The Nik of Time

by Sandrine Gasq-Dion

  “You like me though, don’t you?”

  “I do. I won’t lie. I find you to be funny and sexy, but I’m not stupid, either. I could tell the first time I saw you and Markov together. He is the man for you.”

  Colin reached out to cup Clark’s face. His eyes closed and Colin smiled. “You’re a good guy. Thank you, for being here for me.”

  Clark put his hand being Colin’s neck. “I care about you Colin. I have since that first day in class. The minute I saw you, I knew you were special. Now, go find Nikolai and tell him how you feel. Take that leap, Colin.”

  Colin leaned in and brushed his lips softly across Clark’s. He eased back and looked into Clark’s face. His eyes were closed and he was panting slightly.

  “Thank you, for everything.” Colin palmed Clark’s face. “If things were different—”

  “But they’re not. Go. Go get your man.”

  ~*~

  Nikolai paced the room, his eyes darting to the clock every few minutes. Colin was out with Clark. It was driving him up the damn wall. How dare Colin go out with someone else! Colin was his, had always been his from the moment he was born. Nikolai paced some more. His eyes fell on Colin’s desk and he stalked over to it, ripping the top drawer out. Papers flew everywhere and Nikolai growled. He didn’t feel better and now he’d made a mess.

  Nikolai bent to pick up the papers and his eyes fell on the drawer. It had fallen upside down and an envelope was taped to the bottom of it. Nik grabbed it and pulled the tape off carefully. It contained pictures, lots and lots of pictures.

  Nikolai looked through them one by one. It was him. It was him and Colin as kids. Colin was holding Nikolai as an infant and smiling at the camera. Nikolai went through them faster. There had to be at least fifty of them. Nikolai cleaned up the mess on the floor and put the drawer back. He put the pictures in the pocket of his leather jacket and looked around the room. The key sounded in the door and he turned to face it. Colin walked in and stopped in his tracks.

  “What are you doing here?” Colin walked to his bed and removed his coat. He could feel Nikolai’s presence behind him and tried to steady his nerves. The sight of Brock latched on to Nik’s lips was still fresh in his mind.

  “Did you have a good time with Asshole?” Nikolai drawled.

  “His name is Clark.” Colin took a deep breath and turned to face Nikolai. Dammit, but the man was tall. Colin froze. Nikolai was a man. The little boy he’d protected was now a man.

  Nikolai crossed his arms. “Did you kiss him?”

  “That’s none of your business.” Colin walked around Nikolai to the other side of the room.

  “The fuck it’s not!” Nikolai ranted. “You are mine, Colin.”

  Colin spun around and looked at Nikolai in disbelief. “Since when? Just because I won’t let you fuck me doesn’t make me yours!”

  “No, but these do,” Nikolai took the envelope out of his pocket and threw it at Colin.

  Colin’s eyes widened. “What the hell?! When did you get these?”

  “Does it matter? The fact of the matter is that we were bonded when we were kids. I remember you telling me you loved me.”

  “We were kids, Nikolai. Things change; obviously you did.”

  “What the fuck is that supposed to mean?”

  “Well, let’s see. That little boy I protected is now fucking most of the United States. That little boy who said he loved me has branched out to Europe,” Colin drawled.

  “You’re jealous?” Nikolai stepped closer to Colin. “That’s what this is? Jealousy? Because I fucked other men?”

  “Did I even cross your mind once while you were grunting your way around the world?!” Colin shouted.

  “I didn’t know who you were!”

  “That’s my point! The little boy who loved me so much managed to forget all about me!” Colin slapped his hands over his mouth.

  Nikolai stepped back in shock. “So that’s it? You’re mad because I don’t remember the love we shared as kids? Explain to me, then, why I was drawn to you as soon as I saw you again, Colin. The minute I laid eyes on you again I felt close to you.”

  “Yeah, you got close to a lot of people,” Colin said waspishly.

  “You saw me and Brock didn’t you?” Colin pursed his lips and looked away. Nik sighed. “He was drunk. He threw himself at me. If you had stuck around, you would have heard me tell him that I only want one man.”

  “Doesn’t matter what I saw. You’ve already fucked Brock.”

  “What is with you? It’s just sex!”

  “It’s not just sex when I saved myself for you!” Colin shouted. He took a step back and let out a loud sigh. Shaking his head, Colin groaned and covered his face with his hands. “Oh God, I can’t believe I just blurted that out.”

  “You...” Nikolai sat down on the bed in shock. “You’re a …um…”

  “A virgin, Nikolai, yes. You can’t even say the word.”

  “Yes I can,” Nikolai scoffed. “Don’t be ridiculous.”

  “Well, now you know everything don’t you?” Colin walked to the door and opened it. “Now you can leave. We’re two different people now. I can take care of myself. I don’t need a babysitter.”

  Nikolai stood up and walked over to Colin slowly. “Fine, I’ll leave.” He stopped in front of Colin and leaned into his face. “Just say you don’t want me. That you don’t fantasize about me, and I’ll go.”

  Colin laughed incredulously. “Please! How your head doesn’t explode trying to contain that ego amazes me. You are so damned conceited, Nikolai.”

  “That’s an observation, not an answer.” Nikolai closed the door and backed Colin into the wall. Placing his hands on either side of Colin’s head, he leaned in. “Say it, Colin. Tell me you don’t want to kiss me right now, tell me how you don’t want me to touch you.” Nikolai ran his fingertips up Colin’s forearm. Leaning in further, he touched his lips gently to the soft skin of Colin’s neck. “Tell me how much you don’t want me.”

  Colin knew he was shaking. Nikolai’s fingers were leaving a trail of electric sensation up his arm, and the lips at his throat were burning his skin. His heart rate was erratic, his breaths coming out in short gasps as Nikolai’s fingers trailed across his collarbone.

  “Come on, Colin,” Nikolai whispered in his ear. “Tell me how much you don’t want me. Because I want you; I’ve wanted you from that moment in the locker room when I saw you on the floor. I wanted to kill whoever had hurt you. You’re mine; you’ve been mine from the moment I was born.”

  “Well, your actions certainly haven’t shown that. It’s been one man after another ever since you knew what your dick was for,” Colin scoffed.

  “Maybe before, but not now – I want you and only you from here on out. I haven’t been with anyone for over a year.”

  Colin turned his head a fraction of an inch, his lips met with Nikolai’s and he froze. He really wanted to believe that Nik had changed. Nikolai’s warm breath fanned his lips and Colin closed his eyes.

  “I’m going to kiss you now,” Nikolai whispered against Colin’s lips. “You can stop me,” Nikolai brushed his lips against Colin’s slowly.

  Colin’s body wouldn’t move. He stood there, his heart pumping blood south at an alarming rate. Nikolai’s fingers threaded into his hair, massaging the nape of his neck, as his other hand slid around his waist. Colin sighed into the kiss. It was soft, no pressure, and Nikolai seemed content to just brush their lips together. Of all the kisses he’d had, this was by far the most sensual. His body became boneless as Nikolai continued the soft massage of their lips. Colin’s hands went to the taller man, tunneling his fingers through his hair. He whimpered as Nikolai’s hand slid beneath his shirt, sliding up his back. He’d never felt like this; Nikolai’s kisses were seductive, sensual and Colin found himself wanting more.

  “Nikolai,” Colin breathed. “Please…”

  Nikolai caressed Colin’s face as he kissed his cheek, his eyes and his nose and then moved
back to his lips. He pressed his forehead to Colin’s, their lips barely touching. He was kissing his Colin. The one person who had protected him above anything else. The one person who had always understood him.

  “I don’t want to have sex with you,” Nikolai whispered.

  Colin blinked and eased back. “Why?”

  “Because you mean more to me than that.”

  “It’s because I’m a virgin, isn’t it?” Colin hung his head.

  Nikolai lifted Colin’s face with his fingers. He looked into the dark eyes and almost sighed. Colin was even more beautiful now.

  “When we make love, it will because you’re ready, not before.” Nikolai sent up a silent prayer that he could survive the hard-on that was straining his jeans. “I want to do this right. I’ve never had a relationship; I want one with you.”

  “You do?” Colin whispered. “Why?”

  “Because, I’m your Tigger,” Nikolai chuckled. He smiled when Colin laughed softly.

  “You were just like Tigger.” Colin framed Nikolai’s face with his hands. “Every time you saw me, you pounced on me and knocked me down.” Colin searched Nikolai’s eyes. “How do you remember that?”

  “I’ve been thinking about it a lot lately. Bits and pieces come back to me. My dad said the last time we saw each other was when I was about ten.”

  Colin nodded. “That’s about right.”

  “And I remember you holding your arms out once, telling me to jump, that you would catch me.”

  “The tree house,” Colin shuddered. “You were five. I was so sure you were seriously hurt.”

  “I could have been,” Nikolai leaned in to kiss Colin again. He stopped a fraction of an inch before their lips met. “But you saved me.”

  “Nikolai?”

  “Yes.”

  “Please kiss me.”

  “I thought you’d never ask.”

  Colin’s breath was taken from him as Nikolai swept him up into his arms and proceeded to kiss him like no one else ever had. It wasn’t forceful like he’d imagined Nikolai would be; it was the opposite. Nikolai’s hands were in his hair, on his face, their lips moving together perfectly, anticipating the other’s movements. It was slow, it was deliberate. It was agonizing. Colin whimpered and moaned as Nikolai’s tongue swept his mouth in smooth strokes, giving him a taste of what he’d be getting between the sheets. Colin had no doubt that Nikolai would be the same way in bed with him.

  The kiss went on and Colin’s legs were going out, so he wrapped his arms around Nikolai’s neck and pushed further into the taller man’s mouth. He was rewarded with a low growl and hands sliding under his thighs, picking him up. They walked backwards towards the bed and when Nikolai lifted his head, Colin chased the kiss and groaned in frustration when Nikolai eased back further.

  “We are not having sex.” Nikolai searched Colin’s eyes.

  “Maybe I just want to kiss you.” Colin leaned forward and stopped inches from Nikolai’s mouth. “You want that, don’t you? We don’t have to have sex; maybe I’ll just touch you here,” Colin whispered, his hands sliding up Nikolai’s shirt. His hands met with smooth skin and hardened muscles. Colin licked his lips. He slid down Nikolai’s thighs and was back on the floor again. He looked up at Nikolai and pushed his hands under the thin T-shirt. “I want to see.”

  Nikolai put his arms up and closed his eyes as Colin pulled the shirt up. Warm lips touched his skin and Nikolai shivered. He dropped a hand to Colin’s head and threaded his fingers into his hair. “Colin…”

  “I love the taste of your skin.” Colin brushed his lips over Nikolai’s hot skin. His hands splayed out across Nikolai’s massive chest. His right hand moved and then he saw it—his name on Nikolai’s chest. Colin looked up at Nik; his eyes were closed, his chest heaving. “I want your hands on me.”

  It took everything Nik had to control the rising primal urge to take Colin. He stripped Colin’s shirt off and gently eased him onto the bed. He took his jeans off, but left his underwear on. Nikolai got down on his knees and urged Colin onto his back. His fingers worked the button on Colin’s jeans, and then he slid the zipper down.

  Colin lifted his ass and Nikolai took the jeans off. He ran his hands up Colin’s thighs, loving the feel of the muscles moving under his fingers. He leaned forward and placed a kiss on Colin’s inner thigh as his hand slid up inside the boxers. Colin’s breath hitched as Nikolai’s fingers passed over the soft skin of his prick. His hips undulated as Nikolai gripped the shaft, beginning a slow stroke. Nikolai grabbed his own angry cock and began fisting himself as he watched Colin’s face. God, but he was beautiful. His fingers were gripping the comforter, tightening and releasing, his hips moving with Nikolai’s hand.

  “Please…Nikolai…” Colin whimpered. He stood on the precipice of release, Nikolai’s strokes driving him wild. A moist heat surrounded his dick and Colin cried out; his orgasm raced from him in seconds. He lifted his head to see Nikolai’s mouth wrapped around his cock, sucking his release in gulps. Nikolai’s eyes closed, and a low moan rose from his throat as his own release overtook him. Colin laid his head back and tried to regulate his racing heartbeat.

  The bed dipped and then Nikolai was over him. Colin opened his eyes and looked into Nik’s dark ones. So much was there.

  “We were meant to be together, Colin,” Nikolai whispered. “It’s you and only you from here on out. I will never hurt you; I’ll never touch another human being intimately. You’re it for me.”

  Colin pulled Nik down into his arms and held him.

  “I’m yours,” he whispered. Nik relaxed in his arms at the soft words and Colin closed his eyes, breathing in the scent of Nikolai Markov.

  ~*Chapter Seven*~

  Colin opened one eye. Nikolai’s eyes were wide open, a finger placed over his lips. Colin nodded and gestured to Nikolai with his hand. Nikolai nodded and they both rolled off the bed in different directions. Colin grabbed his gun from his backpack as whoever was breaking into their room finally managed to get it open. The door burst open and the first of many muffled pops breached the silence of the dorm room. Two more shots went off and Colin recognized Nikolai’s silenced .45. The first man let out a howl of pain as his ankles blew apart. Colin peeked over the mattress and shot the other man. Another loud shout rang out as the man’s gun flew from his hand. Colin leapt over the bed and tackled the man he’d just shot.

  Nikolai rolled out from under the bed and stood over the intruder he’d taken down. He pointed his gun at the man’s head and smiled. “How many more?”

  The man stayed silent and Colin grabbed the man he had shot. “He asked how many? I’ve got no problem blowing your brains out all over my room.”

  “He really doesn’t,” Nikolai chuckled. “I don’t either, by the way.” Nikolai cocked the gun and knelt down by the man on the floor. He was still howling from the pain in his ankles. “Shut up, you’re waking up the building.”

  Colin gripped his victim’s wrist and shoved his thumb into the wound.

  “Talk.”

  “Four! There are four more in the parking lot, okay?!”

  Nikolai looked behind him on the bed. He furrowed his brows. “Colin, turn on the light.”

  Colin reached back and flipped the light switch. Multiple darts protruded from his mattress. He released his grip on the man he was holding and pushed him down by his buddy. He waved his gun between them.

  “What the fuck is this?”

  Nikolai walked to the bed and pulled a dart from the mattress. “Tranquilizer darts?”

  “Your father wants you alive,” one of the men rasped to Colin.

  “Yeah?” Colin snarled. “I want him dead.”

  Nikolai tossed a dart to Colin. “Knock him out. Let’s call in the cleaners. The parking lot is about to get messy.”

  Colin smashed the butt of his gun into the man’s head. He turned to find Nik looking at him with a raised eyebrow.

  “What?”

  Nikolai chuckled. “I meant with
the dart, but that works, too,” he said as he jabbed the other man with one of the darts.

  “Come on, we need to get out of here.” Colin grabbed his backpack and started shoving extra bullets in along with clothing.

  “Don’t forget the condoms and lube,” Nikolai grinned.

  Colin huffed and shot Nikolai a glare.

  “How did you know I have condoms?” Colin narrowed his eyes at Nikolai. “You looked through all my stuff?”

  “I was bored. Why do you have condoms?”

  “We were giving them out at the last AIDs fundraiser.” Nikolai smirked and Colin shot him a look. “Why do we need condoms if you don’t want to have sex with me?”

  “I want to make love to you, big difference.”

  Colin exhaled in exasperation.

  “What? Safety, safety, safety,” Nikolai grinned.

  Colin grabbed his roll of condoms and the lube and shoved them in his pack. He turned to Nikolai and lifted a finger. “Not one word.”

  Nikolai pretended to zip his lip.

  Colin dialed Lorenzo’s number. The older assassin answered on the second ring.

  “Colin?”

  “Get the cleaners to the college. We’ve got two men in my room and there are about to be four more in the parking lot. Before you ask, Nik and I are fine.”

  “Of course you are,” Lorenzo chuckled. “You were trained by us.”

  “We were supposed to go to Sebastian’s, but I think it’s best if we keep them out of this. We need a new plan.”

  “Siberia,” Nikolai said suddenly.

  “Hang on a second, Uncle Lorenzo.” Colin covered the phone. “What about Siberia?”

  “There’s a safe house out there we can use until we come up with a plan.”

  Colin nodded. He removed his hand from the mouthpiece. “Okay, Nik and I are headed out to the safe house in Siberia.”

  “I will let Stefan and your fathers know, and also Sebastian. Stay safe, Colin.”