Chapter Thirteen

S aint wasn’t a good guy.

He released his hold on the back of her neck, let his hands float down to her waist, and pulled her closer. His mouth moved against hers with an urgency that made his pulse pound. He felt frantic, like a starving man who just had his first taste of the most decadent dessert.

Saint knew he shouldn’t be kissing or touching Mia, he didn’t care anymore. Unfamiliar emotions knocked through his chest. If he had to describe what he was feeling…well, he couldn’t. Not only did the words to explain it escape him, but he also wasn’t sure it was something he could even put into words. Normally, he didn’t experience a lot of strong emotions. Annoyance and anger? Sure. Boredom and disgust? Sometimes. But right now, it was all desire. Hot, molten, throbbing desire. And while he’d experienced his share of lust in the past, this was an entirely different level of need.

Kissing her didn’t just feel good, it felt right. Comfortable. He’d say like home, but he’d never had a home, so he wasn’t quite sure. The idea that he could finally have a secure place and a woman who cared about him was a pipe dream. Not something he could even imagine.

Impossible.

Despite that, he was done pretending the feisty blonde didn’t affect him. He could’ve died earlier that day, nearly did, and never getting to kiss Mia again would’ve been a tragedy. But he was alive, hot blood pumping through his veins, looking for an outlet. As long as Mia was on board, he was going to do everything in his power to give them both a night they’d never forget.

Deepening the kiss, sliding his tongue against hers, he took several long moments to taste and savor her. “Why do you taste so sweet?” he asked, voice husky.

Mia blinked, looking a little dazed. “You taste like spearmint. You haven’t smoked.”

He met her gaze and willingly fell into the azure depths of her eyes. Over the years, he’d kissed plenty of women, but none of those kisses had felt like this. He couldn’t figure out why Mia was so different, but he wanted to because it was driving him a little nuts.

“No. Maybe I’ll quit.” He’d never thought about it or had a reason to before. But if Mia liked him more now that he didn’t smell like the burning butt of a cigarette, maybe he’d give it a shot. Besides, he was developing an entirely new addiction. An even more dangerous one that had him craving her sweetness.

“You should,” she encouraged him.

They stared at each other for a long moment, on the verge of crossing the line. Even though he knew it would be a potentially huge mistake, Saint slid his hands from her hips around to her back, pulling her body against him. Making sure she understood exactly how she was affecting him.

He captured her lips in another kiss, this one harder and more demanding. It wasn’t his style to hold back or be gentle. The word tender wasn’t in his vocabulary and he’d certainly never applied it in the bedroom. And he wasn’t going to start now.

The urge to touch and explore her body was making him a little crazy and a lot desperate. Her sweet vanilla scent was sheer torture, and when she shifted, brushing against his throbbing erection, he groaned. In a quick move, he lifted her up then lowered her back down to straddle his thighs.

Her hands pressed against his chest and she returned his kisses with a fervor he hadn’t expected. The kiss grew wilder and her hands slid up, wrapping around his neck, drawing him closer, crushing her breasts against his chest. When they finally broke apart, Mia pressed her center against his rock-hard cock, slowly circling, and he gritted his teeth.

“Fuck, Mia,” he hissed, hands moving around to slide under her ass and adjust her position. “You feel too good, kotyonok. But keep doing that and I’m going to blow.”

“Sorry,” she murmured.

“Don’t ever be sorry for making a man feel good,” he said in a gruff voice. “But as much as I want you right now, I need you to understand that I’m not the kind of man who does slow and gentle. What you see is what you get. I’m rough and hard. Always have been.”

“I know who you are,” she said, hands splayed on his chest, “And I wouldn’t change anything about you, Nik.”

He studied her sky-blue eyes, searching for any sign of deceit. A woman like her would never understand his true nature, never want him exactly as he was, and he couldn’t blame her. He knew he was fucked up in more ways than one—dark, sarcastic, an asshole to his core. He hardly considered himself a prize, especially for a billionaire’s daughter who lived like a princess.

“You don’t have to lie to me,” he murmured, tracing her cheekbones with his thumbs.

Her brow furrowed. “Why do you think I’m lying?”

“I know who and what I am, that I’m only good for a fast fuck. Don’t delude yourself into believing I’m anything more.”

“I disagree.” She circled a finger over his heart. “I think there’s so much more to you. More than you even realize.”

Unwanted, undeserving, unloved. Petrov’s words invaded his thoughts, but he didn’t want to think about them now. All he wanted was to lose himself in the beautiful woman straddling his lap.

Mia leaned in and placed the softest kiss on his lips. “I see you…and I want you.”

Something inside him cracked. Just the smallest fissure, but he felt it. If she believed he could be more, maybe he could.

Moving further back on the bed, he flipped her beneath him. Dismissing the dull throbbing in his arm, but unable to ignore the ache in his dick, he took control, his mouth moving over hers, stoking the heat between them. Potent desire flared, his body catching on fire. He wedged his thigh between her legs, fingers digging into her hip.

“Your arm—”

“Fuck my arm,” he said, urging her to move. “C’mon, Mia, rub that sweet pussy against me. Take what you want.”

Whether at his words or his actions, she suddenly seemed to turn shy. Was she having second thoughts? Fuck, he hoped not. But, he had to know before his control snapped.

“Do you want me to stop?”

“God, no,” she breathed. “Keep going.”

“Thank fuck.”

Moving his hand across her flat belly, he circled a finger around her belly button then dipped his hand into her panties. Sliding through barely-there curls, he found her hot, wet slit and began to stroke. She let out a soft gasp, her thighs trying to close. No, not happening. He pushed them further apart and slid his finger inside her body. Goddamn, she was tight. As he began moving his finger in and out, his thumb found her clit and circled. Mia whimpered, her nails biting into his bare shoulders, encouraging him.

“God, you’re so soft.” Her pussy was like velvet. Normally, he didn’t waste a lot of time on foreplay. But with Mia, he wanted to slow down and savor everything. The touch of her hands on his skin, the feel of her body moving against his, the scent of her arousal mixed with that tantalizing hint of vanilla.

For the first time in his life, he didn’t want a fast fuck. He was enjoying the way she responded to him, slowly opening up like the delicate white blooms of the Nezabudka , the small flowers he used to find near the orphanage. He wanted to keep exploring and pushing her to the edge. To both of their limits.

Sinking a second finger into her channel and continuing to work her clit, he found a rhythm that made her writhe. Her breaths turned into shallow pants and he watched her every reaction. Hell, he couldn’t look away for anything. She really was the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen, and all he wanted to do in that moment was give her pleasure.

“Let me hear you purr, kotyonok, ” he rasped, encouraging her hips to rock.

“Oh, God.” She sucked in a sharp breath, clutching onto him hard. “I don’t…I can’t…”

“Let go. Stop fighting it.” She was so close and he could feel her inner muscles begin to spasm. Almost there. He pressed down on that little bundle of nerves and her hips bucked against his hand as a shudder racked her body. “Good girl.”

He dropped his head and kissed her hard. Their tongues tangled and he ground his steel cock against her soaked panties.

Yeah, he wasn’t a good guy. The reality of their situation hadn’t changed: he was going to use Mia in every way possible and then walk away.

Saint knew he was an asshole for even thinking about it at that moment but leaving her was inevitable.

◆◆◆

As pleasure rolled through Mia’s body, she sank further into the mattress and sighed. Oh, my God, what had he done to her? Another tremble moved through her and her pulse pounded in her ears. Nik Valentine had just given her the first official orgasm not delivered by her own hand. And it was more than she could’ve imagined.

“Mia?”

Her eyes snapped open. “Hmm?” Yep, she was purring. No doubt about it.

“Do you have any idea how much I want you right now?” he rasped. He almost sounded like he was in pain. Like it was hard for him to talk.

“I…” She hesitated, wondering how much she should reveal. “I’ve never had a man want me before.”

“What kind of idiots are you hanging out with?”

She pulled in a deep breath, deciding to be honest. “Nik…” But she faltered, feeling foolish. God, why couldn’t she be more worldly and experienced like Nadia?

He pressed his lips against hers then whispered, “Tell me.”

Her stomach fluttered as she gazed up into his intense charcoal-gray eyes. “I’m not very, um, experienced.”

She didn’t miss the way his big body tensed.

“Meaning?”

“I’ve never had a serious boyfriend. Idiots, remember? Plus, I was always shy around guys and they probably thought I was stuck up.” She tried to make light of the situation, but embarrassment flooded her and she buried her face in his uninjured shoulder mumbling, “I’m a virgin.”

For a long moment, he didn’t say anything. Finally, he let out a low curse. His tone wasn’t angry, though. More like one of disbelief.

“Hey.” He moved back, trying to see her face, but she couldn’t look at him and pushed her nose right into his armpit. God, he smelled good. Like spice and musk and leather. “Why’re you hiding?”

She could hear the smile in his voice. He was amused and she was humiliated. Was he laughing at her?

“Because I’m embarrassed,” she said, voice muffled.

“Look at me.”

She couldn’t.

“Hey, up here.”

But when she shook her head, his voice took on a commanding tone.

“Mia…eyes…on…me.”

The way he demanded her attention made her melt and sizzle all at the same time. God, she liked it when he told her what to do in that deep, rough tone that brooked no argument and demanded complete compliance. She tilted her face up, meeting his serious gaze.

“Are you telling me no other man has touched you the way I just did?” His voice sounded thick and heavy. Like the cock pressing between her legs.

“Never,” she whispered.

Something unreadable flashed through his dark eyes. “I shouldn’t have touched you,” he ground out, but he didn’t move away. Just focused on her mouth. “But I’m an asshole, right?”

Before she could answer, he slammed his mouth against hers, almost too hard. The connection between them was strong, so potent she couldn’t do anything except succumb. Succumb to his lips, tongue and teeth, and the way he was molding his mouth to hers, forcing hers to comply. To commit. He was taking, pillaging. And as he licked his way down along her jaw, lightly nipping, it felt like he was conquering her. She could fight her overwhelming attraction, or submit.

As the wind roared outside and snow pelted against the windows, Mia decided to give in to the dragon.

When his big hand rounded over her breast, she arched up, offering more. Giving it all to him. If she was going to do this, there was no one else she’d pick. Nik Valentine exuded sex appeal and strength. He made her want things, dirty things she’d never contemplated before.

He lifted her shirt, tugging it off, and pulled the cups of her bra down. The cool air made her shiver, but then Nik’s hot mouth latched around a nipple and he sucked until her toes curled.

“Just so you know…I don’t think you’re an asshole,” she murmured, trying to focus as he grazed his teeth along the sensitive bud. “Not anymore.”

He swirled his tongue around one taut peak and then the other. “Oh, but I am,” he said without looking up as he continued worshiping her breasts. “Fuck, Mia, you have the most perfect pair of tits I’ve ever seen.”

“Um, thanks?”

He lifted his head, dark eyes shining. “Why do you taste so sweet? I can’t get enough.”

Shoving the bra down further, he sucked and laved, and every lick of his tongue sent a rush of heat south, zapping her core. He finally tore his mouth from her breasts and let out a harsh breath, sounding frustrated. “Goddamn, what is it about you?”

“What do you mean?”

He unsnapped the bra around her torso and tossed it onto the floor. “I want to taste you…everywhere.”

Her attention moved from his heated gaze down to his hard, stubbled jaw, and she touched the star tattoo on his neck. She had no idea what any of the various designs meant, but they fascinated her, and she trailed the tip of her index finger down a black swirl which ended on his chest. Her fingers raked lightly through the dark hair there and she circled his nipple causing his breath to speed up.

“Only if I can taste you, too,” she murmured.

Onyx flames sparked in his eyes and he yanked her panties down with lightning speed. Her hips bounced off the bed and she gasped. “Deal,” he growled, moving backward, nudging her legs apart.

Laying there utterly naked and exposed in front of him, Mia couldn’t move much less think clearly. He took his time looking her over, so long she began to feel self-conscious. But the moment she attempted to cover herself, he grabbed her wrist.

“Don’t. No covering up any of this beautiful body. Don’t make me get the handcuffs.”

Her eyes widened. “You wouldn’t.”

“I would,” he said with another wolfish glance down her naked body.

She knew she was in over her head. But something about the predatory way he was staring at her made her want more. So much more. She was playing with fire, and there was a very good chance her dragon might end up burning her.