He sighed, as he often did when she just blurted out whatever.
Some stereotypes are based on things that are true often enough to be a stereotype.
I really love your accent.
He paused and then shook his head slowly. With a smile. I like vodka. So thank you. Why are there so many locks on your door? Are you afraid?
She frowned, not expecting this direction in the conversation. It wasnt as if what happened to Rachel had been a secret. FBI agent tracking a serial killer gets kidnapped and barely survives that same serial killer. It was gangbusters for all the news cycles. Grist for click bait and the subject of a true crime book written by a woman who cashed in on the misery of others as a living.
But it was Rachels story. Her life and Maybe tried to respect that without making what shed gone through seem like a shameful secret.
We take home security very seriously around here. Rachel was an FBI agent so this is sort of her thing.
She killed the man who harmed her, didnt she? Is there still a threat?
He wasnt being deliberately provocative or anything. Shed noticed over the years shed known him that he was just blunt. Like the rest of his family, she supposed.
Im the one who wants a drink now, she mumbled.
It was a joke. Sort of. He didnt take it as such, however, handing her a refilled glass with a serious expression.
She raised it before drinking, the burn helping overcome the unreality of all these things in her life intersecting at once.
Its really odd having you here in my room. I mean, Ive thought about it before and youve been in the house a few times. Thanks for helping us move the new couch in, by the way.
He appeared mildly stunned but not offended or scared. Amused probably because she was prone to these little spells as Vic referred to them.
So yeah, the locks. When we have a safe house, its easier.
It makes Rachel more comfortable to feel safe after what she endured. This makes sense to me.
He nodded and she realizednot for the first timehow nice it was that he was so plainspoken. He didnt try to shield her or take over for her. He just listened and reacted to what shed said without artifice.
So now its your turn to talk about your night, she urged.
Family. The way he said it pretty much explained the situation. But she waited and finally he sighed long and spoke again. Cristian wants our mothers approval. Seth insulted her, and though not on purpose it still causes problems. He shrugged.
She doesnt visit very often. Does she, I mean, is she still involved in your life enough to have that matter? Or, I guess its not really about that when it comes to family. Sometimes we want things that will never happen.
Shes our mother. Cristian was younger than me when we came here. He feels her absence differently, I suppose.
Is it the gay thing? I know there are some problems in Russia with how LGBTQA folks are treated.
It might be if we lived there. But we dont. As far as I can tell she doesnt care about that. Never has that Ive seen. But her community most likely would. And theyd most likely care about the cop thing way more than the gay thing. Seth is a cop. Im not sure if you knew that.
She had, and given the number of cops in her family, shed accepted it with a shrug. He seemed to make Alexseis sweet brother very happy, so that was the biggest deal anyway.
Her community?
He gave her a look and then shrugged. Her husband is involved in organized crime. From all my exposure to him and his compatriots, they are small-minded except when it comes to money.
Oh. What the hell did you say to that? Well, Maybe knew what she would say probably wouldnt be what anyone else would. So what would a normal person say to this?
He laughed though. A big, booming laugh that made her want to rub all over him.
Oh? Zajka, you must be biting your tongue so hard not to comment more. His mouth did some stuff and she might have gone away for a few long moments as she struggled not to lean in and lick it.
Zajka? She sounded slightly intoxicated. Or probably she was slightly intoxicated and also really turned on.
Yes, an endearment. Ah, like bunny or rabbit?
Hed used an endearment on her?
Do you want to hear what I thought then?
If I didnt, I wouldnt be here. Or Id tell you.
He probably would. Which was nice too. Also his underlining that he was there on purpose.
I just wondered what the heck one was supposed to say when told someone was married to the mob. I mean, are you part of that?
Im not. Its one of the reasons my brother and I were sent here. To her credit, my mother saw that I was interested in the street life her husband lived and she sent us far away.
But your sisters are there? That sounded so judgy, but what the fuck? Who did that? Then again, she remembered her own parents and that humbled her quite a bit.
Theyre his. Her husbands. He didnt care that she sent us here. In fact I think he preferred it that way. My sisters are in boarding school in Switzerland. Id normally frown upon that, but it keeps them out of that mess for most of the year so I accept the rest.
Maybe nodded. Understanding. So it was one of those family dinners where everyone had super high expectations of everyone else and no one met them and everyone left unsettled and slightly dissatisfied?
Exactly so.
She wanted to dig deeper. Wanting to understand him better. But she also could tell from his body language that hed shared all he was going to for that moment.
Over the years, hed given her bits and pieces of his story and each time had felt like a gift. And now she wanted more.
Can I do anything to help? Make it better somehow?
His gaze sharpened and landed on her like a physical thing that stole her breath.
Was he going to request something dirty?
God she hoped so.
Instead he said, Just listening helped. Also the vodka.
Okay. Well good. She pulled her legs up, folding them beneath her.
Talk more, he said.
I wish youd kiss me.
Hmm. She wasnt sure shed meant to say that out loud. But now that she had, she wasnt sorry.
Especially when he put his glass down and leaned toward her.
He muttered something in Russian but she forgot to ask him what hed said when he brushed his lips against hers, bringing a slight gasp from her at the sensation.
It wasnt so much hesitant as exploratory. He took his time, tasting, testing. Taking. Oh yes, and she wanted to give.
Oh his flavor...a little vodka, a little tobaccoshe knew he snuck out to smoke pungent black French cigarettes when he got stressedanise perhaps. But thered never been anything like it in her life and it fit him so well it left her slightly unsettled.
He knew his way around a womans mouth, that was for sure. His tongue was sure as it swept against hers, sending a wave of pleasure through her. He wasnt going to be rushed or moved in any way but what he wanted.
He was just so calmly...in charge that it got her all worked up.
And that was before he nipped her bottom lip as he pulled back, making her whimper.
Okay, that was worth waiting for, she said a little more breathlessly than shed planned.
Okay, that was worth waiting for, she said a little more breathlessly than shed planned.
His amused look was back. Yes, yes it was. Im relieved you agree. Now, you were going to talk more.
Is this so you dont have to talk about your family? Also, couldnt they just kiss more instead?
Youre very suspicious, zajka.
Oh! The pet name again? He was going to kill her with adorable and then shed die without having sexed him up. Which seemed totally unacceptable now that shed made her mind up that she had to have him.
Briefly, she wondered if she should articulate that to him, but she decided against it. However, she did really want to know why hed made up his mind to have her right back.
People keep telling me that. I prefer curious. Why are you...why now? she asked, flapping a hand back and forth between them.
He did this thing with his eyebrow and it was...well imperious. That wasnt new. He did it at work all the time.
But now? What he gave her was something else. More sexy and haughty than imperious. Though that was always there because it was part and parcel of his makeup.
And now he gave her that look as the two of them shared a pretty small space. Shed never actually been in any situation half as intimate as the one they shared right then. His voice still seemed to strike some sort of chord deep within her, but it had softened at the edges. Like a touch.
Why now? You know, as I do, that its always been there between us. But when you first came along there was Rada so I would not allow my thoughts to go any further than flirtation.
And now theres no Rada. Thank goodness.
He laughed and she found herself loving that sound. Wanting it more as she always had.
But after Rada, you didnt come for me. She thought of the women hed chosen over her and wanted to growl.
He winced. I had some things to get out of my system. I wasnt ready to come for you until I could get past the fact that I am your boss. Im there, in case you wanted to know.
And tonight, I came out of my aunts house and you were there. You called my name and I came. It seems this has been my path from the moment you hurtled into the shop two years ago.
It made her feel...special that hed said such things to her. And wildly flattered and beautiful.
Oh. Well. Thats good. I mean, yeah. I like that. She flapped a hand.
Have I rendered you without coherent speech? he teased.
Dont worry too much, she managed, it never lasts very long. My will to talk is pretty strong.
Thats been my experience.
She sent him her own version of the raised brow.
He just smiled at her.
* * *
HED BEEN ESCAPING the house. Needing to be the hell away from the stupid drama of the evening.
Alexsei had managed to drag his mother back from the edge while Cris reined Seth in. Things werent totally settled, and he wasnt sure theyd ever be. But for the time being theyd all survive to fight again another day.
But then thered been a card game and Alexsei had headed out the back door, intending to walk around the block a few times when hed heard his name and shed been there.
And then shed drawn him inside, into the heart of her home. Hed been moved by that. Nearly as much as the way she blushed when he spoke to her.
The placed smelled of her. Spicy sweet. Hed been expecting...well, he wasnt sure what hed been expecting but it hadnt been the feminine blue walls and the mounds of pillows and soft blankets on hermadebed.
A mess with piles of clothes and books, now that was what hed envisioned. The books were there. Hell, books seemed to be everywhere in the room. They lined shelves with framed pictures and a lot of art tucked here and there.
Shed shown him her truest self and hed been unable to resist, though he hadnt tried very hard, when shed said she wanted a kiss.
Kissing that mouth had been something hed put a great deal of thought into over the last two years. Hed wondered what the piercing would feel like and hed discovered it felt fucking awesome.
Sexy. Like most everything about her.
It was better than his wildest dreams. Her taste still rang through him. Theyd clicked in a way hed never quite experienced before.
So. Now its your turn. Tell me something, she said.
What do you want to know?
Why did you break up with Rada?
Surprised, he gave her an assessing look. Neither of us really wanted to be with one another anymore. The wedding planning had started and I realized I couldnt go through with it. Even to make our families happy.
So youre still friends now? She winced, obviously not intending to sound so nosy about his status. But he liked it because he knew she was truly interested.
Not as such. Though theyd known one another for years, they hadnt had much in common outside of that connection. And once theyd stopped having sex, theyd lost the last threads holding their relationship together. There wasnt anything between them to hold a friendship beyond romance and sex, despite the fact that hed known her as long as he had.
Shes close with EvieVics little sisterso I see her frequently enough but were not what I would call friends. She was simply part of the family, though not his fiancée anymore.
Because shes so helpless and annoying?
He began to argue but it was impossible to do so with a straight face so he didnt bother. Rada was smarter than a lot of people gave her credit for, but she did expect things to be done for her. To be taken care of. Not all women are like you.
Lucky for you, then, I guess.
I cant find fault with that statement. Family visits notwithstanding.
Look at you. Ive been watching you as you took a dip in the sea of pussy since your broken engagement. You didnt turn this level of game on any of those ladies. Not that I saw. You just gave them broody, sultry and mysterious and they hopped aboard. And who could blame them?
He shook his head. Sixty percent of whatever you say makes no sense at all. Are you aware of this?
I totally make sense! Youre really going above and beyond here is what Im saying. I like it that youre bringing everything youve got to the table and not just relying on that face of yours. And the accent of course. Man oh man. And the way you smell and look in general. How is that not making sense?
How do you know I dont have game with them behind closed doors?
Her grin was quick and bright. Im sure you know what to do with your cock. In fact, Im counting on it.
I find your bluntness when it comes to sex quite delightful, he told her, meaning every word.
She blushed again, ducking her head a moment before speaking once more. Anyway, if you spoke to any of those women the way you have to me tonight, theyd be at the shop every day making cow eyes at you. Nah, you give em the accent and you give em a ride and then after a few weeks theyre gone.
The truth was, he hadnt said any of this to those women because it wouldnt have been true. And he didnt need pretty lies to get between a womans thighs. All the sex, and the fucking around, had been about burning off energy. The women hed been with knew that and had been as into it for the sex as he had.