“Yes.”
“You were in an untenable position, Viktor. It was lose-lose.”
“She said she would have done the same if our situations were reversed.”
“Do you hold it against her?”
“God, no.” Viktor said, horrified Marissa would even suggest it.
“So what’s the problem?”
“The problem, kitten, is I think I would’ve given up the codes if it’d been you with a gun to your head.”
Silence.
“Iz?”
“Ah . . . not sure how I feel about that.” Marissa had a deep frown etched on her face.
“But if it were me, Marissa, I’d understand.”
“No! We’re not having this conversation.”
“With our jobs, we have to, Iz.”
“What, like a living will? Fuck you, Viktor.” Marissa’s green eyes darkened with anguish. “You say it’s okay for me to let you die, but you’d let everyone else die, so I could live? Do you know how that makes me feel?”
“You are the crack in my armor, Marissa,” Viktor said quietly. “The one vulnerability the enemy can use to manipulate me.”
“That’s why you’re trying so hard to train me,” Marissa choked. She was rigid against him. “Sometimes I question if we should even be together.”
Viktor hauled her onto his lap and nuzzled her neck. “I’m keeping you,” he said fiercely. “God, help me, I’m too selfish to let you go. All my fucking life I gave up everything I cared for to benefit the greater good. But not this time. Not with you. I would damn the whole world for you.”
Marissa relaxed against him. “Then we better make sure it doesn’t come to that.”
*****
It was almost dawn, and none of them had had any sleep. But they’d managed to make headway in tracking down the chemical weapons. Starting with identifying Owen Reed. They’d pulled up video feeds from the Port of Murmansk, and though the resolution was grainy, they were able to match his features with Jonathan Owen Reed—ex-Army Ranger, dishonorably discharged after proven guilty via court-marshal. His squad leader was presently serving time at Leavenworth.
“His whole team was under fire for wiping out an entire Afghan village,” Marissa said. “Unfortunately, the CIA has reason to believe that they were political scapegoats. The village was harboring Al-Qaeda and were armed against the Rangers. The media circus presented only the pictures of dead babies and pregnant women. Not the kids toting AK-47s.”
“So the CIA keeps quiet and lets the men rot,” Viktor spat. He stood up and began pacing. “When will the agency learn?”
“You didn’t turn rogue, Viktor,” Marissa said. “You turned a bad situation around and continued serving the country, but on your terms. Reed’s doing the opposite. He’s bringing destruction on the people he had once sworn to protect.”
Viktor snorted. “The rules of engagement are set by people living their cushy lives thousands of miles away from the frontline. They have no idea of the horrors of war and what young soldiers go through. And we wonder why we produce sociopaths like Reed?”
“You’re not feeling sympathetic to the bastard, are you?” Morgan asked.
Viktor considered this before saying, “No. Reed has broken the code of the brotherhood—duty, honor, and country. That’s fucking forged in blood whether you’re serving or not.”
Marissa felt relief. Viktor was in too deep now to bail out. Not that he was the type of man to bail. Besides, she was still reeling from his last declaration.
I would damn the whole world for you.
Couldn’t Viktor just say I love you in the traditional way by just saying the words? He’d had to go and say it in his alpha badass way because if that wasn’t a declaration of love, Marissa didn’t know what would be.
Was she ready for him now? He was larger than life and knowing how lethal he was, the intensity of what he felt for her, and what he would do to keep her—all thrilled and scared her.
“Marissa, you zoned off. Sleepy?” Viktor murmured as he reached out and caressed her cheek.
“Yes,” Marissa lied, her cheeks flushing. Viktor’s eyes widened fractionally in understanding, and then he grinned. A grin that made her skin tingle all over.
“Morgan and I were discussing what to do next,” Viktor explained. “It appears Reed left with just a few men, but in order to pull this off, he probably had people already in place in the U.S.”
“The logical place to start looking is for members of his unit that were dishonorably discharged with him.”
“Makes sense.” Marissa wasn’t able to keep the yawn from escaping. “I’ll shoot a request to Allison to have their dossiers ready. I dunno about you guys, but I’m catching some z’s.”
Marissa got up from her chair, logged out of the CIA database, and headed to the bedroom. Viktor took over her laptop and brought up the AGS website.
“I’m going for a run,” Morgan announced loudly as he caught up with Marissa in the hallway. He leaned in closely and whispered in her ear. “That was hot by the way.”
“What was hot?” Marissa asked.
“That little make out session last night,” he said, his eyes looked up and down her body in a playful leer.
“You watched us?” She was mortified.
“I heard you cry out,” Morgan said in his own defense. “I was just making sure he wasn’t hurting you.”
“Right.” She didn’t know whether to believe him or not.
Morgan added with a sly smile, “I suggest you both blow off a little steam while I’m gone.” He winked at her and walked off to his own bedroom.
Viktor materialized beside her. “What was that all about?”
She wanted to bang her head on the wall. God save her from cavemen.
“Chill. Morgan just wanted to congratulate us for putting on a good show for him last night.”
Viktor frowned.
“He watched you dry-hump me against the car,” Marissa clarified.
“I see,” her man replied, his face blank of emotion.
“I see? That’s all you have to say after acting like a Neanderthal the entire time you were here? You let another man see us go at it, and you’re okay with it?”
“I’m not one for public sex acts,” Viktor said carefully. “If you were naked, that would definitely be a problem. But I’m strangely pleased Morgan saw us.”
“Oh, and why is that?” Marissa snapped. Could Viktor be more contrary?
“Because, kitten, now there’s no question you belong to me,” Viktor said softly, gripping her chin and tilting it up to him. “I own every single one of your orgasms.” He ducked his head until he was nose to nose with her. “Every—single—fucking—one.”
*****
Oh no, she didn’t just fall asleep on him. Viktor eyed the sleeping form of his woman buried under the thick comforter. He tossed the towel on the chair. Morgan left ten minutes ago for what he said was a ten-mile run. He would have gone with him, but Viktor had a better idea how to release his tension.
Naked, he prowled to the bed and carefully tried to peel back the blanket.
Marissa’s hands clutched the cover and mumbled, “Cold.”
“I’ll warm you up, sweetheart.” He decided to join her under the comforter and scooted close to her, and stroked her hips. She was wearing flannel pajamas. Did she think that would stop him?
It certainly helped that she was facing away from him, lying on her side with her left leg at an angle, knee resting on the mattress. He flushed his body to her back, his growing arousal rubbing against her ass.
“Viktor—”
“Wake up,” he coaxed. He lifted her thick mane of hair to one side and nuzzled her neck, pressing open-mouth kisses up and down the length of her jaw, tugging on her ear, and sliding his tongue on the sensitive skin of her lobe. His hand slipped under her top to cup a breast, flicking a nipple, and was satisfied when goose bumps bloomed on her skin. She moaned as she ground her ass into his erec
tion, which had gotten hard enough to pound nails.
She slowly turned on her back, grabbed the hand that was on her breast, and shoved it under her pajama bottoms. Viktor nearly lost the tether on his control, which was tenuous to start. He pushed aside the crotch of her panties and stroked the seam of her sex. She was slippery, hot, and so ready for him. His fingers dipped inside. Viktor grunted, captured her lips, and kissed her ferociously, swallowing her little mewls of pleasure.
“There, I need you there,” she whispered, a hint of desperation in her voice.
Fuck foreplay. He withdrew his fingers. She protested, but not for long for he straddled her, not quite giving her his weight. He caught himself before he ripped another one of her clothes, and patiently unbuttoned her top. He tore his lips away and took in her glowing skin, frowning slightly at the bruises on her abdomen.
But he was beyond gentle right now as he grabbed both breasts and squeezed, plumping the perfect orbs to receive his mouth. He alternately sucked and licked each nipple slowly. Marissa began writhing beneath him.
“Mouth. I want your mouth.”
“Tell me where?” Viktor murmured against her lips even as he knew what she meant. She smiled languidly, her hands clutching his head and pushing it lower. Viktor chuckled. That’s his Marissa, never shy with what she wanted. If she wanted his mouth on her pussy, she demanded it. His fingers hooked on the waistband of her pajama bottoms and underwear, dragging them off in one fell swoop.
And in the cold light of dawn, he could see the glistening evidence of her desire, her feminine musk mixing headily with the clean scent of her fancy soap. She was also mostly bare. He couldn’t wait to taste her, to take all of her in his mouth. He buried his face in her molten heat and she cried out instantly. She bucked her hips while her fingers dug wildly into his hair. She was just as rough as he was and he loved it.
“Harder. Yes . . . there . . . God . . .” she screamed again as he tasted her addictive essence. He growled and sucked her clit as she shuddered against him. Her juices flooded his mouth, but he was ravenous for more, tunnelling his tongue into her entrance to seek the source of his hunger.
“Now, Viktor,” Marissa pleaded. “Fuck me now! Now!”
Sliding up her body and anchoring her leg, he sank into her by degrees, relishing the tightness gripping his cock. Pulling out, he repeated the process. Fucking hell, she feels incredible. No wonder he was drunk on her. The last vestiges of his control snapped when on his third withdrawal, he slammed back inside her and exponentially increased his thrusts, pounding inside her again and again and again.
Marissa had lost it, her head was shaking from side to side, moaning in abandon, her pussy sucking his cock in as she spasmed around him.
“That’s it, Marissa. Fuck, your pussy is tight,” Viktor groaned. His breathing serrated as he struggled to keep his release at bay to give her another one. Feral in his possession, grunting and pumping like a beast in rut, he planted a hand on the headboard as he adjusted his penetration so he could go deeper, harder. Her hips tilted up when he rammed into her at an angle, drilling into her. Mine!
“Oh, my God! Oh, my God!” Marissa gasped. Her nails were digging into his chest. She cried out incoherently in what sounded like a mixture of pain and ecstasy, but he was too far gone. Yet he denied his release for the reward of staying inside her longer.
“Feels so good, kitten,” he said raggedly as he thrust a couple of more times. His back bowed before it arched for his release, propelling him forward, he had to grip the headboard so tight, he thought he’d splintered it. He shuddered long and hard, choking on his roar. “Marissa . . . fuck . . . fuck . . .” His heart was still racing. His breathing was labored when the last of his climax left him. He lowered his hand from the headboard and braced his outstretched arms on either side of Marissa. Staring down at her beautiful green eyes, he stated matter-of-factly, “I do believe I’m in love with you.”
Her expression was guarded, and then her lips curved in a tender smile. She reached out to touch his cheek. “I know, big guy.”
Viktor collapsed on top of her, enfolding her securely into him, and rolled to his side. After five sleepless nights, he had his woman finally ensconced in his arms and the beast inside him was quiet and content.
Viktor woke up and was not pleased when Marissa was not beside him. How could he have slept so deeply? It was almost noon, he cursed himself as he got out of bed. He had not even heard Morgan come back from his run and that bothered him. He had fucked himself into a coma and left himself open. That almost never happened. He heard voices in the kitchen and stealthily made his way over there.
“Both at the same time?” Marissa’s incredulous voice asked. “Is that even possible? That sounds painful.”
“Pleasure from pain, babe,” Morgan’s voice was thick, and Viktor bristled. He recognized lust in his tone and he hated another man calling his woman ‘babe’. And what the fuck were they talking about?
“Let me get this straight,” his woman squeaked. “One cock up the vagina, and another one in my . . . um in the ass. Wouldn’t that rip a woman apart?”
“No. You’d be surprised how stretchable—”
Viktor decided it was time to put an end to this conversation.
“Not another word, Morgan,” Viktor warned, stepping into the kitchen and became doubly furious when he saw Marissa’s guilty expression while Stan Morgan had a triumphant look on his face. The man must have a death wish because Viktor was this close to slitting his throat.
“Good of you to join us, Baran,” Morgan said.
“Fuck off!” Viktor shot back. Turning to Marissa, he snapped, “Why didn’t you wake me up?”
She raised a sardonic brow, which irked him more. “You looked like you needed some rest.”
“In all the time you’ve known me, has rest been a problem?” He was unravelling and he knew it. He’d come to the unsettling realization of his feelings for Marissa, told her, shown her by worshipping her body, and all she said was “I know.” That fucking stung. Wasn’t the standard reply, I love you, too? Fuck him! He was turning into a pussy.
“Do you need coffee, Viktor?” Marissa asked dryly.
He narrowed his eyes at her. She was asking for another hard fucking. Oh yes, she was.
Morgan sighed. “Should I have run a marathon? Would that have given you guys enough time to get this sexual tension out of the way?”
Marissa blushed and tucked her hair behind her ear self-consciously. “Don’t be silly, Stan.”
Stan? Stan? She’s on first name basis with this prick?
“Would anyone care to explain how you two happen to be discussing—if I’m not mistaken—three-way sex,” Viktor said.
Marissa visibly gulped. She looked helplessly at Morgan.
“I was teasing Ms. Cole.” Morgan shrugged. “And she blasted me for my dig at you yesterday regarding the ménage. I suggested you looked like a man who was into that stuff.”
Fucking Stan Morgan.
Viktor kept his mouth shut.
Morgan’s lips twitched.
Marissa waited patiently for him to say something. Probably a denial. But he couldn’t lie.
“Viktor?” his woman prompted.
“I’m fucking going to gut you, Morgan,” Viktor repeated his threat to the man yesterday.
“Oh, my God? You’re into that?” Marissa asked. “Two women, one man or two men, one woman?”
“Both,” Viktor said. “And I’m not into that. Just occasionally. If the woman wants to.” He cut a sharp glance at Marissa. “But don’t get any ideas because I’m not sharing you with any man or woman.”
“So the um, two men, one woman.” Marissa was beet red and her voice trailed off. “Do you and the other guy—”
Jesus. Fuck. Shit.
“No,” Viktor roared.
Morgan burst out laughing and backed out of the kitchen. “I’ll leave you two to sort it out. I’ve got errands to run.” To Marissa, he asked, “You sur
e I can use this crib while I’m stateside, Ms. Cole?” Viktor wondered what those ‘errands’ were, but he’d guess it was some kind of job.
“I’m sure,” Marissa replied. “I need to get back to DC, anyway. Keep your nose clean.”
“Right,” Morgan nodded. “Call me if you need anything. And thanks for loaning me your car.”
There was an uncomfortable silence in the kitchen after Morgan left the house. Viktor broke it first. “So you’re returning to DC with me then?”
“Do I have a choice?” Marissa asked warily.
“Not really.”
More silence. Viktor knew better than to act all jealous and possessive over Marissa now that he’d had the time to calm down. He still didn’t like it that his woman was sharing such an intimate conversation with another man. But there were just too many strikes against him yesterday that he was probably bordering on psycho territory—Marissa just brought out that tendency in him. He was keeping an eye on Stan Morgan. That man was a troublemaker.
This time it was Marissa who spoke first. “Am I enough for you, Viktor? Sexually?”
His chest clenched from the crushing uncertainty that clouded her face, and he cursed Stan Morgan once more for opening that can of worms. “You’re the best I’ve ever had, kitten.” He pulled her close, pressing their hips together, his eyes gazing into hers intently.
She pursed her lips. “It’s just that I’ve heard so many rumors about your lifestyle from different quarters and yet you’ve never suggested anything deviant for us.”
“Are you suggesting I’m too vanilla?” Viktor’s mouth brushed the tip of her ear. “Do you want me to fuck you in the ass, sweetheart?”
“Um…no.”
“Nipple clamps?”
“What?”
“They’re exactly that, something to pinch your nipples—”
“No!”
“Then I won’t,” Viktor murmured. “I get what I need from you, Marissa. I had those kinks all those years because the sex was never satisfying.” And that was the undeniable truth. Though he wasn’t about to tell her it was his way of coping from losing her that first time. A form of control. With her, it was more than a physical connection. It was on a primal emotional level that shot straight to his very soul.
Smoke and Shadows Page 17