"Don't go far,malysh." The endearment rolled off his tongue like honey, sending an involuntary shiver down my spine despite my embarrassment. Whatevermalyshmeant, the possessive tone made the message crystal clear. I wasn't going anywhere.
I closed the door with a soft click, leaning against it as my heartbeat gradually slowed from "cardiac event imminent" to merely "mildly panicked."
The guest room was like everything else in Nicolai's domain—opulent, masculine, and intimidating in its perfection. A king-sized bed dominated the space, draped with charcoal-colored linens that probably cost more than most people's monthly rent. The walls were a deep navy, adorned with what looked like original artwork—not prints—of snow-covered landscapes and forest scenes.
Bear art. Of course.
A plush rug cushioned my bare feet as I padded further into the room, still clutching my shirt against my chest like it might shield me from the absurdity of my situation.
Twenty-four hours ago, I was being kidnapped by O'Rourke's goons. Now I'm having mind-blowing sex with a bear shifter crime boss who referred to me using Russian endearments.
Life came at you fast.
Voices drifted through the door, and my curiosity got the better of me. I tiptoed back, pressing my ear against the wood.Eavesdropping—a lifelong bad habit that had saved my ass more times than I could count.
"—electronic manipulation ability," Nicolai was saying, his voice calm and controlled. "It's triggered by intense... emotional states."
"Emotional states," Yuri repeated flatly. "Sir, with all due respect, the entire building's security system went offline. The elevator stopped between floors. Three guests were trapped in the restaurant bathroom when the electronic locks malfunctioned."
I winced.
Oops. My bad. Again.
"The situation has been handled," Nicolai replied, that boss-tone firmly in place.
"Your bear was..." Yuri's voice rose slightly before dropping to a hiss I had to strain to hear. "And the boy did... to the electronics?"
I had to press a hand over my mouth to stifle a laugh, picturing the stoic Yuri's face as he tried to tactfully discuss his boss's sex life.
I mimicked what I imagined to be his expression—eyebrows drawn together, mouth pinched like he'd bitten into a lemon, eyes desperately trying to look anywhere but at the disaster zone that was once a kitchen.
"Precisely," came Nicolai's unruffled response. "Which is why I need you to implement countermeasures. If his abilities can affect our systems this strongly, imagine what O'Rourke could do with him."
I sobered at that. He wasn't wrong. O'Rourke had been hunting me for months, ever since discovering what I could do. The thought of being forced to use my abilities for his organization—having no control, no choice—was a nightmare I'd been running from.
"We'll upgrade the security protocols," Yuri agreed, his voice retreating down the hallway. "And sir? Perhaps consider... activities... away from critical infrastructure in the future."
I snorted.
Sex with me now came with safety warnings.
Fantastic.
Moving away from the door, I finally pulled my shirt on and took stock of the rest of the room. A digital clock by the bed flashed "88:88" in angry red numbers.
The temperature control panel on the wall cycled randomly between Celsius and Fahrenheit. Even the fancy sound system built into the ceiling occasionally emitted static-like bursts.
I really had done a number on this place.
The bathroom was just as luxurious as the rest—marble countertops, glass-enclosed shower big enough for two—or one bear shifter—fluffy towels that probably cost more than my laptop. I splashed some water on my face, avoiding my reflection. I wasn't ready to see what I looked like after being thoroughly ravished on a kitchen island.
When I emerged, Nicolai was standing in the center of the room, wearing only a pair of loose pants that hung low on his hips. The sight of his bare chest—all sculpted muscle and olive skin—momentarily short-circuited my brain.
Damn. That happened.
That happened to me.
His expression was a fascinating mix of annoyance and satisfaction, like a cat who'd been interrupted mid-cream but was still very pleased with itself.
