverberate through the kitchen and through my brain and seem to propel us towards each other.

  His kiss is primal and heated and it sears my flesh and turns me completely inside out. I'm so hungry for him that I find myself kissing him back just as hotly, just as desperately.

  At last he pulls away, and I'm staring into his eyes as my breath comes short and sharp. He places his forehead on mine and just that gentle, sweet action tempers my need for now.

  "You made breakfast," he observes as he puts a little distance between us.

  I clear my throat. "Um, yeah. I'm not the best cook ever but it's edible. I think." I shrug, hoping the eggs are at least halfway decent as I follow Thane to the dining table with the coffee and two mugs.

  We get through breakfast in comfortable silence. I take a sip of coffee and set the mug down. I continue to eat, giving his plate an amused glance when I notice that it's clean. He must have been hungry.

  I clear my throat. "I have to leave for a while. I need to check with my adviser because I've missed my first few lectures and I'm probably going to miss my deadline for my assignment."

  Thane's staring at me but he has this odd look in his eyes. Then he says, "I don't think you'll have too much of a problem."

  Now it's my turn to stare at him. "Really?"

  He's nodding, a satisfied smile on his face. "Sure. My discharge papers and the police report should be enough for them to give you and extension."

  "The police report has both our names on it?" I ask feeling the blood drain from my face.

  Thane looks like he wants to tell me something but instead he asks, "Are you okay? You look like you've seen a ghost."

  I shake my head and try to put thoughts of police reports and Nikolai's access to hackers and even to cops on his payroll, out of my head. "It's nothing. I'm just tired." I couldn't come up with anything fancier than fatigue.

  Besides, right now I feel the distinct urge to hurl but I swallow hard and manage to keep my breakfast down. I should be happy. I shouldn't have too much of a problem getting an extension so I relax a little and decide to go in to see the professor tomorrow.

  I rise and take the dishes to the sink. While I'm washing up Thane comes to stand beside me, looking around the kitchen as if in search of something.

  "What are you looking for," I ask, amused to see him half inside the lower cabinet with just his butt sticking out.

  "A dishcloth to help dry."

  "Oh." I laugh. "I had to throw them all away."

  "Why wou
ld you do a thing like that?" he asks, his brow furrowed.

  "Because they were all soaked with your blood."

  "Oh," he says. His turn to be stuck for words.

  "I do expect you to replace them, though." I glance at him while rinsing the frying pan. "And I expect you to replace my towels too."

  "Oh, yes. I recall being threatened about towels." He laughs as I dust my hands off and dry them on my jeans.

  "It's probably time to do some shopping."

  "Maybe later," says Thane his voice sounding odd. When I glance at his face I see he is looking pretty drained. My gaze goes to his shoulder.

  "Are you okay?" I ask and he sighs in response.

  "Just tired. I guess being shot can sure take it out of a guy."

  I laugh. "I am sorry, you know." And suddenly I'm no longer amused. "I still have no idea why I did it."

  "It's okay, Gray." Thane's voice is gentle and calming but it doesn't help.

  "No. It's not okay. And there's something I want to know." I poke a finger in his chest keeping as far from his wound as possible. "What the hell were you doing creeping around my house in the middle of the night?"

  Thane sighed. "Yeah, about that."

  I fold my arms and stare at him. "I'm waiting."

  "Look, I'm sorry I was creeping around your house but I saw the guy poke his head out of your room window. He looked suspicious so I scaled the wall and came though the window to follow him. And it looks like I was just in time too. He had a gun. What if I'd been a minute longer and he shot you?" Thane runs his hands through his hair. He seems genuinely upset at the thought that he might have been too late to save me.

  His answer has satisfied me and I run my hand along his arm, "Then I have to thank you for saving my life." I peer at him as he shakes his head. Seems he doesn't want my thanks so I don't push it. "Guess it's a life for a life then. I have to save your life or we'll never be even." I give a dramatic sigh, then I lean back.

  Thane runs his fingers through his hair and sighs too. Then we both burst out laughing and stop only when he winces and holds his shoulder