“Yes, really. He put his hand on the back of your chair. That’s marking his territory for sure.”
She hadn’t noticed that, either. Usually she saw these things. “I guess witnessing a murder had me off my game.”
“For sure. How are you doing? Have they caught the men?”
“No, but Viktor seemed to think it was a casual killing. Maybe related to the Mafia, either Russian or Italian. He has put feelers out, but he doesn’t want to draw anyone to me.”
“He wants you safe. That’s so sweet. It’s like you’re in a fairy tale.”
“I wouldn’t go that far.”
“Oh, Alia. Enjoy it while you can. Not everyone has a billionaire after them. Could lift you out of poverty.”
“He wants to pay for me to go to school,” Alia said.
“What would you study?”
“That’s the problem. I have no idea.”
“You’re good with numbers. Study accounting.”
Her idea did have some merit. “I’ll think about it.”
“You want a tour of the club?” Alia said.
“Viktor won’t mind?”
“No, I’ve been down there a few times. It’s private, only for Russian ex-pats.”
Alia led her down the steps to the club. Arkady was standing by the bar.
“Arkady, this is my friend, Jess.”
Jess held out her hand again, keeping eye contact with the man. Arkady shook her hand, but didn’t say much.
“Nice to meet you,” Jess said.
“Yeah, sure.”
Arkady seemed to be nervous.
“Is something wrong?” Alia asked. “Should I not be here?”
“No, you’re allowed. I just have some things to do.”
Alia would have to ask Viktor about Arkady. Maybe the man was shy. Alia showed Jess around then, the woman left. She’d see her tomorrow when she was working. She’d drag Arkady to walk with her.
Alia returned upstairs to look for Viktor. He was cleaning up his kitchen. Seemed such a pedestrian task for a rich man. Nothing seemed to be beneath him.
“I showed Jess your club. I ran into Arkady. Is he shy?”
Viktor laughed. “Yes, he is very shy. Especially around women.”
“I think Jess has her eye on him. Would that be okay? If I encouraged that?”
Viktor seemed to mull it over. “Might be good for him. I think he misses Russia a lot.”
“Then I will be a matchmaker.” She changed the subject. “I thought about school.”
“Oh?”
“Jess gave me the idea to study accounting.”
“Then when the next semester starts, you should be in school,” Viktor said.
He beamed. Alia love his smile. There was no holding it back when it arose on his face.
***
From years living in Russia, then spending some time on the streets, Viktor could tell something had changed with Alia. Her body language was more relaxed and less tense than before. Something Jess had said, probably about him, that had her in a different state of mind.
Or maybe she just trusted him now. She wouldn’t if she knew the dream he’d had about her last night. She’d been bouncing on top of him naked. He’d woken up in sweat, needy and horny.
Thankfully, he had self-control and didn’t barge into her room.
No, Alia would require a soft hand. A special seduction such that she didn’t even know she was being seduced. Why was he bothering? He had women throw themselves at him. They wanted his wallet at much as his dick.
Alia didn’t seem to care about either.
“Then I guess that is settled,” Alia said.
She strode to him, then stood in his personal space. Guess the minx might not need as much seduction, he thought.
“Settled.”
“I do appreciate all that you’ve done for me,” Alia said.
She stepped closer to him and he could smell her. Strawberries. His favorite fruit.
“Just get good grades and get a good job. That is all of the thanks I need. Besides, my accountant is nearing retirement. I’ll need a new one soon.”
She was just about touching him, her green eyes full on him. As if he were the only person in the world. What was she doing? If he didn’t know better, he’d think she was seducing him. Could he hope?
“I will.”
She stood on her tiptoes and brushed his lips with hers.
“Alia?”
“We’ve been tap dancing around each other for a day now.”
“Oh?” he said. The word croaked out of him. His body woke up. His friend in his pants was awake. If she got any closer, she’d figure that out.
“I’m not sure this is appropriate.”
“Why not? We’re adults.”
“You, barely.”
“I’m twenty seven.”
Older than he’d thought. Not that much younger than he was. Damn. She was going to knock down all of his arguments.
“Not a child at all.”
Her lips hovered over his. “You thought me younger.”
He cleared his throat. Her scent and closeness was messing with his brain. Viktor Kozlov did not get seduced. He was always in control. But not with Alia in the room. Not with her this close to him. Close enough to capture those lips and kiss her the way she was meant to be kissed.
“Yes, but I don’t think it changes things. You’re under my care.”
“Why can’t I be under your care and your lover?”
Lover? She said it aloud. This girl had big, brass balls. He was supposed to be the aggressor. He was Russian. He was male. He chose when they made love. Not her.
But the rush of blood to his extremities was clouding his thinking. It all seemed like a good idea. Just a slight lean and he could press his lips against hers. What could it hurt?
So he did it. Not only did she respond with her lips, but her tongue came out to tease him.
Some rational part of his brain implored him to stop. This was madness. He’d lost control.
His body didn’t want to stop.
Her hands crept up and held his shirt. When he stopped kissing her, her eyes had darkened with passion.
“I don’t want to take advantage of you, Alia.”
“You aren’t. I promise. I want this.” She looked down at his pants. “As much as you do.”
He laughed lightly. He swallowed hard. “We shouldn’t.”
“You have yet to give me a good reason.”
“We’re so different.”
“So our bank accounts are different. We are human. And we’re clearly attracted to each other. What could it hurt? We can have fun until I have to go.”
When she said the words, she might have been saying them to his dick, which was akin to preaching to the choir. His dick was all in.
“Damn, Alia.”
She pressed her lips to his and he was done. He scooped her up. She weighed nothing as he strode to his bedroom. He put her on the bed while he eyed her. He had to be sure. He couldn’t do this unless he was sure.
“Last chance.”
“To what?”
“Refuse me,” he said.
She stood up and tore off her shirt. “Not a chance.”
Chapter Five
Alia stood in his alpha male bedroom, her shirt off, wishing she had a sexier bra on, but she couldn’t afford those. Maybe he’d buy her some, but right now she just wanted him inside of her. Now.
She’d never been so attracted to a man. Was it his accent? His presence, which was strong? The fact that he took no shit from anyone?
Just like her.
He stood inches from her, his gaze taking her in. His eyes looking through her. Guess he wanted to be sure. “There’s no going back.”
She reached behind her and undid her bra. Slipping it off her shoulders, she dropped it on the floor. His eyes widened. No straight man could resist naked breasts. His hands went to them immediately.
She slid out of her pants and stood n
aked in front of him. She didn’t feel vulnerable. She felt powerful instead.
Like telling a child something is hot and they have to touch it. A man must touch breasts. He weighed both of them in his hands, then he knelt down in front of her. He took one nipple in his mouth, his tongue doing naughty things.
She’d brought this powerful man to his knees just by taking off her clothing. Wow.
Tingles raced each other down her body as his other hand slid down her stomach. He stopped at her warm center and she knew she was wet for him. She might have been wet for him the first time she met him.
Her head fell back, enjoying all the sensations he provided. Her hands fisted on his shoulders and she wanted to feel his skin. She wanted to touch him. He’d be warm and hard and all the things a man should be.
Her knees became weak, but she held onto him. Some part of her brain thought she could always lean on Viktor. Right now, she just didn’t want him to stop touching her. His thumb drew circles around her clit then found it, applying pressure.
She shattered in what could only be described as the best orgasm she’d ever had. She lost feeling in her whole body. Then it jerked back to life as the aftershocks rocketed through her.
Viktor scooped her up and placed her on the bed. Then he took of his clothes and her eyes widened as each piece came off. Under his staid and starched clothing was a body that rocked. He had hard planes and veins all the right places. And holy crap, was he hung.
His erection jutted out as if looking for her. She sat up, energized a little by the sight of it. Reaching out, she took him in her hand. A sharp intake of his breath had her gaze shooting up to his face. His eyes fell closed as she stroked him. All the way to the top, then all the way to the bottom.
Her one finger circled the end of his length.
“Alia.”
Her name came out rough and raw. As if he could not speak. He grabbed her wrist. “It’s going to be over too soon if you keep doing that.”
She smiled. “Then what if I do this?”
She bent down and licked the tip. He let out a strangled cry. “Alia.”
“You want me to stop?”
“I want you to lay back on the bed.”
She let go and flashed him a pout. She liked his penis. Long and hard. Just for her. She did as he asked and lay on her back, licking her lips. He groaned, then grabbed a condom out of his nightstand. He ripped off the packaging then rolled it onto himself.
She was ready. She’d been ready since she’d walked into his office that fateful night. She’d been scared, but she’d been turned on, too.
This lovemaking was several days in the making.
He slid his body on top of her. She felt his warmth. His hardness contrasting with her softness. He rubbed the tip of his penis at her opening and she wanted to jam him inside of her.
Nipping at her neck, he said dirty things. As if he needed to get her further aroused. He didn’t, but she enjoyed what he said anyway.
Then he was over her, sliding inside of her. Slowly as if she would break. She dug her nails into his back as he reached bottom and started a slow rhythm. Torturous.
“Oh, God.”
He’d hit the right spot and whenever he thrust in, she shivered. And then she exploded. Fireworks behind her eyelids. Her teeth gritted as the climax just kept going on and on. “Aaah.”
Once the orgasm subsided, she opened her eyes. Viktor had a smug smile on his face. She wrapped her quivering legs around his body. His thrusting in increased and she held on for dear life as he grunted and came.
She couldn’t keep her legs up. She released him. He took care of the condom, then was back beside her. “You are one hellcat in my bed, Alia.”
“Is that good?”
He slumped onto his back, his chest heaving. She played with the crisp curls on his stomach. Just a line of them pointing to the playground.
“Yes, that’s good. You might kill me, but I’d die a happy man.”
She laughed, shifting so her chin was on his chest. She stared up at him. His eyes were darker than usual. Like the sky right before a storm.
“You weren’t too bad yourself,” she said.
A chuckle rumbled out of him. “Not bad, huh? I’m not sure if that’s a challenge or not.”
“Take it however you like.”
She laughed again. He stroked her hair and she wanted to purr. What a lovely way to spend an afternoon. “You have to go to the club tonight?”
“I do. You have to work?”
“Yes, I want Arkady to walk me.”
“Should I be jealous?”
“No, it’s for Jess.”
“Ah, you are being yenta?”
“Yenta?”
“Matchmaker.”
She laughed. “Yes, I guess I am.”
Viktor’s phone rang and he groaned. The ring was from his mother. Why would she call right now? Probably because she knew he would be home. He wouldn’t answer later in the day because he’d be at the club.
He patted Alia on the bottom. “Go take your shower. I have to take this. It’s my mother.”
“You’re going to talk to your mother naked?”
“Yes. Now go.”
He watched her go then answered. “Hello, Mama.”
“Hello, Viktor. Kak dela, synok.”
“I’m good, Mama. And you?”
“You know how it is. I grow old and I have aches,” she said.
His mother was the strongest woman he knew. She raised three sons while working several jobs to make their lives better. In some ways, he was afraid of his mother. No one could make him sit up and notice.
It didn’t matter how many nightclubs he owned, or how rich he was, she would always be his mother. And she would always know when he was lying and always know when he was hiding something.
Not that he told her everything. She didn’t need to know about the women in his bed. That was off-limits. Including the current wild animal he was fucking.
He glance at the bathroom door and smiled. “You’re going to outlive us all.”
This was their usual conversation. “Are you coming to see your Mama anytime soon?”
“I’m hoping I can get there in a few days.”
“Are you bringing your new girlfriend?”
“I don’t have a new girlfriend, Mama.”
He shifted so he leaned on the headboard, a pillow behind his back. He crossed his legs at his ankles. This might be a long conversation. No reason not to be comfortable.
“That’s not what Sacha said. He said there is a woman there. Living with you.”
“There is a woman living with me, but I am merely protecting her. She’s been a witness to a murder and I am keeping her safe. That’s how you raised me, right?”
“I didn’t raise you to let crime come to your door, nyet?”
“No crime has come to my door. Should I throw her out?”
“No, Viktor you should let the police handle it.”
“The murder was in my neighborhood. I don’t like these things in my back yard. I want to handle it. You need to stop worrying. I am not a small mal'chik anymore. I am a grown man.”
“I don’t care how old you are, Viktor. I worry. I am your mother so I will worry forever about you.”
He heard Alia in the shower. Singing. He hoped his mother couldn’t hear her. She had a beautiful voice. Why was she tending bar and not singing in a nightclub? Hm.
Then he remembered that she was in there naked. And soapy. He wanted to rush his mother off the phone so he could join Alia. To be naked and soapy with her.
“You shouldn’t, Mama. You have a full life with your friends. Your sons, we are all good. Because of you. You should enjoy yourself.”
“I want to meet this woman.”
“She’ll probably be gone soon. Once the threat is over.”
No way was he going to have Alia and his mother meet. No. His mother was not the most open-minded woman and she might have a problem with Alia’s sk
in color. What a stupid thing to worry about, but he was more American than his mother.
“Then bring her soon.”
“I’ll think about it, Mama. She works. I work. We have to coordinate.”
“Make it happen, then tell me when. I’ll cook Borscht. Is she a good Russian girl?”
He chuckled. His mother knew that he wasn’t looking to get married and that he wasn’t going to settle down with a Russian girl. He’d settle down with whomever he fell in love with. “She isn’t Russian. She isn’t from the club.”
“That’s not good, Viktor. You should stick to your own kind.”
“Variety is the spice of life, Mama.”
He heard his mother sigh. “Viktor, you put a strain on my heart.”
She always tried guilt, but he knew she was healthier than he was. She’d survived worse that her son dating someone she didn’t approve of. But he wasn’t dating Alia. He was merely fucking her.
Even less of a reason for his mother to meet her.
“I must go Mama. I have a business to run.”
“I will call again if plans are not made, Konfetka.”
He knew she would badger him until she met Alia. Well, she might have to badger this time, because he wasn’t planning on bringing her around. There were women you had sex with and women you married. He wasn’t in the market for the latter, so Alia would have to be the former.
He’d made no promises when he slept with her. “Spokoynoy nochi. Mama.”
“Good night to you, too Viktor. I want a date.”
He disconnected and dropped the phone on his nightstand. His mother was a force of nature and he loved her very much. She was the only woman he loved. He often wondered what she would be like if he did end up marrying. Would she be a good mother-in-law? Or would she be overbearing?
No matter. That wasn’t happening anytime, if ever.
His attention turned back to his bathroom. The shower was still running. He bet he could slip in there and they could have shower sex. He’d have enough time to get to the nightclub. Hopefully, she wouldn’t be late for work.
He didn’t knock, but strode into his bathroom. Alia was soapy. He’d like to lick off that soap. She smiled when he slid the shower door open.
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