He chuckled. "Just so you know, laughing after giving a man a blowjob like that is considered a breach of etiquette."
She leaned away. Laughter bubbled out of her again. "I was thinking that I like the way we start. Yes? I've tasted you both nights. I'm… content."
He gently pushed her down onto his shoulder. "So am I." His deep voice rumbled under her ear.
"You need to go to sleep." She played with a button on his shirt.
"I can't. I'm waiting on a call." His words were low and muted.
"You'll fall asleep in this chair."
He took a deep breath and rubbed her back. "No, I'm allowing myself to relax for a moment." He kissed the top of her head. "You go back to your room. I'm not going to be able to leave anytime soon. Thank you for the food and your company." The phone on his desk rang, shattering the peace of the moment. She stood and watched him tuck himself back into his slacks and stride to the desk.
"Xavier." He looked back at her and winked. His hand ran through his hair, and shifted his focus to his desk, searching for a folder. "No, we sent that envoy twice the required amount."
Taty turned on her heel and left the office. The guard who accompanied her was waiting in the outer foyer. He escorted her out of the wing. She strolled back to the kitchen to clean up the mess she'd made before she rambled through the mansion and headed to bed. Sometimes, if she tried hard enough, she could imagine a life when the Bravata was no longer her focus.Sometimes.
Chapter Fifteen
Mike sat down, put on his seatbelt and leaned forward rubbing his temples with his fingertips. The high whine of the plane's engines as they started pushed against the migraine that threatened to overtake him. He'd slept only a handful of hours in the last six days. The all-out civil war that erupted had thwarted all Omega International's humanitarian efforts. Not as much as one bandage had made it to the region where the conflict raged. The political minefields he needed to cross to get the aid into the country were close to impossible to navigate. The crisis only added to the pressure of maintaining the normal obligations that shrouded his persona of David Xavier in legitimacy. None of the duties could be shirked, and he'd be damned if he'd fail the real David by not getting those people the help they so desperately needed while still maintaining his cover. The stress didn't stop there. It was compounded by the fact that he was heading to New York to pay for and take custody of fifteen young women who had been kidnapped and violated in ways he prayed no one else would ever have to suffer.
He cast a distracted glance across the cabin. Tatyana sat across from him. She smiled at him and held his gaze. He could see the questions in her look. He closed his eyes, breaking the connection between them as the engine revved and the bird taxied. He felt the plane pause at the end of the runway waiting for clearance before the pilot released the brakes and catapulted the aircraft into the air.
He sighed and tried to relax in the huge leather recliner he'd dumped his ass into. Tatyana was an entirely different stressor. He had not seen her since the night she'd brought him dinner and a happy ending. The deep-seated guilt he felt about using her had been beating the shit out of him. He knew there was a line. He was on one side, and she was on the other, but damn it if she hadn't blurred it. He didn't want to like her. In fact, he'd rather hate the woman, because it would make it easier for him to walk away when she was arrested. But fuck it, something wouldn't let him hate her. The bottom line in the scenario was that he actuallyliked the woman. That realization made him half sick to his stomach. She was a part of the Bravata. The farce of her admitted lies aside, there was no escaping the fact that she was a criminal of the worst imaginable type. The initial security report he'd received confirmed everything she'd admitted to.
Stopping the Bravata was his mission. To do so, he'd use her to get to those bastards and then he'd walk away. The thought of that action hurt in a way he didn't want to take out or examine. He'd blocked her attempts to see him. He sent word through Hannah that he wouldn't be able to spare time for her. In actuality, he didn't have the time, but to ensure he maintained the upper hand and his sanity, he couldn't let a replay of that night happen again. She'd been escorted to the plane by his security detail because he didn't leave the chalet until the last possible minute.
"Good Afternoon, Mr. Xavier, would you like a glass of cognac?"
Chief still had his eyes shut but smiled at the familiar voice. He opened his eyes and took the glass from the same flight attendant who he'd traveled with for the last year. "Thank you, Daphne."
"You are quite welcome, sir. We have a little over eight hours in the air. Your security detail, staff, and your personal assistant are in the rear of the aircraft and all settled in." She turned toward Tatyana. "May I get you something?"
Taty shook her head. "No, but I believe Mr. Xavier will need something to eat and then privacy so he can sleep."
Daphne smiled and glanced back at Chief, her concerned gaze running over him. "I will bring dinner up as soon as it is ready, sir, and I'll make sure the forward cabin is ready for you."
"Thank you. Dinner would be appreciated, but I won't be needing the cabin during the flight."
Daphne smiled, dipped her head and headed back to the galley that separated the elegant, spacious front cabin and the smaller area in the rear.
"You push yourself too hard."
"You assume too much," he responded and stared at her dispassionately. Her concern seemed genuine, and was an unwelcomed presence, if it was real. Who knew with Tatyana? She was a consummate liar.
Her eyes narrowed, and she shook her head. "No. I don't assume the dark circles under your eyes. I don't assume the mornings I have breakfast alone knowing you have not returned to your quarters. I didn't assume when I watched the growing violence and heard the television reports of aid convoys being attacked or turned away."
"You are not at liberty to dictate my staff's actions. I do not require your concern. I can take care of myself." Chief took a long pull on his drink. Exhaustion battered him, and he would love to sleep, but there weren't enough hours in the day to maintain the illusion of his cover.
Tatyana unbuckled her seatbelt and moved across the cabin behind his chair. She placed her hands on his shoulders and started to massage them. He groaned dropping his head forward allowing her access. "I would never assume to dictate your actions, David. But anyone can see you are tired. Would a small power nap hurt?" Her fingertips found the tight muscles in his neck and kneaded them until he felt them loosen.
"At least take off this jacket and let me work these muscles. Your back is one big knot."
Chief couldn't agree more and the headache he was fighting finished any argument he might have had about it. Besides, after a quick massage, he could call Joel up to the front and work through any of the thousand outstanding issues. He unfastened his seatbelt, removed his jacket, loosened his tie and leaned back. Her strong hands found purchase on the tight muscles of his traps and shoulders and worked them slowly and carefully. The soothing ministrations drew several low groans of pleasure from him. His aching muscles relaxed by increments and he drew a deep breath. The drone of the engine and the feel of her hands on his back lulled him into a comfortable trance.
"You should eat."
Chief blinked. The gentle touch to his arm woke him immediately. He shifted around orienting himself and focused on the tray in front of him. Damn it. He must have dozed off. He focused out the window and frowned. It was completely dark. His gaze sought his watch, and he blinked back a bubble of anger. What a waste of time. He'd been asleep for six hours.
Tatyana lounged in the adjacent recliner with a book across her lap. "I told your man not to wake you. If you want to be mad at someone, be mad at me."
Chief rubbed his face and leaned forward, stopping when his seatbelt tugged at his waist. He looked from the restraint to her.
"I
t isn't safe to not wear one while in flight. I fastened it while you were sleeping." She lifted a shoulder with an elegant shrug. "Sue me. Someone needs to take care of you."
Chief unbuckled his belt and stood to stretch. His muscles rebelled at the strain, but it felt amazing. He bent down and picked up the glass of ice water on his tray and downed it in one go. "How much longer until we land?"
"The flight attendant said the pilot had to deviate around a storm, so two and a half hours." Tatyana closed the book as she spoke. Her brown curls fell over her eyes. Mike rejected the immediate impulse to push them back. Instead, he nodded and headed into the front cabin. The queen-sized bed taunted him as he passed through the plush interior and made his way into his private bathroom. He had several suits hanging ready in the closet. He used the facilities, stripped and washed quickly. Wrapping a towel around his waist, he headed back to the cabin to dress.
Long, silky, naked legs caught his attention. His eyes traveled over taut muscles to the full curve of her ass where the perfectly matched dimples at the bottom of her spine fixed his attention.
Her curls shifted as she looked over her shoulder at him. "I thought maybe you needed to relax just a little bit more." Tatyana rolled over.
Mike's cock jumped under the towel. His body betrayed the punch of lust he felt every time he looked at this woman. He glanced at the cabin door to ensure it was locked before he dropped his towel and crawled over her body to settle his weight on top of her. The soft warmth of her curves and the heady smell of her perfume raced over his senses. At her neck, his lips found her pounding pulse. She wrapped her arms around him and arched up into his body. The woman was in-his-face-wanton and sexy as sin. He wrapped his arms around her and rolled onto his back bringing her with him. Her curls fell into her face again. He ran his fingers through them, cupped her cheek and then lifted the small distance to her lips. He brushed her softness and whispered, "Entice me."
She smiled, placed both of her hands on his chest and pushed up. Tatyana stretched across the mattress toward the nightstand. His hand supported her waist and pulled her up and back on the bed after she grabbed a condom out of the drawer. She put the gold foiled square to her teeth and ripped the package. Her eyes flashed with a glimmer of humor before her tight ass cheeks wiggled against his cock. She leaned forward and kissed his neck and started a trail of nips and licks down his chest. A groan escaped him when she sucked his nipple into her mouth. Fuck, he'd never had a woman do that before. The sensation had a direct connection to his dick. It stiffened to the point of pain. Her body slithered down his as her lips tracked the valleys of his muscles. He grabbed the duvet and held on tight as her tongue traced the V from his hip to his cock. She laughed and slid to the other side making the trek from hipbone to cock again.
His dick wept pre-come, and he hurt he was so hard. She circled the head of his cock with her tongue before she lifted away from him. He watched as she rolled the condom down his shaft. It shouldn't have been as erotic as it was, but then again, she followed the latex down with her mouth. His hands found their way to her hair. As good as she was with her mouth, that wasn't what he wanted right now, and if he let her suck him, he'd be done all too fast. He tugged her hair gently. She lifted those big brown eyes to him. "I want in you."
She lifted off his cock and smiled, sliding up his body to take his mouth in a kiss. Her hips lowered and ground her hot sex over his cock. They both moaned. Without breaking the kiss her hand sought him out and lifted his heavy shaft to her core.
She pushed up and away from him. His hands cupped her soft breasts as she lowered herself onto his cock. The slow, tight slide forced the air out of both of their lungs. She held his hands to her breasts as she slowly gyrated her hips. There was a distinct possibility that circling action caused his eyes to roll backward into his skull. Tatyana lifted and lowered moving her hips in a serpentine motion, slow, steady and deliberate.
"You feel so good. So hot… and hard." Her thick Russian accent slid over his senses as his hands traveled her body. The sensuous dance on his cock pushed his endurance.
He slid his hands down to her sex and split her open. His thumb found her swollen clit and massaged the little nub in concert with her motions. Her hips stuttered, and her breath caught. She fell forward, bracing herself on his chest with her hands. Brown curls clung to her damp forehead and neck. Her lips were red and swollen. Her chest heaved with her rising passion. Mike drank in the debauched sight of her. It did little to quench his burning need. He cupped her ass and lifted her far enough to raise his legs and brace himself. He thrust into her, hard and demanding. A soft mewl fell from her lips. He pulled her down into a kiss that turned into shared breaths as he pushed them both toward orgasm. Her breasts slid over his chest on each upward thrust. She gasped and shouted something in Russian when she came, but he couldn't be bothered to translate. Her release triggered his as assuredly as an electronic blasting cap detonated a Claymore. He pulled her tight against him and stroked deep as his body spilled and sent shards of pleasure through him. He held her trembling body on top of his. Slowly, the noises of the aircraft came back into focus. He repositioned the duvet up and around her to protect them both from the forced air that provoked shivers from their rapidly cooling bodies.
Tatyana snuggled into his neck. "You feel more relaxed, yes?"
Chief chuckled and patted her bare ass. "No stress whatsoever."
She lifted away and gazed down at him. "You have much to offer a woman, David Xavier."
Mike's mind whirled. He hugged her down against his chest and glanced at his watch. How many days until he took possession of fifteen human lives and used Tatyana to help him barter for a meeting with the head of the Bravata? Much to offer? No, he was a mercenary. He'd chosen his life, and he'd lived it allied with strong men of equal conviction. Brothers, family, and friends. He didn't have much to offer a woman, but what he did have was built from the ruins of his childhood, and he was damn proud of what he'd done with his life. No, he wasn't a good man, but he was a man who would do his best to break the Bravata's grip on the innocent people they enslaved.
Jewell stared at the lines that scrolled across the monitor with more than a little disbelief. The amount of red-tape and bullshit they had to go through to legally access the computer systems of countless social service networks had paid off. She pumped her fists in the air as a sense of giddy triumph flooded her. They'd done it. Every last pixel floating across her screen was legal. She pushed to the front of her massive leather chair, sent the image to the middle screen and pulled one of the many pencils from her hair, and used it to tap the desktop. One, two… she flicked the mouse and opened a new document on the same screen… three, four… Jewell copied and pasted the pertinent information for each location… five and finally the sixth and final identified computer system.
"What is it?"
Zane's low rumble behind her no longer sent her through the rafters. He'd become an attractive, yet annoying, part of her world. If she weren't in such a good mood right now, she'd think of some scathing remark just because it was fun to watch his reactions. "We've identified six more intake IP addresses."
"Intake as in?"
Jewell scowled through a glance tossed toward the corner of the room where he always sat while she worked. "Intake as in my team built a sniffer software that has identified six more workstations which meet the criteria for people who are hunting and actively identifying possible targets for the Bravata's sex trade."
"Congratulations to you and your team." Zane's deep-voiced comment shouldn't have meant as much as it did. At least the man saw the hours her people put into making the magic happen. They were dedicated and the smartest programmers, hackers, and computer engineers in the country.
"Thanks. Could you take this down to Jason? I want to refresh the protocols and run the program one more time just to make sure
no one slipped through." She held out the thumb drive.
"No, but I'll call a runner." Zane took the thumb drive and picked up her desk phone.
Jewell gave the man the stink eye. Whatever, she had work to do.
Chapter Sixteen
The energy of New York City thrummed through Taty's body. Each city in Europe had a character and vibe all of its own. She should have expected New York to be the same, but the amount of traffic that pulsed through the cities arteries at two in the morning was unbelievable. Little market shops, restaurants, and even large stores were lit up. A current of yellow taxi cabs flowed through the streets like blood flowed through her veins. The limousine they traveled in had dark tinted windows, but she could still see out, and it was fascinating. A huge sign flashed catching her attention. She leaned over David to see, forcing him to raise the tablet he'd buried his nose in as soon as they'd landed. "Time Square! We are at Time Square!" She bounced up and down in her seat and clapped her hands together. The thrill of actually seeing the famous landmark bubbled up and held her there, buoyant with joy.
David lowered his arms, trapping her over his lap. He powered down the tablet and placed it on the seat beside him before he cupped her ass. She twisted in his embrace looking out the back window while draped over his lap. He effortlessly lifted her up and into a straddle position across his muscled thighs.
"I assumed you'd been to New York. I take it this is your first time?" His smile reflected hers.
"I've never left the EU." Her mood shattered and she turned her head to avoid his penetrating stare.
Chief (Kings of Guardian Book 7) (The Kings of Guardian) Page 11