24. Kat

24

He has come for me at last.

Even through the bedroom's closed solid wood door, I hear Nik's voice and muffled footsteps on the marble floors. He pauses outside the doorway, and I hold my breath.

Soon after Nik ended Giuseppe Salvatore's miserable life, Vladmir and a sizable contingent of bratva soldiers arrived at the scene. By then, most of the non-Italian representatives of the Seven Families had made themselves scarce, but the cacophonous mayhem A.J. and I caused carried on for at least another hour. It took the bratva a while to figure out how to end our orchestrated chaos. Thankfully, they managed it before we attracted any undesired attention, especially of the law enforcement kind. Or so I was told.

The stronzo's body had barely hit the floor before Nik had me whisked away from the crime scene. Upon arrival, Vladmir was immediately dispatched to bring A.J. and me to the penthouse, even before dealing with Dmitri.

My protests were for naught. Just thinking of leaving Nik behind put me on the verge of a panic attack, but he wouldn't let me have my way with this. After he promised me at least a dozen times that everything was under control and that he wasn't in any danger, I had to accept defeat. It became clear that disagreeing with him was a waste of time. Over and over again, Nik pointed out that he wouldn't be able to think right until he knew I was safe at home. According to him, the sooner that happened, the sooner he'd be able to return to me.

After A.J. and I were dropped off at the penthouse, she immediately demanded that I give her a tour of the place. Even though my heart wasn't in it, I obliged her, thinking to myself that I could use the distraction.

A.J. oohed and aahed at every luxurious detail. Once we reached my former bedroom, she promptly shooed me away so she could enjoy a long soak in the guest bathroom's jacuzzi tub. With a final warning to not disturb her slumber for the next twelve hours, she made me take my leave.

Truth be told, I felt the need to wash up, too. After being kidnapped—again—and having to scramble to come to Nik's rescue, a hot shower seemed just the thing. Afterwards, I waited for Nik to return, dressed in only his fluffy bathrobe while fretting about his well-being. Until I finally heard his voice through the shut door.

The undeniable confirmation that Nik is still alive and well makes me relax for the first time in days. My legs turn into jelly, and I have to lean against his massive bed to keep myself from falling.

As his steps stop outside the door, my breath catches in anticipation. I laugh at myself. After everything we've been through, somehow I still get butterflies in my stomach just thinking about him.

Wordlessly, Nik opens the door and enters the room.

One look at him, and my mind goes blank—nothing but pure static. My earlier worries and nervousness turn into yearning, then breathless excitement, and then an undeniable urgency to be in his arms again. If I'm not touching him in the next heartbeat, I might lose my mind.

I drink in the sight of him—so tall, dark, and handsome.

Once Nik sees me, he sighs loudly, and the tension in his shoulders leaves his frame. His eyes devour me from head to toe, his feelings so clear and undisguised in his gaze. His every emotion is displayed on his face, yet he seems unconcerned about it.

A bit clumsily—and entirely desperately—I run for him. Without even the slightest hesitation, Nik opens his arms, and I leap into them, wrapping my arms and legs around his body. He steps back to absorb my momentum while his arms clutch me almost painfully tight.

"I missed you," I say into his ear.

For a second, I wonder if Nik will joke about how I just saw him a couple of hours ago. Instead, he says, "Fuck. I missed you more."

I gasp when everything I thought I would never get a chance to tell him rushes to the forefront of my mind. Suddenly, I can't wait even a second longer to share it with him. I push against his chest, and, with obvious reluctance, Nik sets me down, but his arms linger around my waist.

I take a deep breath. "Nik, we need to talk. There's something I must tell you."

Nik's shoulders stiffen, and his eyes become guarded as a saddened expression washes over his handsome face. "What is it?"

The words rush out of my mouth. "We've wasted so much time. You and I have spent way too much time letting meaningless things and worries get in the way of our happiness. It's time we stop this nonsense. After the challenges we've been through since we first met, we deserve it more than anyone. I say it's our turn to be madly, ridiculously, embarrassingly happy. I know it won't be easy, but I'm game if you are."

"What are you saying?" he asks, his voice slightly unsteady.

I shrug, smiling. "You know I hate feeling powerless or like things are spiraling out of my control. And, sure, at this point, it's fair to say I have something of a traumatic history with controlling mafia bosses. If I never see another mobster for the rest of my life, it will still be too soon. But you are my exception. And I never want to let my fears stand in the way of our happiness again. I don't want to hold on to them. Nothing but misery awaits me if I make that mistake again. I want to hold on to you instead. For the rest of my days. And if you feel the same way?—"

"I do," he quickly says.

I squeeze his biceps, grinning. "Let's not waste another precious second with our useless emotional baggage, then. Let's be outrageously happy instead."

Nik's dark brown eyes frantically search my face. "Kat, do you mean that?"

After wrapping my arms around his neck, I pull him closer. "Nik, I need you. Even if I hadn't been forced to confront my mortality and yours today, I would still have returned to you." I smile at him. "Eventually."

"You would have?" he asks incredulously.

I sigh, rolling my eyes. "Of course. I was having a hard time staying away from you before Dmitri even knocked on my door. Mind you, that does not mean you get to lock me away in a tower or browbeat me into giving in to your every whim and dictate. You will need to curb your urges to boss me around, mister. In turn, I will share all my secrets with you. I'll become the proverbial open book. Get ready, Nik, because I'm about to give the term oversharing a whole new meaning."

Nik scoffs, his lips twisting into the most captivating smirk. "Kat, please. Don't threaten me with a good time."

I raise an eyebrow at him. "I'm warning you. You don't know what you're signing up for. Before long, you'll be begging me to shut my mouth."

"Unlikely," he says, unabashedly amused. "But if somehow that day ever comes, I know just the thing you can do with your lips instead."

I hook my finger around the collar of Nik's shirt and pull him closer and closer until our faces are a mere inch apart. His breath mingles with mine, and he shudders.

Suddenly, I become entranced by his mouth. "Speaking of which, will you shut up and kiss me already?"

"In a moment. First, there's something I need to tell you, too."

"What is it?" I ask impatiently.

Nik studies my expression before brushing his lips over my ear. His breaths warm my skin as, with a trembling hand, he cups my face. "Kat, I love you with all my heart."

My heart skips a beat, but with a shrug, I wink at him. "I know."

"Do you think—could you see yourself one day feeling the same way? Before you answer, you should know how deeply sorry I am for hurting you. I will never, ever be able to apologize enough for locking you in here and forcing you to stay. Or for losing my head that day, or for dragging you into my mess of a life. I'll always be profoundly ashamed of what I've done to you and the pain I've caused you."

I sigh. "Nik, you aren't listening to me. I wanted to run back to you after less than a day apart. Yes, locking me away was despicable—and the other stuff didn't make you look great either. But I still fell in love with you!"

Nik blinks twice, tilting his head as if he can't believe he heard me correctly.

I almost can't resist the urge to roll my eyes. Men are so freaking clueless…

Amused by his dumbstruck expression, I say, "Come on. You know I've had a crush on you from the start. Even when you were mean to me and I wanted to hate you, I couldn't help craving being around you. With every word we exchanged, every moment we shared, it grew harder and harder to remember why I wasn't supposed to fall for you. And when you kissed me or touched me?" I sigh, theatrically fanning myself. "Let me put it like this: you don't play fair, miliy. I never stood a chance."

Nik shakes his head with a flattered, bewildered expression. "I can't believe this is my life."

"What do you mean?"

"Come on. You know exactly what I mean. You're the most excruciatingly beautiful woman I've ever seen. From the moment I first saw you, I was a goner. Every single thing about the way your mind works seems like it was designed to drive me crazy. And you did. Repeatedly. Whenever I'm around you, I fall deeper and deeper under your spell."

My lips curl into a delighted smile. "Well, good. Add that to the list, along with all the other reasons why we should be together. It's ranked somewhere below the fact that you were so freaking eager to give up your life in exchange for mine. But be warned, Nik—if you ever even dream about trying that again, I'll kill you myself."

"There was no other choice, milaya. I'd have done it, no hesitation."

I narrow my eyes at him, scowling. I'm about to question his insane statement when he pulls me closer. So I relent for now, craving the feeling of being in his arms, wrapped by his warmth and scent.

Nik nuzzles my hair. "I can't quite believe you actually love me. Even after everything?"

"Yes, but you'll have to spend the rest of your life loving me in return."

He pulls away just enough to gaze into my eyes. While cupping the back of my neck, he studies my face before smiling at me. "Milaya, your wish is my command."

Still smiling, Nik curls his finger under my chin, drawing me closer for a kiss. A shiver races down my spine as he brushes his lips against mine, touching his tongue to them. I sigh, breathing in deeply, and he grows more aggressive in his caress, sinking deeper into the kiss with his mouth firmly slanted against mine.

Nik's hands cover my breasts over the thick fabric of the robe. My nipples harden from his touch, and he hoarsely groans into my mouth. I can't help squirming against him in response, my hips instinctively pressing against his erection.

"Spread your legs for me, Kat," Nik says against my cheek, at the corner of my lips.

Eagerly, I follow his command. Unhurriedly, Nik drags his hand under the robe, down my stomach, until he is cupping me between my thighs. Maddeningly slowly, he pets me.

"You are wet, kiska."

I nod, trembling. My eyes slide shut as his fingers lazily part my lips.

At last, Nik strokes me where I crave him the most, his lids going heavy as he languidly pleasures me. A moan escapes my lips, and pure, undisguised, masculine satisfaction washes over his gorgeous features.

I moan, sighing. "Oh, Nik…I want you. I need you, all of you, right now."

"Not yet," he says against my lips, kissing me. His finger sinks deeper between my folds, all the way inside of me, as his thumb circles my clitoris.

I cling harder to him, leaning all of my weight on his shoulders as my legs grow weak, practically giving out under me.

I throw my head back in ecstasy, softly moaning as he lazily thrusts and circles. He watches me briefly before his lips descend upon my neck, showering me with open-mouthed kisses.

I gasp. "I'm close…"

At once, Nik's attentions come to a stop. He withdraws his finger and ceases his kisses, making me cry out in protest.

While holding my hand, he leads me to the side of the bed. He sits on it, then he taps his upper thigh. "Come here. Straddle me."

I glance at him before disrobing myself. At the sight of my completely naked body, Nik hisses in a breath. He shudders. "Kiska. My woman is a work of art. A vision. A present from the gods."

I smile, slowly approaching him. "Sweet-talker."

Before I can lower myself onto his lap, he makes quick work of his clothes, undressing with lightning speed. Once I am poised above his cock, he wraps his hand around its base, fisting it. "Come closer. Take me inside you, kiska."

I lower myself. Once the crown of his member enters me, he throws his head back as a pained groan escapes his lips. His hands roughly cup my breasts, his thumb and finger immediately pinching my nipples.

I want to savor the moment, but it's more than I can take. I can't hold it back.

"Oh, Nik," I cry out.

Even with only the tip of his shaft inside me, I start to come. The slickness and strength of my climax demand that I slip down his length. I sink my fingernails deep into the flesh of his shoulder before throwing my head back in pleasure. A breathy, raspy scream escapes my lips, and one of Nik's hands drifts from my breast to the back of my neck. He grips me and forces me to look at him. Nik stares into my eyes as every inch of him invades me, deeper and deeper, while I pulse around him.

He's so thick. So warm. So hard.

I stare into Nik's eyes as I come, and it makes me feel as if no part of me can be hidden from his all-seeing gaze. In this scorchingly intimate moment, I can't shake the notion that there's no part of me he doesn't see, no part of me that hasn't been bared before him—no part of me he hasn't studied. No part of me he doesn't love unconditionally.

By the time my spasming orgasm ebbs, Nik is throbbing inside me. He raises his hips as he pulls me down harder onto his lap. While clutching the flesh on my ass, he guides us through a steady, languid pace. Not long after, I'm on the brink of a second climax.

Nik wraps my hair around his wrist, making sure my eyes never leave his. "I'm not done with you yet."

This time, when his maddening rhythm takes its toll and I'm seconds away from coming again, he allows me to throw my head back and grind against him to my heart's content. The tips of my hair brush against his legs as I cry out in ecstasy, and he leans forward, kissing my breasts as I sigh his name repeatedly.

When I'm able to open my eyes and look at him again, panting, I find his mesmerized eyes raptly watching me, maddened by the pleasure he is wrecking on my body.

After grasping his hand, I pull it to my mouth and suck his index finger. I drag it down my neck, between my breasts, past the valley of my stomach until it rests against my clitoris. "Touch me, Nik."

We both stare at his hand, sunk between my folds as I grind down on it, swirling my hips at an unhurried pace. Nik groans, his eyes riveted to where we're joined.

"I want all of you, Nik." I cup my breasts, teasing their tips as he watches, seemingly enthralled. "Every single part of you. I need it just as much as you need to give it to me."

Nik groans, pained, before he lifts me, brusquely laying me down on the bed. Still deep inside me, he raises himself in his arms to look at me. His gaze is fixed on my face as he rolls his hips between my legs. "You're more than I could've ever dreamed of, kiska."

"Fuck me. Take me as hard as you want. I'm all yours."

With a sigh, he wraps his hand around my throat, pressing my head to the side until the column of my neck is bared to him. He leans down to press his face to the sensitive skin, inhaling profoundly while practically growling against me. Then, he nibbles the sensitive area where my neck and shoulder connect before sucking it hard.

I pant as his hips pound against mine, struggling against the urge not to orgasm again. "Nik! It's… oh, Nik…"

Nik rides me relentlessly, and ecstasy courses through me, reaching all the way down to my bones. He grabs the back of my knees, pulling me closer against his hips before bringing my ankles to rest atop his shoulders. Before increasing his riveting pace, he turns his head to press a kiss against my left ankle.

When I begin to quicken around him again, Nik roars with pleasure, throwing his head back in abandon before spreading my legs wide. He leans forward, resting his forehead against mine. As his hips rock against me, his eyes stare intensely into mine.

"Kat, I'm close," he says. He is so deep inside me that I feel his words as much as I hear them.

I struggle to catch my breath. "Come inside me. I need to feel all of you inside me."

My request proves to be his breaking point.

Nik slams his body against mine. "Can't fight it any longer," he grunts, taking me so hard I know I'll be sore for a week. As he is sent over the edge, he roars. "Kat!" Over and over again, he thrusts deep inside of me.

Warmth fills me to my core, and I moan. "I can feel you inside me. So hot…" My knees drop to the bed, and all tension leaves my body as I come for him again.

Nik groans, feeling me contract around his cock. He grinds his hips against mine again, ejaculating the last of his come.

Long moments pass as we lay together, striving to catch our breaths. It's a struggle even to begin formulating thoughts—my body and mind have been rendered utterly useless by the havoc of sensations he wreaked over me.

"Kat," Nik says at last, dazedly.

I sigh. "I never even knew pleasure like this was possible."

At last, I am satisfied. At last, I feel complete. Whole, even. All these years spent yearning, craving, dreaming… No more.

Nik raises his head from where it rests between my breasts. His eyes find mine, and he studies my expression.

As I gaze at his dear face, all these now-familiar emotions throb inside my chest. Before, I had fooled myself into thinking it was nothing more than attraction, an infatuation… I didn't know then and couldn't discern what I felt. But I understand it now.

Nik rubs his nose along mine. "I love you, Kat. I am completely, hopelessly in love with you." He presses a soft, tender kiss against my lips.

"Nik, I love you so much. With all of me." My eyes glisten as he presses feathery kisses all over my face.

"I will love you every day of my life. And if there's an afterlife, I will love you there, too."

I lose myself in his beautiful eyes, and I see the truth of his words reflected there. I see all the love he has in him—all mine for the taking.

Once upon a time, I had despaired at my misfortune, wishing for all I thought I could never have.

Now, as my heart feels as if it might burst from all the love it tries to hold in, the truth finally sinks in.

At last, I have everything I've ever dreamed of. It's all mine.