"Hey," I said, feeling my cheeks rush with blood.
Kova's eyes moved down the length of my body in a sensual sweep. I wore a crimson designer dress with gold glitter scattered throughout the slinky material and matching high heels that made me feel like a goddess. The dress and shoes were one of Avery’s many outfits she’d packed for the trip. She had insisted I wear them tonight.
Kova's jaw flexed and his nostrils flared as he exhaled. I was pleased with the way he looked at me.
"You look beautiful," he said, but the compliment didn't reach his eyes.
"Thank you," I said, then I got right to the point since we didn't have much time. "So… You kept referring to tonight. Did you want to meet?"
"Ah, yes," he said, his jaw stiff as he swirled the ice in his glass. "I know you will not be returning to Cape Coral for a bit." He stared down at the ice avoiding my gaze. Kova kept his elbows locked to his sides and his stance unwelcoming. I wondered if he was worried about my dad seeing us. I almost regretted coming over here now. "We have a few things that were left unsaid that I feel need to be discussed. However, if you cannot get away for, say, thirty minutes, it is no problem."
I shook my head even though he wasn't looking at me. Why wouldn’t he look at me? His standoffish attitude left me with this unbearable feeling I didn't want to acknowledge. I didn't like the sudden twisting of dread in my chest.
"Avery will cover for me. What's your room number?"
That got his attention. Kova glanced up to tell me what room he was staying in, but he was so disengaged with our conversation that I had to say something.
"What's wrong?"
He looked straight into my eyes. "Nothing at all. Just catching up with a few old friends."
I nodded slowly, not believing him. I couldn't shake the unsettling feeling under my skin.
The back of my neck prickled with heat. Kova didn't say anything more. I offered him a shaky smile, but he didn't return it. There was an awkwardness hanging in the air between us. All I could do was turn on my heels and walk away.
I kept my head down as I walked toward Kova's hotel room. I couldn't shake the gnawing feeling in my stomach the closer I got to his door. My nerves were shot after the tense moment I'd had with him before I left the dinner. Kova hadn't looked my way for the rest of the night, and I had the strangest notion that he didn't want to see me.
Maybe it was all in my head and the paranoia was getting to me. We both were risking a lot to see each other. Longing filled me. I looked forward to the day when I didn't have to hide how I felt about him.
Avery had agreed to tell Xavier that I crashed early when she went to see him. She would mention the adrenaline wore off and I just wanted to sleep. It was the perfect cover, and it wasn't a lie. It was exactly how I felt. I was coming down from the high of being here, and I knew everything would start to settle in my bones soon.
Standing in front of Kova's hotel room, I looked down both sides of the hallway then hesitantly raised my fist to rap on the door. My heart pounded in fear of being seen walking into my coach’s room after midnight alone.
The door opened immediately and I stepped inside. Before I could say a word, Kova grabbed my elbow and kicked the door shut with his foot. He pushed me up against the wall then pressed his body to mine. With one hand gripping my hip and the other angling my jaw up to his, Kova's body was fiery to the touch and seething with something a little darker under the surface. My lips parted and I gasped as his cool lips slanted over my needy ones. His tongue slipped into my mouth and I moaned at the connection, fisting his shirt, desperately needing more of him.
I most definitely was being paranoid earlier.
My palms slid up his chest and around to cup the back of his neck. I rolled my hips against his and felt my body come alive. I relished the feeling of how strong and powerful he felt while I was in his arms. I gripped his shoulders, feeling his muscles contract under my fingertips. Kova was like a caged animal that needed to be freed. And I loved it.
Skillful lips made my knees weak. Kova devoured me with a kiss he was more than eager to give. His passion engulfed me and I reveled in the way his mouth moved over mine. The man was a damned good kisser.
Kova's hand slipped over the small of my back. A shot of electricity shot up my spine. His erection pressed into me and I sighed into his mouth.
Cupping my butt, Kova lifted me up, and I wrapped my legs around his hips. A cool breeze blew across us and I noticed my panties were damp. His palm slid into my hair, and his fingers curled around a chunk of the locks and tugged near the root. My chest pressed into his and I groaned in the back of my throat.
I broke the kiss, needing to breathe. "Kova," I said after drawing in much needed air.
My lips were swollen. His hungry mouth found my neck. I shivered as chills danced around my entire body. Kova clenched my hair and tugged it harder, exposing more flesh for his tongue to lick a wet trail to my ear. His teeth nipped my tender skin and I gasped before a sigh rolled off my lips.
"I've missed this," I whispered.
I rolled my hips in a smooth, slow wave against his hard body, silently begging for more. His hold on me tightened, and his cock teased the top of my pussy as I arched my hips back. I melted inside. I loved when he had control over us like this and still felt like an animal under my touch. Kova lifted his gaze to meet mine. His eyes gleamed. He peered at me in awe.
Kova studied my mouth. His palm cupped my jaw as his callused thumb dragged across my lower lip. I slipped my tongue out and wrapped it around his thumb. I drew it into my mouth and bit down. Kova’s nostrils flared. His body went rigid against mine. He pulled his thumb from my mouth, and my teeth cut into each crinkle of skin as he slipped out.
This intoxicating friction between us was too alluring, too dangerous. We hadn't been this close since the day we were ripped from each other. Now that we were alone, we were much more combustible than ever before.
"I wanted to do that the moment I saw you tonight in that red dress," he said, his voice raspy. "Kravisyata."
Why did my chest ache hearing those words?
His hand shook as he smoothed my hair behind my ear. One more glance into my eyes, then Kova stepped back from the wall and walked us over to the bed. He lowered me down. I sat on my knees and adjusted my linen cornflower blue shorts and white, flowery chemise.
"I didn't think you saw me until I walked up to you."
I lowered my eyes, not wanting to look at him, because the truth was, the way he’d acted toward me in that room made me feel invisible. Kova had treated me like a stranger, not someone I’d made a baby with.
Two fingers tipped my chin up until I was forced to meet his intense stare. He exhaled and I caught the faint scent of vodka on his breath. I wondered if he could hear how hard my heart was working right now.
Kova ran his tongue over his bottom lip, his front teeth dragging over the plumpness. "All I ever see is you. Everywhere I look, I am reminded of you. I knew the moment you walked into the room. I just did not expect to see you the way I did. And, honestly, what did you expect? I could not talk to you. I definitely could not have acted like we were more than coach and gymnast."
"That's why you ignored me? You didn't look my way once." I was still a little bothered over that. "I didn’t think you even thought about me. You acted like a stranger."