by Aisha Brooks
Growing up, Maria had been too busy with studies and getting ahead to give much thought to dating. She'd had a few short term relationships in college. The last of which broke her heart. After finding her best friend in bed with the man she was supposed to marry, Maria gave up on marriage and romance. Instead, she had busied herself with business until she was the butt of all her friends' jokes. She didn't mind, because while they were chasing their children and ironing their husband's shirts, she was climbing the ladder. At least she had been until she discovered Robert Edmond, the CEO of Fast Corps was embezzling money. Blowing the whistle on him had cost her a lot, but she had left the company with her pride, dignity, and integrity in tact.
Maria could feel Vadim's stark blue eyes lingering over her body. She wasn't sure whether he was sizing her up, checking her out, or both. Not one to back down from anyone Maria met his gaze and allowed herself to take in the stunning view that was Vadim Kopsov. His skin was pale and his startling blue eyes would have been enough to undo most women. His strong Salvic features looked as if they had been chiseled from stone. It gave him a rough look aided only by his intense gave.
Vadim wore a suit, but Maria couldn't place the brand. It fit him well enough that she wondered if it were tailor fitted just for him. His broad chest and shoulders filled out the suit's jacket and made Maria want to run her arms over his muscles. Quietly, she gave herself a mental shake. This wasn't the time to finally loosen her inhibitions. She wasn't here for a date. She needed a bodyguard and fast.
Vadim stood to greet her with his hand extended. Without a curt nod, she shook her hand and hoped he didn't notice who a light brush spread across her ebony cheeks when their flesh met.
“It is good to meet you, Mrs. Hall.”
“Miss Hall,” she corrected him, “I'm not married.”
“I should say not,” he said motioning for her to sit, “if you were, you'd not have need of my services. Any man would be a fool to let you walk around in danger.”
“And you think you're the man to remedy that?” Maria asked arching a sleek brow.
“I am a bodyguard. In fact, in a lot of circles I am considered the best. I have connections and I have tools.”
“What are your rates?”
“They are covered by the publishing agency,” Vadim said.
“They never told me that.”
“I am sure there are many things they've never told you.”
“Okay, so how do we work this out?”
“First,” Vadim said reclining in his tall backed leather chair, “I will be a security team on your residence. Then my company will conduct a thorough investigation into Robert Edmond and anyone else who stands to lose from Fast Corps going under.”
“And what do I do in the mean time? To be frank, Mr. Kopsov, I was attacked two nights ago and would rather not repeat the incident.”
“I start working now.”
“Do I need to wait here until the security team is in place?”
“No,” he shook his head, “I'm going with you. My business is protecting my clients and I have always been a hands on man, Miss Hall.”
His words made her shiver as she imagined his hands roaming her body and pulling her into a passionate kiss. Giving herself another mental shake, Maria forced her mind back to the matter at hand.
“You'll be staying with me?”
“Yes,” he nodded, “attacks normally do not occur during the nine to five workday. I'm afraid you won't be rid of me until either the authorities do their job or Robert Edmond and those in his employ meet God. The latter is something that I do not discuss with clients. I assure you that you are only paying for protection, Miss Hall, not murder for hire.”
“Call me Maria,” she said. “It sounds like we're going to be spending a lot of time together so maybe we should cut the formalities. If I have to hear 'Miss Hall' over the breakfast table, I think I'd be sick to my stomach.”
“Maria, there are many things I'd like to call you over the breakfast table, but Miss Hall isn't one of them.”
Chapter 2: The Next Notch In His Headboard
Vadim sent Maria to wait in the reception area while he made several business calls. Robert Edmond were on several people's blacklists so it wouldn't be too hard to find someone to take care of the issue if the authorities proved once again to be lazy. He popped his knuckles while he waited for the head of his security team to pick up. The man answered in Russian and Vadim relaxed under the lull of his native tongue. He gave him Maria's address.
“And see that we aren't disturbed.”
“Is she one of your lovers?”
“If luck is on my side, she will be,” Vadim said.
“May luck be a lady.”
“I prefer it when she's a dirty whore,” Vadim laughed and ended the call.
Vadim checked his hand gun. The cold metal felt good against his warm skin as he checked to make sure there was a round in the chamber. As always there was. He slipped it into the harness on the small of his back, picked up his briefcase, and exited his office. Vadim paused for a moment in the hallway to watch Maria flipping through a magazine. Her eyes darted around the room, but never settled on him. Her instincts were good, but she neglected to watch the layout of her surroundings.
She took a deep breath and closed her eyes. Vadim slowly made his way to the mouth of the hallway and leaned against the wall. He watched the rise and fall of her breasts and smirked to himself. How gorgeous would her full, perky, and natural breasts be rising and falling with the hitched breathing of lovemaking? Too many women these days got silicone implants in their breasts. Vadim had never liked them. In the ten years since coming of age, he'd learned that he didn't like the cosmetic procedure that took so much of the bounce and sway from a woman's breasts. He liked real women and real breasts.
“Ready?” Maria said catching him off guard for a mere second.
“Yes, let us be off,” he said walking into full view of the reception area. He pushed open the glass door to his office for her and nodded to his receptionist over his should. Mrs. Franklin was a good woman who had remained in his employ longer than any other. Her loyalty extended beyond looking the other way if she overheard something that might be questionable and to the keeping her thinning lips closed about the lovers he kept. He could only imagine the moral dilemma it created for the married woman, but gathered that the pay was good enough to ease her mind at night. For time to time, she would tease him about finding him a wife, but they both knew he'd never endanger a woman by bringing her into his world. Besides, he'd yet to taste all the variety God had blessed the Earth with. Why should a man only taste of one fruit for the rest of his life?
He quickly surveyed the parking lot for threats and finding none returned his eyes to his client's hips. Maria had been graced with a natural female stance and her hips swayed jiggling her round buttocks under her skirt. How delicious it would feel to wrap his fingers around her jigglng globes and pull her to him. Would she be a moaner or a screamer? He'd never know until the act occurred, but Vadim could tell by her walk that the only thing Maria Hall wouldn't be was a dead fish in bed.
Maria started towards her cherry red convertible, but Vadim stopped her by wrapping his arm around her shoulders. She leaned into him and he smiled. Either she was of a like minded nature or was a good actress when it pertained to her safety.
“We'll take my car today, dear,” he said and then lowered his voice to say, “It's the one my security team will be most familiar with.”
“Alright,” Maria smiled as they walked to his shiny black Porsche.
“We'll send someone after your belongings if you need anything from the car,” Vadim opened the door for her. Maria slid into the passenger seat flashing an intentional peak of her upper thigh as she leaned over to fasten her seat belt.
Vadim surveyed the parking lot before getting into the car himself. He could feel Maria's eyes lingering over him as he started the engine. He looked at her out of the corner of his
eye and she looked away blushing. Would she blush when he stripped her of her clothes too or would she be the confident sort that stripped down before things were even at full throttle?
“Do you live alone?”
“Yes,” Maria nodded.
“That is surprising,” Vadim said. He'd asked her although he already knew that she was single and never married. It was the bodyguard's habit to do a thorough background check on all of his clients before working for them. His morals may have been flexible, but he preferred working for parties who were mostly in the right. His family's wealth had spared him from a long life of working for the highest bidder.
“Why?”
“Most beautiful women settle down early.”
“The only thing I'm interested in settling down with is a good glass of wine in a bubble bath,” Maria laughed.
“Then tonight take your leisure, Maria,” he said glancing at her again. “You will be more than safe to drop your inhibitions.”
“I've learned the hard way to never drop my inhibitions,” she laughed and looked out the window.
Maria lived in a third story penthouse over looking the city. The view of the lay of the land was great, but Vadim much preferred the view from the inside of the apartment. Maria had kicked off her shoes at the door and disappeared into her bedroom. Moments later, she reappeared in more casual clothing. Clad in a pair of pajama pants and a t-shirt that clung to her now braless breasts was almost enough to distract Vadim from his work, almost.
He made quick work of searching the apartment for the most common measures. They hadn't gotten around to bugging her apartment yet. So he was a step ahead of them. In fact, besides a gray car situated across the street watching the comings and goings of the complex he found no spying equipment. Her ex-boss may have been a rich man, but it seemed that he wasn't yet skilled in how to make full use of that power.
“Are you hungry?” Maria asked.
“While I am sure you are a delicious cook, do not trouble yourself on my account. We can order take out and discuss security measures. The first of which is until Robert Edmund is dead or incarcerated, you are not to leave my sight.”
“Umm... Isn't that going to make sleeping difficult?”
“The night has long been the most dangerous time for humans, Maria,” Vadim said casually crossing his arms. “For primitive man, it was a time of predators. Then later, it was the best time for raiders to strike an unprepared settlement. Now is not so different. Just because the predator who hunts you is human doesn't mean he isn't just as much of a threat.”
“What sleeping arrangements are you suggesting then?” Maria asked meeting his gaze.
Her full lips were pressed hard together as if she was concentrating on something. Vadim wondered what she preferred the sleeping arrangement to be, but as a skill seducer, he knew it was too soon to ask. Most women needed to time to warm up slowly to the possibility of passion and pleasure.
“Your bed is large enough for two and it keeps us close enough so that I can do my job.”
“Let's just get something straight, Vadim,” Maria said crossing her arms and squaring her shoulders. “There will be no funny business.”
“I am a professional.”
That night Vadim was surprised at how quickly the beautiful ebony woman fell asleep next to him. Through the moonlight drifting in through the window, he could make out the soft curves of her body. Her back was to him and she was curled around a pillow which was quickly becoming an object the bodyguard envied. He reminded himself that he had to be patient. First, the threat to her well being should be eradicated. If they couldn't wait that long, he'd make damn sure to tell his security team to take extra measures during the time they were indisposed.
Maria jerked in her sleep and made a startled sound. During her waking hours, she was tough, on top of things, and as she had proved when she was attacked capable of defending herself. Now with her walls down she seemed softer, more innocent and feminine, and much more in need of the protection of a strong man. He'd never tell her these things. It would amuse him to watch how frustrated and angry she'd become with him, but it could result in her firing him which would make his job of protecting her that much more difficult. Her publisher hadn't sent any money and wouldn't receive a bill. There was something about the beauty ebony woman that drew him in and money had never kept him from getting what he wanted.
Maria whimpered in her sleep and he inched closer to her. Institutionally searching out the form of another warm human body, she turned towards him. After making sure she was still asleep, he wrapped an arm around her and pulled her in close. Maria trembled in her sleep and Vadim wondered what dream demons she was fighting as she buried her face into his chest.
Vadim had to take a deep breath to steady himself and to calm down the regions of his body that wanted to react to her soft body pressed so closely against his. Eventually, he drifted off to sleep listening to the gentle sounds of Maria's breathing.
Early the next morning Vadim woke up absent minded stroking Maria's hair. Fortunately for him, she was still out cold. He wondered when was the last time she slept peacefully. Her attitude bore the resemblance to a woman who had been hurt so Vadim guessed it was long before she became a corporate whistle blower on Fast Corps.
It took Vadim a few seconds to maneuver away from the sleeping Maria who had been resting her head on his chest. He was reluctant to give up the comfort of the bed and her body, but knew Maria wouldn't have been happy to find out that they had gotten that close in their sleep.
Chapter 3: One Night In Italy
In the three nights since Vadim had practically moved in with her, Maria had gotten the best sleep of her life. She was surprised to wake up every morning feeling so rested and alive. She would have liked to attribute it to the safety of a bodyguard, but she had never been great at lying to herself. Not that she would admit it to Vadim or anyone else, but it felt wonderful to have a man in her bed again. Even if she was only using him as a pillow.
This morning, she had woken alone as usual which she was grateful for. Her cheeks had been flushed and her heart pounding. She could hear the shower running, but that only made it worse. Her dreams had been hot and passionate and she was having dreams that no boss should have about their employee. She had been straddled over Vadim's pale muscular body and riding him hard. His strong hands trailed over her body seemingly touching her everywhere at once.
The day passed with as normal since Vadim moved in. He sat quietly in the corner reading a Russian newspaper while she worked at her computer. Today was different only in the fact that she was aware of his presence as more than just a small distraction from her work. Even as he was making her panties wet, Maria realized just how little she knew about her sexy bodyguard and pillow. He didn't wear a wedding ring so she guessed that he wasn't married. At least she hoped he wasn't. She did wonder just how many of his clients he had slept with. She didn't think there were many single women who could sleep in the same bed with Vadim and hold up their resolve for long.
That night, she decided to be curt with him as they crawled into bed together. She looked at him watching her settle in and her resolve to ask the questions that had haunted her all day were gone. Vadim smiled at her and held out his arm.
“Come on,” he chuckled, “you're going to end up over here anyway.”
Maria blushed, but moved over to him. She settled against his familiar form and rested her head on his chest. It was more difficult to relax with him awake. Vadim wrapped his strong arm around her and kissed the top of her head.
“There is nothing wrong with needing human connection and touch.”
Maria opened her mouth to speak, but found that she didn't know what to say. Vadim reached out and turned out the bedside lamp. Next, he rechecked for his gun that was strapped to the side of the headboard. She allowed her eyes to drift closed and tried hard not to think about her dream from the night before. It was more difficult now pressed up against him so closely
while he was aware of her body. His fingers trailed over her side. She would have stopped him, but the touch was more comforting and protective than sensual or sexual.
Maria woke only a few hours later. Her head was fogged with sleep and she couldn't quite remember what had woke her. Had she heard a noise?
“Under the bed now, Maria,” Vadim hissed again. Then she heard it, the cocking of a gun. Her heart thumped against her chest as she crawled quietly out of the bed and then under it. She wasn't sure whether Vadim had cocked his gun or if someone else were in the room with them.
Maria held her breath and strained to her sense to detect if someone else were there. She heard a footstep that was heavier than Vadim's and had to bite her lip. Only one thing was certain they were no longer alone in the apartment.
She heard a gun shot and a man grunt in pain. In the heat of the moment, she couldn't tell who had been shot.
