Crossing the Line (15 page)

The moment Aleksei closed the door of their room, he threw their towels and his phone and sunglasses on the floor, pulled Katya into his arms and pushed her back against the wall.

“At last,” he whispered.

He caught hold of her jaw and dragged his thumb over her lips. The heat and scent and feel of him overwhelmed her. When he lowered his mouth and licked her lips, the sensation raced to her core and the breath caught in her throat. The touch of his tongue sent electric tremors shooting along her nervous system. She’d expected him to be rough and he was gentle. Expected him to force his tongue into her mouth and he didn’t, he waited. But his nips and flicks began to frustrate her beyond endurance and finally,
she
kissed
him
, a hard mouth-bruising kiss that made her heart pound
.

They shucked off their swimwear, still kissing, Aleksei sucking the air from her lungs. He felt so good under her hands, his muscles rippling, his skin hot and smooth. When she wrapped her hand around his cock, he groaned. “What are you doing to me?”

“I’m worried you have to ask.”

He let out a muffled laugh. The head of his cock was wet with silky fluid and she rolled her thumb over it. Aleksei groaned and used his thigh to part her legs.

Katya dragged sense into her befuddled brain. “Condom.”

He shuddered. “Don’t move.”

He was back before she’d caught her breath. He bent his knees and positioned his cock at the entrance to her body. She wanted him so much, it scared her. Aleksei lifted and thrust into her, and as she wrapped her legs around his waist, he pushed his cock as far as it would go inside her until they were pressed tight together, intimately joined groin to groin.

“You’re so beautiful,” he whispered. “So fucking beautiful.”

“I like your hair.”

He threw back his head and laughed, then began to drive into her, part-pinning her against the door, part-holding her. They both struggled to breathe, drawing air in noisy gasps. She could feel the need to come building inside her, the tingling sensations growing in her core.

“Open your eyes,” Aleksei said.

She forced them open. He was watching her as he fucked her, his dark eyes fixed on hers as he slammed into her. She contracted her muscles around him and when he let out a startled gasp, she did it again and his lips curved. A slight change of angle in his thrust and the pressure on her clit tipped her over. She clung onto his shoulders as orgasm rolled through her, sprinting down every limb, a torrent of sensation that made her shake. A moment later, she felt Aleksei come inside her, his cock swelling and jerking as he gripped her harder, and still they stared into each other’s eyes.

Aleksei slumped against her, pinning her to the door, his face buried in the crook of her neck. Katya caressed his back, danced her fingers over his shoulder blades and down his spine as his heart hammered its way into hers. This was more than just sex for her, but was it for Aleksei?

When he finally let go of her hips, she unwrapped her legs from his waist and disengaged. He pulled off the condom and dropped it onto a towel. His cock was still hard, glistening with his come and Katya wanted to lick it. She almost dropped to her knees, then lost her nerve.

“Don’t tell me that was just
nice
or I’ll slit my wrists.” Aleksei smiled.

Oh fuck, don’t let me fall in love.

What was more important? Her happiness or avenging the deaths of her family? Would they have wanted her to destroy her life trying to make things right? But could she live with herself if she hadn’t done all she could to make whoever had killed them pay? Against all expectations, Aleksei made her happy when she’d wondered if she’d ever be happy again.

Aleksei pulled her in his arms and kissed her. She almost fell into him, her tongue slipping into his mouth, licking, sucking. His heart rate climbed again as she explored the ridges and hollows of his mouth, twisting her tongue against his. He flatted his palms on her backside and pulled her even closer.

Something inside him was changing, some awareness of self had been challenged by this woman. His heart wasn’t a fortress. He kissed her back, possessed her with his mouth, wrapping himself around her. She tasted so sweet, felt so soft. Impossibly he felt himself hardening. She made him forget, forget to breathe, forget what he was. He shook with the intensity of his emotions and it fucking scared him.

“Your phone,” Katya whispered.

Her voice brought him part back to his senses. The familiar ring tone sounded at his feet. He bent and picked it up.

“What?” he snapped.

Katya raised her eyebrows and he mouthed, “Shower.”

He watched her backside as she crossed the room and groaned as he listened to what Viktor was telling him.

“Why can’t he come here later?” Aleksei asked.

“I don’t know why. Just meet him where he wants. I can’t afford for him to get pissed off.”

Aleksei cut off the call and followed Katya. He slipped into the shower at her side.

“The man I’m here to see can’t come to the hotel. I have to go and meet him in the city later. You can order room service or wait for me to come back.” He rubbed soap on her breasts.

“I’ll wait.”

He turned her to face the wall and nipped the junction of her neck and shoulder. “I can hardly bear to leave you.”

Aleksei listened as Katya tuned her violin before they left the room. Bruno and Sylvie were waiting by the elevators downstairs. Outside, multi-colored lights stretched between the trees and the tables were decorated with elaborate flower arrangements. There was a bar in one corner and a five-piece band playing on a small stage in another.

“Wait here while I speak to the band,” Aleksei said.

He left the three of them together while he checked where they wanted Katya to stand and how long she had to play.

On his way back, Hastings pulled him to his side.

“I’m going to have to spend the evening sitting down,” Hastings whispered. “And she can play the violin?”

Aleksei’s heart jolted. “Not her.”

Hastings glared. “Why not?”

Because she’s mine.
“She killed a man who raped her.”

“You’re joking, right?”

“She stabbed him. His finger marks are still on her neck.”

“Fucking hell.” He slapped him on the back and walked off.

Christ, hadn’t I made it clear at the pool?

He hurried back to where he’d left the three of them.

“You can play now. Whatever you like. The guy with the sax will tell you when to stop.”

He kissed her before she walked down the path. As if he’d let Hastings get his fucking hands on her.

She played like an angel and she was his.

Twenty minutes later, she was back at his side.

“You’re very good,” Sylvie said.

“Thanks.”

“She’s brilliant.” Aleksei took her hand. “Let’s go and put your violin away and then I have to leave.”

He held her hand all the way back to the room.

“It felt right tonight,” she said. “The notes flew from my fingers and dissolved into the sky. Sometimes I know I’m just going through the motions, but not tonight. My violin sang.” She gave him a shy smile. “For you.”

“Me?”

She nodded.

He groaned. “I don’t want to leave you.”

“You won’t be long though.”

“No more than two hours.”

Back in the room, he pulled her into his arms and kissed her. “Be good.”

“No watching porn on the TV? Tell me I can raid the mini bar.”

He was still laughing as he left the room.

Katya had just secured her violin in its case when the door opened. She looked up expecting to see Aleksei thinking he’d forgotten something, but it was Bruno. A trickle of unease slithered down her spine.

“Aleksei’s not here,” she said.

“I know. He wants to make sure you behave while he’s gone.” Bruno held up two sets of handcuffs.

Her heart banged against her ribs. “I don’t need to be handcuffed.”

“Boss’s orders. Into the bathroom.”

When she didn’t move, he grabbed her arm and yanked her through. She struggled, but it was more in bewilderment than fear. Bruno clicked one of the bracelets around her wrist, pulled her to the tub and pushed her down, securing her so that her hands were behind her back and attached to the taps.

“I don’t understand. I wasn’t going anywhere.”

Bruno ran his finger from her forehead over her nose to her chin, then took a tie from his pocket and fastened it around her mouth.

Before he left, he switched off the light and closed the bathroom door. The TV went on.

Katya’s confusion turned in a flash to rage. How dare Aleksei not trust her? Yet even in the midst of her anger, she could see the irony in that.

* * * * *

Ethan wondered if he had the time wrong when he arrived at Luisa’s. Only her car stood in the driveway. He wasn’t in the mood for this, his mind was on Katya, her dead relatives and the mutilated men. Where the hell was she? His gut told him he should be out looking for her and instead he was at a damn party.

But people he worked with would be there, including Frank, and Ethan needed to be seen as a team player.

Luisa came out as he was parking.

“Am I too early?” he asked.

“Just in time to help with the barbeque.”

He followed her into the house and handed her a bottle.

“Champagne! What are we celebrating?”

My arrival? Isn’t that what the party’s for?
“Whatever you like.”

“Come into the kitchen.”

A mountain of food covered the counter tops. Plates were stacked on the side, cutlery wrapped in napkins, glasses arranged in rows.

“You’ve been busy.”

She brushed a loose bang from her eyes. “All day spent cleaning, shopping, preparing salads and desserts, plus a long soak in the tub, and a run through of almost every item of clothing in my closet until I settled on this.” She took a deep breath. “Sorry, too much information.”

“You look very nice.” She wore a strapless, blue-flowered sun dress, her breasts straining under the material.

“What would you like to drink?” she asked.

“This is fine.” He picked up an O’Doul’s.

“You don’t have to stick to the non alcoholic stuff. It’s just that since you’re supposed to be fit for duty at all times, I didn’t want to be seen encouraging anyone to overindulge, at least not until Frank’s gone. Then we take the alcohol out of the closet.”

He laughed. “Why am I not surprised you’re so organized?”

“I like to have things under control, but I can’t handle the BBQ.” She squeezed his arm.

By the time the next guest arrived thirty minutes later, food was cooking and he knew Luisa didn’t plan to go to bed alone. She’d barely been able to keep her hands off him. A mixture of people from the office turned up, plus friends and neighbors. Noticeably no single women.

He introduced himself, meeting partners of his colleagues. Tom Davies’ wife, Deb, who looked about seventeen, had brought their new baby daughter and Ethan felt a tug of regret for the path his life had taken. Frank and Rita made an appearance at eight. Frank left Rita talking to Ethan while he went to get food.

“How are you enjoying being back?” she asked.

“Very much.”

“I hear you have a place on Sanibel?”

“A small one.”

“Frank’s promised me a house on Marco Island when he retires. I want somewhere quieter than Miami but still near the girls.”

He escaped details as Frank returned with two plates, only to be cornered by Luisa who tried to press a glass of champagne into his hand.

“No, thanks. I’m avoiding alcohol.”

“You don’t have to drive back.”

He didn’t say anything.

“I mean, I have an extra bed. You’re welcome to stay.”

Having a relationship with someone he saw most days at work was a bad idea. Too awkward when it finished.

Someone he didn’t know came up and whisked Luisa away and he was relieved. She was warm and pretty but she didn’t make his heart jump. Not like Katya.
Christ, why didn’t I keep a better eye on her?
One look at her uncle and he’d known he was trouble, yet he’d still let her walk away.

Frank and Rita left at nine and he edged for the door. “I’m afraid I have to leave.”

“Don’t.” Luisa clutched his arm. “We can break out the real drinks now, plus you haven’t had dessert and I spent all day making them.”

“Okay, but just dessert.”

Once Frank had left, the conversation turned to money. Ethan overheard Tom bewailing his debts and the cost of a baby. The basic salary for a new agent wasn’t high and it was a source of concern that when the Bureau was expanding to fight terrorism, inadequate screening of an applicant’s financial position could lead to corruption. In large cities like New York, many new agents couldn’t swing a home near their office. A two hour commute might be the maximum allowed yet all they could afford.