I’d never be that attached to someone.Never.
We’d gotten back to the island around one o’clock. Alex had beelined for his and Marisha’s condo. I’d walked the beach, restless and not wanting to give up on a quick fuck. But, in the end, I dragged my sorry ass back to the suite alone, anger and annoyance swirling about me like a violent storm cloud.
It was nine-thirty in the morning now. Katya had already brewed coffee. I didn’t want to be awake yet, lying in bed and staring at the ceiling in bemusement at what my life had become.
If Alex and I were still bosom comrades in pursuit of thick thighs and warm, wet adventures, then I would still be buried under the covers and exhausted from a marathon of club-hopping pussy. Hell, if shit was back to normal, then I’d be so hungover that I’d sleep until two or three in the afternoon. And I’d need even longer than that to rest my dick after filling every available hole in sight while partying.
I heard the door to the condo open and close with a soft click, and I finally decided I’d get the hell out of bed. Now that Katya was presumably gone. I strode out, boxers slung low on my hips and otherwise naked. I didn’t even bother to brush my hair, and it fell sloppily across my forehead.
So, given my careless appearance and genuinely bad mood, I wasn’t happy to see Katya still standing in the kitchen, her manicured nails clicking against the countertop as she sipped at a mug of steaming coffee.
“Morning,” she clipped, eyeing me over the fog of her beverage, “you look...less than fresh.”
“I thought you’d gone,” I muttered, irritated. My right hand lifted and its fingers rushed through my hair without my consent. It was a physical, unstoppable reaction to seeing Katya standing there--looking picture fucking perfect in a crimson halter top and high waisted jeans that hugged her every curve like they were painted on her body. “You’re going to be hot in that,” I muttered sullenly, wishing that she’d go change into something unattractive. Not that anything could look unattractive on Katya. She’d make a burned paper bag look like haute couture.
“Obviously,” she smirked, giving me a quick wink before setting down her mug. She leaned down against the counter, propped up on elbows, making sure her ass in the tight jeans was on full display as I moved towards the fridge for a bottle of water. The space was narrow enough that I brushed against her as I opened the door. She pressed back into me, gyrating her hips just enough to give me a rush of feeling down to my dick.
“Should you be flirting with me or saving your charms for the men your parents are auctioning you off to?” I turned around, speaking casually, and unscrewed the top of the glass bottle. It was natural Fiji spring water, only the best for the Vasiliev suites.
“They are not auctioning me off.” Katya bristled, standing upright and crossing her arms over her chest. I might look like shit, and she might look like a goddess, but I was still top model when it came to pissing her off. I smirked, hungrily eyeing her body, though trying to do it in a way that wasn’t fuck boi obvious.
After my shit night, it felt good to get a rise out of her, even though at the same time, the pleasure was mixed with a sense of guilt that I didn’t quite understand.
“Yes, they are,” I insisted, chugging down the water and swiping a hand across my mouth. “Whoever can do the most for the family and for the business, they get a shot at you. If that’s not auctioning you off, then I don’t know what is.”
“You’re a bastard,” she sniped, and I was taken aback to see dampness in her eyes. She blinked rapidly, steeling herself against whatever emotions were reeling through her.
I stared at her, the grin on my face fading away. “Look, I’m--” I began to apologize, but I only got the two words out before she turned and stomped away from me. She grabbed her purse off the console table next to the door, opened it in a rush and caused the knob to slam into the wall when she released her grip. Before she exited, the nearly nonexistent back of the halter top giving me visions of her perfectly carved golden back, she whirled around and looked at me.
“You know what, Nik. I think you’re more scared than I am. Scared of the future. Scared of having to marry someone and used as a pawn to advance the family business. And it’s not just my father forcing you into it, or your mother. Not even your family loyalties. It’s your best friend. Remember that. You’re terrified,” she continued, “because Alex’s role is changing. He’s coming into his own and leaving you behind. And what good are you? Just a soldier in his army.”
“You’re goddamn right I’m scared,” I kept my tone even, letting a hint of humor at her ferocity seep into my words, even though honestly? What she said had hit me in the center of my black heart. “I’m scared of having to screw one piece of ass for the rest of my life. Hell, I can’t imagine what your would-be husbands are feeling. You, forever?” I stalked towards her, satisfied that she stood frozen waiting for me to approach. “Would be my worst fucking nightmare.”
Just last night, we’d been drinking and flirting and talking about friends with benefits. Just last night, I’d thought about what it would be like to jump off the proverbial cliff and take her with me. I wanted to fuck her, badly. Even now, our bodies hummed as we stood so near to each other. A mixture of hate and lust and the mutual fears we both held in regard to the future.
Katya came up on tiptoes, tilting her face so that her mouth hovered over mine. I raised an eyebrow and looked down at her with a bored expression.
“Me, forever?” she purred out seductively, and I could tell that she’d regained her composure. The fire between us still burned, but she was done letting me taunt her. “You should be so lucky, Nik. Alex told me what our mothers want for you. What was it again? A fat, amiable Russian from the old country. Preferably one with birthing hips,” she laughed.
“That’ll never happen,” I growled, reaching out and tugging her to me, the silky halter top bunching around her front, revealing her sides and the slightest curve of breasts underneath.
“Oh, it’ll happen, Nik. If Mother Markov has made up her mind…” she let her voice trail off, leaving me to consider the possibilities, a smirk on her beautiful face.
I glared at her, furious because I knew she was probably right and turned on because she was so goddamn sexy right now.
“You better get all the pussy while you still can, Nik, because your days of beautiful women are over.” And then she closed the space between our mouths, kissing me softly.
My hands went to her waist, my dick hardening between us...and then she bit the shit out of my lower lip.
Again.
I sputtered, pushing her roughly away. And she laughed viciously, throwing her purse over her shoulder and sauntering out of the condo. She was proud of herself.
But I’d make her suffer.
“That’s the second time you’ve bitten me, Kitty Kat,” I called after her, “Payback’s a bitch.”
She laughed again and disappeared from view.
