Alpha Lover

by Brenda Sparks

  But I don’t want to sleep. Julie stuck her bottom lip out in a childlike pout that Nicholai found completely charming.

  Trust me to know what is best. Your mind and body are tired and need rest. You can practice communicating like this again tomorrow. It is time to sleep, my lastochka, my darling, little swallow.

  He ran his thumb along her pouty lip and sent a gentle command to her mind, coaxing her into a deep dreamless sleep. Julie’s breath slowed, and her body went lax against his. He lay there holding her, wanting, needing her to acknowledge her love for him. She loved him without a doubt; he found it there in her mind.

  Nicholai pulled from her thoughts to avoid temptation. It would have been easy to influence her troubled mind, turning the turmoil into feelings for him. He could have bent her will to his, force her to see the love for him she housed in the recesses of her mind, but he would not.

  Nicholai wanted her to come to him, give her heart to him, choose him freely. Needed her to realize she loved him of her own volition. For hearing those three little words from her lips would only have meaning for him if they were said by her free will. Yes, he would wait an eternity if necessary to hear her say “I love you.”

  Chapter 32

  Julie awoke and found herself stretched across the empty bed, sated, and deliciously sore in all the right places. She gingerly moved her legs, testing them to see if they had any strength left, and smiled at the memory of the previous night.

  Nicholai had been amazing, catering to her every need, body and mind. He’d driven the sadness from her thoughts with their act of love and the guilt from her heart by the way he proclaimed his love for her. She wrapped her arms around her waist in a bracing hug.

  It had been a wonderful vacation, full of exciting adventures and holiday romance, but it was time to get back to the real world.

  Julie sighed. “Unfortunately, girl, you have a plane to catch this afternoon. No more time for self-delusion. The romance is over.”

  The theme from Mission Impossible interrupted her thoughts. Julie scampered through the chilly room and dug the phone from her purse. “Hello?” She hopped back into bed and snuggled under the warm covers.

  “Merry Christmas, honey,” her mother greeted cheerfully. “I hope I didn’t wake you.”

  “No, Mama. I’m awake.” Julie tucked the blanket up to her chin. “How’s Colorado? Are you enjoying the trip Samantha gave you for Christmas?”

  “It’s beautiful. It snowed two feet yesterday. Hold on a minute, dear. Here comes your father.”

  A rustling sounded through the phone. She pictured her father standing beside her mother, their ears on each side of the handset, hands clasped over each other’s holding on tight.

  “Merry Christmas, Julie Bug.” Her father’s raspy voice came over the line.

  “Merry Christmas, Daddy. Why don’t you put me on speaker phone?”

  “Hold on,” said her mother. Julie heard the phone fumbling around.

  “Oh never mind.” Her mother’s exasperated voice came back on. “We can’t figure out how to activate the speaker.”

  “Have Sam do it,” Julie suggested, then laid against the mountain of pillows propped along the velvet headboard.

  “Sam’s not here. She’s off skiing.” Her father let out a deep sigh, then continued. “You know how she is. Always on the go. I swear that girl can’t stand still long enough for a hen to lay an egg. She said to tell you Merry Christmas.”

  Julie pictured her beautiful sister in a skintight ski suit, swishing down the slope, her perfectly highlighted hair flowing out behind her as she glided over the snow. She would ski like she did everything else, with style and grace. She had probably picked up some hunky ski instructor already. A pang of jealousy briefly coursed through Juliette’s mind until she remembered the hunky man she had picked up on her vacation. A smile crept to her face. Sami would die if she knew about Nicholai. She would need to get Penny to take a picture of her and Nicholai together before they left. She couldn’t wait to show it to her sister.

  “Tell Sami I said Merry Christmas too. Did you guys get the presents I sent?”

  “Yes, we brought them with us. They are under the tree. We’ll open them after dinner.”

  That was their family tradition. Eat a big Christmas Eve meal, then open gifts. It had been that way as long as Julie could remember.

  “Did our gifts arrive?”

  “Not before I left England. I’m sure they will be waiting for me when I return. DW would have been there to receive them from the postman.”

  “That Desmond seems like an awful nice man, Julie Bug. Why don’t you two date?” her father asked.

  “We’ve been over that, Daddy. Desmond and I are friends. That’s all. Nothing more.”

  “Listen, dear,” her mother cut in, saving her from another when-will-you-date-again lecture. “We know this is costing you a fortune in roaming fees, so we will go. We just wanted to call and wish our baby girl Merry Christmas.”

  Julie’s mother’s voice hitched as her father continued. “We wish you were here with us.”

  Tears pushed at the back of Julie’s eyes. She missed her parents, missed spending the holidays with family. It was just so hard since the accident.

  “I wish that, too. Merry Christmas.”

  A click indicated her parents hung up. The holidays were always a difficult time for her. She found herself pining over what might have been if fate had different plans for her life. It was one of the reasons she had agreed to come on this trip. She hoped being in a foreign country, experiencing new things, would keep her mind off her loss.

  It hadn’t.

  Instead, she lay in the bed in a house of a man she barely knew. She had made love to him. No, they had sex, hot passionate sex. Nothing more. She was leaving today, and the fling was over. The time had come to get back to her life and leave her Russian behind.

  They would go their separate ways. Never to see each other again. The guilt of last night tried to push to the surface, but Julie ruthlessly thrust it down.

  What’s done is done. You have nothing to feel guilty about, she reminded herself as she pushed up from the bed wondering where Nicholai had gone. Had last night meant more to her than it did to him? Had he left without saying goodbye? Was she the proverbial one-night stand?

  Julie shook her head in denial. He wasn’t that kind of man. Besides, it didn’t matter. She was leaving, so technically it had been a one-night stand.

  After slipping on a robe, she pulled her suitcase from the closet and threw it open on the bed. Juliette crossed to the dresser and removed her clothing from the drawers, tossing them in a pile on the bed.

  It’s a shame, she thought, that Nicholai went to all that trouble, having someone put away my clothes just so I could get them all back out to pack.

  Nicholai quietly opened the door to the room, a tray of food carefully balanced on one arm.

  “Good morning, lastochka. I hope you like—” His voice trailed off as he glanced toward the bed. “What are you doing, Juliette?”

  “Packing.” Julie stilled her hands as she stared at her lover. “Um, that for me?”

  Nicholai glanced down at the tray. “I thought you might be hungry,” he said absently. “Why are you packing?”

  “Penny and I are leaving.”

  “But I thought you agreed to stay here.” He placed the tray on the white, padded bench located at the end of the bed and walked over to her.

  “Our vacation is over. Our flight leaves at four.”

  “Cancel your flight, Juliette. Stay with me, at least until Christmas. Call it a Christmas present.”

  A confused look crossed Julie’s round face. “Today is Christmas Eve. You want me to cancel my flight so I can leave tomorrow?”

  “I meant for you to stay until the Russian Christmas—January seventh.”

  “Oh, I didn’t realize you celebrated on a different day. January seventh. That’s more than two weeks from now.”

&nbs
p; The hopeful expression on his face was adorable.

  “Say you will stay, and I will be the happiest man in Russia. It will be the best Christmas present I have ever had. Will you stay?”

  Julie paused. School didn’t resume until January twentieth, so she wouldn’t miss work. She didn’t have anything needing her attention at home other than Connor. If DW agreed to continue taking care of him, there would be no reason she couldn’t stay.

  “I need to talk to Penny and make a few calls before I can give you my answer.” Julie watched the tension ease from Nicholai’s broad shoulders. A smile graced her full lips. He obviously really wanted her to stay a little longer. She had to admit to herself, more time with this handsome sex god wouldn’t exactly be difficult to tolerate.

  Nicholai plucked a delicate teacup from the tray and offered it to Julie. “Coffee?”

  “Oh, yes.” Julie held the delicate white-bone china between her hands to warm them. She lifted the cup to her nose and took the rich aroma in before taking a sip. “Nectar of the gods,” she commented before she took a swallow of the rich mocha, loving how it ran down her throat to warm her stomach.

  “Glad you approve. I worked a long time on that coffee, grinding the beans, percolating the brew until it was perfect,” Nicholai teased. A sensual smile tugged at the corner of his mouth as one dark brow rose to hide behind his fallen hair. A rush of heat pooled low in Julie’s core. “I believe I deserve a baboon for all my hard work on your behalf.”

  Julie smiled widely. “A baboon is a monkey. I think you meant boon. What kind of boon did you have in mind?”

  Nicholai swept Julie up into his arms, and miraculously, no coffee spilled on her. She’d never met a man so graceful. Everything he did seemed to come effortlessly.

  “A kiss, sweet Juliette. A kiss for a cup of…What did you call it? Nectar of the gods?”

  He lowered his lips to hers in a gentle caress, brushing his mouth back and forth across hers, teasing her lips apart. He moaned against her mouth, taking in the delicious flavor. Her tongue frolicked with his, moving between them until Julie no longer knew where she stopped and he began.

  Nicholai pulled away, leaving her wanting more, much more. Straightening to his full height, he looked down on her and said, “That was a delicious boon.”

  Julie wiggled in his arms. “If that’s the boon for a cup of coffee, what boon do you want for the meal?”

  A sensuous grin accompanied his hooded eyes. “I am sure I can think of something,” he purred.

  ****

  Penny admired the collection of Fabergé eggs in the curio cabinet. Red, green, blue, and purple jewels adorned each egg. Each detail exquisite, the eye-catching splendor shimmered under the glow of the light from the top of the cabinet. She pulled her eyes from the beautiful sight when Julie walked up behind her. “Hey, Jules, all packed?”

  “Actually, Penny, I wanted to talk to you about that. Nicholai asked me to stay, and, after talking to Desmond, I’ve decided I’d like to say yes. That is if you don’t mind going back to England by yourself.”

  “Mind? Are you kidding?” Penny threw her arms around Julie and squeezed the breath from her body. “I’m so happy for you! I knew it! I knew you two were going to be perfect for each other.”

  “It’s not like I’m marrying the guy. I’m only going to stay a couple more weeks. I’ll be back in time for the start of school.”

  Penny’s face dropped. “Oh. A couple of weeks are better than nothing, I guess, and who knows, maybe a couple of weeks will turn into a lifetime.”

  Julie shook her head and gave her friend a sardonic expression. “Don’t put the cart before the horse.”

  “You’re right. I wouldn’t want to jinx you.”

  The women turned as Nicholai strolled into the room with his usual poise and sensuality. They sighed in unison when he bent to stroke the fire back to life, putting his shapely bottom on display.

  “You better hang on to that,” Penny advised in a whisper.

  “I did,” Julie admitted in a low voice from behind her hand.

  “Julie has some news, Nicholai.”

  Nicholai turned before he spoke. “Good news, I hope.”

  “I’m staying.”

  With a smile that reached his ears, Nicholai swooped Julie up in a big hug and twirled her around twice before placing her back on her feet.

  Nicholai let Julie go and glanced at her friend. “Penny, will you be able to stay as well?”

  “Unfortunately, I can’t.” Penny crossed her arms over her chest. “I need to get home. Frank will be furious if I miss Christmas.”

  Nicholai nodded while he sat down. “It is too bad you cannot stay, but I understand your husband wanting to have you with him for Christmas.”

  Julie crossed the room and perched on the arm of Nicholai’s chair. Right away his hand found its way to her back and gave it loving strokes. “You’ll need a ride to the airport then. Unfortunately, I cannot drive you. Julie, would you like to use my car?” Nicholai offered as he absently continued to stroke her.

  “Your sports car?” asked Penny, her eyes wide with excitement.

  “Yes, unless you would prefer a different vehicle.”

  “No, no, that silver beauty will do just fine. Thanks.”

  Julie turned and looked at her lover. “Are you sure? We could always order up a cab.”

  “I’m quite positive. If I can’t take you there myself, the least I can do is make sure you have a safe vehicle to drive. Take my car. It has a full tank of petrol, more than enough to get you to the airport and back.”

  “Cool. I’m going to the airport in style.”

  The trio chuckled at Penny’s remark.

  ****

  Penny unfolded the map onto her lap. She glanced down at the diagram Nicholai had made. He’d drawn roads, complete with street names and landmarks, using arrows to indicate which ways to go on the confusing streets to get to the airport. The paper jostled as the car bounced along the cobblestone streets of Yaroslavia.

  “For an expensive sports car, this thing sure gives a bumpy ride,” Penny observed, looking up from the map.

  “I don’t remember it being so bumpy the last time I rode in it.”

  “Maybe it’s the street.” Penny suggested. “Did you drive on this street?”

  “No. I don’t remember Nicholai ever taking me down here before.”

  “Hopefully it will smooth out once we reach the highway.”

  Penny turned on the seat warmer and settled back into the soft leather before continuing. “So tell me all about it. With a body like that, I bet he was great in the sack.”

  “I don’t kiss and tell,” Juliette said coyly.

  “Oh, come on, Jules. Us old married folk need a little excitement once in a while. Kiss and tell, pleeeaaassse.” Penny batted her eyes at Julie.

  A giggle burst through Julie’s lips. “Okay, but hang onto your panties,” she warned. “It was mind blowing, astronomical. The man is insatiable.”

  “A marathon of shagging. Lucky you. He looks like he’d know how to use that big body of his.”

  “He does,” Julie assured. “But it was more than just sex. Afterward he held me and whispered sweet nothings into my ear.”

  “Our turn should be coming up.” Penny pointed out the windshield. “Sweet nothings, what do you mean?”

  Julie turned onto the highway entry ramp and stomped down on the gas pedal to merge. The finely tuned machine took off like a bolt of lightning up the ramp, throwing the women into their seats.

  “Whoa, woman. Don’t get us killed there, Speedy,” Penny admonished.

  “Sorry. I guess I didn’t know the car’s strength. It’s like driving a race car.”

  “It is quite posh. Speaking of things that are posh, you still haven’t told me about the sweet nothings your Russian whispered.”

  Julie took a deep breath before answering. “He said he loves me.”

  “Wow. That’s great, Jules! I’m so hap
py for you.”

  “I didn’t say it back,” Julie confessed, changing lanes, once again sending the pair into the seats when she pushed the pedal too far down.

  “Why not?”

  “Because it’s not right. I can’t love him. It would not be right to Steven’s memory.”

  Penny laid a hand on Julie’s arm and gave it a supportive squeeze. “Julie, Steve would understand. You have grieved for him and the girls for three years. Wouldn’t he want you to find happiness?”

  Julie considered what Penny said. “Yes.”

  “Wouldn’t he want you to find someone who could love you, care for you?”

  Julie’s grip tightened on the steering wheel. She and Steven had never discussed what might happen should one of them die. Neither had wanted to consider the possibility. Now she honestly couldn’t say if he would have wanted her to find love with another man. She believed he would have wanted her to have a happy life. But to have that life with someone else? Now that was the million-dollar question.

  “I’m not sure.”

  “From what you told me about Steven, I’m sure he would want you to move on and find someone to be happy with. Take some advice from your old married friend. We never know where life will take us. Sometimes it’s best to hang on and go with the ride. See where you end up.”

  Julie slid her friend a sly glance. “Go along for the ride, huh?”

  “Yeah, you might just end up in Happyville. The next exit is the one to the airport,” Penny pointed out. “All I’m saying is allow yourself to be open to the possibility of loving Nicholai. You have a handsome, wealthy man saying he loves you. Don’t be a fool and throw him away. Don’t be afraid to love him.”

  They spent the rest of the ride in silence as Julie pondered her friend’s advice. Perhaps Penny was right. Perhaps she could open herself to the possibility of loving Nicholai. There was a lot about him to love after all.

  Julie pulled the expensive car to the curb, and Penny jumped out. After removing her suitcase from the trunk, she leaned into the car. “Remember what I said, Jules. Don’t be afraid.” A genuine smile reached her eyes. “Happy Christmas.”