Risk & Reward (Bedroom Games)

by Alisha Rai

That was a warning any man could respect. Wyatt nodded. “Got it.”

  “Good.” Affable grin back in place, Ron handed him his tongs. “Be back in a few. Don’t let the meat burn.”

  Wyatt looked from the tongs to the meat. He hadn’t manned a grill in a long time, but he hoped it was one of those masculine skills that one never quite forgot. Like changing a tire, or unfastening a bra. Cautious, he poked at one of the patties.

  “Why, hello, Wyatt.”

  Wyatt dropped the meat. Janet and Nikolai stood at his elbow. Nikolai’s scowl wasn’t out of the ordinary. Janet had a reserved smile pasted on, that ever present tinge of worry darkening her eyes.

  What will you do to her?

  No. He yanked himself back from his instinctual defensive response, substituting reason for emotion. Why shouldn’t Janet be concerned about whether he would hurt her baby? He didn’t know how much Tatiana had told her about their difficulties, but Janet wasn’t a stupid woman. She’d probably witnessed the aftermath of their last relationship. He knew their breakup hadn’t been any easier on Tatiana.

  He wasn’t a kid, to be miffed or insulted by her justified caution. A woman’s mother had the right to fret over her daughter. It was Wyatt’s right to do his best to win her over. He could do that. Forget the past. Focus on the present. “Hello.”

  “Are you in charge of the grill?”

  Charm them. He relaxed his stance, feeling his way. “Indeed I am. I think Ron’s planning to pin it on me if anyone gets sick.”

  Janet’s smile widened. “He’s slick, that one.”

  “You don’t have to tell me.”

  “Oh.” She blinked. “Was that a dig at how he embezzled money from you?”

  The loud question had to have been heard all over the yard. Wyatt bit his cheek. “Well, he did embezzle a lot of money. But I’d say it was more a good-natured tease.”

  “That’s acceptable. It’s wonderful that you’re here, isn’t it, Nikolai?”

  The larger man eyed Wyatt. “Yes.” His words said one thing. The lasers his eyes were shooting at him said another.

  Janet stepped closer to Wyatt, and shocked him by pulling him into an embrace.

  Was he wearing a sign begging for hugs today?

  After a brief hesitation, he realized that this wasn’t…terrible. And it wasn’t unfamiliar, either. Janet had hugged him a time or two when he was younger. Since his mother had died when he was ten and his father was, well, his father, parental affection had been foreign to him then. It had been easier to build resentment against perceived slights than to enjoy and crave such a thing.

  Maternal kindness wasn’t quite as bizarre to him now. He accepted and even appreciated it when it came from Esme and her family. He’d changed. And that was good.

  Unsure of where to put his hands, he awkwardly patted her back. “Thanks. It’s nice to see you again.”

  She was tall enough that she didn’t have to lean up to whisper in his ear. “You’re a good boy, Wyatt. You always have been. You keep making my baby smile, and we’ll be solid, you and I.”

  That note of amusement made her sound so much like Tatiana, Wyatt did a double take. He gave her a cautious squeeze, amazed that it had been so simple. “Thank you.” She thought he was a good boy? She always had?

  Well.

  She pulled back and smiled. “Nikolai. Remember your promise.” She looked over his shoulder, raised her hand in greeting, and called Tatiana’s name.

  For a few seconds, he and Nikolai stared at each other. This is like a gauntlet. With the meanest, angriest bastard at the end. “My wife and daughter yelled at me. Because of you,” Nikolai finally said, his voice accusing.

  Measure your opponents. Ron respected kindness. Janet, her daughter’s happiness. Nikolai…

  Strength.

  Call it manipulation, but Wyatt considered his ability to read people a necessary skill. He dipped his head and hardened his own tone. “Tatiana and I fought. Because of you.”

  “My wife called me a belligerent fool.”

  “Tatiana said I was an asshole.” He actually didn’t remember if Tatiana had called him that, exactly, but it sounded right.

  Nikolai grunted. “You are,” he muttered. “I don’t like you. I never did.”

  “I know.”

  They glared at each other.

  “Why are you here?” Nikolai asked.

  “Because you’re important to Tatiana. And she’s important to me.”

  “Words.”

  “You doubt me? I’m certainly not here to see your pretty face.”

  Nikolai sneered. “You will hurt her.”

  “Never.” His response was instant.

  “You hurt her last time.”

  He glanced Tatiana’s way in time to see her brushing a lock of honey-blonde hair out of her eyes. His heart clenched. “Losing her was like losing my right hand,” he replied quietly. “It won’t happen again.”

  “Turn the burgers.”

  Jolted, Wyatt looked down at the grill and flipped the patties.

  “Janet said you must be smart. To have become so successful in such a short time.”

  “I’m not stupid.”

  “Show me. Because if you do hurt her…I know people.” Nikolai tapped the side of his nose with a menacing smirk. “And I will assume you are very stupid.”

  Wyatt decided not to tell Nikolai that an alleged Russian Mafioso often patronized his establishment. “I understand.”

  Nikolai grunted. “You are destroying that meat. Even the vegan can see this.”

  Wyatt gritted his teeth and flipped the burger.

  “Better. You do not use a grill much when you are busy running a den of sin?”

  Wyatt cast him a glance. “Glass houses, Nikolai. Tatiana mentioned you like to gamble.”

  “Recreationally. Not as a profession.”

  “Let me guess. Blackjack is your game.”

  Nikolai snorted. “Tatiana told you that too?”

  “No. You seem the type. Quick, constant thrill. You have a mathematical mind, so you count the cards, which ups your probability of success. You like winning. Still, you’d do low stakes. Not because you’re worried about losing the money, but because Janet scolds you.” Wyatt smiled when Nikolai glowered. “I’m really smart.”

  “Lucky.”

  “That too. And it’s not a den of sin.” No, it totally was, but Nikolai didn’t need to know that. “It’s an honest business.”

  “I suppose it pays better than the construction and waiter jobs you used to do.”

  Call him crazy, but Wyatt was almost starting to enjoy himself. “Those were honest jobs, too.”

  “Hmph.”

  “Tell me something: are you going to be this difficult whenever we run into each other?”

  “It depends. Do we have to run into each other often?”

  “As much as Tatiana wants.”

  Nikolai didn’t speak for a long moment. When he did, his voice was gruff and low. “Do not screw things up, boy. Very rarely does any man get a second chance.”

  “I know.”

  Nikolai cleared his throat. “Good.” He snatched the tongs out of Wyatt’s hands. “Now go sit with the women. I will handle this.”

  Chapter Thirteen

  English experts would probably argue that the words meant the same thing, but in Tatiana’s brain, there was a difference between being happy and being content. She’d been happy for the past few months with Wyatt, at times deliriously happy. Too happy, she’d thought, but it wasn’t that. There was no such thing as too happy.

  There was such a thing as too anxious. The anxiety over their chances of success, over waiting for the other shoe to drop, had made it impossible to enjoy that happiness. Constantly worrying was, as she’d told Wyatt, exhausting. What would happen when the bubble finally burst? When life threw a roadblock in their path?

  They’d survive, bitches. That’s what.

  She hadn’t felt content until today. Not just happy
, but secure in their relationship.

  Contentment trumped happiness.

  Sleepy from her good mood and full belly, Tatiana turned her head so she could see Wyatt’s profile. “Was it terrible?”

  Wyatt gave a faint smile, his attention on the road. “Not as bad as I thought it would be, no.”

  She rested her hand on his leg. “My family loves you.”

  “I feel like I’ve been asking you this a lot lately, so don’t take it the wrong way, but are you drunk?”

  Tatiana chuckled. “Nope.”

  “Your dad asked me if I’d written you into my will yet.” He cast her a sardonic glance. “FYI. If and when I do, I’m tying that bequest up so he won’t have any extra motivation to hasten my demise.”

  “Eh. You can give my share to a groundhog sanctuary or something. I don’t need it.”

  His face softened and he shook his head, his expression both fond and exasperated. “I don’t think you still have any idea how much money I have.”

  No, she did. Beyond the fact that she couldn’t care less about having funds beyond a level that made her comfortable, the thought of Wyatt dying made her too upset to give two fucks about what she’d get out of it. She’d feel the same even if they weren’t together. “I don’t want to talk about this,” she answered, making a conscious effort to modulate the sharpness of her tone.

  “Okay.” His voice was gentle.

  Tatiana sniffed, eager to get back to their playful banter. “Anyway, he only threatens to kill people he likes.”

  “If you say so.”

  “Remember, it’s a good sign that he didn’t pop a blood vessel when my mom invited you to their anniversary party.”

  “No, he only growled when I accepted.”

  Tatiana stretched, feeling like a lazy cat. “Because he likes you.”

  He covered her hand with his. “Happy?”

  She smiled. “Better. Content.”

  He eyed her. “Good.”

  “Thank you.”

  “For being civil?”

  “For trying so hard to make this work.”

  He squeezed her hand. “Don’t thank me. It’s what I want.”

  She stuck her tongue out at him. “I’ll thank you if I want to.”

  Wyatt gave a great sigh. “Fine, if you insist. You should probably get down on your knees.”

  “If that’s how you want me to deliver my appreciation.”

  “Always.” His hand tightened on hers when she tried to slide it up to his crotch. “Maybe not when I’m driving.”

  “Man. I will feel so appreciative next month when you come with me to that anniversary party.” She paused. “We could stay with my parents.”

  “Uh, I’m not sure if—that is, isn’t that nice B&B still there, on Delaware? You used to always talk about how you wanted to go there.”

  She bit her cheek at the note of desperation in his words. Poor Wyatt. He was trying so hard. “You don’t want to stay under my dad’s roof with me, Wyatt? It’s not like it would be awkward, since we’d be in separate beds, at opposite ends of the house.” She dropped her voice to a whisper. “Though you could sneak into my room, once everyone’s asleep.”

  “Your father would stand outside your bedroom with a machete.”

  “You could always go by way of the window. Like you used to. Remember that trellis?” God bless that trellis. Really, why on earth would you put one of those things next to your teenage daughter’s window? Her parents had practically been begging for her to sneak her sexy boyfriend in. “Though you’re bigger now. It may not hold up.”

  His thigh tensed beneath her hand. “Wait. Whoa. Does your bedroom look the same?”

  She pretended to think about that. “Oh, gosh darn. I think it does. You mean the white canopy bed and ruffled comforter?”

  Wyatt grunted. “Fuck. And the dainty little furniture?”

  She nodded. “And that big mirror on top of my dresser. The one that lets you see the bed.”

  He shuddered. “We’re staying with your parents.”

  “And you’ll crawl in my window?”

  “Hell, yes.” He removed her hand from his thigh and grasped the wheel. “Quit talking. Don’t move. I need to get us home.”

  She inched her skirt higher up her thighs. “Can I touch myself?”

  Wyatt shot her a glance. Since he didn’t protest, she snaked the material up the rest of the way, revealing her thong. “I’ve been going crazy,” she murmured.

  “Don’t. Talk.”

  Tatiana spread her legs as wide as she could. “You don’t want to know why I’ve been going crazy?”

  His jaw was tight, eyes fixed firmly ahead of him. “Tatiana.”

  She ignored the warning in his voice and dipped her fingers to her pussy. Stroked them in, back out. Held her hand out to him.

  He looked. Looked again. Gave a groan. “Jesus.”

  She rolled the beads between her fingers. “You bought them. Thought you’d want to make sure they don’t go to waste.”

  Wyatt plucked the string from her hand, shifted, and tucked it into his pocket. “Keep that dress up. But don’t touch yourself anymore.”

  “You don’t want me ready?”

  “I don’t want you ahead of me.” He cranked the A/C up, placed his hand, wet from the beads, on her thigh, and pressed her legs wider. “There we go. Keep those pretty legs open.”

  The air hit her overheated flesh, and she moaned, tilting her head back. “Finger me.”

  “No. Wait.”

  “How much longer?”

  When she shifted her legs, he surprised her with a slap on her upper thigh. “Don’t move. Soon. Now, hush, or I’ll slow this car down.”

  No, he couldn’t slow the car. Not when she was getting revved up.

  They didn’t speak for the next five minutes, Wyatt hyper-focused on his driving, breaking a few laws to get them back to Quest. Despite his order, she flipped her skirt down when they came within its vicinity.

  He parked in front, and Tatiana got out, murmuring her thanks to the valet who held her car door open. Wyatt tossed the man the keys and grasped her hand, leading her through the front door and lobby.

  “I have never been so annoyed to live here,” he muttered, as he had to force a smile for an employee.

  She stifled a laugh. “We could have gone around back.”

  “I couldn’t drive anymore.”

  They rode the elevator up, both of them twitchy. When they disembarked on the top floor, Tatiana gave a yearning glance at the wall where he’d oh-so-deliciously ravished her a couple of nights ago.

  Wyatt noticed her regard. “They fixed the cameras.”

  She looked at him, appalled. “Why would you go and do something like that?”

  “Trust me,” he replied grimly. “At the moment, I have no idea.”

  It took a second for him to open the door, but it was more than she wanted to wait. He grasped her around the waist, yanked her in, and pinned her against the back of the door. Tilting her head back, he sucked her neck hard. “I love living here, but I’m starting to note definite disadvantages.”

  “Not being able to fuck in a hallway is not something most people consider when figuring out where they should live.”

  “I’d consider it. Someday, we’ll live somewhere else. A house, maybe. And I’m going to fuck you in every hallway.”

  “No cameras?”

  “Maybe cameras. But I’ll be the only one who sees that footage.” They kissed, their mouths hungry. He angled her head, stroking deeper, one hand dropping to her ass and squeezing through her dress.

  The words he’d spoken reverberated in her head. Perhaps they’d been a casual throwaway statement, but unless she asked, she’d obsess over them forever. When they broke apart, Tatiana tugged at the bottom of his shirt. “So we’re going to have a house?”

  He yanked at the shirt, bringing it off over his head, revealing his leanly muscled chest. “I assume so.”

  Tatiana ra
ised an eyebrow and scraped her nails down his chest. “You can’t assume something like that.”

  “Sure I can. Baby, you’re nuts about me.” He unbuttoned and unzipped his jeans, shoving his boxer briefs off with them, revealing his long, hard cock and rock-solid thighs. “You’re going to move in with me. You won’t be able to help yourself.”

  “Is that right?” Oh, the arrogance on this man. She’d take him to task more seriously when she could concentrate better on the conversation. It was difficult when there was so much cock and muscle to look at. Bless him and his early morning workout routine.

  “Like you can’t help how wet you get when I look at you.” He grabbed her skirt and tugged at it, letting it drop to the floor. Her panties went next, and she was lifted up easily. He stepped forward, his penis rubbing against her thigh. His stubble scraped her cheek when he went for her mouth. “Like you can’t help how you squeal when I fuck you with this big, thick cock.”

  She did squeal when he entered, though she tried to stifle it. No need to inflate his ego. He was already inflated. All over.

  “See?” he whispered. “Some things are a given.”

  She was so wet, he slid in and out of her without resistance. She grabbed his shoulders and wrapped her legs more firmly around his waist. His heavy arms and body held her in place while he fucked her slow and steady.

  She panted. “I don’t want you thinking I’m easy.”

  “No.” He leaned down and bit her nipples through her shirt and bra. “You never have been. Oh, Jesus, that’s it. Squeeze me.”

  She tightened her inner muscles, liking the helpless groan he gave. Yeah, some things were a given.

  “So tight. Your pussy’s begging me, isn’t it?”

  It was. It would always need him, slut that it was. “Yes.”

  “Yeah.” He gave her long, hard thrusts, his face harsh. He pressed her back against the door, angling his body so his shaft rubbed against her clit. “You feel perfect like this. Naked. Hot. You’re so wet.”

  “Mmm.” She scratched her fingernails over his scalp, loving the way he stretched into her touch. “We’ll save a fortune on condoms.”

  “Your frugality is sexy.”

  Tatiana clenched her pussy, the small revenge easy. “Shut up and fuck me.”