A Stranger's Affection

by Charlene Namdhari

  “I’d like to see you fucking try.”

  “Don’t fuck with DeLuca.” Finn’s tone shifted from stormy to eerily placid. “Let’s not make this more difficult than it has to be. Your choice.”

  Colton’s gun slipped so fast into his fingers; the other man had to blink a couple of times before he realized his nose kissed Colton’s muzzle. “You don’t want to fuck with me, Finn. I’m not the guy you knew twelve years ago.”

  “Colt, watch out!” Brody’s yell resonated through the office as he charged two of Finn’s men.

  The third managed to angle his body between Finn and Colton, and as his fist slashed upward, Colton turned. The sting of steel against his abdomen hinted the blade had pierced his skin. He ignored the wound, swung wide, and wrestled the man’s neck between his arm and his chest. Colton squeezed hard. The man dropped his knife and clawed at Colton’s arm to get free. Brody took down one man with a quick slice to his neck while Finn and the remaining goon shot out the door.

  Brody sprang forward to give chase. Colton stopped him. “Let them go. I need the message to go back to DeLuca. Finn will have his turn.” He released his arm on the man he held, having crushed his windpipe. His dead weight sank to the floor.

  “You’re hurt.” Brody pointed to the red stain on Colton’s shirt that was darkening by the second.

  He glanced down. “Comes with the territory, I guess. Get someone in here to clean up this shit. I’m heading home.”

  “I’m driving.” Brody cocked a brow, and Colton saw no reason to argue with his bodyguard. “Want me to call Rob?”

  He shook his head. “I can manage. Let’s go.” Five minutes later, they descended to the basement. As he climbed into the SUV, Colton winced.

  “You good.” Brody slid behind the wheel.

  Colton nodded. The cut might be more profound than he expected. He ignored it as something else claimed his attention for the moment. Their sassy guest and the lengths DeLuca might try to get her. “That woman might be the death of me.” He rubbed a hand over his face.

  His bodyguard grinned. “No, shit.”

  “Why the fuck do I care.” While he respected someone, who could stand on their own two feet, her mouth was guaranteed to get her into some hot water—more like scorching.

  “Because she’s nothing like the woman you’re used to.”

  He looked at his bodyguard. “Meaning?”

  “She has no qualms about challenging you.”

  Colton raked a hand through his hair and snorted. “I’d like to see her try.”

  Brody turned his head slightly and laughed. An action Colton rarely witnessed. His bodyguard, a tank of man, was hardcore. Five years together gave them a comfortable relationship. Brody said it like it was—he didn’t bullshit. “Deny it all you want, boss. I think she’ll get under your skin a lot more than you might want.”

  Something told Colton he should believe his bodyguard. The sudden pang of pain interrupted his musings.

  NISHANI ROUNDED THE passage and halted mid-stride as Colton came through the front door. He glanced at her briefly before heading for the stairs. Granted, she hadn’t seen him much since the night of the party three days ago, something about his gait seemed off. She moved to the bottom stair and looked up. His slight wobble on the second last stair confirmed her suspicion. Torn between going after him and returning to the kitchen where she attempted to cook with Maria’s help, Nishani bit her bottom lip.

  “To hell with it.” She gripped the railing and took the stairs two at a time. At his door, she peeked inside tentatively.

  Colton stood beside his bed, slipping off his jacket. When he peeled off his shirt, the sexy, muscular back, kept her gaze riveted. As he turned, she caught his wince. Then she saw it—the red stain on his white shirt. Without thinking, she stepped inside. “You’re hurt.”

  He swung around. His eyes resembled metal. Cold and unfeeling. “Get out of my room,” he snapped, but the tone lacked distinction. Perhaps the wound to the side of his abdomen had something to do with the absence.

  “No.”

  He was so quick on his feet, Nishani had no time to react. Colton grabbed her neck, squeezed, and rammed her up against the wall. “If you know what’s good for you, you’ll stay out of my room and away from me.” His stare as lethal as his grip.

  Even though his fingers bit into her throat that she gasped for air, Nishani hissed, “And if you know what’s good for you...” His grip loosened. “...you’ll let me attend that wound before you drop dead. So, kill me later, okay?”

  “Why do you care?”

  ‘I don’t.” Nishani arched her brow. Confusion masked his features for a moment. He released her and walked away while she pulled in deep breaths. “I’ll be back,” she mumbled to his rear then left the room.

  When Nishani returned, Colton lay face down on the bed. Either he’d fallen asleep or passed out. Given the amount of blood on the spread, she went with the latter. She set the first aid box on the bed, grasped his body, and pushed until his bulky frame rolled over. Unsure the best position to approach him, Nishani scratched her head and eyed the naked expanse of his chest for a moment. She finally made up her mind, straddled his thighs, and reached for the box.

  The wound didn’t look too deep then again; she was no expert. Conscious of the hard muscles beneath, she set to work and began cleaning the wound. She wondered who’d hurt him and from the little, she’d witnessed, pitied the other man. Rex had mentioned Colton’s businesses straddled the lines between legal and illegal, which increased the risk to life. It didn’t bother her what they did or didn’t do. Her exposure to Mateo’s way of life gave her no reason to judge.

  Several minutes later, Colton’s eyes flew open. He appeared disorientated for a second before recognition dawned. He looked up. “What the fuck are you doing?”

  “Riding you.” She grinned.

  His gaze narrowed. “What?”

  “Don’t flatter yourself. You’re hurt, remember?” Her tone flippant, she concentrated on her task.

  He stared at the needle in her hand. “Do you know what you’re doing?”

  “I think so.” That was a lie. Over time she’d gotten into a few scrapes herself and had to sew up a wound or two.

  “Don’t fuck with me.”

  “I’m not.” She chuckled at his surprised countenance. “I’d like to fuck you, though.” His brow shot up. For a second, she thought she detected a hint of a smile. But his usual grimace convinced her otherwise. As if she hadn’t made the brazen suggestion, she laughed. “Relax. If I wanted to kill you, you’d be dead already.”

  “Just so you know, I’m not that easy to kill,” he grunted.

  “Is that so? Why? Because you’re so tough?” She wiped the remnants of blood around the wound. “I’ve seen worse. You’re not as tough as you’d like to think.” His eyes widened in shock. “Inside here...” She pointed to his chest. “Lurks a hidden softness.”

  His lips thinned. “Don’t presume to know me, woman. I can guarantee you. You don’t.”

  Nishani rolled her eyes. His threatening words didn’t faze her. With the confidence of lioness on the prowl, she leaned forward. “Why did you save me then?”

  Before he could respond, she ground her sex over his crotch at the same time her head dropped to kiss him lightly. His sudden intake of breath hinted at his surprise. She was off him in a flash and out of the room just as quickly. The man was an ass, but damn did he define sex in a suit. Too much exposure to him might get her into trouble—problem was, trouble was her middle name.

  COLTON SAT UP AGAINST his headboard and answered the soft knock on his door, “Come in.”

  The door swung open. Nishi stood on the threshold, her back against the frame. Jesus Christ. Since her brazen announcement this afternoon, about wanting to fuck him, he found himself unconsciously thinking of her. If there were a moment where something floored him, that would be now.

  Dressed in a red, ankle-length teddy with spaghett
i straps, the woman characterized sex appeal. Her breasts were far too provocative in profile. Hardened nipples strained against the soft material of the garment. The folds of her teddy clinging to her hips and thighs were more sensual than if she’d been completely naked. If that wasn’t enough, the shadows they created at the knee and groin entranced him. He wanted to peel away the teddy and expose her naked flesh, to put his hand between her legs and feel her musky wetness. As though the damn thing possessed a life of its own, his cock hardened beneath the covers.

  For one stupid moment, Colton thought he was dreaming until she spoke, “Cat got your tongue, Mr. Black?”

  What the fuck was he thinking? Fighting composure, he asked, “What do you want?”

  She entered and approached the bed. “I figured since I hadn’t seen you at dinner, I’d come to check in on my patient.”

  “You what?” He aimed for severity. It didn’t work. Her intriguingly fuckable lips curved in a dangerously wicked smile. Damn! He was so fucking hard. “There’s no need.”

  “Do you know what your problem is?” She walked around the bed to the opposite side.

  “Didn’t know I had one.” Colton tensed when she climbed onto the mattress. “What are you doing?”

  “You’re a know-it-all bully.”

  “Get out,” he hissed. Pride stalled his desire to rip away the blanket and carry her out himself. He couldn’t help wondering why he was hyperaware of her every movement. Still, he had no intention of letting her know her effect on him. “I mean it, Nishi, get out.” So close yet, circumstances prevented him from touching. The knowledge fueled his anger. Notwithstanding the yearn to pin her to his mattress and fuck the hell out of her.

  “Or what?” She was testing his patience.

  Moving, she bit her lower lip and crawled forward on her hands and knees. With each pace closer, Colton’s breathing quickened. Her teeth left marks on her lip when she released it from their grip, and he had the sudden urge to soothe the tiny dents with his tongue. Stunned by his response to her daring, he remained still. Unsure if he could trust himself to not give in to his need.

  Her gaze dropped to his chest before coming to rest on his lips. “Oh, yes. A deliciously fuckable bully.”

  Startled by her words, he cursed. “Leave before I throw you out.”

  Her chuckle did strange things to his cock. It spasmed hard, begging for her touch. His gaze fell to the swells of her breast, which in her current position gave him a tantalizing view until Nishi leaned forward. Her finger traced a slow pattern from his lip to his nipple before she brushed her lips softly against his. A feather-light kiss that shot a zing of electricity down to his tightened sacs. Colton scrunched his fingers. The need to reach out required effort to control.

  Then she pulled back. Her mischief smile spoke volumes. “Don’t worry, Mr. Black. I’m something of an acquired taste. One, you’re dying to sample. You just don’t know it yet.” With that, she slid off the bed, stood, and moved to the door. She winked over her shoulder and left.

  “What the hell?” He raked both his hands through his hair and stared at the door.

  Colton tossed aside the covers. He vaulted off the bed and stripped out of his sweatpants on his way to the bathroom. Under the cold shower spray, he cursed. Irritated that Nishi dared to fuck with him once more. He stared at the green marble tiles as if it could provide the answers he sought. Trembling, nervous women, he could handle. Nishi was another kind of daring. One he doubted the dictionary could explain.

  If she were under the impression, her cheeky attitude would get her any leeway; then, the woman was either insane or wholly fucked in the head. As the thoughts materialized, Colton’s gaze dropped to his hard-on. The cold water hadn’t helped the standoff his rigid member adopted since Nishi’s departure from his room. “What the fuck.”

  The scene of her seduction replayed in his head. Her entering his room. The sway in her hips, an undisguised sass that went beyond arrogance. And she had the nerve to call him an arrogant prick, a deliciously fuckable bully. His hand unconsciously closed around his cock.

  Jesus, that mouth—every time she opened that defiant Venus flytrap, he had the urge to spank her perfect ass. And those fucking sexy as hell lips. Fuck.

  Colton closed his eyes. His balls constricted at the mental picture of her lips wrapped around his cock, biting down as she’d done to her lip. The recollection made him harder. With one hand pressed against the wall, he gripped his cock tighter, his strokes harder. ‘Don’t worry, Mr. Black. I’m something of an acquired taste...’ Her words spun like a scratched disc. Acquired taste indeed.

  Even though he battled the image of her shapely legs stretched while he feasted on her no doubt delicious pussy, the picture changed—cheeky Nishi, flat on a table with her head hanging over the edge while he fucked that insolent mouth. She’d swallow every inch of his cock without gagging and love it. Colton groaned. His cocked pulsed, his orgasm close.

  Then the sudden thought of her moaning as he gripped her head and fucked her face hard until his load shot down her throat. The mental vision of his come dripping from those brazen lips sent him over the edge.

  Breathing hard, Colton stared at the come splattered wall and cursed. “Christ, what has that fucking woman done to me?” The last time he’d given himself a handjob happened fuck knows when. Women dropped at his feet; he could’ve fucked any one of them tonight. Why the hell did he want a woman who didn’t give two shits about annoying him? The answer eluded him.

  Chapter Twelve

  NISHANI WALKED ROB to the front door. He’d dropped by to check in on her and was glad that all her wounds had healed nicely.

  “You seemed to have settled in well. I’m glad the amnesia hasn’t affected your ability to smile.” Rob chuckled. “I’ve seen patients go nuts over losing their memory. They couldn’t handle the news despite the assurance it would return.”

  She laughed. “What’s the point of losing my mind over something I have no control.” Experience had taught her to take each day with a pinch of salt.

  “And how are the Black brothers treating you? I’m just a call away if you need anything.”

  Nishani appreciated the fatherly concern. “They’re charming. Thank you.”

  The old man’s brow rose. “Colton and charming? Now there’s a notion I’d like to see.” He laughed, and Nishani smiled. “He can be a hard head at times, but he’s got a good heart.”

  She shrugged. The fact Colton had allowed her to stay in his home confirmed Rob’s statement. “I’m just grateful he found me.”

  Rob smiled and patted her hand lightly. “I’ll drop by next week, okay.”

  Nishani nodded, waved to him as he climbed into his vehicle, then headed upstairs. Entering her room, she was instantly aware of the foul smell of contaminated water. “Yuck.” She gagged.

  The day before, the hot water pipe in her bathroom burst. The gush had soaked the carpet in the bathroom and a small portion of her bedroom. Although the plumber had done his best to get the pipes sorted, the smell still lingered. She’d worked out at the gym before Rob came and needed a shower. The smell, however, grossed her out.

  For a moment, she toyed with the idea of using Colton’s shower since Rex mentioned his brother was out of town. Of course, there were three other bedrooms she could use. What would be the fun in that? Her mind toiled, thinking of what Colton would do if he found her there. The idea sounded splendid by the second. Not one to shy away from a challenge, she grabbed her toiletries and walked toward his bathroom.

  She’d never met a man with the ability to vanish. Colton avoided her like the plague for the last week. Since the night she’d gone in to check on his wound. Apart from a glimpse of him either entering or leaving his bedroom, there’d been no other contact. Maybe it had something to do with her teasing. Despite his brooding, Nishani couldn’t ignore someone that delicious, and his evasion made the attraction stronger.

  Sighing, she stepped into the cubicle. The
overpowering scent of Colton lingered instantly surrounding her body and penetrated every pore. She had the sudden urge to touch him, to feel his brawny muscles under her fingertips, to know whether his bronzed skin would be smooth or rough, to suck on the tautness of his abs. Unconsciously, she squeezed her thighs as arousal, the likes of which she’d never experienced, engulfed her senses. The man might be condescending as hell, but damn did he possess an uncanny way of twisting her insides into knots. There was no denying the sex appeal. Admittedly, she craved him. Her background among criminals didn’t leave room for relationships that, however, didn’t stop her from choosing with whom she slept.

  Ten minutes later, she stepped out the shower amid wisps of dancing steam. Reaching for the towel, her hand halted mid-air as the door opened. Colton stood on the threshold. His expression bared zero emotion. Eyes, eerily serene, raked her naked body from head to toe before coming to rest on her face. Shit.

  COLTON STOOD ROOTED to the spot. He couldn’t believe the audacity of this woman. She was beginning to take liberties; he offered no one else. “Why the fuck are you in here?”

  She cocked her head; her lips curled in a sly smile. “Taking a shower.”

  For a moment, the next move stumped him. “You have a bathroom.”

  She made no move to cover herself. Water trickled down her body, swerving in perfect sync with the curves of her undeniably sexy body. While he fought the awareness, he salivated with the sudden need to lick those drops before they escaped. Her hair twisted into a makeshift bun defined the long arch of her neck. Even the fading scars didn’t detract from her beauty. She was stunning. A flawless body enhanced by beautiful firm breasts, luscious hips, and two gorgeously shaped legs meeting at the thighs by a shaven mound.

  To his surprise, she didn’t answer. Instead, she inserted a finger into her mouth, sucking slowly. Her eyes on him, she trailed a slow path from her lips down to circle a hardened nipple. She pinched the dark brown bud playfully, one perfectly arched brow rose suggestively. His cock tightened. Colton’s thoughts floundered between asking her to cover up or stare. She decided for him. Nishi walked forward with slow, determined steps to stand in front of him. Using the same finger, she outlined his lips.