by Leslie North
Katya was irate and sat down on the edge of the tub to calm the shaking in her limbs. She couldn’t believe the man on the phone was related to her mother—a kind, gentle, loving person.
“Grow up, little girl, your mother showed you what she wanted you to see. You forget I grew up with her. She was a conniving, underhanded, sneaky little girl, and as she got older her character flaws grew out of control.”
Katya was so angry she couldn’t even respond to his latest character assassination of her mother. Nikolai watched Katya draw into herself and decided Danil had caused enough damage for the day.
“Danil, is there a problem?”
“Where is Katya? Put her back on the phone.”
“I’m afraid that is not possible. Whatever you said to her has upset her quite a bit.”
“Just sharing with her a few truths about her dear mother. The girl seems to think her mother was almost a saint. Well, I remember delivering the message about her betrayal to her father, and it nearly destroyed him.”
“You delivered the news? How did you get it?”
“A messenger showed up at the house. I was simply repeating what I’d been told.”
Nikolai was starting to put the pieces together, and what he was coming up with sickened him. “I’ll talk to her. We will be out of the city for the next two days. If you need anything, go through Vanya first and he will get word to me.”
“Two days? Nik, we need to talk about things before Grigori arrives.”
“Don’t worry about Grigori. We’ll talk when I get back into the city.”
“Tell me where you are and I’ll come to you. We really don’t want to let any grass grow under this thing. Now that the men responsible for my sister’s death have been taken care of, we need to start planning our next move.”
Nikolai firmed his jaw when he saw Katya watching him with curious eyes. He debated about taking the phone off speaker, but any damage had already been done. He knew he was going to have to answer questions about how he was dealing with his second-in-command, but he hoped she would give him a small breather first.
Danil had set his own sister up. The reality was almost too crazy to have any merit, but all of the signs were there. Now he just needed to figure out to proceed.
Chapter 13
Katya closed her eyes, starting to put the pieces of the puzzle together and not liking what picture was beginning to form. When Nik said her name softly, she opened her eyes and looked at him, “He’s the reason my mother lost her family, isn’t he?”
“I think so. His mother and your grandfather were twins and virtually inseparable as they grew up. When their father, your great-grandfather, Viktor Karzhov died, he left clear instructions that his daughter was to enjoy the fruits of the organization’s labors, but not to dirty her hands.
“That model became the status quo for our wives, sisters, and daughters over the next fifty years. Your grandfather made sure his twin was provided for, including finding her the husband of her choice and allowing her to pursue noble causes around the city.”
“Noble causes?” Katya asked, wishing she’d been able to meet her aunt while she was alive.
“Charity work. Tasha Karzhov did more for the homeless, hospitals, and shelters than anyone else had done before her. She truly cared for the less fortunate and justified the organizations dubious business dealings by giving a portion of the profits to the needy.”
“She sounds like a remarkable woman. I wish I could have met her. What about my grandfather?”
“He was a tough sell. Very decisive and a born leader. He always spoke his mind. Always. Alexei Karzhov picked up the reins after his father’s death and took the organization far beyond anything his forefathers could have dreamed up.”
“I guess I still don’t see what Danil hoped to gain by discrediting his own sister. And, how was my mother his sister, if his mother was my grandfather’s twin?” Katya shook her head, trying to piece everything together and failing miserably. God, this family gave a whole new meaning to the word dysfunctional.
Nikolai laughed and then explained, “Tasha married Mishka Yakimov three years after her father’s death. She involved herself in her charity work, while her husband took care of organization business as enforcer. When Danil was two-years old, Mishka and Tasha were killed while on a boating excursion.”
“An accident?” Katya asked, starting to realize that most things weren’t what they seemed when it came to the organization.
“No. They were the victims of a turf war between the Russian mafia and a group of Japanese Yakuza trying to set up shop in the US. That war is still well underway just for future knowledge.”
Nikolai paused to let her absorb this new information. He hoped she was beginning to see how complicated things were. When she didn’t immediately ask more questions, he went on to explain how her cousin was now considered her uncle.
“Anyway, Alexei had just recently married gotten married and legally adopted Danil, however, Danil did not take his last name. Alexei wanted to honor the memory of his father by allowing Danil to carry the name on through his progeny. Unfortunately, Danil is a hard man and has never married nor had children. At the age of 51, that fact is unlikely to change.”
“So, Danil’s really my second cousin?” Katya asked.
“Technically speaking, but with Alexei Karzhov formally adopting him, he is viewed as your uncle.”
“So, he was hoping to gain control of the organization by getting my mother out of the way?”
“I’m sure that was his original intent. More than likely, he never expected your grandfather to live so long.”
“Not to be rude, but where do you fit into all of this?” Katya asked, toying with the belt on the robe in her lap, as she mentally tried to fit everything into a neat little package labeled – ‘My Mafia Family!’
“Alexei married my mother’s sister, Faina Tsarsko. Their father was the pakhan of the organization here in Las Vegas. With no male offspring, he pushed for the marriage to unite the two organizations, a move that was vital at the time for bolstering our strengths against the Yakuza trying to take our territory.”
“But wouldn’t Danil have been the next in line to take over as pakhan?” Katya asked.
“No. If capable, a pakhan can appoint anyone to succeed him, as long as they are strong enough to hold the organization together. Alexei appointed me to that position, with Danil acting as my second-in-command. A fact that I thought was fine with Danil, but with this new information, many things are beginning to look suspicious.”
Katya tried to hide a yawn behind her hand.
“You are tired,” Nikolai said softly.
“A bit. Stress does that to me sometimes.”
Nikolai walked over and took the robe from her hands and set it on the countertop. Then he pulled Kat to her feet. “Get out of your clothes and I’ll warm the water up. You are going to take a bath while I go confirm a few things with your mother’s journals.”
Nikolai started the bath water once again, turning the knob to hot and swirling the water around with his hand. He could hear the rustling of clothing behind him, but he was totally unprepared for the impact seeing her naked would have on his senses. He had to sit on the edge of the jetted tub as she walked towards him. He let his eyes travel the length of her body and back up, his body responding and demanding satisfaction.
Now that Katya had some of her questions answered, she was beginning to come to terms with the fact that life as she knew it was gone and in its place was this complicated, intriguing, and sometimes dangerous existence. The stress of the afternoon, combined with the residual stress of the last few weeks, had a small pinpoint of pain just beginning behind her left temple.
She needed stress relief, and she needed it now. If that stress relief came in the arms of a gorgeous male, one she was rapidly coming to trust and respect, who was going to complain? Certainly not her.
As she walked the few feet that separated them, she saw th
e flush climb in his cheeks, his eyes darken with desire, and the way he clenched his fists upon his thighs. It seemed someone else was a little stressed as well.
When she was standing directly in front of him, she met his eyes and softly asked, “Care to join me? That tub looks big enough for two.”
“You are such a confusing creature,” Nikolai murmured softly, letting the backs of his fingers trail over her collarbone, over one breast, not stopping until he had reached her hip. He pulled her closer, inhaling her sweet fragrance, before covering her nipple with his warm mouth.
He knew he needed to figure out what was going on with Danil but she presented a temptation he found himself incapable of resisting.
“Why am I confusing?” Katya asked, leaning into his kiss, moaning when his free hand came up to play with the breast his mouth was ignoring.
“When I first saw you,” he murmured against her skin, his tongue circling her nipple then taking it into his mouth. Releasing her, he looked up and completed his thought, “I was turned on by the naughtiness I could see simmering inside of you. The way your body moved had every male in the club panting after you. But then, you joined me in the booth and showed me you still had an air of innocence about you. You can still blush, a remarkable feat for any stripper, I assure you.”
“I was embarrassed.”
“Exactly. Most strippers have absolutely no compunction about baring their bodies. You on the other hand felt embarrassed.”
Katya could feel herself blushing then as he finished talking and wondered if that was a bad thing or a good one.
“When I tried to do the right thing last night and you came on so strong, I decided the innocence I thought I’d seen was just a figment of my imagination.”
“It was, and it wasn’t. I may not have had lots of real experience to draw from, but I’m an avid reader. Last night was lots of ideas from books I’ve read, all put into practical application.”
Nikolai wrapped his arms around her back, pulling her to him and hugging her close, “Whatever it was, I have to tell you I’ve never felt such pleasure.”
“And you would have lots of experience to draw from?” Katya asked, trying to keep the jealousy from her voice.
“Some. Believe me, the passion that is between us is not something two people find every day. It deserves to be treated with respect, nurtured, and allowed to grow.”
Katya started to shiver as she stood on the cold tile, wearing nothing but his arms wrapped around her back.
“You’re cold. Get into the tub.”
“But—”
“Give me ten minutes to look at the journals, and I promise to come back.” Nikolai held her hand while she stepped over the tub and settled into the warm water. “I’ll bring us something to drink, shall I?”
Katya nodded, “That sounds good.” She leaned her head back against the tub, grateful she’d taken the extra second after undressing to put the hair tie he’d unearthed to good use.
Nikolai watched her for a moment and then left the bathroom, mentally chiding himself for the lascivious thoughts that filled his mind.
The things I want to do to her! First, information. Second, pleasure—and lots of it.
They had two days in which to learn about each other, for him to instruct her in the ways of the organization, and to give and take as much pleasure as two people could from each other.
It sounded a little like paradise to him!
Chapter 14
Nikolai made short work of perusing Karina’s journals, finding enough evidence to confirm his suspicions and seal Danil’s fate. The man had acted with extreme malice against his sister. Nikolai wondered if Danil had also acted with extreme malice against him at some point? Was Danil responsible for the leaked information on their recent drug shipments? Was he secretly sabotaging the organization’s activities, trying to discredit Nikolai’s leadership and make a place for himself at the helm?
Tossing the journal back onto the side table, Nikolai headed for the kitchen and poured a glass of vodka for himself and a glass of orange juice for Katya. Thankfully, his driver had called ahead and his housekeeper had made sure the kitchen was stocked before they arrived.
She and her husband operated the bait shop at the entrance to the lake and made sure the lake house was kept in good repair and stocked with food whenever Nikolai needed to get away for a bit. Only his most trusted men knew the location of the retreat, and he was relieved that Danil had never been on the receiving end of the information. It had never been necessary, and Nikolai had never felt a burning need to share everything with the man. It would seem his intuition had been helping him all along.
Picking up the two glasses, he pushed the thoughts of Danil, the organization, and how the situation would be dealt with from his mind. Giving his banked desire free rein to pulse through his bloodstream, his body hardened at the thought of what was to come. He pushed the door to the bathroom open, stepped into the slightly steamy room, and stopped to watch the woman who was quickly weaving herself a place in his heart and life.
*****
Katya had her eyes closed as she relaxed in the warm water. The simmering desire Nikolai had stoked was just barely contained and she let her mind wander to the night before. She’d made a conscious decision to push away the worry over Danil and her place in this new world. There was nothing she could do about anything tonight; therefore, there was no reason to let the worry eat away at her heart and mind.
She let her hands trail across her abdomen under the water’s surface, remembering a much stronger touch. She let her fingertips trace an intricate pattern on her stomach, mentally tracing the curls of ink that adorned Nikolai’s strong arms.
I wonder how long it would take to trace each black line with my lips?
She envisioned Nikolai spread out before her, lying on his stomach, his arms spread out to the side. She would start with her fingertips, tracing a single line up the back of his arm, across his broad shoulders, and then down the other side. Soon, she would use both hands to follow the inky paths, pressing into the muscles as he groaned in pleasure.
Katya was so lost in her daydream, she didn’t hear Nikolai set the glasses down on the counter, nor did she hear him slowly remove his clothing.
Nikolai watched her undulate under the water, seeing her hands drawing circular patterns on her stomach and wondering what daydream had put that siren’s smile on her lips. Deciding to find out, he carried the glasses closer, before leaning down to gently kiss those lips.
Katya’s eyes flew open, startled from the luscious dream, but settling once she saw the object of her desire bending over her, naked as the day he was born.
God, he’s so gorgeous.
Without conscious thought, her hands lifted from the water, aligning her fingertips with the farthest ends of each tattoo and began to follow the lines up his arms.
“What were you thinking about?” Nikolai asked, nipping along her jaw even as his body hardened with her touch.
“You. These,” she whispered, moving her head back to give him access to the pulse point beneath her ear. “That feels good,” she murmured.
“Good. Scoot forward a bit.”
When she complied, he stepped into the large tube, settling his frame into the water behind her, his thighs bracketing her slim hips, one on either side. “Lean back,” he whispered into her ear, cradling her shoulders in his palms as she did so.
Katya could feel the hard muscles of his hairless chest against her back, and then lower, the evidence of his arousal pressing into the crease of her butt. When his hands dropped over her shoulders, claiming possession of her breasts, she let her head drop back on a sigh of pleasure.
She is so responsive to my touch…Nikolai had never had a woman respond to him so easily. Katya totally gave of herself when they were together, showing her pleasure and giving him access to every part of her.
Within a few moments, the touching was no longer sufficient. Nikolai needed to be inside her
in a desperate way. Pushing her forward, he climbed from the tub then lifted her out in his arms. He carried her into the large walk-in shower and set her on the tiled bench. It was tiled from floor to ceiling and multiple showerheads provided water from three sides and the ceiling.
Katya looked around with lust-drugged eyes, watching as Nikolai adjusted the water temperature before engaging the varying sprays. After adjusting everything to his liking, he pulled her to her feet, crushing her chest against his own while he claimed her mouth in a voracious kiss.
This wasn’t a gentle wooing but a full out assault on her senses. Rather than fight or protest, she relaxed and let him take her on a sensual ride. His hands never stopped moving, tweaking a nipple here, pressing her against his groin there, dipping between her thighs, but never quite taking her over the edge.
“Nik, stop teasing me, please,” Katya pleaded when he once again withdrew his fingers from her core, having taken her to the brink of climax almost before pulling back yet again.
“I like hearing you beg, milaya moya,” Nikolai murmured against her lips.
“I’m not begging. That was me threatening bodily harm if you don’t finish what you’ve started,” Katya threw back at him, annoyance and unfulfilled desire thickening her voice.
“So demanding. Well then, your wish is my command. Hold on and don’t let go.”
Katya did as he commanded, putting her arms around his shoulder.
He put his hands behind her thighs and lifted. “Wrap your legs around me.”
Nikolai slid his hands up so that they were supporting her butt on either side, feeling her strong legs wind around him, bringing her into direct contact with his groin. He took one step, bracing her upper back against the tiled wall, warmed by the steam from the water cascading down around them. Katya gasped softly in anticipation.
