“It doesn’t hurt as much as I thought it would.” Gazing up into his handsome face, I let myself wonder what it would be like to wake up like this every morning, to sit in bed and watch him dress, to have breakfast together, to have his warm, possessive hands on me.
“I should apologize for the way I groped you this morning when I was half-asleep,” Alexei said, “but I don’t think I will. I think you understand the sort of man I am. I could pretend to be someone else but that’s disingenuous. I won’t have lies between us.”
“It surprised me,” I admitted, “to have you touch me like that when you’ve always been so careful to not touch me.” Feeling brave, I placed my palm against his bare chest. “But I liked it.”
“Good.” He dipped down and teased me with ticklish kisses he pressed along the curve of my throat. “You need to understand that you are in control of this part of our relationship.” His hand moved down my spine until it rested on my lower back. “Until you’re ready, I’ll wait.”
I leaned into him, resting my cheek against his hard chest, and closed my eyes. I wanted to tell him that I was ready now, that I had waited long enough to experience everything he had to offer, but I knew that it wasn’t the right time. We were both still reeling from last night’s traumatic events. We needed some time to figure out what this was.
Very slowly, I stepped out of his embrace and walked over to my suitcase. I wasn’t quite sure what I would find inside but I was pleasantly surprised to see what Alexei had packed. After choosing some comfortable yoga pants, a long-sleeve tee and underclothes, I grabbed the small selection of toiletries and locked myself in the bathroom.
My one indulgence every morning was a long shower, but this morning I wanted to have more time with Alexei before he left for work. Knowing the hours he kept, I probably wouldn’t see him again until well after dark. As I showered and changed, I made a short list of questions I needed answered. Without a blow dryer at hand, I wound my damp hair into a loose coil, secured it with a hot pink elastic band and left the bathroom.
Alexei was plucking piping hot English muffins from the toaster when I found him. He flashed that sexy grin of his, the one that made my knees week, and gestured for me to take a seat at the island. “We can eat at the formal dining table, if you prefer.”
I hopped onto a chair and picked up the glass of orange juice waiting for me. “No, I like this.”
He dropped an English muffin onto my plate of scrambled eggs and fresh fruit and walked to the other end of the island to grab my purse. He brought it back to me. “Your phone ended up under my seat. I found it last night when I got back from the trip to your house. You had some missed calls.”
Anxious to hear from my sister, I snatched my phone out of my purse and scrolled down the screen. There was only one message from Shannon.
I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.
She was sorry? Feeling uncharitable and angry with my older sister, I wasn’t ready to accept her apology. She had nearly gotten me killed—and for what? Money? It was ridiculous and horrible.
But I still loved her. No matter what mistakes she had made, she was my sister, and I loved her.
Call me. I need to know you’re okay.
There were more than a dozen messages and seven missed calls from Kylee. By the looks of them, she was freaking out. Not wanting her to get the cops involved and make things worse for me or Shannon, I hastily composed a text and hit send.
I’m okay. I snuck a glance at Alexei who was busy stirring creamer into his coffee and smiled at the thought of using Kylee’s nickname for him. The Russian fox saved me. I’ll call later with details.
As if she had been waiting for my answer, Kylee zipped back a message only a few seconds later.
OMG. I was so worried. You sure you’re okay?
Yes. I’m fine. Really.
Call me. ASAP.
I will.
“Is everything okay?” Alexei stabbed at his eggs. “I don’t want to pry into your personal business, but if the police become involved…”
“No, everything is fine. It’s just Kylee. She’s my best friend. We worked together last night. I guess she got back to CleanRite and saw my busted up car and really freaked out. She went by the house this morning, and I wasn’t there so she assumed the worst.”
“Invite her over. Let her see that you’re safe.” He sipped his coffee. “We’ll put her on the visitor list downstairs, but she has to come alone.”
I played with my fork as I considered the authoritarian tone he had just used. Maybe it was better to just get all of the uncomfortable questions out of the way. “Alexei, am I your mistress now?”
“Yes.” He eyed me over the rim of his coffee cup. “Unless you’ve changed your answer from last night?”
“No.”
He put down his cup and studied me. A vulnerable expression flashed across his face. “But?”
“But I don’t know what you want from me or what you expect from me, Alexei.” Clenching my fork, I admitted, “I don’t know how to be a mistress.”
He pried the fork from my hand and slowly unfurled my fingers. “What I want is you, Shay.” He stroked my fingers. “I’ve wanted you, just as you are, since that night I took you home. If you only knew how hard it’s been for me…” He clasped my hand and gave it a squeeze. “All I want is for you to be happy. That’s it.”
“Nothing is that simple, Alexei.” I wanted to believe it could be, but I had seen enough heartache in my life to know better. “You’ve offered me sanctuary, and you’ve put your life on the line for me. I’m so eternally grateful for that, but I don’t want you to think that I’m here with you now only because of that. I don’t want you to think that I’m trading myself—my body—for safety.”
“I don’t think that, and if I did, I wouldn’t be here. I don’t want to take advantage of you. I don’t want to hurt you or make you feel used. I offered my help freely. You can say no to this arrangement of ours at any time, and I’ll still make sure you’re protected.”
He seemed to be intent on making that point very clear to me. He wasn’t asking me to pay for safety with sex. He was giving his protection freely because we were friends and because he cared for me. I would never be able to adequately thank him for what he had done. Alexei had willingly put himself in extreme danger for me.
“As for what I expect from a mistress? The rules are simple.” Alexei lifted my hand and kissed each of my fingertips as he ticked off his rules. “You will not have any male visitors in this apartment. Period. You will not have any overnight guests in this apartment without clearing it with me first. You will not smoke or take drugs. You will not work. You will be available to me whenever I call.”
It took me a few seconds to take all of that in and process it. Indignation swelled within me. “I’m not giving up my work, Alexei.”
He seemed surprised that I was pushing back so quickly. “I don’t want you cleaning floors or waiting tables anymore. Your handbag business is different. In fact, I want you to put your full focus on it.”
“But how am I supposed to support myself? I have school loans. My car was probably totaled last night. I have health insurance costs and—”
“The car is easy enough for me to replace, and I’ll take care of your monthly expenses.”
The thought of Alexei paying for my living expenses made me so uncomfortable. “Alexei, I’ve been working and supporting myself since I was, like, sixteen.”
“And it’s high fucking time you got a break,” he grumbled roughly. Reaching out to touch my cheek, he urged, “Don’t fight me on this. Let me take care of you.”
It was a tempting offer, one that I would be stupid to cast aside in my current predicament, but a lifetime of broken promises had taught me to be wary. I desperately wanted to pursue a relationship with Alexei, but I had to be careful. He was obviously a man used to getting his way in all things.
“Look at you,” he said with a faint smile. “You’re so grim. Is what I
’m offering really so bad?”
He was trying to tease but I sensed he was hurt by my reaction. Taking his hand between both of mine, I held his gaze. “This isn’t easy for me. My past…”
“I know,” he murmured. “I know.” He seemed to truly understand my wariness. “Just give me a chance to show you that I can be trusted to come through for you.” He leaned in and brushed a tender kiss to my cheek. “Always.”
My skin was still alight with the tingling pressure of his lips when he put my fork back in my hands and urged me to eat. While we had breakfast, he talked to me about the building’s amenities and the nearby shops.
“But I don’t want you going out by yourself,” he warned before finishing his coffee. “Stas will be following you like a shadow. That’s non-negotiable.”
“Until?” I pushed grapes around my plate with the fork.
“Until I say it’s safe,” he replied matter-of-factly and polished off his orange segments. Pushing away his plate, he said, “We need to talk about your sister.”
I really didn’t want to talk about Shannon. I feared what Alexei would say, but there was no way around it. “All right.”
“If your sister is smart, she’s already crossed two or three state lines. If she’s not, if she’s still in Texas, she’s in a lot of trouble. That means you’re in trouble, and I can’t have that.” He tapped his fingers against the granite. “Your sister is not welcome in this building. Frankly, I would prefer you have zero contact with her, but I know that’s impossible for you.”
“I’m not cutting my sister out of my life, Alexei.”
“I won’t force you to rat your sister out to Nikolai or Mueller or Lalo, but I have to put my foot down when it comes to seeing her again.”
“Alexei, she’s my sister. She’s all the family I have. You’re asking to turn my back on my blood.”
“I’m asking you to be smart and to help me keep you alive,” he countered. “I know what I’m asking is difficult and it hurts—but you have to do it. Shannon made her decision when she chose to help Ruben with this scam. Don’t let her put all that guilt on you when she’s the reason this is happening. You’re just reacting to a bad situation in the best way you can.”
“She’s my sister,” I reiterated. “She’s all I have left.”
Alexei started to say something but then he clamped his mouth shut. A second later, he finally said, “Whatever happens with Shannon, you are not alone. I’m here for you.”
“Until you get tired of me like you did your other mistresses,” I replied in a quiet but firm voice. It was a petulant thing to say, and I instantly regretted it. Alexei’s head snapped back as if I had smacked him. In a way, I had, only I had used words instead of my hand.
Before I could apologize, he was pushing out of his chair and gathering up our dishes. “Stas will be here any minute. I need to finish up some last minute arrangements for him.”
“Alexei…”
“We’re fine, Shay.” He had his back to me as he dropped our plates and silverware in the dishwasher. “You should unpack and get settled.”
Not at all used to being dismissed like a naughty child, I nevertheless slid off my chair and returned to the master suite. It didn’t take me long to unpack my one suitcase or the two boxes of tools and materials. I was examining the handbag I had been working on yesterday when Alexei appeared in the doorway of the bedroom.
“Stas is here.” He leaned against the frame. “I need to leave.”
Not wanting him to leave with all this tension existing between us, I set aside the handbag and crossed the bedroom. “Alexei, I’m sorry about what I said.”
“Why should you be sorry? You didn’t say anything untrue. I did get tired of the other women before you. Six months? Seven months? The flame burned out, and I sent them on their way.”
His description of his earlier relationships caused a painful clenching sensation in my stomach. Was he trying to tell me that I shouldn’t get too comfortable with him? That we were already running the clock on the expiration date for our new relationship?
He shoved off the frame and closed the short distance between us. “Do you know the friendship I’ve had with you is the longest I’ve ever shared with any woman? We’re closing in on twelve months, Shay.” He eyed me curiously. “All this time, you’ve had me right in the palm of your hand, and I’ve never even kissed you properly.”
That big, warm hand of his cradled my nape, and he slowly lowered his face, all the while searching my eyes as if looking for a sign that he needed to stop. Just before his lips touched mine, he whispered, “Is this all right?”
I clutched at the lapels of his suit jacket and lifted on tiptoes to meet his descending mouth. “Yes.”
Our lips met cautiously, but Alexei quickly took command. Eyes closed, I clung to his powerful frame and reveled in the wicked, wicked way he kissed me. When his tongue flicked against the seam of my lips, I answered his silent plea for entrance by shyly touching my tongue to his. He groaned, the low, rumbling noise reverberating through me, and tugged me tighter to his body.
With a little pressure, he guided me toward the closest wall. Trapped against his hard chest, I surrendered to his sensual onslaught. I slid one hand to his shoulders and combed the fingers of the other through his short hair while he plundered my mouth, taking and taking until I was shaking and breathless. The ache between my thighs left me quivering with need.
I shuddered as Alexei kissed the fingertip bruises on my throat and then skimmed his lips along my jaw. He claimed my mouth one last time and traced my swollen pout with his thumb. “I’ll see you this evening. Stay inside with Stas, and you’ll be safe.”
“I will.” Still a bit dazed from his kisses, I sagged against the wall. He backed away slowly and left the bedroom. Trying to get my racing heartbeat under control, I shook my head and touched my tingling mouth.
What have I gotten myself into now?
Chapter Nine
“Boss, you have a visitor waiting in your office.” Audrey, one of the weekend receptionists, greeted him with a cup of coffee and a stack of messages. “It’s An Trinh.”
An, the eldest daughter of Mr. Lu, the well-known importer and not so well-known underworld don, ran the legal side of her father’s business empire. She was very highly respected around the city and ran in some of his social circles. In a few short weeks, they would begin serving on the board of directors for the Chamber of Commerce, and both had entertained the idea of putting together an organization to support small businesses owned by minorities and immigrants.
But why would An be in his office this early on a Saturday morning? “Did you offer her coffee or tea?”
“Yes, sir. I made sure she was comfortable.”
Taking the coffee and messages, he gave Audrey a few quick orders for the morning. “Send one of our tow trucks to CleanRite to pick up a car from the lot. They’ll know which one it is when they see it. Have them take it to Merkurie Motors. Give the crew at Merkurie a call so they’ll know to expect it. Make sure they know I’m handling all the estimates and bills.”
“Yes, sir.”
He handed her his key fob. “Will you please grab the handbag and wallet on the front seat of my SUV? And bring me a new hire packet, too.”
“For a salesman?”
“No, for one of the hourly positions.” He needed to get Stas on the payroll by the end of the day. “After you’ve brought me the box and the packet, hold my calls until I’m finished with my meeting.”
“Yes, sir.”
Upstairs, he entered his office and found An sitting in one of the chairs across from his desk. Lithe and willowy, she eyed him with what could only be described as cool disdain. He didn’t let her expression intimidate or concern him. In all the years he had known her, she had never once smiled.
“Good morning, An.” He shut the door and shifted the items he held so he could shake her hand as she rose from her chair. “Did we have a meeting on the schedule???
?
“No.” Her bony, fragile hand was cold in his, but she had a strong grip. He had a feeling men underestimated her all the time—and suffered for it. “But I thought this needed to be dealt with face to face.”
“All right.” He moved behind his desk and took a seat. Before he could ask her what they needed to discuss, she retrieved an envelope from her purse and tossed it onto his desk. He opened it and found an invoice for a new security system. Confused, he asked, “What is this?”
“The next time you want to take a bat to a bunch of thugs I suggest you check for security cameras.” An shook her head and played with the elegant gold band encircling her wrist. “You’re damned lucky that young kid with you knew the dishwasher boys who were working last night. They disabled the system before the police could get their hands on it. Unfortunately, their method of disabling was permanent.”
His stomach pitched at the mention of police. “I forgot the restaurant was under your family’s control. I didn’t mean to make trouble for you or your father, especially not now when he’s so ill.” Alexei hadn’t heard any news about the old man’s fight with cancer. “How is he?”
“He’s stubborn.” She clearly didn’t want to talk about it. “Look, I despise John Mueller and his ilk so I’m going to turn a blind eye to the mess you made in our parking lot. What really concerns me is the way you put yourself at risk.” She tut-tutted at him. “You’re smarter than that.”
“The circumstances were extreme.”
An actually smirked at him, her primly set mouth quirking up just a bit. “They usually are when a woman is involved.”
“I can’t argue with that.” Not wanting any bad blood with An or her father, he offered, “I am truly sorry for last night. I know how hard we all try to keep our illicit connections clear of our legitimate businesses. I should have contacted you, in person, to apologize.”