Chapter 20

CHAPTER 20

B eckham

The steward scurried from one side of the table to the other, refilling our wineglasses as he'd done four times during the course of our dinner. It was the last of bottle number two, a fine vintage that little did she know or care cost more than most people made in a year. Meanwhile, the chef looked on lovingly. The man had been in my employ for some time. His father had also served as executive chef to my father during his regime.

Kenya looked even more exquisite in the flickering light of the candles. At least her extreme fear that I'd seen more than once appeared to be gone. But she remained cautious around me even though we'd engaged in some fairly lively conversation. What I found fascinating was that she seemed to know much more about the makeup of the yacht than she wanted to let on.

Perhaps that would make sense since oligarchs were usually into purchasing big boats. They were the kind of brutal men who believed they deserved the finer things in life.

I leaned back in my chair, shifting it until I could comfortably cross my legs. Meanwhile, she was toying with the rim of her crystal stem, running her finger around and around, able to make it sing a sweet melody. Yes, she was far too comfortable in remaining the quiet, almost impassive dinner companion.

She shifted her attention to the outside, taking a deep breath as she studied the grand, vivid colors of the sunset.

"Have you ever spent several nights on Lady Blue ?" It was another question coming from left field. Perhaps she was well adept at altering the conversation to best suit her needs. She slowly lifted her gaze when I wasn't quick to answer, a sly but adorable smile crossing her face.

"I have many times. It's a perfect vessel to head to the Bahamas in."

"Why not the real Caribbean?"

"I've been there too."

Easing closer, she placed her elbow on the table, resting her chin in her hand.

"I've also been to Mexico."

"Where haven't you gone?"

"Oh, I don't know. Russia." Yes, I was baiting her. I wasn't certain why since I wasn't having any fun doing so. My mother had always warned me about playing with my food and that's exactly what I considered her at this point.

A delicious treat for my discernable palate.

Sighing, I drummed my fingers on the table, looking back at the chef and nodding. It was time for the man to leave us alone, signaling everyone but the captain that beginning right now was our private time. I was still determined to spend the night on the water, which would allow me to unlock all the delicate secrets she held tightly knit around her, keeping them interwoven with the armor she'd carefully crafted.

Hell, I would have done the same.

But I was attempting to convince myself she wasn't guilty of crimes against humanity as well as my family. I had to remind myself more than once that she could be nothing more than a treacherous pawn in a game that could mean the end of civilization as we knew it.

The anger I felt at myself was real, the uncertainty of whether I could ever believe my instincts enough to follow them again weighing heavily on my mind. The terror in her eyes had been real, the questioning look something very few people could fake no matter how good of an actor they were.

However, I was no fool. The Russians were astute people, capable of doing anything when they set their minds to it.

"I don't think I'd ever like to go there," Kenya said absently. "I know some areas might be considered beautiful but with their violent history and the uncertainty of their future, I'd be afraid I'd become nothing more than a statistic."

"You could be right. Good friends of mine told me from firsthand experience they eat their young for breakfast."

She shot her head back in my direction, her innocent eyes opening wide. Then she burst into laughter realizing I was kidding. Or was I?

"I know some are brutal individuals, but I highly doubt that." She finally took another sip of her wine. "It's so beautiful outside."

"Then I suggest we go out there. You'll need your jacket."

"Mmm… You won't keep me warm?"

I smirked as I stood, walking slowly toward her side of the table. She remained seated and as I peered down, she seemed to be holding her breath, gazing up at me with lust in her eyes.

Of course, my body responded to her equally strongly, my cock already twitching from being close to her. I poured the rest of my wine into her glass, carefully placing the empty goblet on the table before leaning down. I slipped the index finger of my right hand under her chin, lifting her head. When our lips were almost touching, I allowed her to hear a slight husky growl. She should be reminded I was nothing but a beast even if she often thought otherwise.

"Yes, baby. I will keep you very warm." I kept my mouth hovered over hers as her breathing remained irregular. I sensed she was licking her bottom lip, this time out of nervousness. Even the way her hand gripped the arm of the chair, her knuckles white indicated her continued uneasiness. "Explosive in fact." I hovered over her luscious lips for a few seconds, heightening the anticipation of what I might do.

She issued a harsh moan a split second before I captured her mouth, holding our lips together for a little while until she was the one who pressed the tip of her tongue against them. She also palmed my chest with her other hand, her actions partially pushing me off while her fingers were slightly curled around my shirt as if she wanted to pull me closer.

The push and pull of who and what we were.

I allowed her to drive her tongue inside but that was the only control she'd get during the entire evening. Yet I was determined she keep in mind at all times who was boss. I slipped my hand under her hair, gripping the back of her neck with my left hand. As I squeezed, her body tensed a little bit more, but there was already so much heat between us that we were both crackling with excitement.

A part of my rational mind, whatever was left, had whispered to be very careful falling for her feminine wiles, but the beast inside of me said take her as many times as I wanted, covering her with my cum while doing so. Yeah, I'd do both. I was an insufferable bastard according to her. Right? Selfish too. Plus, she did belong to me. I deserved a taste or five.

The kiss was just another passionate roar of luscious need and crackling fire that threatened to consume both of us. We were inexplicably drawn to each other, even if she'd been trained to play a vicious game. It was all I could do to keep from raking everything off the table onto the floor, not caring if the expensive china and crystal was smashed into a thousand shards. That's how hard my cock was.

I squeezed my fingers into her skin, suddenly feeling her hand wrapping around my wrist. She wasn't exactly trying to pull free but merely holding my arm still. The woman did have some clear resolve, which I found admirable as well as delectable. Even though I'd clearly threatened her, she was strong in the face of adversity.

When I broke the moment of intimacy, she issued a whispered sound.

"Come on. Let's not waste another moment of the sunset." I moved to the bar, tossing scotch into a glass while I heard rustling sounds behind me. When I turned around, I realized she was now barefoot, her eyes sparkling while her face remained pensive.

I held out my hand for her to grasp and she did, but not without reservation. The more hesitant she was, the more fearful I became that my father was right.

His statement still lingered in my mind, which I found one of the most fascinating aspects of the evening. I led her onto the deck, holding her hand tightly as I headed closer to the hot tub, which was coincidentally far removed from the prying eyes of the two men remaining on the bridge. We were far removed from the wharf, no buildings visible at this point. Just the wide-open ocean as darkness approached.

She was shivering as I led her to the area, the warm lighting automatically operating at night providing little more than an eerie backdrop. Or maybe it was just the morbid side of me coming out. Some might think the orange glow romantic.

Not this man.

I let her go, immediately heading for the railing as I'd done before. I was very comfortable with leaning over, enjoying a few breathless moments of watching as the bright colors of the sky in various shades of tangerine and fuchsia, hints of violet and cobalt blue faded quickly into twilight. The full moon was already high in the sky. Soon stars would be out, adding a natural and dazzling effect to the moment.

She shifted beside me but with a quick glance, I could tell she was anything but comfortable, her one hand gripping the railing firm.

I allowed her to wonder about what I was thinking for a few seconds as I sipped my drink before moving directly behind her. I removed the drink from her hand, taking both to one of several tables. When I returned, she had her other hand firmly planted on the railing, staring out at the ocean. Maybe looking for answers.

As I placed both hands on hers, forcing our fingers to intertwine, she sucked in her breath. I nuzzled against her ear for a few seconds, enjoying the moment. But I had a job to do and I would learn the truth one way or the other. "Who are you, Kenya Markham? Who are you really?"

She laughed nervously. "Is that an existential question or perhaps your method of foreplay?"

"You should know by now I rarely engage in foreplay."

"I'd say you were wrong. I think you're pretty good at it."

I nipped her ear before kissing the side of her neck. "We're all good at several things in our lives, even if that can hurt others."

"What are you getting at?" Her body was even stiffer than before.

"Just that usually blood is thicker than water."

"Not always, Beckham."

"An interesting statement. Rasskazhi mne o svoyem ottse i brate ." Hearing Russian flowing from my mouth caused another harsh breath to escape from hers. I figured demanding she tell me about her father and brother would be an excellent icebreaker.

"You know Russian."

"Yes, I do. Does that surprise you?"

"You are a man of many talents." Her voice was now stilted.

"And I would imagine you're a woman of many as well. That begs a question. How much of your native language do you remember?"

The further stiffening of her body was enough to confirm what I feared.

I instantly wrapped one hand around her throat, jerking her head back authoritatively.

"Beckham. You're hurting me."

"Not my intention, my little fighter. Why would anyone want to hurt you, Kenya? I do so adore your name by the way, although I must admit I also love your given name of Anastasia. Anastasia Pokolov, daughter of Boris and sister to Dimitri, both brutal enforcers and considered second tier inside the Death Squad. Master protectors of my uncle and his prodigal son. Does any of that sound familiar?"

"Don't. Just don't."

"Don't expose the truth or are you begging me not to break your long, lovely neck, Anastasia?"

"I don't go by that name any longer."

"Yes, you're using your mother's maiden name, which isn't particularly clever if you're attempting to hide your identity from anyone. Including me." I squeezed with enough force she coughed. I lowered my head, pressing my cheek against hers. "Now, it really doesn't need to be difficult between us. I simply want to learn the truth."

"What truths, Beckham? That I loathe my father and brother and want nothing to do with them? That I was forced to witness my father's brutality as a child, the man laughing as he stood over their lifeless bodies, their wife and children forced to watch? That I knew early on the only use he thought I had was selling my virgin body off to the highest bidder but in his mind, I was too ugly to garner him any real money? Or perhaps you'd like me to confirm how right you are about the man eating his young if he thought it would garner him power?"

"How dramatic."

"No, Beckham. How real and something I was forced to endure every day of my life. Why do you think I changed my name? I never, ever want to be associated with that fucking son of a bitch again."

"Is that why you are very skilled at weaponry and fighting?"

She continued hissing, refusing to back down. Something else I admired about her. "If you had my past checked out so thoroughly then you know I wasn't lying about being in the military. That was my escape, the only way I could get away from being married off to some goddamn oligarch who wanted me as his fucking sex slave. The only man who'd have me, my glorious dad had said."

There was extreme angst in her voice as well as hatred. That was an emotion that couldn't be faked. And it struck me how possessive and angry I felt right beside her. While I understood some fathers of powerful organizations such as my family's believed in arranged marriages, it should never be to some ancient pig.

Besides, my mother had taught me that taking a wife was an act of love, not vengeance. I kissed her cheek, taking a few moments to grind my thick groin against her bottom. "You wouldn't be lying to me, sweet one. Would you?"

"I have no reason to lie. I hate the man. I ran as far away from him as I could."

"But oh, so close in New York."

"Because I refused to back down to him."

"Yet you ended up in Maine."

She laughed and I couldn't help myself. The need was too great. I rubbed the flat of my hand down her back to her bottom, curling the material of her dress into my fingers. I also wasn't in the mood for any pretense, sliding my finger under the elastic of her thong and snapping it off her body. I brought it to my nose, inhaling the sweet scent of her arousal. Perhaps the thought of what I might do to her was a powerful aphrodisiac.

"Oh. Oh, God." She was trembling in my arms, taking gasping breaths. "I'm not lying."

"You know," I said as I kept my grip around her lovely throat while I unfastened my jeans, "they say time heals all wounds, which of course is absolute bullshit. However, our minds play tricks on us, allowing us to forget the worst parts about the past so we can proceed living once again."

"Memories are unjust for so many."

"Yes, a truly profound statement." I fought to slide the dense material down my hips, wanting nothing to interfere when I thrust my cock inside. "Time can seem endless, yet it's flawed. Some think they can remember every detail, every hour, every week, every year but our brain's capacity isn't a massive computer system like everyone believes. We eventually forget. I'm curious. Don't you think it's fascinating the coincidence that your father is watching over my uncle as they prepare to destroy the world as we know it?"

"You honestly think I was goaded into buying a bed and breakfast on the off chance you'd be stopping by with three of your goons? Believe what you want to believe, but my father is a total pig and I wouldn't mind putting a bullet between his eyes."

I positioned my cockhead and thrust every inch inside. Her moans were adorable and ragged, floating up to the heavens. She was gripping the railing so tightly I sensed her fingers were killing her.

Pulling out, I drove into her again, rolling onto the balls of my feet so she had to rise onto her toes. Her body continued to shake, every moan full of fearful quivers. Her pussy felt damn good, just as tight as before. She was so wet that I wanted nothing more than to bury my face into her sweet heat.

But this was once and for all letting her know she would never be in control of any aspect of our lives.

She panted, trying to meet every brutal thrust even though the terror clearly remained within her. It would be impossible for either one of us to deny what we shared, the way we felt about each other. I wanted to believe her, but the coincidences truly made it difficult.

"Who told you the B & B was for sale?"

All of a sudden, she faltered. "That wasn't a lie either. My ex best friend who slept with my boyfriend, although it still seems odd."

"Why does that shock you?"

"Because it just came out of the blue. We were still friends then," she breathed, grinding her hips back and forth. "Maybe I'm searching too hard for answers. I thought her suggestion was sweet. Little did I know she was hoping I'd leave town."

"Perhaps for more than one reason. I'll need names. I might as well rule them out. At this point, no one can be trusted."

"You can trust me. I don't have anything left."

"I want to, baby. I so want to."

As I continued fucking her, both our sounds shifted into being less about business and more about the intensity of our passion.

Goddamn, I adored this woman. I craved to feel every inch of her. I longed to have her solely as my possession. The moment was far too enjoyable even if I had some Neanderthal need to claim every hole. That would come later after I was finished with my interrogation.

For what had to be five full minutes, we were nothing but primal beasts enjoying the moment of mating in the wild.

"Would you tell me if you were a mole?" My hold around her throat was no longer tight. I curled my fingers, rubbing my knuckles against the side of her face. She was chilled to the bone on one level from fear and sick dread.

"Would you believe me either way? If what you say is true about the man, he deserves to die."

Together we moved as one, our bodies woven tightly together, the wash of passion more powerful than the two of us.

"I want to believe you, my little fighter. You're like a perfect animal in the wild, unpredictable and cunning."

"And I want to hate you."

It was impossible not to like her comments, her sass. Laughing, I raked my fingernails down her arm as I continued fucking her, driving my cock in long and brutal plunges. "Didn't you know hate and passion are closely related? They can take your breath away one minute while fueling the darkest part of you the next. Similar to good versus evil. The range of emotions is as hateful as it is incredible."

"My, adding philosopher to your list of talents?" Breathless, she had her eyelids mostly closed, her long eyelashes skimming across her cheeks. I could easily stay mesmerized by her beauty for hours on end. I sensed she was drawing closer to an orgasm and slowed down my savage thrusts, allowing her to enjoy the moment.

But the evil man inside of me, the ugly beast that few people were unfortunate enough to see reared its ugly head. I cracked my hand against her right butt cheek several times in rapid succession.

"You embody raw rage and brutal destruction," she breathed, finally losing all control. I allowed her to throw back her head, releasing a sharp cry toward the stars now floating in the sky.

And I rocketed into her, fucking her like the very brutal beast I truly was.

"That's it, come again for me, baby. I love to have your cum slickening my thick cock." My tone was gruff, devoid of any emotion as I commanded her. I was pleasantly surprised she was able to obey me, her body shooting into pure ecstasy. I sensed it. I felt it as her body convulsed.

Only I could do that for her.

I was the only man who would ever touch her again. I powered into her, loving the sounds of our savage fucking, skin pressing against skin. Every ragged moan was a perfect addition to the moment, pushing me into losing all sense of control.

Only as her breathing started to return to normal did I slow down, now fighting my own labored breathing.

"I'll take that as a compliment," I told her.

"I figured you would. Are you going to make me collateral damage?" The little vixen squeezed her pussy muscles, clamping down so tightly there was no chance I could hold back any longer.

"Not my intention but you… will… help." The startling effect of releasing deep inside was much more intense than before, so much so I was thrown into a bright and thick fog. It wasn't like me to be unable to think clearly but here I was, the realization that no other woman had done this to me kicking me hard. I folded my body over hers, my cock still pulsing deep inside, filling her with my seed.

She was breathless but no longer afraid. The woman was standing firm to her convictions. Maybe it was foolish to consider abiding by my earlier instincts, but they had yet to steer me completely wrong.

It was another peaceful moment where I felt as if I could breathe. We were far enough removed from civilization that it was easy to think that way. As if no one could hurt us out all the way here. We both seemed to be staring up at the bright moon or maybe she was fancying the stars, making a wish.

"Please believe me. I hate my father and will do anything to help you destroy him."

"Anything?"

"I have ideas. Vile ones. Maybe I am my father's daughter." Her laugh was similar to mine when I felt high on life, slightly maniacal.

Taking my time, I pulled out, kissing the top of her head. "I don't know how you can get to him, my sweet one. If what we know about my dear old uncle is true, your father is holed up somewhere with him waiting for the right moment to strike."

"Won't they be paying close attention to everything happening that should concern them?"

I laughed. "They'd be fools not to."

She managed to turn around, lifting her head in the defiance I knew and loved. "Then I know something that could bring him out of his cocoon. I can't guarantee it but you are rich and famous, a threat to national security."

"Hmmm… What is your obviously devious suggestion?"

"Marry me."