by Ally Adams
The Russian spoke. “Give me the flight number and I’ll get my buddies there to pull your bags off.”
Nik hesitated and then gave his flight number.
“Okay, this is what we are going to do,” Shayne said. “Nik, has anyone spoken to you? A journo?”
“No. I’ve signed a few fan autographs and been in some photos,” Nik said.
“Right, I want you to head to the arrivals and sit there. You’re waiting to collect a friend, that’s why you are in arrivals. Lucas is on his way, stay there until he arrives and calls you and then head out and he’ll pick you up. Leave your bags, we’ll get them sent to the club. Yes?” Shayne said.
“Will you come Sah-sha?” Nik asked.
“Yes,” I said.
“Stay put buddy, we’re on our way,” Lucas said, and hung up. We all breathed a sigh of relief.
“Let’s go,” Lucas said.
Shayne held up his car keys. “You’ll need more than two seats,” he reminded Lucas.
“All that money spent on a car and you can’t drive around more than two people,” I shook my head and Lucas smirked at me. Might as well get a few shots in while I can.
*****
Lucas and I hardly said a word on the way to the airport. Normally I would have been super consciously aware of sitting next to one of the sexiest and biggest names in soccer, or I would have been pushing him to do more media for me, but I was too busy stressing out about seeing my own sexy guy, Nik. Thank God Nik didn’t go home—I know I had told him to leave me, but I hadn't been thinking straight. I guess I thought if, when, he sorted it out and got the DNA results back, if he wasn’t the dad we could pick up again. I didn’t think he’d leave the country and I might never see him again. I felt chilled at the thought.
Lucas didn’t call Nik on our arrival. Instead, I asked him to park and to let me go in and meet him. Lucas thought it was a good idea and pulled into the short-term parking. He said he’d return a few calls while he waited. I left him and rushed into the arrivals area. I spotted Nik straight away—sitting low in the chair, watching the airplanes through the glass windows, his long legs out in front of him. My heart stopped momentarily... just seeing him caused me pain and desire. I took a deep breath, moved up behind him and draped my arms around his neck.
“If that’s Luke, it’s taking friendship too far,” he said.
I stuck my tongue in his ear and he groaned and grabbed me from behind, pulling me forward onto his lap. I cupped his face in my hands and I watched as his eyes looked wet. He blinked.
“Glare,” he said, explaining it.
“Don’t go,” I said, “I love you.” I don’t know where that came from, from the heart I think. I hadn’t planned on saying it but I meant it.
He pulled me tight to him and kissed me deeply. “I love you, Süsse. I want to marry you, and travel the world with you... I’ll do soccer commentary and you can design in every city in the world that inspires you and we’ll have beautiful children, and a handsome dog and Prada...”
I laughed. “Can you just come back first?”
“Okay,” he agreed.
“I can’t believe you were going to leave.” I held him. “Why? Where were you going to go?”
“I needed to go back and spend some time with Seb and Britta. They would put my head straight,” he said. “Besides, you were going to clear out, to Paris.”
“Not anymore,” I said, shutting him down. “I’m sorry Nik... I just had no manual to handle what happened...”
“Me either,” he said. We stared at each other and he smiled, the tension falling off us in waves.
“I was so busy being lost in my own pain, I didn’t have room to contemplate yours,” I said, stroking his face.
“It’s okay, I understand,” he assured me, holding my gaze.
“C’mon, Lucas is waiting in the car. You gave them a scare, they all feel very bad now,” I told him.
“How do you feel?” he asked me seriously.
“I’m still scared,” I said, softly.
He nodded. “We’ll be okay, no matter what, we’ll always be okay as long as we stay together. We’re a team.” He extended his hand. I shook it.
“Team Wagner and Saxon,” I said.
Chapter 26
A text message woke me the next morning and then another. Nik’s phone started about the same time.
“What the...?” I rolled over but Nik stopped me.
“Kiss me first,” he said, reaching for me. “Last time we got all those text messages it wasn’t good news. I want to kiss you first in case you throw me out again.”
I smiled at the gorgeous man lying beside me. God it was good to have him back in my bed. I know nothing had really changed—he might still be having this baby with another woman but we weren’t good handling it apart, best we handle it together. Besides, I’ve read lots of fairy tales, so I guess I could be a good ugly stepmother.
Nik’s hands ran over me and then held me tight before he placed a soft morning kiss on my lips.
“Thank God you are back with me Sarsh,” he mumbled.
“It was great sex last night,” I agreed, with a smile and he gave my butt a tap.
“Smartass, but you have a cute one,” he said. We looked at each and then taking a deep breath, I reached for my phone. Nik did the same.
I sat up quickly—this was good, great, fucking brilliant news. Nik gasped beside me, put the phone down and slid down, back into bed. He didn’t move, I think the relief was just washing over him.
She had been caught out. There was a huge story on her in the paper—a basketball player from San Francisco had come out and said she tried the same thing on him. He was married and had a fling with her. She had faked being pregnant to extort money from him; he paid her off to keep quiet. His marriage had since ended so now the truth was coming out. She had done very well out of him and there never was a baby. Now she was trying it on Nik. Maybe after she saw the photo of Nik and me she thought he would pay her off to be quiet. She hadn’t counted on him asking for a paternity test or wanting to do the right thing by her—I suspect she had a few problems. But most importantly, she admitted it wasn’t Nik’s child, and she wasn’t even pregnant. She was going to be charged on several accounts for extortion, forgery and for false statements.
I put my phone down and turned to Nik; I snuggled next to him and laid my head on his chest, resting my arm across him. He was scarily silent... I wished I had a telepathic link to Ethan and he could tell me what to say.
Eventually he spoke. “James said he and the Saints’ lawyer got suspicious when she refused the paternity test. They got a hot shot investigator on to it and when they did some digging look what came up.”
“I’m sorry this happened to you Nik and to us,” I said. I regretted my actions but I did what I had to do at the time.
“It’s just us again now, Süsse,” he said, breathing out.
“Yes. Where were we?” I asked, looking up at him.
“Wasn’t I licking you?” he teased and suddenly rolled me over, his tongue tickling me as I laughed and tried to beat him off.
*****
Alice and Kay were both so happy for me when I got to the office that it was ridiculous. The relief was palpable; it’s the only way I can think to describe it. I heard the coffee van pull up and Alice and I grabbed Kay and Jim’s orders and raced outside.
“For fuck’s sake Russian, how did you beat me here today?” I looked at him two places ahead of me in the queue.
“Well Sasha,” he said, in a slow drawl. “I just happened to be getting out of my car at the time when I saw the coffee van enter through the gates.” He pointed to them as if they were evidence.
“Whatever,” I said, and rolled my eyes. “I give up!”
“Really?” he asked. “How’s the Kaiser?”
“Fine.”
“No really, how is he?” The Russian pushed.
“Well he hasn’t been home since reuniting with Sasha if
that tells you anything,” Alice piped up.
“That tells me a lot, thank you Alice,” he said, looking fondly at her.
I would have said ‘whatever’ again but two in a row might have been overkill. “Consider him satisfied,” I said to The Russian knowing that would annoy him given he was currently single and probably didn’t get any action last night. Surprisingly he was happy with the news.
“Sasha, I’m going to spot you a coffee today,” The Russian said magnanimously.
“Really?” I said, surprised and delighted.
“Really. What was that? A fat cappuccino?” he asked.
I smirked at him. “A skinny latte.”
“Oh right, I’d get yours too Alice but I’m guessing you have other orders there and I’m not made of money...”
“Sadly true,” Alice said.
“You’re a tight ass Russian,” I said. “Your contract earns you more than all of us in this queue and you’ve got the security business as well. You should treat us all this morning just to be nice and because I helped the club out!”
“Fine then,” he said.
The queue line of eight staff cheered.
I rolled my eyes. I had managed to make him an accidental hero. Whatever!
The Russian stayed and paid for everyone’s orders, bless him, and I waited with him, it was the least I could do and I wanted my coffee to be fresh and hot. As we spoke, I saw Lucas’s Lamborghini coming through the gates. I knew the ‘Captain onboard’ alert would be going through the girl wires in the office. He smiled at me and gave Russian a wave as he entered the office. Fantastic scenery. Then my guy’s car entered the grounds—we were both on a high this morning and could hardly tear ourselves away from each other. I grinned on seeing his car; I was pathetic really... such a pushover.
He got out of his VW and came over—what a vision he was in his white t-shirt and surf shorts, his board in the back. I could just lick that dried salt water right off him. Where was I? Oh yeah, he came over and gave me a kiss in front of everyone and I didn’t care. Can you believe it? Me either! But then again, I always was a bit of an idiot when it came to love, just check out my ex-husband. The Russian offered his hand and Nik shook it.
“Glad you’re with us Kaiser, you would have upset me if you’d left,” The Russian said quietly as Nik’s absence without leave wasn’t public knowledge. It was so weird when The Russian was sincere, it always threw me.
“Sah-sha told me you motivated the lot of them into action, thanks Russian,” Nik said. “Got to see Shayne but I need to see Sah-sha first,” he said, and waved a letter at me.
“Want a coffee? My treat today,” The Russian said.
“Yeah breakfast, thanks,” Nik said, and ordered a cappuccino. He pulled me aside.
“You’re not serious? Don’t tell me you haven’t had breakfast yet,” I scolded him. Then I remembered the letter he was waving at me.
“What is it?” I looked up at him, concerned.
“Smile, it’s good stuff,” he said, and I instantly relaxed. “I sent that letter... the one to my father…” He said the words awkwardly. “He wrote back.”
I felt my face light with excitement even though I tried to play it cool. “And? What did he write back?”
Nik was smiling. “He said he would love to meet me.”
I squealed and gave him a hug. The Russian called out from the coffee van. “Cut that out you two or get in the car at least.”
I grimaced at him. “I’ve never been a car girl, Russian,” I called back.
He raised an eyebrow. I turned back to Nik. “This is wonderful, Nik, wonderful. Tell me what he said.”
“I’ll tell you tonight, but it’s promising,” he said, his eyes alive.
“Coffee’s up,” The Russian called again. He was determined to annoy us and he hated not to be the center of attention. We gave each other a look that said so many things and returned to collect our coffees from him.
Chapter 27
That night, after work and after Nik finished training, he came around again. I wasn’t ready to send him back to his room at Alice’s place just yet—we were still overcoming our pain and rediscovering ourselves, together.
I opened the door to him and breathed him in. He had showered at training and smelled fresh and divine. We kissed and held each other, drawing from each other and filling any remaining areas of doubt and pain. He saw the chair at the end of the catwalk and raised an eyebrow in my direction. I made him a coffee and led him to it.
“I’m hard just thinking about what this might be,” he growled in my ear.
“Behave and sit,” I ordered him with a smile. I ducked behind the screen I had set up at the end of the catwalk and sneaked a peek of him sitting there, sipping his coffee and waiting with anticipation. I put on my new Victoria’s Secret underwear that he had bought for me and hadn’t seen as yet—a faint pink satin, low cut bra and cheeky panties cut high on the butt cheek and framed with white lace. I slipped on two large, white feathered angel’s wings I had made—I bought the frame and when Nik was at training, I worked like crazy to get them finished. Then I put on my favorite jazz song—Cole Porter’s I've Got You Under My Skin sung by Neneh Cherry—magic.
Nik looked up and smiled, loving it. He put his finished coffee cup down and waited, not taking his eyes off the catwalk. I turned the music up and appeared. He grinned and sat back, taking a deep breath and absorbing the scene as I walked down the catwalk as sassily as I could, turning occasionally, my wings in full flight, teasing him. He looked stoked as he leaned forwards, he hands clenched between his legs, a grin on his very handsome face.
After coming close a few times, then turning around, I finally came to the end of the catwalk and he stood up and he picked me up, wings and all and whirled me around in a passionate kiss and embrace, landing me back on the catwalk.
“You take my breath away, a dream come true,” he said, undressing me with his eyes, and then he really began to undress me. I stopped him and, standing on the catwalk where I could almost look him in the eyes, I slowly removed his t-shirt, his track pants—allowing him to grab a condom from the pocket—and his boxer briefs, until I had his beautiful, toned form in front of me. He was lean, tanned and pure muscle.
He lifted me again and lowered me down onto the catwalk, wings and all. Healing sex was so wonderful and we were still experiencing it.
Nik kissed me slowly, moving from my lips to my neck. His reactions, his expressions were more naked than his body. “I can’t be without you, Sarsh, ever.”
“I love you, my guy. We won’t let anyone separate us again.” I saw the flicker of a smile on his lips and relief flooded his eyes.
He slid my panties off and moved between my legs. He slid on the condom, and I wrapped my legs around his hips.
“You know, if it was you that was pregnant Sarsh, I would be so excited,” he said, honestly and openly.
“Maybe, one day.” I stroked his face.
“Definitely one day,” he said, not taking his eyes off me.
He moved faster, hungry, needing me and I loved it. I loved that he was not hiding how he felt—we were way past that. Lying on the hard timber of the catwalk, I felt him so deeply, he was so hard and my body clenched around him as if it refused to let him go. He groaned and I tensed with tightness and satisfaction.
Nik quickened his movements and we both panted heavily. I said his name once, twice, several times and his grip on me tightened. I felt his fingers on my clit at the same time and then back on my arms, on my nipples, everywhere and I cried out with pleasure and relief and pain.
Then we come in perfect unison, my back arching, Nik caving in to me, our breathing erratic and his face beautiful and desperate. I grasped him, my arms held him even though he was so much stronger, so much bigger, but I clung onto him anyway, hoping he would absorb my strength as I breathed in his.
We lay back, sated and satisfied and relieved. I looked into Nik’s eyes and he watched me and we sa
id volumes in the silence.
*****
“I’ve just fucked an angel,” he teased.
“I’m sure that’s a sin,” I told him as he helped me remove my wings and we moved to shower behind the smoky glass of my bathroom. Then, I fed him straight away—no nosebleeds or weight loss on my shift. While we ate, I asked him to read highlight from his father’s letter.
Nik unfolded it and translated sentences for me.
“He said that he remembered my mother and that he had been selfish, stupid and irresponsible at that time of his life.”
I nodded. Yep, men.
Nik read my reaction and smiled knowingly. “He said he would be proud and honored to meet me and to have a son.” He couldn’t help smiling as he said the words. “Can you believe it?”
“Yes,” I said, touching his face. “Yes I can. I’m so glad you wrote,” I said, smiling at him.
“Me too. I wouldn’t have done it if you hadn’t encouraged me,” he said.
We finished our meal and moved to the sofa. I tangled my legs in his and asked Nik to read the letter to me from the top. He happily read it again. Nik’s father had been married twenty years now and had four daughters. I laughed. “He does want a son!”
He read on: “he said they had tried for a son.” Nik grinned. “And that his wife and his daughters would be delighted to meet me when I’m next home.”
I can’t explain the look of happiness on his face, or what it must be like to be accepted. I was just so thrilled for him that tears welled in my eyes.
“I can’t go back without you,” he said. “They need to meet us both.”
“I’ll be with you,” I assured him.
“Promise me?” he asked.
“I promise, I will be with you. In fact…” I thought about it, “…you might end up with a bigger family than mine.” I counted in my head. “With my triplet brothers, Saffron, my parents, their budgerigar and Prada, it’s eight to beat.”
Nik did the calculations. “I might be one short, but if I can count you... or I could get a dog or a cat.” Just as he said it, Prada leapt from his lofty position onto Nik’s shoulder and down to the ground, scratching him.
