His hand rose higher, sliding up the silky-smooth skin of my tanned thigh and my pulse jumped into my throat. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad. It wasn’t like I hadn’t considered it before now. In fact, I’d thought about it many times. Sex with Nikolai would either be the worst of my life or the best. He was my stepbrother in many ways; having grown up together and watching him develop from annoying best friend to my brother, to even more annoying man. And, God, there was no denying that we had intense chemistry.
His hand reached the apex of my thighs, my skirt covering his movements as his thick fingers stroked along my now damp seam and I gasped, realizing that maybe I did want this. Maybe I did want him, just this once. His fingers stroked back and forth over my panties, our gazes locked.
Yes, maybe we could just slip off to the bathroom. One quick…and then his hand was gone, and Nikolai was laughing heartily.
“So desperate for love, Katya,” he taunted, his eyes glinting in the fluorescent lights.
I stood up and raised my glass before throwing the remaining contents over him, but all he did was laugh harder as the small droplets of the two-hundred-dollar champagne trailed down his cheeks. All heads turned in our direction with raised eyebrows, questioning stares, and disapproving frowns, before looking away again. Everyone was used to mine and Nikolai’s fights.
“I hope you enjoyed that,” I hissed, leaning down close to him, making sure my ample chest was in full view. I watched his gaze drop to it, his pupils dilating as he stared mesmerized.What was it with men and breasts?“Because that’s as close as you’ll ever get to me.”
I turned and stalked away, heading to the bathroom, hating the sound of his deep laughter following me.
Chapter Three
Nikolai
The Hargrave yacht we’d boarded after landing on Viti Levu was owned by Eduard and kept in storage between visits. It was flamboyant and luxurious, and I almost hated to leave it when we docked again at the small private isle resort near Beqa Island.
But one look at The Royal reminded me that no yacht could compare to the open-air cabanas, infinity pools, and mouthwatering food prepped by the island’s award-winning chef. I could almost taste the coconut crab soup and the sesame crusted tuna filets as I dropped down to the wooden walkway leading towards the pale stretch of sand kissing the ocean.
Shoving my hands into my pockets, I didn’t wait for the others. I wasn’t technically part of the Vasiliev brood, and I didn’t feel like partaking in the kowtowing from the resort staff.
The Vasilievs came to Fiji once or twice a year, always staying at The Royal and buying out the whole place to the tune of nearly fifty thousand a night, and the staff rolled out the proverbial red carpet every time. Preferential treatment, gift baskets, complimentary spa visits and the best views on the island. Though, all of the views were fucking glorious. The company that owned The Royal knew of the Vasiliev name and how powerful and dangerous the family was, and they did their utmost to make sure that every time they came it was the best experience ever.
Yeah. I could stay here forever, if that were a choice. If I was able to choose a different kind of life. But I was born into the belly of the beast, so to speak. From the moment I was conceived, my future was set. As much so as Alexander’s and Katya’s future. Soldiers made soldiers.
As I strode towards the beach, I passed a line of smaller boats, available for patron use. I smiled boyishly at the sight of one in particular--theOcean Darling. It may as well be my own personal boat. I used it yearly, and the resort allowed me to store things aboard. Hell, I doubted anyone else used it throughout the year; I bet the resort was fearful of someone trashing it and upsetting their best clients. Being part of the Vasiliev entourage had its damn perks.
TheOcean Darlingwas a fifth of the size of the Vasiliev yacht, which was admittedly huge and took a decent crew to pilot but was still nothing to scoff at and was a hell of a lot faster, reaching fifty knots easily. Though if I really wanted speed, I’d opt for one of the resort’s powerboats. But the miniature yacht I favored had a two-tier deck, affording plenty of room to party and there was a radio room, bathroom and bedroom below. I’d made quite a few fresh memories aboard it last year, especially in that bedroom. What had their names been? The twins…
I smirked to myself.
Alumita and Florina. They’d been tall. Tanned. Black hair down to their asses. We’d spent an entire night on that small boat, bodies sandwiched together like there’d never be enough meat to satisfy their goddamn mayonnaise. I smiled at the memory and wondered briefly if they would be here again this year.
They’d not been my only conquests of course but fuck if they weren’t memorable.
No doubt, I’d be taking theOcean Darlingback out this trip. The Fiji nightlife was a pussy feast.
There was only one difference this vacation. I sighed, looking back down the dock towards where the hotel staff was already fawning over Eduard and company. Now when I went trolling for fucks, Alexander wouldn’t be with me. Life just wasn’t going to be the same. I didn’t see Katya on the dock, so she must not have gotten off the boat yet. I waited, wondering what was taking her so long, and then when she finally descended onto the dock, I let out a startled laugh. Though I wasn’t surprised at all.
It was justsoKatya.
She was wearing the itsy-bitsy dress her mother had forced her to change out of before the plane trip. Even at a distance, I could see the way Evelina’s face fell in displeasure. It was just like Katya to bring the dress with her and change into it on the yacht to piss her mother off.
Katya strolled like she was a model at fashion week, and the hotel staff parted to make way for her. She did a little twirl in front of her mother, as if to rub in the obvious, and then she made her way down the dock towards me, a grin on her face.
“Might as well not even bother with a bikini, Katya. That’s small enough.” My gaze roved up and down her body, a peek of hot pink panties showing as she walked.
“Would you like to see me get wet in this, Nik?” She came to a stop next to me, eyes hidden behind giant sunglasses, hair hanging down her back, lips damp from thick gloss.
I leaned forward, my own eyes obscured by dark frames. “Sweetheart, I’m betting you’re still wet from the plane. Unless you cleaned up after I touched you.” I lifted my hand, two fingers extended pointedly, and pulled down my sunglasses until they rested on the edge of my nose and I could peer at her. “I mean, you did run off to the bathroom all hot and bothered.
“If that’s the way you rev up your sexual conquests, Nik, I feel sorry for them. That barely qualified as foreplay.” She began walking away, her pert ass bouncing beneath the nearly sheer, tight spandex fabric, but then she paused and turned to look at me again. “You know, I’ve been trying to think of a birthday gift for you. It’s months away, but I like to shop early. A copy of the Kama Sutra perhaps? Sex for Dummies? A How to Guide on Women’s bodies? I mean, I just feel sorry for the women you’ve fucked. I can’t imagine your five seconds of dick service did anything except make them want their vibrators.”
I laughed loudly, tilting my head back and slamming my glasses back onto the bridge of my nose. “Katya, five seconds with me would be better than anything you’ve ever had.” I strode forward, still smiling, and leaned in close enough to whisper against her ear. “And trust me, you’d be begging for more.”
“I don’t beg,” she protested angrily. “Though I’d need to beg for something after you, since I’d be so damn unsatisfied.”
