All The Way

by Tricia Jones

  Grace closed her eyes, stretching like a wanton she-cat. “I was right. You’re different.”

  “Different?” He didn’t stop his ministrations. “How?”

  Dreamily, she stroked his shoulder. “Softer.”

  He looked up, feigning mock offence.

  Grace laughed. “No, not that way. Everything’s in full working order in that department. God, is it. What I mean is you’re not as…” She struggled for the right word. “You’re not as tense as you used to be.”

  With his eyes locked on hers, he took her hand and lowered it to wrap around his growing hardness. “You might like to change your opinion on that.”

  She laughed again and began a slow, easy stroke that made him catch his breath. “You’re deliberately misunderstanding me.”

  “What you’re doing is clear enough.”

  “You still think sex is the answer to everything, don’t you?”

  “Right now, it’s difficult to find anything more pleasurable.”

  Well yes, at that moment it was impossible to argue. His hand was doing wonderful things to her skin, stroking ever so gently along the outside of her thigh, brushing over her stomach, before dipping dangerously to move between her legs.

  He stroked her as she stroked him and their soft mutual mumblings of pleasure filled the sensual silence.

  “I’m curious.” She moaned as he slipped his finger inside her. “How…how many women have you had since we were last together?”

  When he didn’t answer, she squeezed him a little harder and thought she saw his eyes cross. “Well?”

  “Since we were last together? None.”

  With her free hand, she tapped him lightly on the shoulder. “I don’t mean since just now. I mean in the last two years. How many?”

  “This is hardly the time to be asking such a question.”

  “It’s never the right time to ask you a question, period. And you’re stalling.”

  He looked at her with hooded eyes. “How many fingers do I have inside you?”

  Two, she thought making the link. Two women. It hurt more than she’d expected, even though she’d feared there would be more. Was it realistic to hope there had been only one? And that he’d admit it never worked because he thought only of her?

  “Milaya?” His voice was low and rough. “Perhaps we should save this conversation for later. You appear to be losing focus.”

  He raised his eyebrows and gave her hand a little nudge to get things moving again. “It’s nothing to do with the conversation, or rather lack of it.” And she was stupid to spoil their time together with unrealistic expectations. “Just that your focus is disrupting mine.”

  When he laughed, she thought how lovely it felt to share the easy slide into lovemaking—a side of Nikolai she rarely, if ever, glimpsed. It was compelling and dangerously addictive.

  “Let’s lose our focus together, angel,” he said softly. “Just for tonight.”

  “Yes.” She closed her eyes as he shifted above her, prepared to make another memory. “For tonight.”

  Chapter Ten

  Grace woke to the sound a bleep and reached out for her cell phone. Niko was already up and was, she assumed, in the shower.

  Blinking, she pushed back her hair with her free hand and saw the text was from Leah.

  Change of plans. Sorry, but have to cancel breakfast. P is taking me on a business trip. Lunch tomorrow? Will call tonight to arrange. Lx

  Vexed, Grace shook her head. Making plans and sticking to them was never one of Leah’s strong points, but Grace hoped that they’d reached a new level of understanding. Apparently not.

  She sat up and shot off a reply agreeing to lunch the next day and telling Leah to take care and be sure and call that evening. Then she got out of bed and glanced through the open door to Niko’s room, wondering where he was. He wasn’t in her shower and she couldn’t hear the sound of his either.

  Selecting a clean T-shirt and print skirt from her rapidly diminishing supply, Grace laid them on the bed and headed for the shower. While she was drying off, Niko came into the bathroom wearing a polo shirt and jeans as black as his expression.

  “What’s wrong?”

  He looked at her, pursed his lips as he rubbed the back of his neck. “Nothing. Have you eaten?”

  “No. I’ve only just woken up.” She continued to dry herself off, disappointed that he had made no move to touch her, in fact would barely look at her. With her plans changed, she’d hoped they might enjoy a leisurely morning, but he obviously harbored no such thoughts.

  “Leah sent me a text,” she said matter-of-fact. “Breakfast is cancelled as she and Pavel are off on some business meeting.”

  His eyes flashed. She could understand that, since he and Pavel weren’t exactly bosom buddies and anytime the man’s name was mentioned it was like lighting blue touch paper.

  “What meeting?”

  Grace wrapped the towel around herself and fastened it. “She didn’t say. Just that she’d call me tonight and could we have lunch tomorrow.”

  He turned back into the bedroom. “I need to see the text.”

  He’d already grabbed up the cell phone when she came up behind him and while she might have snarled at him to leave her personal things alone, damn it, unease slithered along her spine. “What’s wrong?” she asked again, looking past him as he keyed in her messages. “Is there something I should be worried about?”

  He said nothing as he read Leah’s short text, then closed down the message. “No. Nothing.” He took in a long breath, his expression still dark. “I simply want to keep tabs on Pavel for a while. I don’t trust him to steal clients or otherwise sabotage my dealings.”

  “Can he do that?”

  “He’s no fool. He knows too much for me to let him walk away without tracking him.”

  “Maybe after his stint in prison, he’s learned his lesson.”

  He looked like he might argue that point, but then he simply nodded. Grace noted he was back to avoiding her gaze, seeming distracted and tense. She wanted to push, to make him talk to her, but knew she’d get the standard brush-off.

  He took his own cell from his pocket and sent off a text. As he slipped the phone back in his pocket, he drew in another long breath and at long last looked at her. His gaze swept the length of her towel-clad body, but he seemed less than interested in doing anything about it. “Why don’t you get dressed and order breakfast?”

  Deciding to ignore his apparent lack of enthusiasm and with nothing demanding her immediate attention, she thought about an altogether more interesting way to spend an unanticipated free morning. Since he’d opened the floodgates to her sensual needs, he could at the very least accommodate them.

  She stepped forward and slipped her arms around his neck. “I’ve got a better idea.” When he made no move to respond, she lowered her lashes provocatively. Seconds passed and with them the realization that he had no intention of taking up her offer. She dropped her arms from around his neck and stepped back. “I’m not feeling all warm and fuzzy here, Niko.”

  Still distracted, he drew his hand over his head and turned away.

  What? She’d handed it to him on a plate and all he could do was turn away? “Fine. Please yourself.”

  She almost made it to the door of the bathroom, when Niko caught her arm. She eyed where his fingers curled possessively around her flesh, then let her gaze drift scornfully back to his. “Do you mind?”

  “I’ve got things to do, Grace. I can’t allow myself to be distracted right now.”

  “Then don’t let me stop you.” She shook off his hand. “Off you go.”

  He grabbed her arm again and this time swung her around to face him. “You don’t know what you’re doing.”

  “Don’t I?” She tried to shove him away, but he held fast. “Then why don’t you enlighten me? No?” she queried when he just looked at her. “Well, you just shut yourself off, shut yourself down and go do whatever it is you do. I don’t really gi
ve a damn. You did what I asked and helped me find Leah and in return we had sex. I think you’re paid in full, so why don’t I pack my bag and leave you in peace to get on with whatever you need to do.”

  “Stop being a fool.”

  “Oh, don’t worry. I intend to.” She pushed past him toward the bed, dropped the towel and started dressing. “We had our night and now we’re finished. You’ve had your fill and I’ve certainly had mine.”

  “You’re wrong.” He yanked her into his arms, so unexpectedly that she dropped the bra she was about to put on. “I’ve nowhere near had my fill.”

  He virtually threw her onto the bed. The sharp thrill of it mixed with the anger, with the sense of rejection that pulsed through her and when Nikolai stuck his fingers either side of her panties and pulled them sharply down, she let out a startled cry.

  Giving her no mind, he shoved her legs apart, anchored her thighs and used his mouth with such determined force she had to push herself back against the mattress to escape the furious need that came from nowhere. Helpless against the ragged orgasm that shot through her like a train, Grace held her breath and flew.

  Abruptly, Nikolai stepped back, watching her as he unhooked his belt, slipped his zipper and lowered himself to drive inside her. Mindless as he took her up again, Grace grabbed the front of his shirt for purchase and let him take them both to climax.

  The friction of his shirt against her naked breasts only heightened the sensation of being completely and utterly ravaged, as did the harsher material of his jeans as it scraped against the inside of her thighs.

  It was wildly erotic and Grace could only marvel at the pleasure he wrenched from her. When he collapsed against her, his breathing as ragged as hers, she ran a lazy hand down his back and heard him groan. There was something infinitely satisfying in knowing that, despite his obvious initial reluctance, she could drive him to abandon his plans. It made her feel desirable. Powerful.

  Eyes closed, she let her hand drift lazily over his heated flesh. He was so quiet that she wondered if he’d fallen asleep, but then he rolled off her and lay on his back. He stared at the ceiling, not moving when Grace turned her head to the side and watched him. From the look on his face, he couldn’t be accused of a man who’d just enjoyed an unanticipated bout of morning sex. The hard jaw, the flare of nostrils, did not allude to the aftermath of sensual pleasure.

  Grace couldn’t resist a teasing dig. “Sorry to distract you from your urgent business.”

  His face gave no sign of response, then after a moment he turned, his sharp blue eyes guarded. “We need to talk.”

  “Twice in less than twenty-four hours. Wow. I’m honored.” She turned her head to face the ceiling, trying to act like she didn’t care that he was about to tell her they were finally finished. He’d done what she’d asked him to do and she’d paid in full. End of story.

  Ignoring the empty feeling assaulting her middle, she hoisted herself up, sat on the edge of the bed and reached for her panties. “We don’t need to talk. We’ve enjoyed some mutually satisfying parting sex, that’s all there is to it.”

  He stood, zipped his trousers and rearranged his shirt. “There are things I need to say, but first I have to see Vadim.” He watched as she fastened her bra, then his gaze slid back to hers. “Don’t go anywhere.”

  “I go where I please.”

  Raising his hand, he pointed a finger at her. He was about to say something, decided against it, then opened the door and disappeared out into the hallway.

  Frowning, Grace stared at the closed door. While tempted to pack up and leave just to prove to him that he didn’t get to tell her when she could come and go, she couldn’t ignore the horrid ache in her chest. He’d hurt her. Again.

  There are things I need to say.

  She bet there were. Like, it’s been great but now this really is goodbye. Or, thanks for that one final screw before I drive you from my memory forever and move on. To what? Lover number three?

  Well, there were some things she needed to say, too. Like, she wasn’t prepared to give into his arrogant assumption that he could simply lift a warning finger and she’d drop like an acquiescent puppy. Or, that she’d spend one more precious moment of her life wishing things had been different between them.

  Screw that.

  She pulled on her skirt and tee, slipped on sandals, gave her hair a brush and left her room.

  ****

  Nikolai closed his cell phone and sat on the small stone wall along the driveway of the hotel.

  He’d taken his eye off the goddamn ball and look what had happened. He should have seen it coming, should have been prepared, but he hadn’t been thinking straight.

  All thoughts had left his head as soon as Grace dared to tell him that she’d had her fill of him. Did she honestly think it was that simple? That one paltry night would obliterate the inferno that raged between them?

  He couldn’t think of this now. He had to keep his head straight.

  Thank God he could trust Vadim.

  He flicked open his cell and pushed speed dial. Vadim, as always, answered on the first ring. “No further movement,” the man reported without waiting for Nikolai’s question. “They arrived here an hour ago. Nobody else has come in or out.”

  “Are Lukas and Timo in position?”

  “Da. One at back, one side. I’m out front.”

  Nikolai rubbed his neck. “Good. Let me know if anything changes.”

  There was a moment’s silence, then Vadim enquired, “Have you told her?”

  Nikolai sucked in a breath. “Not yet.”

  “She’ll want to involve the police.”

  “Not if I handle this properly.” A movement at his peripheral vision made him turn and he saw Grace coming toward him. Through narrowed eyes, he saw the determined look on her face. “She’ll want to come along and this time I won’t be able to stop her. Keep me informed if anything changes.”

  He ended the call as Grace stepped up to him.

  “I told you to wait in the room.” He said it for something to say, wanting to stall the inevitable. Once she knew, it would blow everything out of the window. What else had he expected? That she’d understand? That she’d trust him to do this the right way?

  “You don’t get to order me around, Niko, and if you ever raise your finger to me again, I’ll bite the bloody thing off.”

  She waltzed right past him.

  “Where are you going?” He stood, calling after her as she pushed down the driveway. “Grace. We need to talk.”

  “And I need a month in the Bahamas, but that’s not going to happen either.”

  He caught up, and because his instinct was to grab her, he pushed his hands into his pockets. He let her stew for a few minutes, staying close while she walked it off. She chose a pathway that led down to the sea.

  Several minutes passed and Nikolai sensed she wasn’t going to slow down, so as they came to a stone bench set into the side of the cliff, he stepped in front of her, bringing her to an abrupt halt. “Let’s sit.” She only glared at him “Please.”

  Some of the fight left her eyes and she looked at him warily as she cocked her head to the side. “‘We need to talk’ and now ‘please’? You’ll change the world’s weather patterns, Niko.”

  He took the sarcasm and nodded toward the bench. She sat on the very edge, as if readying herself to take off any minute, so he angled his knee to block her.

  “Talk then,” she said haughtily, “but just so you know, I’ve got some things to say, too.”

  ****

  Out in the distance, the horizon stretched to infinity, blurring against the brilliance of the Adriatic. It somehow mirrored the task ahead of him, the enormity of it, the implications. He needed a few seconds to get his words together, to make sure they were the right ones. The ones that would take at least some of the sting out of the situation. But what the hell was he thinking? Whatever words he used, the situation would remain the same, and there was nothing he could do to
protect her from the reality of what they were about to face.

  He turned back, waited until her gaze met his. The question in her eyes pulled at him and made him feel like a complete bastard. However you viewed what had happened, what might happen, he knew when it came right down to it, the blame rested on him. Had he not pursued her after their one night together in Geneva, the problems that now faced them would not exist. Had he refrained from using a private investigator to track her down, to bring her back to his bed, she would not be looking at him now with concern sharpening her eyes and apprehension dulling the beauty of her face.

  How could he tell her that her sister might be in real danger? How could he, until he knew for sure, worry her with possibilities, potentialities? He couldn’t. Until his fears were confirmed, she didn’t need to know.

  “Well come on, Niko. Spit it out.”

  He took a breath and said the first thing that came into his head. “I have to go to Marseilles and I want you to come with me.”

  She drew back, frowning. “What?”

  “We need to leave immediately, so if you need more clothes I can—”

  “You want me to go to Marseilles with you?” Her throat moved as she swallowed. “I thought…”

  His chest tightened, making breathing difficult. He should tell her. Right now. She had a right to know about those possibilities, potentialities.

  “Leah is there with Pavel.”

  She blinked. “Marseilles? What are they… oh, Leah’s text. The business meeting. She never told me it was in France, but maybe she didn’t know.”

  He’d put money on it.

  “Why do we need to go?”

  “I want to keep tabs on Pavel.” That was true enough. “Make sure he doesn’t resurrect the business contacts he had before prison.” Please God, he didn’t.

  “You think he will?”

  He saw the worry in her eyes and knew he’d been right to keep his concerns to himself. For now. “Can’t know for sure, which is why I need to keep him in my sights.”

  When Grace dug out her cell phone, he let her stab in Leah’s number. He watched the fingers of her free hand work into her thigh as she waited in vain for her sister to pick up. Fear whispered through him when she didn’t, but he took the phone from her hand, shut it off and handed it back to her.