by Cora Blu
“Don’t move,” Mikhail urged. His callused fingers molded around her hips, holding her pressed against his groin. “Bethany, the way I feel, dip those hips and I'll explode.” Blowing out a breath, Mikhail dropped his head, kissing a wet trail down her spine.
Bethany’s sensitive flesh nearly sizzled. She could barely breathe. Every inhale danced through her body with a fiery caress. But he was claiming her with every stroke. Reaching a hand back, she clawed at him to finish and take his pleasure and her over the edge. It was too much. His drugging thrusts had the hair on her arm standing on end. The sensation overwhelmed her. “Khail—now!”
“Mmm…oh, babe…damn,” was his response to her plea as he let each muscle inside her folds kiss the length of him behind each inch he pushed into Bethany’s body.
Bethany dug her nails into his behind flexing and grinding in unhurried circles between her thighs.
She drug her nails down the column of her throat, cursing under compressed lips, the sensation was unreal. The heat poured up through her, crested, then just as she would explode, he pulled her back from the cliff to start over again, dangling her inches from release.
His movements became faster, less controlled, a passionate desperate reveal of his raw need to possess every ounce of her. Hanging on by a thread, she pulled back her layers as fast as she could, giving him everything she’d hidden from other men, from the world, from herself. The part where she admitted she liked his flirty side, and it was okay that other women found him attractive. Because he was. He was in love with her and she did that, made him sexy to other women, and made him an intimidation to other men. The strut in his step came from the love of his woman in his heart. She was that twinkle in his eyes. That swagger in his stride. That confidence that ran Heinemann’s. He did love her, it was there all along. She just wasn’t ready to wear that crown. But every queen needed a king, and Khail was hers.
“Oh, shit…” He tossed the pillow off the bed never losing his rhythm on his knees now gripping her hips up off the bed. “Come on, baby, you can do this.” His hips moved in a circle against her behind. “That’s it move with me. I’ve wanted you for too long to go halfway, making love to you, Bethany. I want your body to sing my name when I’m not around.”
Couldn’t he hear it screaming now? Couldn’t he feel it struggling to hang on and not explode, to savor this first time together the uniting of all they were and could be as a couple? It held a sad pleasure of mixed emotions, swamping her senses, leaving her confused. She yearned to feel the ecstasy thundering over her every nerve, yet hid from the inevitable conclusion of the sweet surrender, and falling back to earth, she’d experience once they crossed the line of them being together for the first time.
Large hands he clasped under her chin, craning her neck back, the arch in her back severe, but she couldn’t deny him the pleasure. Couldn’t deny herself the power rush, she waited for once his climax hit. It was building fast between her thighs.
The room was too hot and too humid.
Sheets twisted around her ankles.
“Move your hair—” he ordered, his mouth warm on her neck, sucking, nipping her skin, making her cry out when his knees shoved hers farther apart.
“Oh, Khail!” Bethany caught the headboard to steady herself to keep from sprawling under him with his thrusts searching her body for any space he hadn’t touched, hadn’t burned hadn’t taken possession of. That place he’d stamped an hour ago with her exhausted approval.
Mikhail was amazing.
Slick with sweat, the wet hairs on his chest tickled over her skin behind each thrust. He’d pushed her further than she’d been before. Harder than she thought she could take. He was an animal, and she loved every manic second of it. Swiveling her hips she worked him until German left his lips faster than she could translate the words, but the tone was deliciously seductive. And at that angle, behind those thrusts, under his moans, her English came out broken and…she didn’t recognize her voice. Her stomach drew up tight as his rhythm changed to a jerky rhythm.
Mikhail hollered, “Ah, baby!” She felt the heat of his release through the protection as he came.
She dropped her head when he finally released her chin, easing the curve in her spine. His fingers were hot on her back as he caught his breath, his cheek flat to her spine. She panted, skin flush and moist, angling her chin back to see his hair limp and stuck to Mikhail’s forehead. She giggled weakly. “Somebody’s gonna sleep good tonight, and I’m not just talking about me.”
Mikhail chuckled and nuzzled her sensitive skin. “All night, so don’t try and wake me if I don’t move before lunch.”
His hands dropped to the bed. Limp on her back, he rolled off taking her exhausted body to the mattress in a sweaty, breathless heap, cradled to one another, as they sucked in gulps of air.
His soft lips in her hair blew the wayward strands around as they lay recovering, dragging in deep breaths, sharing the pleasure of complete abandon.
When they could move, ten or thirty minutes later, Bethany worked around in his arms to cuddle under his chin. His moist chest hairs soft under her face, she played her fingers through it, massaging the curve of his scalp. She wasn’t letting him slip through her grasp this time. “Mikhail?” She moaned his name her voice a little tired from screaming.
“Hmm…” he murmured trailing kisses over her forehead, brushing back tendrils of hair curling around her moist face.
“This is out of left field, but do you have a relationship with your birth parents, Seth’s parents? You never talk about them.”
He shifted on the bed; the dip in the mattress tucked her tight under him. He looked down at her, satiated and glazed over. She lurched up kissing his chin. “You don’t know this but the people who stole me from my birth parents kidnapped Simone. Last year they tried to blackmail us into saying my parents gave me away freely. All my mother had to do was sign a waiver and they would let Simone go.”
“…but…”
“She refused to sign it. Seth questioned if it was because Simone was black…she wouldn’t answer him. Sergei, my birth father, convinced her to sign it, but by this time, Simone had already been tortured.”
His mother was prejudice. How could that be when these men were both into black women? And there was no mistaking the love Seth has for Simone or his daughters.
“If Seth’s prejudice, don’t tell him, because he doesn’t know yet.”
Mikhail gave a pure clean laugh. “Seth has his issues with Americans in general from being in the military, but Simone came along and things just fell into place.”
So did they, she thought, touching a hand to his heart. “You don’t have any racial hang-ups that I’ve noticed.”
Mikhail yawned then said, “I grew up all over the world with Josef in the military, and I’ve seen my share of bigotry. I have cultural biases not ethnic prejudices.”
She shifted in his arms to look into his face. “Is that why you came up with the diversity program, to right some of the wrongs you saw in other cultures? Because you know they’re only wrong to those of us that don’t live them.”
“Sad, but true,” he agreed, and she loved his non-combative attitude toward cultural differences. People don’t change because they’re told to. They change because they see a flaw in what they believe to be true. “I’d thought about it years ago and implemented it, but after I saw Larissa’s reaction to Simone, I took a longer look at Heinemann’s and knew where the next diversity candidate would come from…America.” Mikhail slipped his gazed thoughtfully at her. “I hadn’t planned on falling in love with her.”
“I’m glad you did. And for the sake of this family, I hope your birth mother grows past her ignorance before she misses out on Seth’s beautiful family.”
“Larissa’s changed quite a bit since I met her.” Mikhail smoothed damp ringlets off her face to caress her chin in his hand. “According to Seth she stayed with them toward the end of Simone’s pregnancy while he was out of
town on a job just before the girls were born.”
“What does he do for a living?”
“Structural Engineer. He’s helped on projects from America to Dubai to Italy to Asia. He hates leaving her, because sometimes it’s weeks at a time.”
“If they ever move to Austria let me know. I’ll make certain to visit sometime.”
He stared down at her skeptical. “I’ll let them know.” He touched her stomach under the covers, massaging a circle around her navel. “Do you want children, Bethany? I know what you said in the kitchen with Anya, but I’m asking.”
“There’s a lot of things I want that are family related…but I want a husband first.”
“Then children?”
“In that order,” she said without second thought.
Mikhail ran a hand down her thigh gently easing it between her legs to stroke a thumb over her clit. Bethany tensed. “You’re sore?” he asked removing his hand. “Hot tub…I’ll carry you.”
She hooked her hands behind his head when he lifted her off the bed, grabbing the blanket off the bed, traipsing outside to the wraparound deck at the back overlooking the river.
Her body melted into the hot water bubbling up under her. Sometime during the night, Bethany found herself dancing under the moonlight wrapped in Mikhail’s arms. Steam rose off the water and snow sparkled over the grounds surrounding the house.
A beautiful ending to a precious moment.
Mikhail was going for her soul.
Chapter 20
Mikhail
Waiting for that cell to ring was killing him. Mikhail held his third cup of coffee to his lips, and wearing out a path in front of the counter in the chalet’s kitchen, he paced. How many more spies were in his company working for Mark? The media wanted front-page news well he was going to blast GCT all across Europe after this, suing them for endangering one of his employees. Not to mention his woman.
He had to stay calm. Not going in as Bethany’s boyfriend, screwing the mission sideways to hell, but saving her reputation in the financial world. She guarded her independence vigorously, and he respected that.
Setting the cup down he waited to see the light glowing on his cell.
Josef sat on the bar stool holding Eva draped over his shoulder. “Mark should have been my first suspect,” he admitted, brows furrowed. Nuzzling the neck of his default granddaughter, he elicited a small giggle from the bundle gripping his ears as if they were handles.
Anya pulled a jug of water from the refrigerator, setting it on the counter. “My father will be disappointed. Mark has never been close to the family, but this is unacceptable.”
“It’s going to work, son. Bethany’s willing to do this, and we all know you had no other choice if we’re going to bring this dog out into the light.”
“I know.” It didn’t make it any better knowing he’d still have to put her in the asshole’s hands first to catch him. “Bethany’s been through so much over the years. I can’t explain to you the pain she’s gone through and what she’s carried around with her all this time.”
“We know about her fear of knives,” Simone said. “But you know what that fear is, don’t you?”
“I just want her safe and for us to get on with our lives.”
“You love her don’t you, Mikhail?” Anya walked around with Zoya in her arms, rubbing her back, giving him her sly mother smile. “She loves you, you know? Yes, that girl is crazy about my Mikhail, and I can’t blame her. You’re a good man,” she said full of pride.
A cool breeze filled the air.
Seth stepped inside the back door, knocking snow off his boots on the tray. “Mikhail,” he angled a nod to the door. “Three men on the back of the barn…me and Crazy got the entrance once Mark shows.”
“I still can’t believe they went through all this to get this woman,” Crazy said shaking his head, “Money does strange things to people.”
Waiting to hear from Bethany, he rubbed the skin over one brow raw until Crazy’s voice roused him to answer. “It’s more than money. It’s status in the financial world. Bethany’s knowledge and financial intuition brings her clients top dollar. Other companies want her on their team.” Underhandedly going after her behind his back. They didn’t count on Bethany’s loyalty to Heinemann’s and her ability to forgive. “Mark is trying to lure her over to his company…and him.”
“And you?” Seth asked washing his hands, blowing a raspberry on Zoya’s neck as she struggled to get in his arms holding on to the breast pocket of his sweater. He did nothing as she gnawed on his chin, becoming her teething ring.
“I’m ready to fight to keep her. Mark’s going after the wrong man’s woman.” Tomorrow she’d wake up with an engagement ring on her finger. It was time to marry her and get on with their lives.
Crazy stretched a skullcap over his hair to cover his ears. “That’s all I need to know.”
Mikhail froze watching Seth tugging down Crazy’s collar revealing a mark on his neck. “When’d you get a tattoo? Who’s Ella?”
Crazy jerked away, smiling. “Tell me you don’t have “Sim” tattooed on your white ass somewhere. Excuse my language Simone.”
Propped on her elbow with her cheek resting on her hand she raised a brow to Seth. “Wouldn’t you think my name would be somewhere on his body?” Simone teased a warm smile tipping the corner of her mouth.
“Seth,” Anya said coming over to Simone to lean over the counter. “I find that unbelievable. You’re crazy about this woman and those girls,” she exclaimed her red curls tumbling around her shoulders.
“He got a tattoo for me, and a separate one for the girls, and it’s not on his sexy behind.”
Crazy eyed Seth as he jacked up one brow.
Seth closed a hand over the hem of his jacket and sweater scrunching them up off his back. Crazy and Mikhail ducked down holding his shirt up standing at his back.
Mikhail raised his eyes to Simone. “…You know he was doing that, Simone?”
She shook her head. “I had no idea until I saw it in the shower. It’s unique…just like him.”
“That’s wicked…bro,” Crazy said grinning.
Mikhail bumped fists with Seth.
Crazy took a second look shaking his head. “When did you have it done?”
“The month after they were born, Dmitri came out…did it personally.” Seth beamed under his words. He loved his girls more than life itself.
“Dmitri’s got wicked talent.”
“I never would have thought to put the girl’s names on either sides of your spine coming out of a holster in the shape of a gun,” Mikhail told him.
Seth rolled his sweater and jacket down. “Knowing those two little faces are waiting for me every day is a concealed weapon. You can’t bring me down. Don’t try.”
“Dang, and you don’t have Sim tattooed anyplace on you? Your arm…back, thigh anywhere?” Crazy taunted mercilessly.
“He does…sort of,” Simone smiled walking over to push the jacket and sweater up over his chest. Seven words decorated an arc over his heart. Don't bother, my wife’s got this covered.
“Okay that’s love,” Crazy admitted through a wide smile and slapped Seth on the back, winking at Simone.
Seth settled a heated stare on his wife across the room her face bright with love. “You find a good woman…don’t waste time, lock it down quick.”
Mikhail’s cellphone rang, and Bethany’s number filled the screen. He held a hand up quieting the room. “Bethany, you okay?”
“I’m fine, sweetie,” she told him. “Mark just called and asked if I’d meet him on the trail, like you said he would.”
“The barn, Bethany,” he forced, his blood slamming through his veins.
“I got him to switch. He wanted to meet in the far barn, but there’s too many horses that’ll get hurt if it gets ugly. We’re meeting in the tool barn.”
“Okay…”
“Where’s Greg?”
“I don’t know.”
<
br /> “Okay we’re on our way. And Bethany—” He looked at his family standing around and said proudly, “I love you, so be careful. I want to ask you something important later when we go for a walk.”
“Let’s hope so after what you did to me last night.”
Was he that transparent? “Oh, you think you know what I’m going to ask you?”
She became quiet. “No Khail, I don’t. And I won’t try and guess. But know this, regardless of what you ask or don’t ask…I love you.”
She loved him. He knew that. What did that mean, whether he asked or not? What have they been working toward all this time if not to get married? He let his finger glide over the ring in his pocket. He’s had the damn thing for three weeks now waiting to get her up here. And he was going to propose tonight after they busted Mark. He dragged a sigh from deep in his chest and ran a hand through his hair.
“Why are you quiet? You don’t like hearing me say I love you?”
“You’d be surprised what’ll catch a man off guard when he’s nervous.”
“Why are you nervous?”
He laughed. “You’re evil woman.”
She smiled through her words and it was a pretty sound, “No...I’m anxious, Khail.”
That surprised him. “I don’t believe that, not after this week…and last night.”
“I want this to be over Khail, so I can love you and get on with our lives.” The crinkling of a jacket being slipped on then the sound of a zipper filled the line. “When this is over I’m going to Michigan to put fresh flowers on Robert’s grave and close down those nightmares by properly saying goodbye to my brother. And until this is over I can’t.”
He understood. “We’ll drop by Michigan next month on our way to Arizona to visit your parents. You can spend some time with your mother. You’ve been worried about her since the surgery.” And he wanted them to get away for a while to give Bethany a break.
“I don’t know what to say to that, Khail, thank you.”
Although he couldn’t see her, Mikhail knew exactly what she was doing on the other end of the line. “Stop twisting your earring before your ear turns red. We’re a couple now, and if it’s important to you, it’s important to me.”
