“It’s fine.” I push the door open. I don’t know what he’s talking about because the place is spotless.
“Oh.” He blinks a few times. “My brothers are very good to me.”
“Brothers, plural?”
“Bratva means brotherhood. They are all my brothers. This was very kind.” He looks at me thoughtfully. “They knew you were coming tonight. Who told you where to come?”
“I called Story, and she told me she couldn’t do business with me because I’d broken your heart. I told her my heart was broken too, and I needed to see you before it was too late.”
Nikolai leans his forehead against mine. “I’m a lucky man.”
“I’m luckiest.”
The edges of Nikolai’s mouth kick up. “In a minute, I’m going to take you in my bedroom and fuck you blind, but first I think we need to talk.” He picks me up to straddle his waist again and carries me to an overstuffed armchair where he sits. “You have questions about what I am. What I do. I refused to answer them before, but I will answer anything now. One-time offer.” He palms my ass and squeezes, making it hard for me to concentrate.
But he’s right. I have questions that torment me about him.
But none of them come out. I don’t really want to know the specifics after all.
He helps me. “I have done many things for the bratva, Freckles. But we operate with a code. We don’t harm the innocent. We protect our own. We don’t use drugs or sell flesh. There’s some smuggling, a lot of tax evasion. Gambling and loan sharking, obviously. We use intimidation and fear to get our way in business negotiations but rarely actually have to deliver on the threats.”
I blink at him. Nothing he says makes me panic, but I realize my real fears haven’t been addressed. “Will you ever go to jail?”
He shakes his head. “Highly unlikely. Ravil is married to the best defense attorney in town. Besides, the cops have no reason to go after me.”
“Can you leave it? Would you ever?” I leave off the for me part because I’m making the demand. I just want to know if he’s locked in.
“Code says no, but two of my brothers are already halfway out. Our pakhan is unusually understanding. Arrangements can be made for anything, I believe.”
I unbutton the top of his shirt. “If you hadn’t met me, what would you have done to Zane?”
“I would’ve leaned on him until we came to a mutually agreeable solution,” he says. “Like him signing over the Mustang.”
I undo another button on his shirt.
“What else?” he asks. “What are you afraid of, Chelle?”
“I was afraid you only wanted me for sex.”
He clicks his tongue. “Here I thought that’s what you were using me for.”
I laugh—a relieved sort of belly laugh that releases all the remaining tension in my body. “Well, that’s true. But only because I didn’t think I could handle the bratva thing.”
“And now?” He arches a sexy brow.
“Now I feel better about it.”
“Move in with me.”
“Okay.”
His wide, white-toothed smile is a brilliant reward. “I want you to know my friends.”
“The bratva?”
“Yes. And their wives. The whole gang. You will like them.”
The possibility of belonging slides over and lands on my shoulders. Since my father’s suicide, I’ve felt so alone. Like it was just me and Zane against the world. No family or safety net, other than Shanna, who is also quite alone.
The prospect of becoming part of Nikolai’s tight-knit family feels like a return to home, even though I haven’t met them all yet.
“What else, little bunny? What do you need to know before I punish you for leaving me?”
My nipples tighten at his words. “Nothing,” I whisper.
His fingers tighten on my ass.
“What’s my punishment?”
His lids droop. “I haven’t decided yet.”
I roll my hips over his. “Wait,” I say. “Maybe one more thing.”
He pulls my hips to continue the motion I stopped, grinding me over his erection. “What is it?”
“You’re serious about us? Committed?”
“I’m all in, Freckles.”
I smile at him and crawl down onto my knees on the floor, working open the button on his pressed slacks.
“Mm. That’s a good start,” Nikolai rumbles.
I release his erection and grip the base to steady it for my mouth. “Why me?” I ask, the moment before I lick around the head of his cock.
He shivers at the contact. “Are you asking what I love about you, little bunny?”
“Mmm hmm.” I drag out the humming sound as I take him deep into the pocket of my cheek. His cock surges in my mouth, growing thicker.
He sucks in his breath and groans before responding. “I love… your golden lioness eyes. And your freckles. I love your fire and determination, especially because it comes in such a small, adorable package.”
I take him in and out of my mouth with long, slow pulls, drinking in his words and rewarding him for them.
He wraps his fist in my hair but doesn’t pull. “I love this long, thick hair. I love how buttoned up tight you are because it’s so fun when you finally let go.”
I take him deep to the back of my throat, concentrating on relaxing so I can take him deeper.
“I love the way you trust me. That you like to be spanked. I love when you dance around in your kitchen in your panties.”
“Whaff?” I pull off him and stare in shock. “What did you say?”
Nikolai has the grace to look rueful. “Did I mention my brother is one of the best hackers to ever come out of Russia?”
I straighten my back. “Are you telling me…” My mind reels as it puts the pieces together. “My Echo! Were you spying on me through my Echo?”
Nikolai catches my wrist and tugs it to his lips, kissing my pulse. “Just once. The morning after we made our deal.”
My face probably turns a shade of crimson based on how hot it gets. “Oh my God.” I try to cover it with my hands, but he catches my other wrist and holds it fast. “I’m so embarrassed.”
“That is the moment I fell hopelessly in love with you, Chelle Goldberg.”
“Oh God,” I moan.
“I’ll make you deal.” Nikolai’s eyes crinkle.
“What is it?”
“Give me a repeat show, and I’ll forget about your punishment.”
My lips twist into a rueful smile. “I might prefer the punishment,” I admit.
He laughs. “You would, wouldn’t you? How about this? Dance for me, and your brother’s slate is clean. I was going to make you restart your thirty nights.”
“I thought you were all in. Forever. No end date.”
“Oh, I am. But that doesn’t mean I won’t keep you as my slave forever.”
I laugh, happiness bubbling everywhere because the idea excites me to no end. “So which do you want, the dance or the blowjob?” I purr, dropping my gaze to his erection.
“Both.” He pulls his phone out of his pocket to boot the song up. “Dance for me, Freckles.”