Broken Wings (The Broken Series Book 3)

by Ruff, K. S.

  I blew out a long breath as I relaxed into the couch. “Why do you continue to live here when things are so bad?”

  Maxim kissed the back of my hand as he settled in next to me. “It would be selfish to leave. The only person that helps is me. If I stay, I can help a lot more people overcome these problems. If enough people work toward change, we can reduce government corruption, reduce poverty, and improve the quality of life in Ukraine.”

  I glanced questioningly at Cory, who had been listening intently. He studied Maxim as he leaned forward in his chair. Slowly, he nodded.

  “Not everything is as it seems,” I murmured softly, recalling Konstantin’s note to Shae.

  Maxim wrapped his arm around me. “No, it’s not.”

  “You’re really one of the good guys?” I asked uncertainly.

  He chuckled softly. “Yes. Well, I tend to think so. Not everyone would agree.”

  I tried to stifle a yawn. Now that my adrenaline was gone, I felt extremely fatigued. “Where do we go from here?”

  He kissed the top of my head. “Well, you could always come home with me…”

  I punched him in the stomach. Softly.

  He laughed. “I had to try.”

  I turned to face him. “Look, Maxim, I’m sure you’re a really great guy, but I have a boyfriend. I’m crazy about him. You’re, ah, very handsome and very good at, um… multitasking, but I don’t want to cheat on my boyfriend. Is there any way we can just be friends?”

  His eyes softened as he caressed my cheek. “I would like it if you considered me a friend. I can’t recall the last time I was able to talk with a woman like this. Maybe I never have. You’re smart, funny, beautiful, and kind. I still can’t believe you gave those flowers to the children’s hospital…”

  I winced. “I’m sorry. I did keep a vase for myself.”

  He smiled. “I noticed that. I’m not mad that you shared the flowers with the children at the hospital. I’m just surprised. Most women would have kept them for themselves or thrown them away. They wouldn’t have thought to share them with sick kids.”

  I sighed softly. “The roses really were quite beautiful, but we aren’t spending much time in our hotel room. Those flowers would have withered away in that room while we worked. The children really enjoyed your gift. Some of those kids had never been given a flower before. I had so much fun sharing the flowers with them, Maxim. For me, that experience was the best part of your gift. So, thank you for the roses and for the opportunity to share them.”

  Maxim shook his head. “I really wish you didn’t have a boyfriend.”

  “If you promise not to kill him, I’ll introduce the two of you next week,” I responded teasingly.

  His eyebrows rose. “He’s coming here next week?”

  I nodded. “He’s planning to meet me in Sevastopol.”

  Maxim sighed. “I’ll have to extend some level of protection to him too.”

  I glanced at him in surprise. “Why?”

  Maxim’s eyes met mine. “Because if the guy ends up dead, you’ll think it was me.”

  I tried not to laugh. “I don’t think he’ll need your protection. Rafael is a pretty resourceful guy. He used to be special ops.”

  “Rafael,” he mused. “That is not a typical American name.”

  I shook my head. “He’s not American.”

  Maxim looked surprised. “He’s not?”

  I shook my head again. “He’s Portuguese.”

  Maxim looked thoughtful. Then he smiled. “Does he look like me?”

  I shook my head. “No. Not really. But the man I used to be engaged to looks a lot like you, only thinner.” I squeezed his bicep teasingly. “He’s a little softer, and he doesn’t have all those hard edges you put up in public.”

  “Hard edges?” he asked curiously.

  I shrugged. “You don’t have any hard edges up now, but there’s an intensity and a directness about you that is really intimidating when you’re out in public.”

  He laughed. “Hard edges.”

  I bit back a yawn. “Yeah. I prefer this side of you.”

  Maxim pulled me against his chest. He tugged the blanket around me.

  I glanced over at Cory, who was now sprawled out in the chair asleep. “I should go upstairs so we can get some sleep.”

  Maxim’s arm tightened around me. “Please, Kristine. If you are going to deny me the pleasure of having sex with you, then at least let me sit here and hold you. I would really like to know what it feels like to hold you in my arms.”

  I relaxed against him. “Okay, but only for a few minutes longer.”

  Maxim glanced over at the guys standing by the door. “Vklyuchite svet vniz tak, ona mozhet spat'.”

  One of the guys nodded. He flipped some switches by the door, and half of the overhead lights turned off.

  Maxim pulled the blanket from around me and adjusted it so that it was draped over both of us. He slid his arm around me and gently rubbed my arm. “I’d like to at least pretend we’re dating when we are in public. It’s the only way I can ensure the SVR and the SBU steer clear of you.”

  I yawned sleepily. “What does SVR and SBU stand for?”

  “The SVR is Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service. The SBU is Ukraine’s security forces. Both agencies are firmly entrenched in the former KGB. When you hear about Americans being accused of spying in our region, those two agencies are generally involved. They are notorious for false accusations and tortured confessions.”

  I tried to force my thoughts away from the disturbing images his statement evoked so I could focus on what he was asking me to do. “They’ll stay away from us if I date you?”

  He tucked me against his chest as he continued stroking my arm. “Yes, they will.”

  I grew quiet as I considered the options. The room faded to gray, then black, as my eyes slid closed. “We can just pretend?” I murmured.

  He chuckled softly. “You can pretend.”

  My thoughts faded as I drifted off to sleep.

  Maxim nudged me, seemingly determined to have an answer.

  My eyes fluttered open briefly, then slid closed again. “Okay.”

  “Kristine?” he whispered as his fingers traced some obscure pattern down my arm.

  I sighed contentedly. “Hmm?”

  “I’m still going to try to make love to you.”

  “That’s nice,” I murmured as I drifted back to sleep.

  His voice was soft and low as he continued coaxing information from me. “Tell me about this man you were engaged to, the one who looks like me.”

  A single tear slid from the corner of my eye as a lump formed in my throat. “Michael,” I breathed. “He still loves me, but he’s worried he can’t keep me safe.”

  Maxim stilled. “Safe? From what?”

  “The terrorists,” I murmured, “… and the man who tried to drown me.”

  Maxim’s tone grew dark. “Where is this man now?”

  My eyebrows furrowed. “Rafael killed him, but Michael still sent me away. He’s worried the terrorists will come for me.” I pulled my feet onto the couch and tucked into a small ball. I sank further into Maxim’s chest. I was too tired for this conversation. I didn’t want to think about terrorists. I wanted to go back to sleep.

  “Why would terrorists want to hurt you, Kristine?”

  It didn’t seem to matter whether I was awake, asleep, or suspended somewhere in between. I still felt like sobbing. “Because Michael loves me.”

  “He broke your heart when he sent you away,” Maxim murmured thoughtfully.

  “Yes,” I whispered. “My heart is still broken. I’m still broken.”

  Maxim rubbed my arm in silent contemplation.

  “I still miss Michael,” I confessed a few minutes later.

  “I’m sure he misses you too,” Maxim responded.

  I sighed softly, then drifted back to sleep.

  * * * * * *

  I woke up cradled in Maxim’s arms. At some point during
the night he had eased us both onto the couch so he was lying behind me with my back tucked against his chest. I could see the hotel clerk working silently behind the desk as my eyes fluttered open. Cory was gone, and different men were standing guard in front of the door.

  Maxim nuzzled my neck. “Dobroe utro, angel moy.”

  I rolled over in his arms so I could face him. He pulled me close so I wouldn’t fall off the couch. I studied him for a few heartbeats. His hair was tousled. His face looked younger, and his smile was relaxed. There were no hard edges. “Thank you,” I whispered softly.

  His eyebrows furrowed. “For what?”

  I studied his face a bit more closely. It was truly devastating how much he looked like Michael. “For being such a gentleman last night.”

  He grinned. “I don’t think anyone has ever called me that before.”

  I ran my hand over the stubble along his jawline. “Why are you trying to keep us safe, Maxim? What’s in this for you?”

  He sighed as he pressed my hand against his cheek. His eyes softened as they met mine. “You are like this beautiful tropical oasis in the midst of a never ending storm. If I can just gain some reprieve from the storm… enjoy something beautiful and sweet for just a little while… then maybe it will prove easier to survive the storm.”

  Tears pricked at my eyes. “I think that is the most romantic thing anyone has ever said to me.”

  A small smile teased at the corner of his mouth. “I can be a pretty romantic guy.”

  I smiled. “I’ve noticed.”

  His eyes fell on my lips. “What were you planning to do today?”

  I giggled as he continued staring at my lips. “We were going to do some sightseeing. Do you know any good tour guides?”

  He grinned. “It so happens that I do.”

  I frowned.

  His eyes shot toward mine. “What’s wrong?”

  I sighed. “Well, it’s just that Nonna, Oni, and Igor have been camping out here pretty regularly. We can’t seem to do anything without them accompanying us. I’m surprised they aren’t here now. They know we’re planning to go sightseeing today, and I think they’re planning to escort us.”

  Maxim relaxed. “They may be sitting outside. My men haven’t let anyone enter the hotel since I arrived last night. I’ll talk to Nonna. I’ll let her know that we will be accompanying you today. She’ll back off if she knows you guys are with me.”

  Maxim tightened his arms around me as I tried to sit up. “Your pretend boyfriend would like to start the day with a kiss, kotyonok.”

  “Just a kiss?” I asked warily.

  He sat up, snapped his fingers at the desk clerk, and waved him away. “For now.”

  I shook my head. “What have I gotten myself into with you?”

  He grinned. “If you only knew.” He slid my body beneath his. He held my face in his hands as he bit at my bottom lip and chin. His eyes flared with desire just before he fit his lips to mine. His tongue breached my lips and immediately sought mine. He circled, then stroked my tongue until a small moan escaped my lips.

  My heart stalled as he hardened against me.

  A low growl slid from his chest as he deepened the kiss. His fingers wound through my hair until he held me tightly at the scalp. He tugged gently as he ground his hips into mine. My body wound into a tight coil even as I fought the desire that was now coursing through me.

  I groaned as his tongue swiped at the sweet spot on my neck. He pulled my head to the side so he could gain better access to my neck. Then his other hand slid over my breast. His thumb stroked my nipple through the thin silk camisole until it hardened. “This is more than a kiss,” I rasped.

  My back arched as he sucked forcefully on my neck. He nudged my legs open and rocked into me. I tried to wedge my hands between us, but he bit down on my neck and pinched my breast as he rolled every hard edge of his arousal against me. My entire body clenched, then shattered forcefully. He stilled as I gasped, then trembled in his arms. I scrambled to the other side of the couch. “You… you… how did you do that?!”

  A smug look fell over his face. “I’m a really good kisser.”

  “Holy crap,” I breathed. I yanked the blanket around me. “We cannot do that again. Ever.”

  His eyes grew hooded as he edged toward me. “Imagine how much better that would feel if we didn’t have any clothes on.”

  I bolted from the couch and immediately began pacing across the room. “I… I… I think I just cheated on Rafael. Crap! Crap! Crap! Why did you have to give me an orgasm? That’s cheating. That’s definitely cheating!”

  Maxim laughed. “It was only a kiss.”

  I stopped pacing so I could stare at him. “That was not a kiss.”

  He looked amused as he rose from the couch. “Then what was it?”

  I backed up as he slowly approached me. “That was sex… with clothes on!”

  One of the guys standing guard in front of the door laughed.

  Maxim glared at him. His eyes were heated as he slowly stalked me across the room. “That was a five minute kiss. If you had sex with me, you’d know the difference. You’d be pinned under me for hours, clawing my back, and sobbing for more.”

  All of the air rushed out of my lungs.

  My eyes were wild as he reached for my hands. “Calm down,” he said soothingly. “It wasn’t sex.”

  I bit back a sob. “God! I’m a horrible person.”

  His eyes flared with anger. “Don’t.”

  I stilled, then eyed him cautiously.

  He took a deep breath. “Look, I don’t know this guy, Rafael, but I can see you want to remain faithful to him. I don’t understand why you’d feel committed to him when you are still in love with Michael.” He shrugged. “Maybe neither of them is the right man for you. Maybe I am… or maybe it’s someone you haven’t even met yet.”

  He looked frustrated as he sought the right words. “What I’m trying to say is you can’t know who you are meant to be with until you’ve dated… and kissed a handful of people. You weed out the people who feel wrong and you linger with the people who feel right until the moment your soul recognizes the one it’s meant to be with. You aren’t a horrible person for kissing another man. You’re just going through the process of figuring out who you are meant to be with.”

  My eyes welled with tears.

  Maxim swiped at my eyes before giving me a hug.

  I started giggling as he pulled away.

  His expression hovered between amusement and concern.

  I shook my head. “I can’t believe I’m getting relationship advice from the Russian mafia.”

  Maxim laughed. “Yeah, well, I’m going to back off on the advice because it appears to be conflicting with my interests. I’m used to getting what I want… and I can’t shake the feeling that I’m giving it up instead.”

  My heart clenched. “You are so much like Michael, it’s scary.”

  Maxim’s eyes hardened. “I am nothing like Michael. If you had agreed to marry me, I would have never let you go. Michael was a fool to think you’d be safe simply because he let you go. His actions put you at risk. He should have kept you with him and had the threat eliminated.”

  I tightened the blanket around me. “Thank you, Maxim, for offering to protect me and for being so understanding. You really are a very nice guy.”

  He smiled as he glanced around the room. “Don’t tell anyone else that. It could ruin my reputation,” he whispered conspiratorially.

  I reached for his shoulder, then softly kissed his cheek. “I’m going upstairs to shower. Do you still want to take us sightseeing?”

  He grinned. “Yes, of course. I’ll have a man stand guard outside your room while I run home to shower and change. I’ll meet you back here in one hour.” He began to walk away, then stopped. He turned to face me again. “The government will make multiple attempts to replace the bugs in your rooms, so don’t be surprised if my men come by to make regular sweeps. I’ll make sure they knock bef
ore coming into the room.”

  I nodded, then turned toward the stairs.

  “Oh, and Kristine?”

  I slowly turned around.

  Maxim smiled. “Will you send Konstantin down? Evidently, he slept in your room.”

  I grinned. “Sure. I’ll send him right down.”

  I sprinted up the cold cement stairs, then softly knocked on the door to my room.

  Konstantin opened the door and immediately blushed.

  I laughed. “Maxim would like to see you downstairs.”

  Shae joined us at the door. She kissed Konstantin between the shoulder blades before wrapping her arms around his waist.

  I slipped inside the room. I eyed Shae curiously while Konstantin retrieved his shirt. “I’m not sure if either of you is interested, but Maxim has offered to take us sightseeing in an hour. Maybe Konstantin can join us…”

  Shae’s face immediately brightened.

  Konstantin grinned. “I’d love to show you around.” He pulled Shae in for a passionate kiss, then reached for the door. “I’ll be back soon.”

  I locked the door behind him. “So the door got fixed…”

  Shae laughed. “Yes. Watching them try to replace that door was one of the most entertaining experiences of my life.”

  My eyes softened. “You’re practically glowing. How did things go with Konstantin last night?”

  She sighed dreamily. “Last night was amazing.”

  I smiled. “Then it was a good birthday after all?”

  She giggled. “Best birthday ever!”

  * * * * * *

  I reached for my cell phone as soon as I was showered and dressed. I had texted Rafael the minute we had returned to the hotel, but I was feeling really guilty about not following up with a phone call. My stomach turned when I saw that I had missed three calls from him. He had also left a number of text messages. I grew more nauseous as I read the texts.

  We need to talk.

  Call me.

  I’m worried about you. Please call me as soon as you get this message.

  I walked over to the bathroom door and knocked. “Shae, I’m going to step outside and call Rafael. I don’t want to have this conversation in our room in case Maxim’s men missed a listening device or planted one of their own. I’ll be right in front of the hotel.”