Louise shrugged. “We have some charity cases here, but not many.”
“I’ll have to see what the cost is. She probably looks better than she has in years.”
Which made Kendra feel guilty. She probably should have put her mother in a facility a few months ago. She’d been selfish and feeling guilty. She’d never wanted to institutionalize her mother, but it had turned out to be the best think for her.
“Thank you for taking good care of her,” Kendra said.
“She’s really a joy. I love the stories she tells. She has quite the imagination.”
“My mother used to make up bedtime stories for me. I don’t have that creative a mind to do that.”
“What a lovely memory of her.”
Kendra tried to engage her mother, but she wasn’t talking today. So she kissed her goodbye then went to talk to the financial department. She wanted to know what this place cost. She didn’t want to have to move her mother.
“It’s paid?” she said.
The woman behind the desk clicked some keys. “Yes, we have an automatic payment for the rest of her life.”
Kendra gasped. Each time Sacha did something, he made it hard for her not to love him. But she couldn’t. They’d agreed that what they had would be no strings attached. No emotion, but he was a much nicer guy than she’d originally imagined. She thought about him the whole way home. She wondered what he was doing with Cliff today. She received a text as if he knew she’d been thinking about him.
“Going to ball game. Take your time coming home.”
How were they getting there? She tried to imagine Sacha on public transportation. That seemed funny. She had a thought. If her mother was okay and Cliff was busy with Sacha maybe she could do something for herself.
She’d found out that the driver’s name was Kent. They weren’t back in the city and she couldn’t imagine that she’d be in any danger out in the suburbs so she asked Kent to find her a nail salon. Today she’d do a very rare pampering. Toe nails. Fingernails. Who knew what else? She might run up her credit card, but she’d worry about that later.
She texted Sacha back. “Taking a little time for myself. See you at home.”
“Good.”
***
Sacha tucked his phone away. He and Cliff had great seats for the Yankees’ game. The little boy currently had cotton candy in his hand. On his hand. On his shirt. In his hair. He also had a huge grin on his face. Which made Sacha grin back at him.
“You okay, buddy?”
“I’m great Mr. Kozlov.”
“Good.”
The Yankees were ahead. Not that Sacha followed baseball, but he’d called a friend for help and that friend had tickets for this afternoon’s game. They’d get to leave at a decent hour and not keep the kid up too late. He’d never realized that such a small child could eat so much. Sacha didn’t remember being five years old, but he can’t imagine he ate this much.
He’d never seen the boy so happy. He liked Cliff. A lot. Made him miss his child that he never knew. He hadn’t been able to get ahold of Alisa yet. Must be on vacation. He hoped soon. He didn’t like loose ends.
“I have to go to the bathroom,” Cliff said.
Five-year-olds had big stomachs, but small bladders. They’d been to the snack bar as many times as they’d been to the bathroom.
“Okay sport. Let’s go.”
Thankfully their seats were at the end of the row. They didn’t have to bother anyone on their trips away from the seats. Cliff used the bathroom, but Sacha helped him wash his hands. He was extra sticky from the cotton candy.
“Can I have popcorn?”
“How about we slow down on the food? If I bring you back to your sister sick, she’ll have my head.”
“You afraid of Kendra?”
“When it comes to you? Yes.”
The game finished. Sacha had already broken down and bought him the popcorn. He ate most of it. Sacha munched on the rest as his backup driver drove them home. Not really Cliff’s home, but Sacha was getting used to them being around. Cliff was curled on the seat next to him, asleep. Guess it had been a big day for him. He hoped Kendra was enjoying herself. She deserved it. She hadn’t said anything about her mom so he assumed that she was okay also.
Cliff groaned, then sat up. “My stomach hurts.”
Oh crap. He’d fed the kid too much junk. “Are you going to throw up?”
“I don’t think so.”
The boy looked green. Thankfully they were within a block of the building.
“Can you walk?”
“Yeah.”
This way if he threw up, it would be on the sidewalk and not in the car. They climbed out of the vehicle in the middle of the block. Cliff held Sacha’s hand as they walked.
“Thanks for taking me to the game, Mr. Kozlov.”
“You’re welcome Cliff.”
“Could we bring Kendra next time?”
“We’ll see.”
They turned into his building. Cliff stopped all of a sudden. Then he vomited on the sidewalk.
“I’ll clean that up,” Hector, the night doorman said. “I have stuff for it.”
There wasn’t a bathroom in the lobby so Sacha hoped the boy made it to his place. The boy was breathing heavily like he was going to let loose again. He held out until they made it into Sacha’s penthouse. Then Cliff threw up by the front door. At least it wasn’t on the carpeting. Kendra appeared out of nowhere, scooping up Cliff and getting him to the closest bathroom. Sacha felt bad for the kid. He should have used more restraint with the boy, but he’d been having so much fun.
Sacha stood in the doorway as Cliff retched into the toilet. “I’m sorry,” Sacha said to Kendra.
“It’s okay, sweetie.”
Sweetie? Was she talking to him? She wiped Cliff’s face with a washcloth, then sat him on the floor. He didn’t look so green, just ashen.
“Is he going to be okay?” Sacha asked.
“Yes. He’ll be fine. No permanent damage.”
She finally looked at Sacha.
“I’m sorry Kendra. I got carried away.”
She waved a hand. “No worries.”
She wasn’t mad. Good.
“You ready for bed?”
Cliff nodded. They tucked him into his bed and he fell asleep. Kendra closed the door behind him.
“I really am sorry.”
Kendra smiled up at him. “It’s okay, Sacha. You didn’t do anything on purpose. I know how Cliff can get and he gives you those puppy dog eyes.”
“You aren’t mad?”
“No. He’ll be fine in the morning. I’m glad he got to go to a game.”
They stood there staring at each other. He wanted to say something. Wanted to tell her that he had feelings for her. Feelings he could not identify.
“Sacha?”
“Yes.”
“I know we have an agreement and all.”
“Nicely drafted by you.”
She was close to him. Her lips hovered near his. He could taste her almost.
“Yes, but I think I’m falling in love with you.”
Chapter6
What the hell had she been thinking? Why had she told Sacha that she was falling in love with him?
He stared at her as if she’d just cursed him out.
“I take that back,” she said.
He stepped away from her. “What the hell was that?”
His eyes were sharp. He was clearly angry, his fists bunched up at his sides.
“I got caught up in a moment. I’m sorry.”
He spun away from her. “This isn’t about love, Kendra.”
She stared at his back. If she could go back in time and never say those words, she would. She sacrificed almost anything to have not said those words. What was she thinking? This wasn’t about love. They were both adults and knew that. They were from two different worlds.
“I don’t love you, Sacha. I don’t even want to love you. It was wrong of me to say it.
I’m sorry.”
Would he let it go? She’d seen the fear in his eyes. He’d looked like an animal caught in the middle of the road in the headlights of an oncoming car. She’d suspected that he didn’t often get mad or often lose his composure. Today she’d made him do that. Damn. How was she going to fix this?
“I’ll move out.”
He put up a hand. “That isn’t the answer.”
“Then I’ll move back to the other bedroom,” she said.
“That would be best for tonight.” He strode to the door. “I’m going out.”
Kendra stood there, wondering what the hell she was going to do. She couldn’t stay here, but she’d be dead meat if she were anywhere else. She had to stay for Cliff’s sake. She took a shower in the bathroom off of her bedroom, and then slid into the bed. It was cold and empty and she had no idea how she was going to make this right. Damn. She was a lawyer. She should know the power of words.
She called Tembi. Sacha had said not to, but she needed to talk to someone.
“Hey, Kendra. I thought you weren’t allowed to call me.”
“I had to talk to someone.”
“Is your mom okay?”
“Yes, in fact she seems to be thriving in her new environment.”
“What’s on your mind?” Tembi asked.
How did she explain it all? Would it make sense to her friend? So she began at the beginning and told Tembi all of it: the crimes, being in danger and her contract with Sacha.
Tembi let out a low whistle. “You go big or go home, Kendra.”
“Yeah, I know. I should be better at this stuff but I’m not truly a trial lawyer. I’m better at the written word.”
“He left?”
“Yes, he’s been gone an hour.”
“I’d sleep on it then set it to right in the morning. You’re both going to be tired and not at your best. You can reset it all in the morning.”
Her advice sounded spot on, but part of Kendra just wanted to solve the problem. Get them back on an even keel. “You’re probably right.”
“I’m right, honey. I know men. Lord knows I’ve had few of them in my life.”
Kendra laughed. Tembi told stories of a man in every airport. Not literally in the airport, but in almost every city she flew to. That would be too complicated for Kendra. She couldn’t seem to keep things right with one man. And that didn’t involve love. Only sex and it was already complicated. Her life had never been simple, but this was beyond crazy. She was on the run and in need of protection and the man who was willing to it wanted a simple physical relationship.
“I don’t know why I said it.”
“You must have felt something akin to love. You were probably just grateful to him. You see him as a hero in some ways.”
“That’s not like me.”
“It’s also not usual circumstance for you to have help with Cliff or in any aspect of your life. That’s all that happened. You’ve been alone and independent for so long that you appreciate whatever he is doing for you.”
That sounded right. “Should I tell him that?”
“Yes. Maybe he needs to know a little more of your history to understand where you are coming from. He’s rich. They forget what the common people have to deal with.”
Kendra laughed. “You’re far from common.”
“But you aren’t. You’ve had a rough life and this man is now helping you and you appreciate it. That’s all that you wanted to tell him. You just said it wrong.”
That made sense. “Thanks, Tembi. I’m so glad I called you.”
“How’s that little boy?”
“Cliff is wonderful. He and Sacha have bonded which scares me a little. It’s going to be traumatic when we leave here.”
“Maybe Sacha will want to stay in Cliff’s life. If he liked the kid that much, who knows?”
Kendra thought that Cliff would like that. “We’ll see. I have to get past this hurdle first. We’ll talk about the future when I know I have one again.”
“Keep your head up, girl. You’ll get past this too.”
“Thanks Tembi.”
Kendra hung up. She put the phone down on the nightstand. She thought she heard Sacha back in the apartment, but chose to follow Tembi’s advice and talk to him in the morning. She lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, not being able to focus on reading. Her heart beat wildly in her chest and she hoped that she hadn’t messed this up beyond belief. What would she do if she and Cliff had to leave here? She had no resources to protect them.
Before she could turn off the light and try to sleep, she heard a soft knocking on the door. Thinking it was Cliff, she said, “Come in.”
Instead of a little boy, Sacha looked into the room. “Can I come in?”
It was his house. “Of course.”
***
Kendra looked ragged. Her eyes were red as if she’d been crying. She was on the bed, under the covers, looking rumpled and sexy too.
Down boy.
She sat up when he came in. “Hi.”
He sat on the edge of the bed. “I may have overreacted.”
“No, you didn’t Sacha. We made a deal and I still don’t know why I said it. I’m not interested in loving anyone. I’m not interested in being in love. I just, uh, I don’t know.”
He smiled. “It’s okay. I believe you, but I think maybe we need to put a clause in our agreement about emotions. I wouldn’t want either of us to get tangled up in them and ruin a good thing.”
She nodded. “I agree.”
“I also want to put this out there for discussion,” he said.
He was a little unsure and that wasn’t like him.
“Go ahead.”
“Whenever this whole thing blows over and you can get back to your life, I’d like to keep our arrangement going. I recognize this is for purely selfish reasons.”
“Oh?”
“I have a few social engagements coming up and if I arrive with a date I won’t get harassed by my family about not having a woman. Since my brother Viktor has gotten married and they are expecting, my mother has turned her matchmaking skills to me. I have no desire to get married.”
“So I’ll take the stress off of you and we can have a great time in bed.”
“Right.”
“Okay. I’m in.”
He cocked an eyebrow at her. “You said that readily.”
“I’m having the best sex I’ve had, maybe ever and there are no strings. I can tell you anything because there’s no emotion involved. I’m sure there will be things I need a date for so you can return the favor.”
He smiled. “Yes, I can and I will. This needs to be mutually beneficial to both of us.”
She nodded. “Right.”
“Are we good Kendra? Is this behind us?”
“Yes.”
He studied her for a minute, but her gaze didn’t waver. He wanted her back in his bed. Tonight. “Can we worry about the paperwork in the morning? It’s late.”
“Yes.”
She smiled as if relieved. He took ahold of her hand. “Then let’s go back to my room.”
He led her back to his bedroom. He took her in his arms. He whispered dirty things to her as he undressed her. She was naked in front of him, aroused, he was pretty sure. He wasn’t far behind.
He knelt and took her breasts one by one into his mouth. She arched into him, digging her fingers into his hair. Her moan spurred him on. She tasted of peaches and a promise of dirty things to come. He nudged her onto the bed, her legs over the edge. He settled himself between those legs, her pussy in full view. She’d trimmed a little. Just enough. He licked. She groaned, her body jolting at his touch. He used his thumbs to separate her fold then licked and sucked until her body squirmed. Then she let out a mewling sound then her body went stiff. Her fingers fisted into the covers.
“Aaaah.”
He leaned back on his haunches proud of his job. If he could have high-fived someone he would have. That never got old. Sex was better for hi
m if his partner was enjoying it. He rolled a condom onto himself as the spasms subsided on Kendra. He then rested her legs onto his chest, her feet either side of his head. The bed was just the right height to do this. He’d put the bed on a platform just to be able to do this. He entered her. She gasped. He could get in deeper at this angle and hit all of the right spots.
He began rhythm and her body reacted instantly. Her moans made it difficult to keep control of himself. He must want to pound into her harder. And then he knew she was gone. Her vagina clenched around him and he went over the edge with her. Damn. He couldn’t see and he wasn’t sure if he was still moving. And then he was done. His breath came out in pants and he didn’t think he could stand any longer. He got rid of the condom then lay next to her. She opened her eyes slightly.
“You may kill me,” she said. “That last orgasm just kept going.”
He smiled, and then kissed her nose. “My pleasure.”
She snugged up against him. “Let’s get under the covers before we fall asleep.”
Under the covers, she laid her head on his chest. He played with her hair. Her breathing became steady and he knew she was asleep. He liked the feeling of her next to him. This arrangement was going to be amazing. He had no idea what would cause it to end, unless one of them did bring emotion into it. Sacha doubted that he would be the one. Love was for others, for Viktor his brother. Sacha preferred to be alone and now with Kendra here he didn’t have to go trawling in the bars for a one night stand.
Everything was clear between them and he could help her in the meantime. What a relief not to have to go to a bar or lie to his mother about bringing someone to a function or a family dinner. Would Kendra be willing to do that? Keep up the charade in front of others.
He also had to tell her that he’d proved that the building he owned was not historical, but he’d chosen to keep the outside the same and rework the inside. That was a conversation for another day. He settled further into the pillow. Kendra stirred, but didn’t wake up. At least Cliff hadn’t asked about them. The little boy seemed to take it all in stride. He was a good kid and Sacha wanted to stay in touch with him when this was all over. He could probably use a male role model.
That settled, Sacha feel asleep.
*
Sacha, Her Russian Billionaire: A Billionaire BWWM Romance Page 7
