by Lakes, Lynde
He trailed kisses along the inside of her arm from the wrist to her elbow. “I know I’ll regret this tomorrow, but I vow to never lie to you.”
“No matter what?” she pressed.
“No matter what,” he agreed.
Nikki took a shaky breath, strangely unafraid for the first time in days. “Then, you’ve got the bright, shiny green light.”
He laughed and tightened his hands around her waist, lifting her into the air. “I’ve always loved green,” he said, looking into her eyes. Then, slowly, he lowered her, sliding her down against the hot, hard contours of his chest, stomach and thighs.
By the time her feet touched the floor, her knees were weak and trembly. “Not here,” she whispered. “Balconies and public display aren’t my thing.”
“Well, let’s go discover what is,” Dayd said, drawing her back inside. They bumped into the end of the bar. He cupped her face in his hands and touched her lips so tenderly that she lost what little steadiness she had in her legs and all the strength in her arms. Intoxicated by his woodsy, manly scent, she pressed against him, inviting his passion, his power.
He slipped her peasant blouse from her shoulders. “Lovely,” he murmured, tracing the line of her breastbone with a featherlight fingertip.
She slipped his bright red suspenders down over his biceps. “These are so binding.” Smiling shyly, she began to unbutton his shirt. “And this Germanic blousy shirt doesn’t suit you at all. It simply has to go.”
He laughed. “Guess the Hansel-and-Gretel look doesn’t suit either of us.”
Breathing hard, they shed their Oktoberfest costumes in abandon, and when they stood naked before each other, Dayd’s eyes lit up. “Adam and Eve had the right idea.”
Their playfulness wasn’t merely the result of a few shots of vodka. Nikki felt it was a celebration of life after an evening that could’ve ended in death.
Her mouth went dry, anticipating the release of the volatile energy that had been building between them. A quivery sensation rippled through her. Why are we just staring at each other?
Suddenly, Dayd swept her from her feet and carried her like a bride. He kissed her and they laughed as he raced toward the bedroom. They tumbled to the king-sized bed, crawled to the center and faced each other, knees and thighs branding one another’s skin. Their laughing stilled. The darkened room, lit only by the moonbeams streaming through the open window, closed in on them. She stroked Dayd’s warm, bare chest. The moonlight transformed his body into a silvery silhouette. Her core heated to a shivery liquid as their kisses grew more frantic. Wild with fever, she arched her back and thrust her hips forward, inviting him to love her. For one night she wanted to let go of all the past fear. No matter what happened later, he had her heart now. She couldn’t stop her moan of ecstasy as he explored the smooth contour of her belly and the moist triangle of curly hair with his hands, his lips.
“Please don’t ever regret this,” he murmured. “I couldn’t bear it.”
“I won’t,” she whispered, believing it with all her heart.
He lowered her to the pillow, kissing her, caressing her as his hand slid between her thighs.
“I want you now,” she moaned, arching her hips to meet his seeking fingers.
He slid on top of her. “What the lady wants, she gets,” he said in a husky, teasing voice. He handed her a condom. She caressed his hand as she took the thin latex from him. Nikki slowly rolled it into place, fascinated by his hot, throbbing hardness.
She’d barely finished, when he thrust her hands above her head and French kissed her for several mind-numbing seconds. Her limbs went weak, her core, receptive, quivery, and she could only whisper once more, “Now.” She clung to him as he gently entered her and began the slow, rhythmic dance of rising passion.
When she thought she couldn’t stand a second more of the crazed climb, he released her hands. She quickly slid them down his muscled chest and around his waist…then lower…and dug her fingers into his hard, unyielding buttocks, crying out as he brought her to an unrivaled pinnacle. She exploded again and again, shattering into so many pieces that she knew she would never be the same. When she thought she couldn’t take any more, Dayd convulsed inside her and together they plunged over the edge into a grateful release that left them weak, but still clinging to one another with their last ounce of strength.
Dayd rolled off her and they lay side-by-side, trying to catch their breaths. After a few moments, he turned her on her side away from him. Not sure what he had in mind, she lay still waiting…. She was surprised when Dayd curved around her back and promptly went to sleep.
Her afterglow faded and worry filled its place. How could Dayd sleep? She was all keyed up, needing to make some kind of sense of why she’d made love with a man who could disappear as quickly as he appeared, disappear like a shadow. Shadowed beginnings, equally dim future.
How ironic, this time she knew the risk of letting down her guard, yet still she grabbed for fulfillment as if it were a carousel’s golden ring. She’d always been able to control her desires, so why had she decided that making love to him would be worth the pain after he left? Oh, God the answer was so clear, and so pathetic—she still believed in fate and miracles.
Thoughts of her impossible love were so excruciating she turned to her other worry. It meant something important that the kidnappers didn’t even ask for the disks. She turned the puzzle over and over in her mind. A critical piece was missing, but she couldn’t come up with it.
She had no idea how long she lay there stewing before sleep finally claimed her. She awoke in Dayd’s arms to the sun streaming in the window and the same worries gnawing at her.
“You look tousled and tired,” he said huskily, “As though you didn’t get much sleep.”
“Thanks a bunch,” she said, patting his dark, scratchy jaw a little harder than necessary. His thick lashes parted, revealing sleepy eyes. “You look a little skuzzy around the edges yourself.”
He kissed her nose and grinned as though with self-satisfaction.
“Don’t get mad. You asked for it. Remember? Nothing but the truth between us.”
She yanked the pillow out from under his head and hit him with it. “Very funny. But that’s exactly what I want.”
He rolled on top of her and clasped her hands above her head. “What else do you want?” he asked, throbbing against her.
“To talk.” She wanted more than that, but after a night of troubled thinking and little sleep, she needed to discuss her fears.
“Not what I hoped to hear.” He fluffed both pillows against the headboard and tucked her into one, himself into the other. “Okay, spill it.” He clasped her hand and entwined their fingers.
Nikki traced a prominent tendon in Dayd’s hand. “I keep thinking about what you said: that something has changed. What if the kidnappers found out what’s on the disks and the data led them to want more?”
“No one has had access to the disks but you, me and Boris.”
“Yes. Boris,” she said softly. “He worked on the computer for hours yesterday, studying every disk thoroughly. I hate to suggest this, but what if Boris is a double-crosser like Luke?”
“No way. There’s zero doubt in my mind about that. I hate that you feel uneasy about Boris. I wish you could know The Bear the way I do—trust him the way I do.” He traced the tender half-circle beneath her eyes with his forefinger. “You really didn’t sleep at all, did you?”
She yawned. “Maybe half an hour.”
“After all the tension and frustration involved in the failed rescue, you need more rest than that.”
He scooted down in bed, taking her with him. He placed her head on his shoulder. “It’s still early. Let’s catch a few more winks.”
“But—”
“No buts. Close your eyes.” He stroked her hair and sang a Russian lullaby in a deep soothing voice. She felt herself relaxing…
****
Dayd smiled down at Nikki. When her breath
ing became even, and her sleep deep, he lightly kissed the top of her head. She fit the curve of his arms as if she belonged there.
Careful not to disturb her, he slipped from the bed. Boris and Nazar would arrive in about fifteen minutes, and he wanted to be up and dressed. He didn’t want to advertise that he’d been sleeping with Nikki. Boris had already warned him about going against policy. Screw policy!
He’d asked Nikki not to be sorry. He sure as hell wasn’t, but last night definitely complicated things.
Chapter Thirty-Two
In Nikki’s nightmare, Glenda ran toward her, faceless Russians on her heels. One had flying shoulder-length blond hair and was built like Mr. Universe—like Boris.
As they closed in, Nikki stirred and squinted at the sunshine coming through the slit in the drapes. Disconcerting thoughts followed. Dayd trusted the man he affectionately called The Bear, and he’d tried to persuade her that her suspicions about him couldn’t be true—that he and the blond hunk were closer than brothers. She shuddered, recalling that Cain had killed Abel.
She’d fallen asleep in Dayd’s arms to the sound of him singing a Russian ballad in low soothing tones.
She turned over in the bed, needing to touch him to confirm he was all right. The empty spot was cold. She hadn’t heard him leave the room.
Last night was a night she would always cherish. Dayd had brought all of her senses alive and taught her the meaning of total fulfillment. She’d never felt more treasured, or like more of a woman. This morning their impossible love squeezed her heart. The quicker the rescue was completed, the sooner he would leave. Still as much as it tore at her spirit to rush the process, she had to act quickly. Glenda’s life hung in the balance.
She sat up and dialed Sinclair.
The detective picked up the line right away. “Sinclair here.”
“Any news about Glenda?” she asked, her fingers gripping the receiver.
“I’m sorry,” he said. “Not yet. But things are getting extremely complicated. I’ve learned things I can’t disclose until I check further, but someone close to you, maybe one of your so-called protectors, is in on the kidnapping and involved in the murders.” He paused to let that sink in. “The smart thing would be to get out. I can set you up in a safe house, give you round-the-clock police protection.”
Nikki’s neck prickled.
“There’s one more thing,” Sinclair said, “I’m releasing Luke’s body for burial today. I need to know the funeral plans. Killers often show up.”
She shivered. “Why? Isn’t it enough that Luke’s dead?”
“Attending is a final insult.” Sinclair’s tone and words evoked an image of a giant Cossack stepping on a dead bug, then with his heel, grinding it into the earth.
“If his killer shows up,” she said softly, “he’ll be the only mourner there.”
“You might be surprised. Funerals often bring out curiosity seekers and crazies. Identifying the killer won’t be that easy. Luke worked with Russians. Any of them could attend.”
With Sinclair’s warning spinning in her head, Nikki called and made arrangements for a chapel service to be held the following afternoon. Since Luke didn’t have any family or close friends, she saw no point in delaying it. After everything was set, she relayed the information to Sinclair.
Dad and Victoria hated Luke, but out of politeness she gave them a call to let them know about the arrangements. Her father got on her case right away about her indefinite leave from work, so she cut the conversation short. She’d learned in the past few days that his approval didn’t matter to her anymore. It was a good thing, because she’d never get it whatever she did.
Her father had shown his disinterest in the things that concerned her. Glenda was missing and he hadn’t even offered moral support. Thank God for Dayd. He was there for her in every way. He wasn’t afraid to put his life on the line to get Glenda back. No matter how things turned out, she would always be grateful to him for that.
She called her phone and picked up the messages. There were two. One was garbled. She hoped it wasn’t important. The other was from her chief controller, Curt Harrison, whom she promptly called.
“What’s up, Curt?” she asked when he came on the line. She pictured his cleft chin, his serious blue eyes.
“I’d like to help you with the plans for Luke’s funeral,” he said.
“It’s sweet of you to offer, Curt. But the arrangements have been made. Tomorrow at two. Bobbett Chapel. No gathering after.”
“I’d like to drive you there.”
“Thank you. But I’ve made other plans.”
She didn’t want company for this. It would be impossible to hide her bitter feelings about Luke for long, and she didn’t want to air her dirty linen with anyone from work, especially her boss. Curt didn’t know what a low-down snake Luke had been. Or did he? The men had gotten close.
As she ended the telephone conversation, Nikki heard a door open and close. Dayd’s and Boris’s deep voices and a raspy, younger voice she didn’t recognize came from the living room. She slipped on the terry robe Dayd had thoughtfully left on the foot of the bed for her, and she returned to her own room to feed Mitzi and get dressed.
The cat wasn’t on the bed. She searched the room, feeling a rising fear. When it became evident Mitzi was gone, Nikki pulled on a pair of slacks and a sweater, and rushed to the living room. She stopped in her tracks. The little man, Nazar, the one who’d looked at her through binoculars and taken her picture, was sitting atop the bar, cross-legged, using the computer. One of Luke’s files was on the screen.
“This is Nazar,” Dayd said. “He’s joining us for breakfast.”
Nazar smiled and gave a salute.
So this was Nazar. Glenda was right; he did have old eyes. Although Nikki hadn’t seen him last night, he’d been part of the rescue team. “Thanks for your help up at Porgie’s.”
He gave another salute and turned his attention back to the computer screen and the information on Luke’s disk.
Sinclair’s words, trust no one, echoed in her mind. “My cat’s missing,” she said to no one in particular to hide her discomfort.
Boris gestured with his thumb toward Dayd. Dayd sat on the other side of the dining set with his lower body obscured. She stepped around the table to see more of him. The elusive Siamese lay curled up on Dayd’s lap, looking quite content.
Nikki reached for Mitzi. “I’m sorry, Dayd. I don’t know how she got out.”
Boris winked. “She’s a charmer, like her owner. Never saw Dayd take to a cat like that before. But of course, other than you, I’m the only true cat lover around here.”
Nazar laughed and mumbled something under his breath. It sounded like, Sure, you like your cats broiled.
Nikki narrowed her eyes, sent the men what she intended to be a scathing look, and escaped to her room, cradling her precious cat. Even if Nazar was joking, it showed a cruel side to the little man that made her even more wary of him.
She gave Mitzi food and fresh water, then sat on the floor and played chase ball with her. “I think it would be best for you to stay with Alicia Mercado for a few days,” she told the cat. “Not everyone here loves you the way I do.”
By the time Nikki rejoined the men, Dayd and Boris had lain out breakfast. Boris kept smiling at her. He was so attentive, holding her chair, making sure the food was passed to her first. He’d been one of her rescuers, and she would be entirely charmed by the blond Adonis if it weren’t for her nagging suspicions. She rubbed her temples, wishing she could rub away the tightly meshed web of confusion.
Boris and Nazar, giant and midget, went out on the terrace and talked in whispers while Boris puffed on a cigarette. What were they plotting? It was unlike her to be paranoid, but Sinclair’s words had unnerved her.
Dayd put his arm around her waist and guided her to the computer screen. Standing side-by-side with her, he punched a key and Luke’s document came up. “A number in this document has raised questions.
Maybe you can help.”
He pointed to a number in brackets—it was the number of the safe deposit box she held jointly with Luke. Her heart beat faster. She couldn’t risk admitting that she knew what is was while Boris and Nazar were around.
And something else bothered her. When she’d taped the disks to the bottom of the drawer, she’d felt someone watching her. She’d passed it off as nerves. If someone had been watching her—who? The only person at work who’d had more than a passing acquaintance with Luke was Curt.
Curt and Luke in cahoots with Godunov? Impossible! Curt was her supervisor. But what if it was true? She rubbed her aching head. That would mean Boris and Nazar weren’t double-crossers. By holding out on them she was delaying Glenda’s rescue. Oh, God, what should she do? Whom should she trust? Trust no one.
****
Dayd watched Nikki’s expression flick from recognition to denial, then a curtain fell and she looked at him blankly. She’d acted the same way when she withheld the disks. Last night had convinced him he had her complete trust. What had happened since then? He thought he’d heard her using the phone. “Who were you calling earlier?”
“Several people. Making funeral arrangements.” She turned on her heels and left the room, leaving him with even more questions.
He swore in Russian. He’d never felt so derailed by a woman before. She’d gotten to him big time. Even her cat had gotten to him. Holding something she loved had given him a connection to her that he liked. The mournful Siamese howl that night so many years ago had been replaced by a sweet meow and gentle purring. He accepted for the first time that those old agonizing memories were merely part of his childhood horror.
What was he going to do about Nikki? About the two of them? Last night had been incredible. Now that he had felt her soft, hot body pressed against his, and her legs twined about his waist—now that he knew the taste of her mouth, her skin, could he walk away?
