5. Kat

5

It's true what they say. Bad boys do it better. And there's no doubt about it—Nikolai's a bad, bad boy.

I won't deny it took me a moment to realize it. But to be fair, I don't exactly make a habit of picking up men during jobs. This whole situation is a little outside of my comfort zone. From the start, this heist has been particularly stressful for me—a rushed, high-profile operation orchestrated by someone who controls my best friend's fate.

Of course, my recent involuntary celibacy compromised my judgment, too. To make matters even worse, Nikolai's good looks and charm blindsided me. I have always been a sucker for tall, dark-haired guys who look absolutely devastating in bespoken tuxedos.

Nonetheless, I knew he was a bad boy—maybe not from the beginning, but certainly by the time I boldly undressed for him. If anything, his powerful effect on me was another clue to his nature. I can never find it in myself to resist handsome men who are clearly up to no good.

Even now, I know I won't regret tonight. Not even for a second.

Long gone are the days when I felt guilty about seizing the things or pleasures I crave. And I craved him badly.

I have no qualms about living my life my way, playing by my own rules, and answering to no one but myself. After years of feeling powerless and helpless, I learned there was another way, and I have never looked back.

In the past few months, the stronzo and his schemes have prevented me from living my best life and enjoying it to the fullest. In time, he will pay for it—and for endangering my friend's life.

A.J. and I are close to the last piece of the puzzle. Soon, we will have everything we need to strike back at the villain. The Flame of Mir should buy us enough time to chase our latest lead and uncover the mysterious secret the horrid man has been hiding.

That's why I can never see Nikolai again.

Under normal circumstances, I would have loved nothing more than to hide away with the delicious man somewhere warm and luxurious for a week or so. We would have sex whenever the mood struck me, and I would have taken my time exploring the strong, masculine body his clothes still fully cover—even now.

But that is not meant to be. Unfortunately, I can't afford the risk of a lasting connection with anyone or anything linked to tonight. Our encounter can never amount to anything more than a mind-blowing memory of a hot summer night.

With a discreet sigh I almost don't catch, he pulls out of me long moments after our shared climax.

Still bent over the desk, I hear the sound of his zipper as he rearranges his clothing before grabbing my waist and lowering my body until my feet once again touch the ground.

I turn around to face him. The staggering effect his eyes have on me takes me by surprise once again. Whenever his gaze finds mine, my core muscles tighten of their own accord. If I were a woman prone to fanciful fits and daydreaming, I might have admitted to feeling the strangest sensation in my chest—something akin to my heart skipping a beat.

As it is, I'm nothing if not a practical woman. More importantly, I'm a woman on a mission. Not a romantic, simpering fool of a girl. As pleasant as our stolen moment was, it's time to say goodbye.

Nikolai glances at me again, his expression both vulnerable and guarded. After clearing his throat, he reaches inside the pocket of his exquisitely tailored jacket to pull out a handkerchief. He places it in my hand, his fingers lingering on it before wrapping around my wrist. He smoothly slides his hands into his pants pockets, breaking our eye contact.

Oh, God. I'm completely naked in front of a fully dressed man—a man who is, for all intents and purposes, a complete stranger. His gaze trails down my body, and it's clear that despite his portrayed aloofness, he is very much aware of my state of undress, too.

Fighting the urge to clear my throat, I take a deep breath instead. Maybe it will clear my mind. "Well, then," I say, patting his chest a few times before sidestepping around him to reach our discarded clothes.

Earlier, when his attentions were so intently directed at my décolleté, I was forced to improvise. I couldn't risk being caught with tonight's pièce de résistance between my breasts. Instead, I decided that an impromptu striptease was the perfect way to distract him from my secret.

I expected him to be a little taken aback by my boldness. That didn't happen at all. My performance might have been a surprise to him—but a welcome one. The scorchingly hot look in his eyes as he raptly watched me teasingly reveal my body to him will forever be etched in my mind.

I bend at the waist to retrieve my dress, my back turned to him. He hisses in a breath, and I can't help smiling. Good. Our brief acquaintance will soon come to an end, but I will leave my mark on him—just as he will leave his on me.

I don my gown, a small sigh of relief escaping my lips when I feel the weight of the diamond against my chest again.

I spin on my heels to face him again and find him still standing there with his hands buried in his pockets. His expression remains politely aloof and guarded, but I don't mind it. My life will be much easier if he doesn't try to stop me from slipping away as he did earlier in the evening.

Our gazes link once more. His eyes still burn as hot as molten lava. The man is clearly very skilled at composing his facial features into any expression that pleases him, but his expressive eyes tell a different story.

That funny feeling tickles my chest again, but I ignore it. After all, I'm a practical woman with a purpose.

With a half-smile, I sigh. "Well, I'll give it to you, Nik. You are a man of your word. This was fun."

My flippant tone catches him off guard. He raises his eyebrows just before shaking his head and smirking at me.

The only thing more irresistible than the almost gravitational pull of his eyes when they lock with mine is the full force of his smile directed at me.

A practical woman with a purpose. It should be my new mantra.

"I guess I don't have to ask you if it was as good for you as it was for me," he says, sounding as glib as me.

I walk towards him, stopping just before our chests touch. Our breaths mingle for an instant, and the memory of how it feels to be kissed and touched by him rushes me, flooding my senses.

Woman. Purpose.

He carefully studies me, his gaze lingering on my face. He is trying to play it cool, but it's obvious he is eager to learn my next move. I stand on the tip of my toes, stretching until my lips graze his ear. He shivers, and I have to hide my responding smile.

"I think we both know I had a blast. And I happen to know you did, too. I still feel it inside me," I say, nipping his ear lobe. I pull it before turning away from him to make my grand exit. Unfortunately, there will be no encore.

Nikolai, as it happens, still has a thing or two to say in response to my teasing remarks. His arm shoots out, and he grabs me, pulling my body flush against his.

I grin—so much for his indifference.

He holds me tightly, but there's no need—I don't want to escape him just yet. Instead, I want to memorize the feel of his hard body pressed against my back, his breath touching the sensitive point skin of my neck.

I chuckle. "I guess you are not so cool and collected after all, are you?"

"Are you toying with me?" he asks through gritted teeth, as if the mere notion is extraordinary and unthinkable.

"Maybe I am. Something tells me you like it." I punctuate my words with a teasing sway of my hips against his, rubbing against his hard erection pressed against my backside.

He walks forward until I am stuck between his body and the desk again. It doesn't take a genius to understand he wants me to remember what happened on top of it not long before I dared toying with him.

"I ought to teach you a lesson about messing with the wrong man. As a matter of fact, I have half a mind to bend you over this desk again and remind you of what happens to flirty brunettes who like to tease me."

I go completely soft in his arms. This man will be the death of me…

"Aw, Nik. Don't threaten me with a good time."

He spins me until we face each other once more. Playfully, I wrap my arms around his neck, giving him a peck on his lips. He shoots me an exasperated—and slightly dazed—look.

"You think I'm kidding," he says in disbelief.

"No, no. You're a very serious man. I see that," I say against his lips, letting one of my hands snake down his body until it reaches his erection. I give it a firm squeeze. "Very serious, indeed."

"That's it. I'm going to bend you over my knee and spank that plump ass of yours until you show me the respect that I'm owed."

"Sounds amazing. But I'm afraid I'll have to take a raincheck on that, Nik. It's almost twelve, and this Cinderella has to hit the road before her carriage turns into a pumpkin. You know the drill."

Nik laughs darkly, and the sound sends shivers down my spine in the most riveting way. "You're not going anywhere."

"Oh, yes, I am. I don't mean to dine and dash, but I really have to go."

His eyes widen. "Dine and dash? You're out of your mind if you think you're just walking out of here after saying that to my face."

"No need to be offended, Nik. This was some fine, three Michelin stars dining. Trust me—ten out of ten. Now, what do you say we part as friends?"

He stares at me as if what I said is something so nonsensical that he can't decide whether to feel outraged or shocked. "I don't know whether to throttle you or fuck you senseless."

I nod in commiseration. "I often have that effect on men. Or so I've been told."

His expression turns dark. Clearly, it was the wrong thing to say.

"Is that why you're in such a rush to leave? Do you have another man waiting for you at home? If you're hungry for more, I'm happy to oblige. No need to leave. As a matter of fact, I'll have to insist. I don't share. Ever. So, whatever plans you had with him are officially canceled. Indefinitely. You'll be spending the night with me."

Unfortunately for Nik, he doesn't know me well enough to know that is likely the worst thing he could say to me. After being at the stronzo's beck and call for countless months, the last thing I need is another man who thinks he is entitled to me or who believes he can control me.

Nik was the lay of the century. Truly. He is good enough to eat, and the orgasm he gave me was just what I needed after the trials and tribulations I have been through this year. But I will be damned if that gives him the right to act possessive or controlling over me. Hell will freeze over before I allow another man to dictate what I do with my life.

If we had enough time, I would have let him bend me over and spank me. Or fuck me. Hopefully, spank me and fuck me. But just because I would allow a man to have his way with me sexually, it doesn't mean he gets to control me. On the contrary, I'm experienced enough to know that a sexually confident woman is often the one with all the power when it comes to men and sex.

Just because I play the part of a submissive between the sheets, it doesn't follow that I will submit to him—or to anyone else—in any true sense. I never will—not to him, not to anybody. I love being my own mistress. The entire purpose of tonight is to get the diamond and rectify things in my world so I can be my own woman again.

If Nik thinks he will bend me to his will, I can't get away from him fast enough.

In the end, it doesn't even matter, anyway. I need to untangle myself from him and cut all ties with anything and anyone even remotely related to this party. The risk is too great, and it certainly isn't worth the reward. Any lasting connections could land me in jail—or, even worse, dead.

That is why I physically push him away—forcefully. Until now, I have been as soft as a kitten, practically purring in his arms, so my sudden move catches him by surprise and I manage to extricate myself from him.

"Whether I have a man—or a hundred—waiting for me at home is none of your business," I say.

My change in demeanor catches him off guard, and he doesn't move to grab me again.

"Maybe not. But maybe you made it my business when you begged me to make you come earlier," he says in the same tone.

"I wouldn't worry about it if I were you. Like I said, why don't we part as friends?"

He studies me for a moment, searching for something. His almost irresistible pull works over me as our eyes connect again, but I manage to break away from his gaze for the first time tonight.

"Very well," he says, his tone distant again. "We'll part as friends. Will you at least tell me your name?"

For a second, I think I see his dark brown eyes glimmer with some unidentified emotion.

A practical woman with a purpose. I remember.

Without answering, I glance at Nikolai one final time before walking away.