by Leslie North
Chelsea followed him, once again drawn to the pull of fabric across his butt. She recalled vividly the feel of the muscles and just what they were capable of making her feel.
Shaking her head to dispel that distracting image, she gave Darya a tentative smile and asked her about her night with Margot. The little girl was full of information, including the fact that Margot and James were now boyfriend and girlfriend and she’d caught them kissing outside last night.
Val raised his eyebrows and Chelsea laughed at the horrified look upon Darya’s face. “One of these days you won’t think kissing is such a bad thing. I promise.”
Chelsea stole another look at Val, then turned her head away in an effort to conceal her own smile. Yeah, kissing isn’t so bad when you do it with the right person.
*****
Six hours later, Val, Chelsea, and Darya were sitting in a town car headed toward Nikolai’s hotel and casino. Darya had fallen asleep as soon as they entered the car, and Chelsea was in awe at the sights that greeted them as they traversed the length of the Vegas Strip.
“I’ve seen pictures of this on TV, but nothing compares to the real thing.”
Val laughed. “That’s for sure. Now, Nikolai reserved one of the executive suites for us. Darya will have her own bedroom, but for now, you and I will have to share.”
“You and I?” Chelsea parroted, having wondered what would happen once they reached their destination. Had Val been serious when he said he had formally announced his right to provide protection for her and Darya?
“Yes. I cannot protect you if I am sleeping somewhere else. From here on out, you and I are a team.”
Chelsea sighed, then asked the one question that had been on her mind for the last several hours. “Val, what happens when this doesn’t work out?”
Chapter 18
“You sound so sure that it won’t work out.”
“Well, you have to admit things have been moving pretty fast since we just met a few days ago.”
“That’s true, but I already know I enjoy spending time with you. I can’t wait to get to really know Darya. She seems like a very bright and lovable child.”
“Oh, she is that, and so much more. She has so many things she wants to do. Things that were impossible before. Now, maybe she’ll be able to try some of them.”
“Like what?”
Chelsea smiled at Darya with affection in her gaze. “She wants to be a ballerina. But living up in the mountains, there just weren’t any dance schools.”
Val smiled. “It just so happens that Nikolai’s girlfriend, Katya, is a world class ballerina. She’s been talking about opening up her own dance studio. Maybe Darya could be one of her first students.”
“Oh, do you think so? She would love that!” As the car pulled to a stop, Chelsea stared in wonder at the sight that greeted her. Nikolai’s hotel was huge, and extremely lavish. It was like a modern palace. She’d never seen such luxury all in one place.
Val picked up the sleeping Darya as if she weighed nothing. He carried her straight through the lobby to the private elevators and forgot about his keycard.
“Chelsea, the keycard is in my front pocket. Could you reach in there and pull it out?” Val felt himself blush as his words echoed back to him. Well, that was completely vulgar. Way to go.
Chelsea blushed but reached her hand into the front pocket of his too tight jeans. She located the car keys and began to slowly withdraw them, unable to ignore the growing evidence of Val’s passion for her, just a few centimeters out of her reach.
“Got them,” Chelsea exclaimed once her hand was free.
You got something, all right, and it sure isn’t keys I’m talking about. Chelsea’s foray into his pants pocket had left him hot and bothered.
She scanned the keycard and was pleased to see the elevator doors slide open.
The ride to the executive suite was accomplished in nothing flat, and the entire suite was decorated in perfect style. Val laid the sleeping girl down on one of the beds and walked out, leaving the door cracked quietly in case she woke up during the night.
Having dealt with one girl, he turned to the other female who was waiting on him. “Chelsea, you’ve got to be tired. Why don’t you go get ready for bed?”
Chelsea nodded. She was more tired than she could ever remember being. The car ride into Denver International Airport had taken almost two hours because of rush hour traffic. Then the flight had been delayed forty-five minutes. To compound things, their luggage had been left behind and would not be arriving until the morning.
When Chelsea continued to just stand there, Val took her by the hand and led her into the other bedroom.
“There’s a bathroom in the corner that will simply amaze you. I need to run upstairs and have a chat with Nikolai. Why don’t you take a quick bath and relax?”
“That sounds really good.” Chelsea watched Val leave the suite, and then she pulled out lingerie and a new razor. She quickly jumped into the tub and ran the razor over her legs.
Next, she quickly washed off, not wanting to be found in the bath two nights in a row. When Val returned, she was sitting on the couch waiting for him.
“Hey!”
“Hey, yourself. I trust you enjoyed your shower?” Val asked, beginning to remove his shoes and jacket.
“I did. Thank you for thinking of it.” Chelsea watched Val remove his clothing, her eyes feasting on each new patch of skin he revealed.
Val came to her side, letting his fingertips skim her shoulders before dropping lower to trace the swell of her breasts. “I’ve wanted you all day long.”
“Me too. What about Darya?” Chelsea asked, always putting the little girl first.
“She’s sleeping in the other bedroom. I left her door partially open, and if she comes in, she’s liable to get an eye full.”
“If she’s truly asleep, she could sleep through a hurricane coming down. We probably won’t hear from her until morning.”
Chelsea was fine with that. As was Val. He pulled her back to lie beside him on the bed, using his lips, teeth, and tongue to drive her crazy.
When she was squirming on the mattress, using her hands to drive him just as wild as she was, Val began talking to her in Russian. She didn’t understand much of it, but the feeling behind the words told their own story.
He continued to talk to her, punctuating his words with actions. A kiss on her navel. Another on the inside of her elbow. The base of her neck. Places on her body that Chelsea hadn’t known were considered erogenous zones.
Val used his hands to learn her body, taking time to adore each piece of newly uncovered skin. “I love your body.”
Was one supposed to say ‘thank you’ at a time like this? Chelsea’s brain was so confused, she couldn’t think beyond his next touch.
Val was so pleased to have her in Las Vegas. He worshipped her body, and when he felt his control was almost gone, he rolled her over so that she straddled his lap.
Chelsea had never been in this position before, and as she slid her body down over his, she reveled in the feeling of control the position gave her. “Is this okay?” she asked, her confidence faltering.
“Chelsea, anything you do to me feels good.” Val reached up and helped her find her rhythm by keeping his hands on her hips. He allowed her to control the depth, but he controlled the speed, driving them both slowly mad.
When he could no longer hold back, he let go of the reigns and thrust up while pulling her down, time and time again, hurtling them both into an orgasmic bliss like none they’d ever known.
“That was amazing!” Chelsea exclaimed to no one in particular as she collapsed against his chest.
Val was in total agreement and held her close for several minutes. “This was better than the last time.” How is that possible? The first time was fantastic.
“I agree. If it gets better each time, I’ll be dead this time next week,” Chelsea told him as she relaxed across his chest.
He let her li
e on him for several minutes before his arms began to go to sleep. “Chels, I need to change position for a bit.”
As he lifted her off him, he realized that in their haste to love each other, he had forgotten to protect her. “Chelsea, I’m sorry, angel moy. We didn’t use any protection.”
Chelsea paused in the act of pulling her hair up and away from her face. She slowly let her arms drop to her sides, then watched him to see how he would react.
Val took her silence for anger and hurried to assure her he would be there to protect her, no matter what happened. “Chelsea, my protection—”
Chelsea shook her head and placed a finger across his lips. “Val, I’m not upset. I probably should be, but I’m not. When you said we hadn’t been careful, I had this image of a little boy with vivid blue eyes and dark brown hair. I guess it just caught me by surprise was all.”
“So, if something occurred from this, you would be okay with it?” Val asked for clarification.
“I think so. I mean, I already have Darya, and she absolutely adores Margot’s little siblings. I think a sibling or two for her would be welcomed.”
“Well, if you find out you are pregnant, you will tell me immediately.”
“Of course. I would never try to hide something like that from you. Even if the chemistry between us is only to last for a little while.”
“Thank you for that. I have to confess, I don’t find the idea of becoming a father all that repugnant.” Val tapped her on the nose. “And Nikolai told me this evening that both Katya and Desi are expecting babies as well. You would be in good company.”
Chelsea allowed Val to bring her a warm cloth from the bathroom. When he tried to clean her up himself, she protested and insisted on doing it herself. Val gave her a stare, but then smiled and let go of the cloth. Her strength and independence were traits he admired in her.
Hours later, Chelsea slept peacefully on Val’s shoulder while he lay awake, thinking about the future. It was crazy to be thinking about years and decades when he’d only known Chelsea for a little under four days, but that’s exactly what was going through his brain.
Nikolai had shared with him the family’s plan for taking down Danil once and for all. Grigori had made contact with the Cayman bank, and a very nice man by the name of Matthew had kindly told him all about a Mr. Danil who had been making deposits to various accounts for years.
Grigori had promised the man a very nice reward if he would help provide information that could help them bring Danil down. Matthew had readily agreed. It seemed Danil had promised him the entire contents of the account set aside for Darya, but the reality had been less than pleasant.
Without Chelsea’s signature, the money was going nowhere fast. Nikolai had promised to get the proper paperwork signed by Chelsea the next day and then forward it directly to the Caymans bank.
In the meantime, the San Moreno family had been brought up to speed on Katya’s presence and her new role in the family. The situation with the Yakuza was discussed, and it had been decided that a team of family members would already be in the Neptune Club come Friday evening.
If Danil incriminated himself, he would be brought before the tribunal and his sentence pronounced. Val wasn’t a patient man, but he could manage it this time. The rewards were that great.
His last thought as he drifted off to dreams was of Chelsea smiling up at him, her arms full of firewood. That had been the defining moment in his life, and he would never forget his time spent in her small home. He wondered how many more defining moments might be headed his way.
He wasn’t sure where a future with Chelsea would lead him, but he was more than willing to follow the road and find out. She was worth it, and he looked forward to getting to know Darya. What had started out as only a seek mission had definitely turned itself into a find and retrieve one. And he felt extremely lucky to have found such a treasure as Chelsea Barlow.
Epilogue
Kostya Molikov pulled up in front of the large storefront with an even larger warehouse looming behind it, then checked his GPS once again. This was the big pot operation he’d come here to oversee? It looked as if the building should have been condemned years ago.
Getting out of his new Mercedes, he closed the door and glanced around at his surroundings. Most of the other buildings looked vacant or were boarded up. This section of Denver had definitely seen better days.
He knocked on the side door as per his instructions, and moments later was treated to the sight of vibrant violet eyes looking back at him. “What do you want?”
“Kostya Molikov here to see Terrence and Raul.”
The violet eyes blinked back at him, taking in his appearance before widening and then twinkling in approval. “One moment,” came back the husky female voice the eyes belonged to.
The heavy metal door was pulled open, squeaking all the way. Time to get that fixed. Kostya waited until the door was opened and the owner of the violet eyes presented herself. She was an average woman, about five feet eight, but in her four-inch heels, she was only a few inches beneath his six feet two.
She had jet-black hair that hung over each shoulder, with the tips died purple to match her eyes. She wore a thin cropped T-shirt that showed more skin than it covered. It was combined with a very short denim miniskirt, psychedelic tights, and black army boots. Her belly button was pierced and she had a variety of tattoos adorning her body.
Loud rock music poured from the room behind her as she gestured for Kostya to enter the building.
Kostya acknowledged her silent communication with a nod of his head. He stood in the foyer while she closed the heavy metal door and locked it. She then led the way into a large room that had Kostya standing speechless.
The room was part of the warehouse and filled with wooden tables, atop which sat container after container of marijuana plants. Overhead, plant lights and a framework of wires and trellises completed the growing platforms. Large fifty-five-gallon barrels were at the end of each table, with hoses and small pumps providing life-sustaining water to each pot.
Kostya turned to look at his escort, who stood proudly by, chewing her gum with a pleased smile on her face. He let his eyes travel the length of her body once again and felt his own harden in response. She’s gorgeous!
When she turned her head and caught him staring at her, she widened her grin and asked, “See something you like?”
Kostya was speechless and couldn’t answer. Not only had the outside of the warehouse been deceiving, but now he was also faced with a goddess who happened to be dressed like a rock star. “This place is amazing.
“Where are Terrence and Raul?”
The violet-eyed temptress shook his hand briefly, her smile faltering momentarily as their hands met. “It seems that Terrence was requested in Mexico. He left this morning on Raul’s private jet.”
Kostya nodded. “And Raul? Is he still here for our meeting?”
“He is. He asked me to have you freshen up and then bring you out to the pool deck.”
“Good.” Kostya followed her to the small bathroom, where she prepared to leave him.
“Wait! What’s your name?”
The young woman looked him up and down, then whispered softly, “Tori. Nice to meet you.”
Kostya shook his head. “The pleasure is all mine. What’s your position around here?”
Violet eyes smiled at him. “I run this place. What do you plan to do around here?”
Kostya couldn’t believe the audacity of the young woman. She seemed to know who he was and wasn’t threatened by him at all. Deciding to set the record straight right from the get-go, Kostya answered, “I’m the man who has come to make sure that everyone is doing their job correctly. I’m your new boss.”
Tori tried to hold her smile, but inside her heart was breaking in two. She’d run the growing side of things for almost a year now, and while she had absolutely no respect for Terrence, he paid her well. Now some suit wanted to come in here and mess things up? No
t on her watch.
He might be all dressed up and looking finer than anything she’d taken home from the bar in recent weeks, but that didn’t give him carte blanche to upset the way she ran things around here. No right at all!
END OF BOOK 3
BOOK 4 OUT LATE DECEMBER 2014
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Julia Thompson sat at the bar and watched the crowded dance floor, once again trying to find her best friend, Tonya, amidst the masses of writhing bodies. She pushed her glasses up on her nose, and her brown hair off her forehead, fanning herself to move the air around.
It was Friday night and they were supposed to be celebrating Julia having won the coveted exchange position in her company. Every year, three employees from the American-based mining company traded placed with three employees from the Russian-based mining company. Prior to this year, all of the exchange positions had been filled with men, but Julia had proven that she could hold her own in the financial world. Much to her counter-part’s dismay, she had been given the chance to fill the position for the upcoming year. She would be leaving for Russia within the next few weeks and needed a break before the madness of preparing to leave the US for a year began.