He kneels down closer to me and I realize he’s going to try to pick me up. That would be a huge mistake. I’m not a small girl.
“Oh, please, you don’t have to do that, I’m really, I’m fine—"
He doesn’t listen, just picks me up in his strong arms and carries me bridal style towards the corner booth where he was sitting. His arms feel so safe and I get the faint whiff of something woodsy and spicy on his skin. I resist the urge to bury my face in his chest and breathe him in.
“Really, I’m ok, I’m sure I’m too heavy…”
He growls at me. The man holding me in his arms just growled at me. This is for sure not how I thought my day would go.
He sets me down and kneels before me, motioning for another waitress to come over. It’s Anna.
Just great.
Anna hates me. I accidentally flipped a tray of food she was carrying to a large table last week. It was a big party of people and they didn’t leave her a tip. Of course, I felt shitty about it, and I gave her part of my tips, but she’s still pissed. I get it. It still sucks though. It was an accident!
Anna glares at me but changes her demeanor entirely when she looks at… whatever his name is. Her eyes light up and she puts on her most saccharine smile.
“Yes? Can I help you, sir? I’m Anna.”
He looks at her like she’s an idiot and I won’t lie, I have to stop myself from giggling.
“Ice,” he says as he sweeps his eyes over my foot.
“Liza, what did you do this time?” Anna looks at me like I’m a disobedient dog who chewed up her favorite pair of shoes for the third time.
I open my mouth to explain, but she cuts me off and turns to the sexy stranger crouching at my feet.
“Sorry if she did anything do you, mister. She’s always making messes and hurting herself. You really don’t have to—"
Whiskey eyes growls. Again.
Does the man not know how to communicate with other humans?
Weirdly enough though, I find it kind of… charming. I don’t know. I like the idea that he’s just so done with whatever is happening that he literally cannot form words anymore.
“Ice,” he says again, glaring at Anna, whose eyes have gone wide in shock. “Please,” he adds after a few seconds, like his mom just told him to ask nicely.
I can’t help the giggle that falls from my lips. Anna storms away, and my growly stranger quirks one eyebrow up at me, no doubt asking why I’m laughing.
“You can’t just growl at everyone and get them to do whatever you want,” I say as I grin down at him.
He shrugs. “It’s working so far.” He stares right at me, his gaze so intense. And then his lip twists up into a sinfully sexy smirk and I have to squeeze my thighs together.
Holy. Shit.
This guy is gorgeous.
Anna returns with a baggy full of ice. She all but shoves it in my hands before turning on her heel and speeding away. I’m sure I’ll regret all of this later but being here with him is all I seem to care about right now.
He glares at her and then takes the ice from my hand. His free hand goes to the back of my calf and he gently lifts my leg with the sore ankle so it’s resting on his lap. I feel him ghost his fingers up and down the back of my leg, sending sparks across my skin, straight to my clit. My breath catches in my throat and I see his nostrils flare. Could I possibly be affecting him the way he’s affecting me?
When he sets the ice on my ankle, I wince and come crashing back down into reality.
“Sorry, dusha moya. I’ll have to remember to be gentle with you.” He says the last part mostly to himself.
“No, it’s ok. I’m really ok, you don’t need to do this,” I gesture at him and the ice.
He reaches out and catches my wrist right before I almost knock the glass of water sitting next to me on the table over.
Oh my god, could I be any more of a spaz? My cheeks burn red as he brings my hand down to my lap. I stare at his massive hand, still looped around my wrist. He caresses the skin on the inside of my wrist with his thumb. I swear I feel it everywhere on my body.
“What’s your name?” I blurt out like an idiot because I can’t take the weird tension in the air between us.
I look at him and realize he’s been staring at our joined hands as well. He finally pulls his eyes up to meet mine.
“Nikolai.”
“Nikolai,” I repeat. He clenches his jaw and I wonder what he’s thinking about. My growly hero with the intense eyes.
We just stare at each other for a few moments. I feel something click into place deep inside. Looking into his endless eyes, I am overwhelmed with longing, sadness, joy, ecstasy, pain, and loss, like I can feel every heartache he’s endured, every triumph he’s had, every obstacle he’s overcome, and every hidden tear he’s cried. My throat tightens at the flood of deep emotions.
Nikolai gently sets my foot down and gets up on his knees, in between my legs. He cups my face with both hands and wipes away my tears with his thumbs. I don’t understand what’s happening, just that it’s all too much. I feel like I’m drowning and the only one who can save me is Nikolai.
He rests his forehead on mine and whispers, “No crying, dusha moya, I feel it too. I feel you.”
Someone clears their throat and we break apart to see Anna standing beside us. “Look, are you coming back to work or not, Liza? We’re swamped, and this isn’t the time to suck face with your boyfriend or whatever.”
I feel Nikolai tense up as he turns his head towards Anna and glares at her, a low growl rising up in his throat. I put my hand on his chest, over his heart, and immediately feel him relax at my touch.
Another wave of emotion rolls over me at the thought of being able to calm this beast of a man down, that my touch holds power over him in any way.
He turns his gaze back towards me, waiting for me to make a move. I honestly think if I said, “Sic ‘em, boy,” Nikolai would attack and chase Anna out of the diner and out of my life for good.
“I’m ok, Niko. I should get back to work.” I turn to Anna and say, “I can wrap silverware and condense condiment bottles while sitting down, ok? My shift is over in an hour anyway.”
She rolls her eyes, which is about as much of an agreement as I think I’m going to get out of her.
Nikolai moves his hands to my hips and leans down so his nose and lips brush against my shoulder. Breathing me in, he slowly trails his lips up my neck, tickling and teasing my sensitive flesh. I close my eyes and lean my head back, giving him better access. I feel him place a tender kiss below my ear.
“No one calls me Niko,” He whispers.
My heart is pounding in my chest and I can’t seem to take full breaths. “Oh…” I mumble. “I’m sorry, I…”
“I like it.” He drags my earlobe through his teeth and I gasp at the sensation, wetness flooding my panties.
“Shh, Liza, those sounds are for my ears only. I can’t wait to hear all of your sexy sounds when I sink into you,” Niko takes a deep breath. “Fuck, I can smell your need for me. Soon, dusha moya, I promise.”
He kisses my temple. The mix of his dirty mouth and sweet kisses has me overwhelmed all over again in the best way possible. I’ve never understood what it meant to be sexually frustrated, but that is exactly what I am right now. I think I might have accidentally let out a little growl of my own, because Niko chuckles. “I feel the same way, beautiful. Be patient.”