“I’m pregnant,” Evangeline said softly. “As soon as I realized I was carrying a child, Fyodor’s silly rule of taking bodyguards and letting him know my plans became entirely different for me. I realized why he felt he needed to know where I was and what I was doing. I wanted our babies protected.”
“Mitya seems just a little obsessed with knowing where I am,” Ania admitted. Her hand went to her throat and she stroked her fingers down it, just the way he often did. “He doesn’t just ask something. He makes demands. Everyone immediately complies with whatever he’s commanding. It isn’t good.”
“Is he unreasonable?” Evangeline asked.
Fortunately, a group of customers came in, their chatter sounding happy. Each time the door opened, a small bell announced more clients. This time a small cluster of five came into the shop, very clearly coming from an office close by, and behind them was a group of four men, all in suits, as well as two in jeans and tees. They’d dressed up their look with sports jackets, making them look as if they too had come from one of the many office buildings.
Evangeline and Ashe rose without a word and hurried to take their places behind the counter. Ania noticed the bodyguards blended into the room, reading from their devices, sipping at hot coffee or lattes, occasionally eating one of the pastries, but all were alert. They were spread throughout the room. Two were guards watching over Evangeline; two others kept Ashe in sight. Mitya had sent Vikenti and his brother Zinoviy. She always called Vikenti Vik and Zinoviy Zen. She didn’t really think he was Zen, but it made her want to laugh when she referred to him that way.
She sipped at her latte and wondered why neither Ashe nor Evangeline seemed resentful of their partners insisting on knowing where they were at all times. She felt like an errant child, asking permission to go to work or to the bakery. What of her street racing? Sometimes she was just so restless she needed an outlet. Racing had always been that for her. It also kept her reflexes sharp.
Ania found it strange that Mitya seemed to know when she was right at the point that she needed to grab the keys and go find a race. He appeared out of nowhere, and wherever they were, right then and there, he was wild and crazy. The sex was always unbelievable. He wrung so many orgasms out of her that sometimes she couldn’t even stand upright and would lie on the carpet naked, her breathing ragged, shocked at the way he could make her body feel. The need to race faded far into the background until she could barely remember she’d been thinking about it.
Did he know? Could he read her that easily? A suspicion came to her and she found herself frowning. Her female occasionally reached out to her, but rarely. She’d told Ania that her name was Jewel. When Ania was upset after seeing her father in the evenings, mostly because he was unresponsive then, she would murmur to her softly to comfort her. Often, Ania couldn’t even understand what the cat was conveying. She communicated in images rather than words.
Do you talk to Dymka? She knew Mitya’s leopard’s name meant “smoke” or “haze.” He’d been named that because he could move unseen among enemies. He was that stealthy.
At first, she was certain the female wasn’t going to answer. She seemed lazy, wanting to retreat back to the safety of their body. Ania didn’t think that was very fair since the leopard had gotten her noticed by Mitya in the first place.
Yes. He likes to talk to me.
A purring accompanied the images, as if Jewel was so enamored with the male leopard, she couldn’t think of him without a sensuous shiver.
It was all Ania could do not to roll her eyes, but at the same time, she understood. Mitya made her want to purr every time he touched her. Do you tell him when I’m restless? Or upset?
I do not like to see you upset.
That wasn’t an answer, and yet it was. Mitya’s leopard warned him when Ania was thinking of racing. Or maybe he didn’t know what she wanted to do, but he could guess. Was he using sex to manipulate her into doing the things he wanted her to do? She groaned and put her head down on the table.
“Ania?”
The voice was deep. Strong. Very familiar. She raised her head to find herself staring into Alessandro Caruso’s dark eyes. He was the oldest of the four Caruso brothers. She’d met him, over the years, quite a few times, but to her knowledge, she’d never noticed how good-looking he was. Her leopard, Jewel, was looking at him as well, making Ania’s heart kick into overdrive. If Jewel was interested, it meant she was looking at Alessandro because he was a shifter.
“How is your father, cara?” He asked, toeing around the chair Ashe had vacated and sitting down without an invitation.
Vik moved closer, and his phone was in his hand. She tried a slight shake of her head, to stop him, but she knew, no matter what, Mitya was being informed. For some reason, that set her teeth on edge. She didn’t need babysitters.
“He’s in hospice,” she admitted. “Thanks for asking. Most people have forgotten that he was hurt so badly there was no recovery.” But the Carusos always remembered. What did that mean? Did they have a stake in finding out if her father died? She needed to know.
“I’m sorry, Ania. I know you were very close to your parents. This has to be hard on you. My father informed us you were selling your business.”
She nodded. “It’s a lot of work for one person. Even with employees, overseeing to make certain every job is done to our standards is difficult.” She rubbed her temples without thinking. She had that headache again. Her skull felt a little too tight. Her skin hurt.
“My younger brother is very interested in cars. He’s more of a hands-on person, and driving is his passion. The moment we heard, Donato was extremely interested. That’s one of the reasons we came to San Antonio. I had a meeting with Jake Bannaconni and had hoped to get a meeting with you, but your lawyer said that wasn’t possible.”
“She was right. I rarely come into town because I don’t like being away from my father, but I hadn’t been out in a week and I just needed to breathe a little.”
“I understand, Ania. I’m really sorry. Is there anything our family can do to help?”
His eyes slid over her, and to her horror, there was speculation there. For a moment, his gaze drifted over her body and then back up to her face.
She shook her head and sipped at her cooling latte. She glanced up to see Vikenti and Zinoviy both looking grim. A burst of laughter came from a large table of customers who had just come in. Apparently they were celebrating a victory of some sort, and according to them, it was impossible to do without Evangeline’s chai cupcakes and Ashe’s amazing blended drinks.
Ania could hear so clearly. The rain outside. The conversations. Breathing even. The three men who had accompanied Alessandro into the bakery were seated at a table close by. Vikenti was between them and Ania on one side and Zinoviy was on the other. She knew by the way Alessandro was looking at her that he was interested. Twice, his dark eyes had changed to a very intense amber. At first there were golden flecks through the dark brown and then she was staring at something much more predatory.
She’d never been in this situation before and didn’t know how to handle it. She wanted information from Alessandro, as much as she could get, but she wasn’t very good at deceit.
“Do you do quite a lot of business with Jake?” Deliberately she used his first name, as if she saw the billionaire every single day and they were good friends. She’d met him twice. She worked out of his building. She didn’t run in his circles, but maybe the Carusos did.
“No, this will be my first time meeting with him. A mutual friend arranged it. Drake Donovan. He’s been a good friend to us for several years. He owns an international security company and is a close friend of Bannaconni. I had some business I wanted to discuss with him, but even our name didn’t buy us an instant meeting.”
He didn’t sound in the least bit annoyed over that, which surprised her. The Caruso family was a powerful one. Most peopl
e gave them whatever they wanted. She would expect that Alessandro and his brothers might be spoiled.
“Donovan’s did?”
He nodded. “Immediately. I didn’t have the same pull with your lawyer, though.” He laughed softly at his own joke but all the while his eyes were on her. Watching. Alert.
She really wasn’t feeling good. Her body felt hot. Her breasts ached. Every time she moved, her nipples rubbed in the lace of her bra, inflaming them. She held herself very still, but anxiety was taking hold. That and the persistent headache that only seemed to be getting worse because her skull was too tight. Her skin felt too sensitive. Between her legs, fire danced.
She couldn’t seem to breathe without breathing in Alessandro. She glanced up and suddenly the room felt like it was filled with too many men, all looking at her with lust in their eyes. She couldn’t stop what was happening to her body. In another minute she was going to have to rip off her clothes before her skin was rubbed raw.
The bell over the door rang and a chill went down her spine. Before she looked up, she knew exactly who was walking through the door. Deep inside, her female leopard jumped, as if she were trying for freedom. Ania lifted her lashes and her gaze instantly collided with Mitya’s. There was no expression on his face. None at all. But he looked ruthless. Dangerous. Exactly what he was. He didn’t try to hide the killer in him. His eyes were dark blue. Flat. Cold. The eyes of a predator. His gaze moved from her to Alessandro.
Automatically she followed his gaze. Alessandro had gone on alert immediately. His breath hissed out and his face was a mask as well. She could see the golden flecks moving through the dark brown in his eyes, his cat close.
Her breath hitched in her lungs. She had no idea what to do. Bodyguards spread out. Mitya strode straight to her table, not even acknowledging Evangeline’s greeting. He used long, purposeful strides. Ania attempted a smile, but her heart was beating like crazy and she could barely breathe.
He held out his hand to her, still looking at Alessandro. “You’ll have to excuse my fiancée.”
She rose. Alessandro did as well. “Mitya, this is Alessandro Caruso. Alessandro, Mitya Amurov.”
Alessandro recognized the name. She could tell it meant something to him. His gaze had followed Mitya’s hand as his fingers wrapped around Ania’s arm and pulled her around the table to him.
The moment Mitya touched her, his eyes went that fierce glittery arctic blue she came to recognize as his leopard being close. She knew he was all predator, a savage fighting machine, both cat and man. He dragged her close, tipped up her chin, and his mouth came down on hers.
She could taste his anger. Not anger. Rage. She tasted possession. Lust. It rose in him sharp and terrible, and with his raw hunger came hers. She couldn’t stop it, no matter how much she reminded herself they weren’t at home. Her entire body ached for him. She went damp. Then slick. Then burning out of control. He was rough. Wild. Everything she’d come to expect, everything that made her addicted.
She kissed him back, her arms sliding around his neck, her body melting into his. She didn’t hold anything back. She never did. It was always impossible. His hand slid into her hair and his kiss gentled. He lifted his head, his eyes burning into hers. “Are you all right, kotyonok?”
She shook her head, honest with him. Her body hurt so badly she wanted to scream. Her head was coming apart. Exploding. She could barely stand her clothes, and between her legs, she was on fire.
“It is good to meet you,” Mitya said. “I wish I had more time, but we’re in a hurry.” He sent Alessandro a smile that was even more predatory than when he’d walked in.
Sweeping his arm around Ania, he walked her right through the astonished customers and out the front door to the waiting car. It was a town car with dark windows. Sevastyan opened the back door for them.
“You drive,” Mitya ordered abruptly. “Only you in the car. Put the privacy screen up.”
Sevastyan took one look at Ania and nodded. He waved Miron to the car behind them with two other bodyguards, Kiriil and Matvei. Vikenti and Zinoviy took the lead car. Sevastyan slid behind the wheel and pressed a button for the screen to rise between the seats.
The moment Mitya had the door closed, he caught at Ania’s shoes, pulling them from her feet and tossing them to the floor. “If you like that blouse, take it off.” His hands were already stripping her jeans and panties from her. She wasn’t fast enough, and he caught the front of her blouse, shredding the material and releasing her breasts from her bra, almost in the same motion. The way he did that, ripping her clothes from her as if he couldn’t get to her fast enough, always gave her a crazy thrill and yet some trepidation simultaneously.
Her clothes had been hurting her skin, but now the cool air seemed to inflame her even more. She writhed on the seat, edging on panic. His gaze was savage, the lines in his face carved deep with lust. He looked like the epitome of carnal sin. He caught her thighs, jerked her legs apart and lifted her hips to his mouth.
His tongue felt rough. It felt like velvet. It was pure flame burning through her as he licked and then sucked. He used the edge of his teeth. He was ruthless, implacable, devouring her as she screamed and thrashed, out of control, tears leaking out of her eyes, her body bursting into a thousand blazes, a conflagration that just seemed to grow hotter and hotter until she was almost convulsing.
Ania tried to push his head away, pleading, sobbing, but then realized she was begging him for more. She wasn’t pushing; she was yanking on his hair. She was more out of control than he was. He flicked her swollen clit with his fingers, a hard tap that sent more flames bouncing through her, driving her up over and over until she really thought she might go insane.
“Stop.” She whispered it, even as she pressed her body deeper into his mouth, needing more, desperate for more. “You have to stop.” But he couldn’t. If he did, she might die.
“I say when we stop,” he snapped, his jaw slick with her cream, his eyes blazing at her, almost demonic, a wanton, carnal animal, savage and fierce.
His mouth was on her again, his fingers stroking through all that liquid spreading everywhere while he consumed her. He claimed every inch of her, with hands, mouth, teeth, fingers. Then he shoved down his trousers and dragged her down the seat so he was over her. There was no preliminary; he simply slammed into her, a hard claiming, driving through her swollen, inflamed folds.
She heard herself scream again. She dug her nails into his shoulders, desperate for an anchor. He surged into her again and again, so hard she felt the car shake on the road, but it wasn’t enough. Deep inside, that coiling began, a fire so hot it grew and grew. There was no stopping it. The roaring in her ears became the sound of the inferno building in her.
He never stopped. Not when she writhed. Not when she struggled. Not when she thrashed. His hard features were merciless. She needed that, but it terrified her. Absolutely terrified her. Did anyone die from the heat of a leopard? She might be the first. He had to stop. He couldn’t stop.
Then it was coming, that terrible, ferocious firestorm, racing through her, consuming her from the inside out. Burning both of them. It burst over her, a tidal wave of pure heat, the flames reducing her to nothing but ashes, flinging her out of her body so she was somewhere else. She felt him, the hard, uncontrolled jerking of his cock as he emptied himself in her. So hot. Her sheath painted with him. Burning his name in her for all time.
Mitya collapsed over top of her and she took his weight. Her body was shaking, and she realized she couldn’t stop weeping. She flung her arms around his neck and breathed shallowly, trying to stop the flood of tears.
“Shh, baby, I’ve got you,” he whispered against her ear. “I came as soon as I knew you were in trouble.”
“I didn’t know what to do.” She hated admitting it to him. She hadn’t realized her female was rising. She’d initiated the conversation about Dymka and maybe
that was the reason her leopard again rose to the surface.
“It could have been so bad. He’s one. A shifter. Alessandro. I had no idea she was going to rise like that. He recognized me and came over to the table to talk and then suddenly I was all over the place.” She could barely get it out, hiccups interfering with every other word.
“Vikenti and Zinoviy immediately texted me when they suspected.”
Mitya turned his head to catch her earlobe between his teeth, biting down hard enough to make her yelp. At once scorching-hot liquid surrounded his cock, burning her sheath. She felt the ripple of an aftershock.
“You should have texted that you needed me, Ania. The next time it happens, at the very first sign of her, you have to text me. I’ll drop everything and come. If I’m too far out, I’ll call in the helicopter.”
“I didn’t know.” She was ashamed that she hadn’t recognized the signs. “What if . . .”
“You were protected. You had Vikenti and Zinoviy. Evangeline and Ashe would have helped as well, the moment they realized you were in trouble.”
He caught up her shredded shirt and eased out of her, his cock scraping along the tight walls of her sheath. She felt that dragging friction and sharp pain that triggered another aftershock. He cleaned his face and then his cock with the shirt before very gently wiping between her legs and thighs. He added water from a bottle and cleaned her a second time before helping her pull on her panties and jeans.
Both hands went around her waist to help her into a sitting position. “Babe, you have to stop crying.”
His voice was so tender it turned her heart over. He’d never used that particular tone on her. She touched her face, and sure enough, tears still dripped down her cheeks. “I’ve never been so emotional in my life. I’m really sorry, Mitya.”
“Don’t be. You have every reason to be. I believe between you and your leopard you’re leaking hormones all over the place.” He buckled her seat belt as she leaned back against the leather.
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