danger or my horrible family or worry about a bad grade. My dream was all about a beautiful pasture on a warm day, wildflowers all around. There’d been a blanket on the ground, a picnic basket placed off to the side.
And one gorgeous blond hunk waiting for me to arrive.
Yawning, I turned over in bed, shocked to see that Nikolai remained beside me. Even in the cresting moon, I could tell his eyes were open. He’d watched me as I slept, refusing to get any sleep. The man was determined to protect me. We’d actually enjoyed the day, making food and talking about anything and nothing.
However, he’d shared very little about his past, although I’d heard several stories about his work at the University. I’d enjoyed every minute of our time spent together. Then he’d taken me to bed, making love to me all over again under the sheets, finally allowing me to turn off the light.
I shifted closer, taking several shallow breaths.
He didn’t react at first then reached over, running his fingers through my hair. “So beautiful.”
His whisper seemed more forlorn than before, the sadness I’d seen in him once against encroaching. I could feel his pain. I reached out, pressing my palm against his chest. His heart was beating so fast. I couldn’t imagine what he was thinking. I wanted to wrap my arms around him, to try to find some way of comforting him, but I knew that’s not what he’d want.
For a few seconds, there were no sounds other than our combined ragged breathing. He trailed his finger down the side of my neck to my arm, taking his time then shifting his hand under the covers.
I shivered, a single whimper escaping my mouth as he swirled the tip of his finger around my bellybutton before allowing it to travel up to the cleft between my breasts.
“Perfect,” he added.
“I’m not perfect. I’m just a girl.”
“My girl.”
His words continued to be thrilling, the subtle yet powerful way he issued them sending tingles all the way down my spine to my toes.
He took his time sliding his finger from one side of my jaw to the other then up to my forehead. As if he was mesmerizing my features, longing to remember what I felt like after he’d gone. I resisted allowing my own sadness to interfere with the special moment.
Unable to resist, I explored his body as well, brushing my fingertips along his collarbone then down his chest. He was so powerful in every way, his body carved to perfection. Yet there was a softness to him that was so unexpected.
His breathing was even heavier as I crawled my fingers down his chest to his hip, swirling circles and zigzags for a few seconds. They were precious points in time. They could never be taken away from me.
“Your poem was amazing.”
I was surprised to hear his appreciation. “I didn’t intend for you to see that.”
“It was touching.”
“Then I’ll have to admit that it was about you.”
Sighing, he rolled over on his back, folding his arms behind his head. “I’m not courageous, Chloe. I did what I had to do.”
“That’s not what I see in you.” Shifting closer, I rose onto my elbow, allowing me to peer down at him. “You’re the most courageous man I’ve ever met.” I placed my hand on his chest and he eased one hand over mine, rubbing his thumb back and forth.
“You should know differently but now, but your words are special to me.”
“Don’t go back.”
“To Russia?”
“Yes. Your life is here.”
“I might not have a choice. That’s the way of my life and one I accepted.”
I had no idea if anything I said would matter. I didn’t have a chance to say anything, his phone ringing in the middle of the night.
Instantly, he was on edge, jerking up from the bed and swinging his legs onto the floor before grabbing his phone. “Travis?”
I rose to a sitting position, a single shiver coursing down my spine. I could see his body tensing after a few seconds.
“Are you there?” he asked, several seconds later cursing in Russian. He ended the call, immediately rising to his feet.
“What’s going on?”
“You need to get dressed and ready. We are leaving in five minutes.”
“Please tell me what just happened?”
“My friend from Waltham, the one who’s keeping watch on Bratva activities just called. He said two words before he was cut off. ‘Get out.’”
My body slow to react, I finally managed to jerk the covers away, trying to refocus