exactly who I was supposed to be afraid of. Nikolai had hidden his identity, pretending to be something he wasn’t, a beast hiding in his lair.
Now the hunt was on.
Was I the prey?
I raced up the stairs, heading inside. A crazy little laugh bubbled to the surface. The cabin was dingy and drab, the previous occupants uncaring about the look of the place, but there were good bones. And it was much larger than my tiny apartment. I moved quickly out the front door, grabbing several of the items we’d purchased. Then I eased the bags back into position, darting a quick look toward the door.
My curiosity had always gotten the better of me. The duffle bags he’d brought with him grabbed my attention. My hands shaking, I kept my gaze locked on the front porch as I unzipped the first duffle. A slight moan threatened to escape. Guns. Grenades. Timing devices. There was no doubt Nikolai could blow up a good portion of whatever freaking city we were in if he wanted. After debating stealing one of the handguns, I rolled my eyes and zipped it closed. I’d never shot a gun in my life. With my luck, I’d inflict more than just scratches on my body.
The second bag was just as intriguing and heavy. When I pulled the zipper, I couldn’t squelch a gasp. Money. Cash.
Lots of cash.
There were bundles of hundred-dollars bills and so many of them that I couldn’t fathom the amount. I sifted my hand to the bottom, taking a deep whiff. There was nothing like the smell of money. The third bag held tactical gear including ropes, rappel devices, and at least two harnesses. There was also tape, grappling hooks, and chains. The man had thought of everything if he needed to escape and hide out for an extended period of time.
Another shiver crawled down my spine and I had to force myself to grab several of the belongings. Every part of me was numb inside as I headed into the cabin, constantly looking from right to left, already prepared for the assholes to show up.
After making a second run, placing some of the grocery items in the large but ugly as hell kitchen, Nikolai had returned, remaining quiet as he dragged the rest of the items into the house. I did everything I could to ignore him, thankful the old refrigerator was in good working condition, and surprised to find several packages of frozen meat in the freezer. I heard nothing from him as I methodically started putting away the cans and boxes. I hadn’t cared what we’d purchased, tossing items into the cart without paying much attention. I doubted I would have any kind of appetite.
When I was finished, I realized a single tear had slipped past my lashes. I wiped it away furiously, hating the anxiety and uncertainty. I’d always been the one in control, no matter the circumstances. Right now, I was nothing but his prisoner.
His pet.
I couldn’t tolerate the term. Maybe that was Russian. Maybe he was a sadist. Oh, what did I care? I wasn’t getting out of this alive.
When I turned around, the savage stood in the doorway, leaning against the doorjamb in a casual manner. He swept his gaze from my scuffed shoes to my face, taking his damn sweet time.
Another tear trickled down my cheek.
I refused to react, staring at him defiantly.
When he walked closer, almost immediately goosebumps popped along every inch of skin. The brutal Russian had such an incredible effect on me that I was breathless, my heart racing. A flurry of spots floated in front of my eyes as he approached, my reaction leaving me lightheaded. I never knew what to expect from him.
After he closed the distance, my throat tightened. I wanted to tell him to get the hell away from me, but I also wanted to wrap my arms around him, hoping to feel safe. I’d spent so long shutting myself off from the majority of feelings that I remained confused by my reaction. By all rights, I should hate him until the day I died, but I couldn’t.
I hungered deep inside.
My body craved his touch, his kiss.
The feel of his cock deep inside thrusting like the barbarian he was.
God help me, I was tingling all over from the way he looked at me alone. I wanted to yank my shirt from my body in some crazy attempt to hide the fact my nipples were as hard as diamonds. That