He left Shay’s bedroom and stopped in the bathroom to gather up her toiletries. He wasn’t sure which toothbrush was hers but it was easy to pick out her shampoo and conditioner with a simple sniff. He ducked back into her bedroom to grab a couple of things off the top of her dresser like her hairbrush and watch.
She didn’t have much jewelry, just a pair of gold hoops, a set of tiny diamond studs that were less than a quarter carat and a fragile golden heart necklace. He carefully traced the thin heart shape. This was the type of jewelry a father gave a young daughter on her birthday or for Christmas. He imagined Shay wearing the necklace and thinking of the father she had lost so suddenly.
Very carefully, he wrapped the necklace and earrings in a monogrammed handkerchief. He tucked it away in the interior pocket of his suit for safekeeping. Finished packing, he gathered up her things and left the house. Spider waited for him to lock the door and trailed him down the front steps and over to his SUV. The raucous laughter coming from the prospects and Boychenko made them frown.
“Young, dumb and full of cum,” Spider remarked dryly.
Alexei let loose a snort of laughter at the biker’s rough way of describing the trio. What he could hear of the salacious, raunchy tale was enough to make him shake his head. The wild parties thrown by the motorcycle club were infamous around the city. Poor Boychenko would never experience debauchery like that in Nikolai’s service.
Tuning out the filthy story, he loaded up his SUV and held out his hand. “I’ve got a bottle of Dalmore with your name on it.”
Spider gripped it hard. “Should I be flattered that you remembered it’s my favorite?”
Alexei grinned and let go. “You know where to find me when you’re ready to claim that favor owed.”
“Remember what I told you about Shay.”
“I heard you.”
“If there’s anything you need from me—for her—you just have to ask.”
“I will. Thank you.”
Alexei whistled at Boychenko, signaling that it was time to leave. He slid behind the wheel and drove away from Shay’s home. Boychenko shadowed him to the first drug store where he picked up a toothbrush, toothpaste and two pints of the ice cream that he had seen on her shopping list.
By the time he reached the apartment building and waved off Boychenko, it was nearly three in the morning. As he was gathering up Shay’s things and trying to figure out how he would get everything upstairs in one trip, he heard a vibrating sound. Thinking it was his phone, he patted his jacket but then realized it was coming from under his seat. He reached down and smacked around on the floorboard until he patted a cell phone.
During his rush to throw her handbag and the bloody evidence into the SUV earlier in the night, Shay’s cell phone must have fallen out of her purse and under his seat. He studied the screen and noticed four missed calls and five increasingly more worried text messages from someone named Kylee and exactly one text message from Shannon.
I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.
Alexei gritted his teeth and dropped the phone into her handbag. Sorry? Shannon was fucking sorry? She had almost gotten her sister raped and murdered tonight. Sorry didn’t come close to fixing all that.
He wasn’t going to take a hard line with Shay tonight about her sister. She had been through enough and needed to be treated gently. But tomorrow? Tomorrow, he would have to tell her that the relationship she once had with her sister no longer existed. It was the only way for Shay to survive.
Upstairs, he unlocked the door and was immediately greeted by the sight of Stas striding toward the opening door, his hand on the gun holstered at his hip. The street soldier relaxed and hurried to help him with the luggage and boxes.
“Is she asleep?” Alexei asked quietly as he carried the ice cream into the kitchen.
“No, she’s not asleep,” Shay piped up from the living room.
He glanced toward the television and sofa but couldn’t see her. She must have been huddled down and curled up under a blanket. “You should be in bed.”
“I’m not five,” she replied lightly. “I can choose my own bedtime.”
Stas looked terribly amused by the back-and-forth. He was wise enough not to say a word. Instead, he toted her things to the master suite.
After stowing the ice cream in the freezer, Alexei shrugged out of his jacket and draped it over a chair. He strode toward the sofa and looked down at Shay. Wrapped up in a different blanket, she had her head propped up on a round pillow and watched an infomercial. She was so deeply burrowed he could barely see the side of her face. “What happened to the other blanket?”
“Stas made me hot cocoa, and I spilled some of it.” She tugged down the blanket and glanced up at him. “I’ll tackle the stain tomorrow.”
“Leave it,” he said with a wave of his hand. “You aren’t a housekeeper. You’re a guest.”
“For how long?” she asked rather bravely.
Alexei chose to ignore that question as Stas reappeared in the living room. “Were there any problems tonight?”
Stas glanced at Shay and seemed to be waiting for her to answer first.
She sat up slowly and shared what could only be described as a secret smile with Stas. “We had a nice time.”
“We’re both reality TV junkies.” Stas jammed his feet back into his shoes. “I think we can make this work.”
Alexei wasn’t so sure he liked the budding friendship between the pair. “I’m glad to hear it went well.”
“Do you want me to stay for the rest of the night?” Stas gathered up the plate and cups on the coffee table and carried them to the dishwasher. “I’m on your payroll now so you give the orders.”
“Try to remember that,” he muttered softly, already worrying that Stas might be trying to get too friendly with Shay. “Go home and get some sleep. I’ll need you back here by nine.”
“Night, Stas,” Shay called out as he walked her new bodyguard to the door.
“Goodnight, Shay.”
Alexei followed Stas into the hallway. “I spoke to Carlos, the night concierge, about our situation. You and only you will be allowed to come and go freely to this floor. Anyone that you bring with you has to be cleared through me. Any of Shay’s visitors need to be cleared through me also.”
“I understand.”
“In the morning, I’ll leave some cash in an envelope for your daily expenses.” Touching Stas’ shoulder, he said pointedly, “Whatever Shay wants, she gets. No questions asked.”
“No questions asked,” Stas repeated with a nod. “You can be sure of that.”
He watched the young street soldier get into the elevator before closing and locking the door and returning to the living room. Still wrapped up in the blanket, Shay hugged her knees and watched him as if curious to see what would happen next. In truth, he had no idea, but she looked to him for guidance and reassurance so he endeavored to be strong for her.
Toeing off his shoes, he left them behind the sofa and walked around to join her. He dropped down on the spot Stas had occupied earlier and tugged at the knot of his tie, loosening it and tossing aside the long length of striped silk. Working on the top buttons of his shirt, he said, “I went by the house and got some clothes for you. I boxed up the tools and projects on your table. I grabbed your laptop. Your jewelry is in my jacket,” he said, patting his chest as the memory suddenly hit him.
“Thank you,” Shay whispered with a soft, warm smile. “I really appreciate everything you’ve done for me.” Her mouth slanted with a frown, and she gestured to her forehead. “You’re starting to bruise.”
“Am I?” He touched the sore spot there and winced. “My head isn’t as hard as it used to be.”
“You probably should have gone to the emergency room for a CAT scan or something.”
“I’m fine. This?” He pointed to the small bruise. “I’ve survived much worse.”
“What will your employees think tomorrow?” She worried her lower lip with her teeth.
/> “Don’t do that. You’ll break the skin again.” He touched her wrist and welcomed the spark of heat that traveled through his fingertips. “My employees will think whatever they want to think, but they’ll keep their mouths shut and work.”
She shot him a perturbed look. “You shouldn’t be so harsh with them.”
“Selling cars is a tough business. They don’t need me to coddle them.” Alexei held out his hand, silently beckoning her closer. She placed her palm against his and yielded when he gave her arm a gentle tug. He expected her to slide closer and sit next to him, maybe even let him put his arm around her shoulders, but she stunned him by resting her head on his lap.
The sweetly intimate act made his heart do a wild flip. He wasn’t quite sure what he was supposed to do now. His need to make her feel safe and secure overwhelmed him. He grasped the blanket and pulled it up around her shoulders. For a moment, he held tight to the blanket before finally surrendering to the urge to brush his fingers through her silky hair.
“Alexei?”
“Yes?” He combed through her wavy locks from the crown of her head down to the very ends.
“What happens now?”
Wanting to banish that quaver of fear in her voice, he decided it was time to make his intentions clear. “What happens now is what I should have done months ago.”
“And what is that?”
He stroked her cheek and marveled at the flutter of her eyelashes. “I like you, Shay. I’m attracted to you, and I want you.” He trailed his thumb along her jaw. “I think you’re attracted to me. I think you want me.” He traced her full lower lip. “Do you, Shay?”
“Yes.” Her answer came breathlessly but without hesitation. “I want you.”
He resumed the steady combing motion, hoping it would lull her to sleep. Closing his eyes, he leaned his head back against the cushion and relaxed his tired, tight shoulders. In the morning, he would probably regret falling asleep like this, but right now, only a fire would force him to shift away from Shay. “Then, as long as you want me, I’m yours.”
Chapter Eight
When I woke up a few hours later, I blinked with confusion and glanced around in a disoriented fog. The dim light of a television illuminated a space that was definitely not my bedroom. More perplexing were the strong arms wrapped around my shoulders and holding me close to a warm, powerful and very male body.
Alexei.
I didn’t dare move as I tried to figure out how the hell I had ended up on top of him. Sometime after I had dozed off, he had stretched out across the long, wide sofa cushions. He had either dragged me on top of him or—more mortifyingly—I had crawled on top of him like a koala bear seeking heat and comfort.
Though my dating experiences included some serious heavy petting and wild make-out sessions, I had never, ever found myself in this position. I grew intensely aware of the hard, masculine form beneath me. The scent of his cologne teased me, and I wanted nothing more than to burrow in against him and inhale that intoxicating scent that was so perfectly him.
But I couldn’t do that. This wasn’t right. We hadn’t even shared a real kiss. I had no business sleeping on top of him with our legs entwined and our bodies lined up in a dangerous way. Embarrassed by the thought of him waking up to find us so dangerously entangled, I planted a hand on the back of the couch and started to push up as slowly and easily as possible.
“Don’t even think about moving,” Alexei warned in a gruff, sleep-roughened voice.
I was startled by how attuned he was to his surroundings, even in his sleep. “But I’m crushing you.”
A deep rumble of laughter escaped his throat. “Impossible.”
“This can’t possibly be comfortable for you.”
“I’ve never been more comfortable in my life.” He let his hand drift from my upper back along the bow of my spine and right down to the fleshy curve of my bottom. He gave my backside a gentle pat and then a playful squeeze. I sucked in a shocked, excited breath and tried not to hyperventilate as he touched me so intimately. “I think this might be my new favorite sleeping position.”
Alexei’s sensual, commanding presence left me trembling inside. I was beginning to understand why other women had eagerly agreed to be his mistress and to abide by whatever stipulations he had for occupying that role. He made me want things that had always frightened me. He made me want to throw caution to the wind and let him discover all the secrets my body had yet to share. I clenched my thighs together to assuage the pulse of heat building between them as I imagined his masterful hands roaming my naked body and making me cry out in pleasure.
He swatted my bottom, and I gasped. “I’m trying to get some rest, but if you keep squirming like that, I’ll have no choice but to take this new relationship of ours to the next level right here on this couch.”
Instantly, I froze. The mention of our new relationship perplexed and excited me. What did he mean by relationship? Was he offering me what he had offered countless other women or was he offering me something different?
I wasn’t sure I could accept the first possibility. When he had asked me if I wanted him, I had answered truthfully. I did want Alexei, but I wanted him my way and on my terms. I didn’t want to play his mistress game.
You don’t have a choice. Alexei is the only thing between you and bunch of racist thugs and one pissed off drug kingpin.
The advice Stas had given me went round and round in my head. If I could keep Alexei happy, he would take care of me. If I wanted something more than he was offering, I would have to either find a way to come to accept his terms or show him that I was worth more than some seedy arrangement.
“Shay,” he whispered sleepily. “Stop thinking and relax. It’s late, and we both need rest.” His arms tightened around me and his hand gently pushed my head back to the comfortable spot it had occupied against his chest. “Go back to sleep.”
I held my breath when his lips brushed the top of my head. Safe in his arms, I let my tired, overwrought mind shut down. The slow, even thud of his heartbeat under my ear lulled me to sleep again.
When I awoke the second time, I was alone on the couch. For a second, I panicked, thinking that Alexei had left without a word, but then I smelled coffee. Sitting up, I pushed aside the blanket covering me and combed my fingers through my unruly hair. The memory of Alexei doing the same thing last night made my stomach flutter.
I rose from the sofa and went in search of him. I had just walked into the master suite when the door to the bathroom was flung open suddenly. With only a fluffy white towel around his trim waist, Alexei strode out of the steaming hot bathroom. My brain misfired as I tried to take in all six plus feet of his deliciously sexy manliness. The well-defined muscles of his chest and abdomen were incredible. There were even more tattoos on his chest, arms and legs. Some were bleak prison pieces with a bluish tint while others were more elaborate and richly colored professional artwork.
As if he walked around half-naked in front of me every day, Alexei strode toward the garment bag resting flat on the bed. “You must have been really tired. You didn’t even move when my clothing was delivered.”
“Which minion brought that?” I asked with a teasing smile.
He grinned at me, and I swear my heart skipped four whole beats. “My housekeeper’s son.”
Taking a seat on the edge of the mattress, I watched him take out a charcoal black suit with a fine pinstripe and a sky blue shirt. When he produced a pair of boxer briefs, I glanced away. My eyes widened as I heard him drop his towel, but I kept my gaze fixed on the wall, refusing to indulge the overwhelming desire to peek at his nakedness.
It was as though Alexei had flipped some switch. Yesterday morning, we were friends, and our relationship had been strictly platonic. Now, the very air between us was sexually charged and sizzling. He wasn’t hiding his attraction to me or shielding me from his very flirtatious ways.
Desperate to find something to talk about that didn’t include his naked body that
was only a foot or two from me, I said, “I’m surprised you don’t keep more clothing here.”
“I’ve never spent the night the here.”
“What? Never?” I heard his legs swooshing against the fabric of his perfectly tailored pants and judged that it was safe to look at him again. “You have this ridiculously expensive apartment, and you’ve never slept in it?”
“I didn’t buy it for sleep,” he answered matter-of-factly while zipping his trousers.
“Oh. Right.” My face burned hot as I imagined what types of erotic delights kept him awake all night here. A pang of something that was far worse than jealousy stabbed at my chest. Memories of earlier that morning, of Alexei caressing my body and the way he had alluded to the physical relationship he wanted with me reminded me that I was wholly out of my depth here.
Didn’t he understand? Couldn’t he see that I wasn’t mistress material? I didn’t have the first idea of how to seduce him or please him. I didn’t fit the mold and I didn’t belong in a place like this. He was a man who strutted around daily wearing thousands of dollars in clothing and shoes. I was a girl who shopped the clearance racks and thrift stores.
Feeling inadequate, I tugged the bottom of the hoodie I still wore down around my knees. Thinking of how the women who entertained him here must have looked, I could only imagine what a disappointment I was in the cold light of morning with my mussed hair and ill-fitting clothing. He was probably used to silk lingerie and elegant robes and artfully arranged hair, not this hot mess I presented.
As if confirming my suspicion, he suggested, “You should shower and get dressed before Stas arrives.” Alexei slipped into his shirt. “We’ll have breakfast before I leave.”
“All right.” I pushed off the bed and gave him a wide berth as I headed for the bathroom.
“Shay.” He snatched my hand before I reached the bathroom door. With a little tug, he pulled me toward him. When he stepped into me, forcing our bodies into contact, I held my breath and wondered what would happen next. He cupped my face and trailed his fingertips over the bruise on my cheek and the healing split in my lip. “This looks better than I expected.”