by Lucy Leroux
Heat flooded her cheeks. Her neck hurt as she nearly gave herself whiplash by jerking her head back up. Dmitri was big in every way. Every way.
He turned to hang the pants on the set of fireplace pokers next to him. His shirt followed soon after.
The man’s chest was a literal work of art. His back could have been carved from marble, but when he turned around, she had to bite her lip. Either he was a mutant or he spent all his time in the gym. Nina blinked owlishly at his chest, telling herself she was wrong. Humans couldn’t have a ten pack, could they?
Dressed only in his boxer briefs, Dmitri sat in the chair next to her with a casualness she envied.
Why on God’s green earth would he be embarrassed or shy? If she had a body like that, she’d be an exhibitionist, too.
“Feeling better yet?”
“Um, yeah,” she said, shaking her head to stop the replay of anatomical charts running in her mind. Nina raised her toes, trying to get them closer to the fire.
“Here, let me.” Dmitri slipped off the chair, kneeling in front of her. She didn’t have time to protest before he grabbed her feet, using his massive hands to warm them up.
Nina was mortified. “You don’t have to do that,” she said, trying unsuccessfully to pull away.
“It’s no problem.” His dark slumberous gaze sent adrenaline coursing through her. Little hard bits of her soul started to soften and melt.
Nina abruptly pulled her feet away. “I’m fine now. I better see if I have cell reception here. I need to call home.”
Dmitri nodded, staying put as she went off in search of her phone. He stretched out in front of the fire languorously, like a cat basking in the sun.
She had to tear her eyes away. There was a single bar on her phone, but she gave up trying to call after a few failed attempts. It wouldn’t connect. She didn’t know if it was the storm or a reception dead zone. Dmitri had mentioned this was a summer vacation spot. If there weren’t people here year-round, there might not be many cell towers.
Sighing, Nina decided her feet were dry enough. She pulled on socks and pants under the blanket, doing her best to ignore the near-naked man lying in front of the fire like a living bear rug. She made sure Dmitri wasn’t peeking before pulling on a clean sweater. Then she investigated the cabinets.
Uh-oh.
“Dmitri, there’s no food.”
Well, of course there wasn’t. People rented these out in during the summertime. They would bring their provisions with them.
When she turned around, Dmitri was pulling on his pants. He reached for his T-shirt. “I was warned about this. Cass said there’s a general store on sight. It’ll be locked for the season, but it should have canned and dry goods. It’s only a half-click away.”
“No. Don’t even think about going back out.” She tried to tug the shirt away, but it was like playing tug-of-war with a giant.
“I’ll be fine.” He pulled the shirt back on, winking at her as he tucked it into his waistband.
“I’m not that hungry,” she insisted. “In fact, I could stand to lose a few pounds.”
“Don’t you dare. You’re perfect.” Dmitri’s growl was roughly amused. He put on the ski goggles before donning a scarf and hat. “I’ll be back in twenty minutes. Stay by the fire.”
He was gone before she could reply.
For the next twenty minutes, Nina paced back and forth, going to the window periodically to check for Dmitri’s large form, but the visibility was only marginally better than when they arrived.
He’s going to be fine. For Pete’s sake, the massive Russian had carried her here. His physicality was superior to the professional athletes she’d seen come through the hospital. He was unreal, more akin to an artist’s rendering of what men should look like.
Stop it. The last thing she needed was an infatuation for a man she wasn’t going to see again in a few days.
Keep the fire going. He was going to need to warm up fast when he returned. Nina tossed another log on the flames before returning to her vigil at the window. How much time had passed?
She checked her phone. It was over twenty minutes now, closer to half an hour.
There might be a lot of reasons for the delay. Dmitri might have gotten distracted picking stuff out at the store. She always lost track of time shopping. Of course, technically he was stealing, but if he didn’t leave cash for their supplies, she’d mail them a check as soon as she arrived home.
With each minute that ticked by, she grew increasingly nervous. A quarter of an hour later, she was convinced something terrible had happened. Nina squinted out the window for signs of movement, mentally willing Dmitri to appear, but from this vantage point, she could only see a very narrow slice of the terrain.
Pulling on her shoes and coat, she went to the door. She made sure it didn’t lock behind her before stepping outside.
Nina spotted him immediately. He was too far to make out clearly in this haze, but she could see his black leather-clad arm waving at her.
He wasn’t getting any closer. His substantial form seemed frozen in place. Had he gotten stuck somehow? Crap.
“I’ll be right there!” Nina ran inside, throwing on her scarf and gloves again. They may have still been wet, but it was better than nothing in the driving snow.
Her feet sank into the fresh powder off the porch. Instantly, she was freezing again, but she couldn’t afford to stop. What if Dmitri had stepped on a bear trap under the snow? He could be bleeding out, just a few dozen feet away from the cabin door.
By the time she was halfway, her thighs were burning. Only a few more feet, she promised herself. “Are you hurt?” she yelled, wondering why Dmitri hadn’t stopped waving.
She reached out, only to touch slick plastic. What the hell? Up close, the form stopped appearing human. She pulled the plastic away, revealing a mound of bricks.
Swearing aloud, Nina turned back to the cabin, eager to get inside before Dmitri returned and caught her being so stupid.
The thick snow was even harder to get through on the way back.
I thought I was in better shape than this.
As a surgeon, she spent a lot of time on her feet. A reasonable degree of physical fitness was required. She’d even started working out with a trainer to build endurance.
If Brad could see her now, he’d want to expand her workouts. I may just let him, she thought, struggling the last few feet before the porch.
Was it her imagination or was the snow finally slowing down? It appeared so. At least it was no longer coming at her sideways, but falling delicately the way it should when viewed through the comfort of a window. Preferably when wrapped in a blanket drinking cocoa.
The wind was also starting to die down. That was why she heard Dmitri yelling at her.
She spun toward the sound, ready to explain what an idiot she’d been, when she heard a whooshing sound. She glanced up just in time to see a wall of white come crashing down on top of her.
Pulse racing, Dmitri dug frantically through the pile of snow underneath the porch overhang. What the hell had Nina been thinking coming outside?
His shopping trip had taken a bit longer than he’d expected. The map of the campground area wasn’t to scale, and the general store was farther than estimated. Once there, he’d picked the lock and helped himself to whatever looked good, leaving a wad of bills to cover the lot before closing up and hurrying back. He’d been just in time to see a thick layer of snow slide off the slanted porch right onto his mate’s head.
I should have come back faster. If he had, maybe Nina wouldn’t be buried.
“Nina! Are you okay?”
There was no answer. Shit.
Another fistful of snow revealed a bit of black hair. Roaring, he redoubled his efforts, digging her out with care. His nostrils flared, smelling for blood. There was only a trace, thank the Mother. He checked her head and spine for injuries before scooping her up—leaving her useless little hat behind in the snow.
Dmitri carried his unconscious mate inside. She’d already hit her head once today. What were the fucking chances of being hit again?
Thankfully, the only bump he found was the same one as before. Her pupils appeared normal, and she was breathing evenly.
“When you wake up, I’m going to spank you so hard.”
The arresting mental image made him stiffen. Don’t even think about it. He should go back outside and dive in a snowbank, but he had to take care of Nina—starting with stripping her wet clothes. Otherwise, she might get hypothermia.
He laid her on the bed, his eyes running over her still form. Even in a coat, he could make out her bountiful curves. Damn it. This was a test of nobility he did not need.
Dmitri dug out an extra sheet and threw it over Nina, undressing her through it by feel. When the sheet accidentally slipped, he tugged it back in place in a herculean effort of will.
Off went her coat and blouse. Working rapidly, he tugged off her pants, shoes, and socks. He left the bra and panties on, yanked back the covers, and slid her beneath them.
Fucking hell, her skin was cold to the touch. Grunting, he stripped down and slipped into the bed with her. He knew from experience that the best way to warm her up was to use his own body. Despite being out in the snow for far longer than she, he was radiating heat, thanks to the workout his hormones were getting.
He settled Nina against him, enjoying the silky feel of her skin too much to feel guilty about it. His only real problem, aside from the raging hard-on, was keeping his hands to himself.
Chapter Eight
The warmth was downright luxurious. Stretching languorously, Nina reveled in the heat. After being cold for so long, it felt almost sinful. And room’s smell was amazing. It made her want to breathe in deeper. She burrowed deeper under the blanket. She almost never slept without a nightgown, but it felt good. She liked the way her skin tingled against the pillow as she rubbed against it.
The pillow groaned.
Nina’s eyes flew open. The realization that all but her underclothes were gone and she was in bed with Dmitri slowly trickled into her confused mind. He was shirtless, his incredibly sculpted chest just inches away.
Dmitri rolled, lying on top of her. Blinking fast, she finally focused on his scowling face.
“Why the hell would you go outside?” he asked.
“Um…” For the life of her, she couldn’t remember. All she could think about was the way his thickly muscled arms were like a cage, trapping her against the mattress.
A rush of liquid warmth between her legs surprised her. She was having a hard time catching her breath.
“I’m waiting for an answer, Nina.”
Dmitri’s hot breath fanned across her cheek. His accent had grown thicker, making his W’s sound like V’s.
She squirmed underneath him, hyperaware that the tips of her breasts were pressed against his chest. “I…uh… oh God.”
Her insides were turning to molten lava, but he wanted an answer… What was it?
“The bricks!” she squeaked. “I saw the tarp flapping, and thought it was you waving.”
The crease in his forehead deepened. “I’ve been told I’m built like a brick shit-house before, but you literally confused me for a pile of bricks?”
Her heart was thrumming now, but she wasn’t afraid. If anything, his deepening aggression was making her hotter.
“I couldn’t see that well.” Her voice was a thready whisper. “It was snowing too hard.”
“You scared the crap out of me,” he said, his accent thick enough to cut with a knife. “You realize I have to punish you, right?”
Dmitri’s head lowered until his lips were grazing her cheek. Tingles of electricity sparked where he touched her skin.
“I…” Words formed in her head, but they stubbornly refused to make sentences. The nonsense gibberish kept flowing, but all that came out were squeaky whimpers and increasingly rapid panting.
An inhumanly hot man was lying on top of her. Something like this had never happened.
What do I do?
You have sex. Lots and lots of it… She was supposed to attend her ex’s wedding to her sister in a few days. If anyone was entitled to a rebound fling, it was her.
Dmitri’s mouth came down on hers. It was just like the parking lot. All resistance was blown to smithereens in an instant.
His tongue parted her lips, tasting in teasing sips before he pulled his head back. A deep rumble came from his throat.
“Delicious,” he growled.
The second kiss burned through her. Her body arched involuntarily. Dmitri undulated over her, slipping between her parted legs like a contortionist.
The thin material of his boxer briefs was little barrier at all. His hot, hard length pressed against her soaked panties. Heartbeat skyrocketing, she rubbed against him mindlessly.
It was as if someone had taken control of her body. All thought, all reason, was gone. Her tongue frantically pushed against his, tangling and twisting. He was delicious, too, an instant addiction.
Cool air hit her as Dmitri moved down her body, stripping her bra off. His fingers dipped into the waistband of her panties, tugging them to her ankles before sliding them free. His head bent, tongue taking a hard lick at her parted lips.
Writhing, Nina grabbed his hair reflexively, tugging on it. “Please, please…” She had to make him stop before she exploded. Suddenly, that was terrifying.
Dmitri moved back up, nudging her legs wider with his knee. He settled between her thighs, his underwear lost somewhere along the way. His bare cock grazed her wetness, sliding over her lips, sending jolts of pleasure straight to her brain.
She couldn’t stand it. Sex should not be this intense—and he wasn’t even inside her yet. At this rate, it was going to kill her, but she didn’t care anymore. She sucked on the skin of his neck, still wanting more
“I can’t,” she gasped, finding enough breath to push the two words out.
“You can, love.” Dmitri’s eyes were hot. “But you need to calm down. Slow your breathing or you might hyperventilate.”
He waited for a beat while she fought to obey. She took one deep breath, and then another, clawing at his back to have something to hold onto. The racing of her heart slowed a fraction and she let go, sinking into the mattress.
Dmitri took hold of his cock, adjusting her slightly before resting the head of it against her clit. Her eyes began to drift closed in anticipation, but she caught Dmitri shaking his head. “I want you to watch me take you.”
Holy hell. Despite an aversion to being told what to do, her eyes flew down, unable to resist.
He was huge. Not monstrous, thank God, but bigger than anything she’d ever seen in real life—not even at the hospital. Granted, she didn’t operate on prostates, but over the course of her career, she’d seen enough to know this man was blessed.
He began to move, his shaft sliding over her clit. Her body responded instantly, growing soft in anticipation. Nina opened her legs a fraction wider to reveal her pink inner lips.
His smile was smug, but it dropped away quickly. His focus was on her pussy, which was laid out like a feast before him. He pumped his dick, turning the head a deep rose color. The satin tip parted her folds, running up and down until she squirmed beneath him.
Dmitri bent to press a kiss to her forehead before leaning even closer. He fit himself to her entrance, pressing against her. “I was going to put my mouth on you first, to make it easier to take me. But this can’t wait anymore. I have to be inside you.”
Nina held her breath as he flexed his hips, pressing his cock against her entrance. He felt larger than he looked. Her mouth gaped. “Oh, God.”
The cry was involuntary, ripped from her when his cock breached her, the bulbous head popping past the ring of muscles constricting her entrance. It was more intense than anything she’d ever experienced. She felt like a virgin being opened for the first time.
Dmitri flexed his hips, driving i
nside with a loud growl. He swallowed her gasp with his lips, withdrawing and thrusting in again, deeper. A third stroke and his entire length was inside, flush to his balls.
Overwhelmed, she flinched. Her instinct was to push him away. He was too large for her, but her body wouldn’t let him go. Instead, she tightened on him, trying to hold him inside her.
It was like grabbing at Quicksilver. He slid in and out easily now. She was wet and warm around him, meeting his thrusts—as much as he would allow. She only had a little room. His hips fixed her to the mattress as his tempo increased.
Refusing to be passive, she clawed at his back, using her sheath to caress and stroke him back, thrust for thrust.
“You’re driving me crazy,” he whispered. At least, that was what she thought he said. His accent was so thick now she could hardly understand him.
No, she was the crazy one. She’d lost her mind. Nina had never had a one-night stand in her life—had never even considered one. Now she was in bed with a near stranger, a perfect human specimen with a cock from the gods.
Her head hit the headboard and Dmitri swore, pulling her down the mattress. Concerned, he touched her head, but she hadn’t even felt it.
“No.” She wiggled, trying to push at his arms and hips. “Don’t stop. Don’t ever stop.”
This time, the jackass laughed. “Don’t stop what?”
His cock was thick inside her, but he wasn’t moving and none of her efforts budged him.
Dmitri bent his head, pulling out far enough so his lips could reach her breast. He lathed her nipple, licking and sucking into his mouth.
“What do you need, baby?”
A tiny part of her brain was screaming something about willpower, but she ignored it. Any self-respect she might have had long since crumpled to dust.
“I need you to fuck me,” she panted, whimpering as he thrust once very slowly.
He was still amused. “If you want, I can go down on you instead. Should I fuck you with my tongue?”