A Stranger's Affection

by Charlene Namdhari

  He turned away from the fire and stared at Nishani. Finally, she understood his brutish behavior for her safety. “I’m sorry.” She rubbed his back lightly. He smiled then turned away to look at the fire again.

  “The Department of Defense put together a task force to go after the shipment. They knew about Katrina and promised her safety was foremost...” he trailed off. Nishani sensed that whatever came next, still affected him.

  Pulling herself up onto her knees, she moved closer and slipped her hands over his shoulders. She rested her cheek on the back of his head. When he brushed his chin slowly against her arm, Nishani was glad he accepted her comfort.

  “Between the task team’s arrogance and the Russian’s stupidity, a bomb went off. The explosion killed the Russians, two men from the task team, and Katrina. No one could tell me what went wrong until Rex’s friend, who was on the team, approached me a couple of weeks later. He told me the orders issued were to secure the guns first and worry about Katrina after the fact. Once inside, the team leader refused to heed the sniper’s warning not to proceed. He never had a clear sight of the men holding Katrina and another kidnapped official. Bastards went in guns blazing.”

  “Oh, my God, Colton.”

  He shrugged. “I couldn’t do anything about it without putting Billy in danger of losing his job. As payback, I began supplying guns to Mafia heads, and cared a fuck about what war they started.” His body tightened on the last words. Nishani lifted her head and massaged his shoulders. “Now, do you understand?” He turned slightly and pulled her into his lap, kissing her softly on the lips. “DeLuca’s a dangerous man. Amnesia puts you in double trouble. While I can’t protect you all the time, you can’t trust anyone until your memory returns.”

  “I understand.” She nodded. “Thank you.” At his raised brow, Nishani slipped her hands up his chest and cupped his neck. “For taking in and protecting a total stranger. I could’ve been dead if it weren’t for you.”

  “Pleasure’s all mine.”

  “Can I ask you another question?”

  “Anything?”

  “That evening I walked into your office, what did you mean when you said I just needed to say the word?”

  He heaved a lengthy sigh. “Nishi, I'm honest when I say this. I’ve never met a woman like you. If I were insane, I’d say you fell from the sky, straight into my arms. You’re candid, challenging, and beautiful. Each day you’re more of a fascination.” He brushed a thumb over her bottom lip. “Yet, your eyes tell me you’ve either been hurt or lost something profound—something you’re willing to kill for.” Surprised by his perception, Nishani tried to twist out of his arms. Colton tightened his embrace. “Don’t, sweetheart.” She stopped struggling and met his gaze. He dropped a light kiss to her lips. “You don’t need to tell me anything.”

  He smiled, the hard lines on his face softened. Nishani’s heart almost stopped at the gentleness in his gaze. A strange feeling—one she couldn’t understand—came over her. Jesus, am I falling for this man? No. she didn’t do the love thing.

  Colton began talking again. “I’m not the relationship type of person, Nishi. If I want pussy, I just need to click my fingers and women would come running,” he whispered. Surprised, she said nothing. “But I don’t want another woman. None of them give a fuck about who they screw. They crave popularity, nothing more. And as unbelievable as it sounds, I can’t get enough of you. I’m becoming greedy when it comes to you. I don’t want any misunderstanding between us. That woman in my office—”

  “You don’t need to explain.”

  “You want me to, your actions that day proved it.” He grinned.

  “No.” Nishani scowled. Colton’s chest rumbled with laughter. She punched him lightly on the arm. “Stop it. I’m not the jealous type,” she mumbled, and he laughed harder. “Are you done?” She glared at him and pushed against his arms to unlock his embrace.

  With speed she didn’t anticipate, he released her, untangled himself, and restrained her to the floor with his body. When she stopped gasping for breath, he kissed her hard. “Her sick father is a friend. She wanted me to get the old bastard to agree to a cat scan,” he explained when he lifted his head. “Just say the word, sweetheart, and I’m yours until you say different.”

  Nishani eyed the handsome man staring down at her and smiled. He wasn’t offering her a relationship, not that she wanted one. Yet, somehow the knowledge this beautiful man would belong to her, sounded appealing. “In other words, a verbal agreement for me to screw you to my heart’s content and then toss you when I find something better?” The mere thought turned her on.

  He cocked a brow. “Better? I’d like to see you try.”

  “Are you challenging me?” Even though she teased, Nishani accepted that finding a lover like Colton Black would be like searching for a needle in a haystack.

  “Take it any way you like, sweetheart.” He slipped a hand under her t-shirt and slid two fingers inside her already drenched pussy. “Care to recant that statement? You wouldn’t be this wet before any foreplay if I were a useless lover, would you?” To prove his point, he pressed the pad of his thumb against her clit, amplifying the effect of his pumping fingers.

  “You’re an arrogant bastard,” she mumbled while annoyed with her traitorous body.

  He chuckled. “We’ve already established that.” He leaned down, gripped her nipple pushing up against the t-shirt between his teeth, and sucked hard.

  “Point taken,” she gasped.

  “Is it okay if I fuck you now?”

  “Are you asking my permission?” She whimpered when he removed his fingers. So far, he hadn’t asked. He nodded. The look in his eyes spun her senses into overdrive.

  “Think you can handle another round or two.”

  “Bring it.” She grinned, loving the feel of his naked chest beneath her fingers.

  Laughing, he held her tight and slanted his mouth over hers in a slow seductive kiss. “I want to eat you,” he whispered against her lips. Colton pushed up onto his knees, pulled her up, and slid off her t-shirt. Then he reclined on the carpet parallel to the fire. “Come here.” He held out his hands.

  Nishani complied. She straddled his chest and inched her way up to his face. Any embarrassment she might’ve felt dissipated when he grabbed her ass cheeks with both hands and tongued her clit. Nishani gasped. Colton Black might teeter on the line of good and evil, black and white, but boy was he a good lover. She could seriously get addicted to his hands, mouth, and cock.

  Chapter Twenty One

  COLTON JERKED UPRIGHT. Unsure what had startled him awake, he rubbed his eyes. The agonized groan on the bed next to him drew his gaze. Nishi was having another nightmare. He twisted up onto his knees. “Nishi?”

  Another pained moan and garbled words. This time her reaction sounded different. More scared than before. Fear gripped him. She thrashed against the covers, fists clenching the sheets.

  “Nishi, sweetheart,” he whispered for fear of startling her awake.

  “Get away from me. Leave me alone,” she cried out.

  Desperate to free her from whatever horrors haunting her sleep, Colton leaned closer and gently shook her shoulder. “Nishi, wake up, sweetheart.”

  She released the sheets and grasped his neck, squeezing hard. For a woman, her hold was unusually strong, or maybe it was the distress of her nightmare, giving her the strength to survive. Colton winced against the grip on his neck as her muscles flexed with power. Shocked, he called out once more, “Nishi!” When she didn’t respond, and her hold tightened, he acted on instinct and slapped her across the face. Her eyes flew open.

  She looked up at him, blinking in confusion. He sat back on his knees and coughed to ease his breathing. When she realized something was wrong, her eyes widened in pure terror, a response Colton doubted he’d ever seen before.

  Her chest heaved with ragged breaths. “Oh, God, Colton, what happened? D-did I do something wrong. Why are you staring at me like that?”
Her chest continued to rise and fall as she sat up and pushed back the hair from her face.

  “You had a nightmare.” He rubbed his neck. “Damn, you’ve got a strong grip.”

  “Nightmare?” she asked and dropped her gaze to her fingers.

  “Yes, sweetheart. It’s the third time I’ve witnessed it. See, I didn’t take advantage of you that morning you woke to find me next to you.” His attempt at light-heartedness failed. She avoided his gaze. “Do you want to talk about it?”

  “No.”

  “It might help,” he gently pushed.

  Colton was sure her nightmares had nothing to do with her amnesia but something that happened in her past. Without a word, she pushed aside the covers, slid off the bed, and went to the bathroom. Unsure whether to go after her or stay put, he raked a hand through his hair.

  The sudden crash from the bathroom had him vaulting off the bed. He strode down the passage to stand at the door. Even though it was muffled, he could tell Nishi was crying—the sound heartbreaking and haunting. Unprepared for this kind of emotion, Colton stared at the knob. She was hurting, and he had no idea how to comfort her. He’d never experienced this level of feeling before. Unprepared, he silently cursed. He’d only ever had Rex to pacify when his brother was growing up. Colton was sure that placating a year-old baby to an adolescent boy was nowhere near to consoling a hurting grown woman.

  He never expected a woman could affect him so profoundly. The urge to kick down the door and pull her into his arms grew steadily. He was wary she might not welcome his concern. Nishi appeared to be a strong woman who relied on herself and possibly didn’t appreciate anyone catching her at her weakest. Traits which probably drew him to her in the first place since they mirrored his exact personality. The recognition scared the fuck out of him for just a moment. God, this woman has some strange effect on me?

  “Nishi?”

  “Go away, Colton,” she mumbled.

  “You can’t sit in there forever, you know. Whatever it is, you can talk to me.”

  When she didn’t respond, he cursed and walked to the living room. He stoked the fire, then dropped onto the couch and stared at the ceiling—his mind at a total loss. Several minutes later, he shifted his gaze when the bathroom door opened, and Nishi appeared. She didn’t come in but leaned against the frame of the arched entrance, one hand holding the other arm, she stared at the floor.

  “I was kidnapped at the age of seventeen...”

  Startled by the confession, Colton sat up, his eyes wide and willing her to go on.

  “The men who kidnapped me were rich businessmen involved in human trafficking,” she continued but still didn’t look up. “The head-honcho, kingpin or whatever the hell he was called, took a fancy to me and didn’t sell me off like the rest of the girls they abducted.”

  Colton’s heart rate raced, erratic with shock. He remained still to avoid scaring her into shutting down.

  “The night he took my virginity was one of the sickest moments I’d never wish upon my worst enemy. He paraded me in front of his men and business partners until they grew greedy with lust. When he had his fill, he allowed each of them a turn. They tore me, stretched me, bit me, and stuck their disgusting cocks, fingers, and tongues in places no amount of washing could erase. My only saving grace was the use of condoms. It offered some measure of protection against STD’s and falling pregnant. The things they did to me, scarred me for the rest of my life and with each grunt of release, I vowed revenge. The bastard called it a taste-tester and told his friends they would never touch me again. Yet, he shared videos each time he raped me, and those filthy fucks got off on watching him do revolting shit to me...” her voice broke for a moment.

  Colton moved to get up, but she started speaking again, “After that night, he kept me captive in a cage for a year and a half. I never saw sunlight, never went to my prom, never giggled with my friends, and, most of all, I never saw my parents again. I blamed my sister for getting drunk at a party and leaving me to walk home alone. That’s me, brave, stupid, and stubborn thinking I can take on the world. I didn’t realize the foolishness of my decision until it was too late. His men chased, caught, and drugged me. I woke to my hands, cuffed to the bed, and dressed in a slutty bikini.” She stopped speaking as her throat constricted in a sob.

  Colton sprang up and approached her with slow steps. “It’s not your fault, Nishi.”

  She looked up. The grief in her eyes tore at his heart. How could those bastards kill her innocence and scar the life of a beautiful woman with the strength of a thousand horses? Judging by what she survived, he didn’t doubt it for a minute. He opened his arms. She hesitated for just a second before flinging herself into his arms and cried against his chest. Colton held her tight. His heart crumbled into a thousand pieces. She carried this burden for so long; it would give anyone nightmares. He pulled her up, and she wrapped her arms and legs around him. Caressing her hair, he walked to the bedroom.

  A long time later, when her sobbing gentled to nothing but soft hiccups, he whispered, “You okay, sweetheart?” She lifted her head and nodded. “Do you want to go on?” When she nodded, he uncurled her legs. Then sat down on the bed with her in his lap and his arms around her waist.

  “I accepted my faith and lived in that cage. The hard floor as my bed, a single blanket that did nothing in winter and bathing twice a week when the old man visited. He kept me drugged, so I’d stay obedient and willing. If I retaliated, he beat the shit out of me and stopped just in time to allow my body to heal. He never wanted scars.” She leaned back against his arm for a moment, her breathing rapid as though she sprinted against her past demons. Colton smoothed her hair from her face and waited. Then she inhaled deeply. “Surprisingly, he had a doctor check me every month, administered vitamins, and although they brought me good food, I only ate enough to keep my strength for the day I would break free and kill that bastard. Every touch killed my spirit a little. There were times when I thought of ending my life, but I fought the despair.”

  She shut her eyes tight as though forcing back the memories. Colton clenched his palms aching to be her savior. “Who rescued you?”

  “His daughter-in-law,” Nishi uttered a mirthless laugh. Colton blew out a harsh breath. “His family had no idea the man lived a secret life. He hid it so well, nobody knew. I guess he had all the right connections. I didn’t expect he’d get caught. Clara, however, found out and imagine her shock when she discovered the man’s sordid secret beneath their vast mansion. The day she freed me, he somehow got wind of it and tried to have us killed. Fortunately, the car rolled before it exploded, giving us time to escape. Clara’s husband, who helped us escape, died in the explosion before we could get any more info. The fake passports and tickets got us into Colombia, but we had no idea who to contact there. For the first year or two, life on the streets was difficult. Our money ran out, and we had to fight to survive. I killed my first man when he tried to rape Clara. It was the same day Mateo entered our lives. They fell in love, and life changed.”

  “Is that how you ended up working for Mateo.” Colton dragged a hand down his face. Nishi’s past was proving to be a little too shocking for comfort.

  She shook her head. Her gaze dropped to her fingers. “He’d seen me kill that man and offered me a normal life like finishing school, going to college. I was hellbent on revenge and asked him to make me a killer. He had no problem with that. When I was finally capable of handling myself without breaking down, I sought out those men. With Mateo’s help, I followed them, covered all my bases, and gave them a death their families would remember for a long time.” She exhaled on a long sigh. “I killed them, Colton. I sliced every inch of their bared skins, twisting the blade of my knife until layers of flesh popped, and blood flowed. Do you have any idea how beautiful the color of revenge is? Satin rivers of crimson.” Nishi looked up. The tears were gone, yet her narrowed eyes, cold and hard, burned—somewhere between rage and pure hatred.

  “Shit, sweethe
art.” He now understood the threat to DeLuca. The purpose Colton read in her eyes that day and her blatant insolence. Nishi feared no one, and that worried him a little—her strength could be her weakness someday.

  “And the best part. I enjoyed it, loved every minute of it. Watching those bastards squirm and beg for their lives, for forgiveness. Like I gave a rat’s ass about mercy. Does it make me a twisted bitch, Colton? Enjoying my kill?” She stared at him, her breathing uneven.

  “No, sweetheart. You had every right to seek vengeance. I would’ve done the same.” He rubbed her back lightly until she calmed down.

  “They didn’t see me coming,” she whispered. “And cops...they merely put it down to a serial killer going after men of power.” She inhaled sharply, anger creasing her brow. “Only, the one man I wanted to pay the most, escaped my attempts on his life. Every single time I tried, he always seemed one step ahead of me—bodyguards at work, home, restaurants, and even in the damn toilets. I couldn’t risk getting caught. Although Mateo urged me to try other means, I couldn’t hurt innocent people.” Nishi sighed, her shoulders sagging. “Guess they don’t call him the kingpin for nothing.”

  “I’m sorry, sweetheart.”

  “At least I got the others, right?” she smiled, a miserable curve of her lips Colton wished he could change. “I had two choices since then. Either let that whole incident control the rest of my life or seize the pain by the horns and make myself stronger so that no man would ever hurt me again.”

  “With no time for love?” The question surprised him as much as it did her.

  She stared at him for a moment before nodding. “Love is just a four-letter word, nothing more, nothing less. I doubt it has the power to heal.”

  “With the right person, it might,” he whispered. She merely arched a brow. Colton accepted her indifference. Her past experiences placed her in a world where she relied solely on her strength. The unexpected urge to be more than her fuckbuddy grew steadily. “Why didn’t you go back home?”