Chapter Sixteen

T he flames crackled and they were sitting side by side on the couch after Saint had made a leisurely meal of Mia’s pussy. She leaned into him, her breathing returning to normal, as he ran his fingers through her soft blonde hair. It looked like fire-tipped gold in the glow of the reddish-orange flames and he stared at it, mesmerized.

Saint wasn’t sure how or when exactly it had happened, but in all of the chaos, he’d found a safe harbor. Now he planned to enjoy every single moment of their time together because he knew whatever was happening was a temporary situation. Nothing good ever lasted in his world. It all turned to shit sooner or later. Working for The Agency was a prime example of that theory. It had started out as a dream job and then fell apart within six months.

Story of his life.

That’s why he had to enjoy this snowed-in bliss with Mia and focus on the present. Soon enough, the future would come and rip it all away. Wishing for anything else would be futile. Because once the snowstorm passed, he’d go after her father.

Besides, his wishes didn’t come true. Whoever was in charge of granting wishes ignored Saint. Always had.

Still, he couldn’t deny the very dirty yearning he had to see Mia’s mouth wrapped around his cock, sucking him hard. He hesitated to use the word ‘wish,’ though, because then it would all disappear in a puff. But had he been dreaming of Mia giving him a blowjob? Hell yeah.

And now it was happening.

“My turn,” she whispered, sliding off the couch and kneeling on the floor in front of him. She reached for his pajama bottoms, tugged them down and released his thick length. His nostrils flared in excitement and unholy anticipation, and he spread his thighs, giving her room to work.

The firelight outlined her blonde hair, making it appear as though a halo surrounded her head. Her sweet nature was so at odds with his surly one. Tentative at first, she wrapped her hands around his hard cock. Then she leaned in and lightly dragged her tongue over his leaking tip.

An angel with her hands and mouth on the devil’s horn. The irony didn’t escape him.

It felt so fucking amazing, and his breathing grew fast and shallow. He couldn’t look away. Watching her wrap those pretty lips around his thickness was a kind of heaven he’d never known. Krasavitsa. So fucking beautiful, and he wasn’t sure how long he could endure such exquisite torture.

“ Fuuuck …” The curse tore from his mouth and he gritted his teeth, fighting the urge to blow his wad down her throat.

She ran her tongue all over him, accidentally grazing him with her teeth as she got the hang of it. Looking up at him for encouragement, he forced a nod. “That’s it. Good girl. Just like that.” Christ, he could barely get the words out.

Pulling him deeper, sucking harder, she worked him with her hands and mouth, and she was doing a damn good job because he could feel his control slipping fast. He slid his inked fingers through her hair but resisted the urge to take control. She couldn’t take him all, he was too big, but he allowed her to try, enjoying the few times she gagged.

His orgasm was imminent, and he rocked his hips upward, needing release, but not wanting to end the sweet pleasure quite yet.

◆◆◆

Mia did her best, determined to succeed in making Nik fracture. Surprisingly, it was turning out to be easier than she’d thought. She flicked her eyes up and realized he was watching her every move intently. And those eyes of his…

Her stomach flipped at the dark, smoldering look, and she relished her power over the big, strong Alpha male. So many muscles and all that ink, and he was at her mercy. It was a heady feeling, and she squeezed his cock, eliciting a groan.

One of his hands twisted through her hair, while the other was on the back of the couch, his fingers white-knuckling the cushion as his inked chest rose and fell with harsh breaths. Her heart thumped in her ears as she swirled her tongue around his tip then sucked him deep. A couple of times she accidentally grazed him with her teeth, but he hadn’t seemed to mind. In fact, she had the impression he liked it.

His lack of direction gave her a boost of confidence and she pulled him deeper. There wasn’t a whole lot she considered herself very good at, but maybe sucking cock was a gift. As if in answer, he tightened his hold on her blonde strands, pulling until she whimpered, then erupted down her throat with a ragged growl.

After swallowing the thick ropes of his release, she sat back and swiped a hand across her mouth. “Was that okay?” she asked, laying her palms on his thighs, looking up at him through fringed lashes.

He pulled his bottoms back up then reached for her, dragging her up onto his lap. “It was heaven,” he assured her, pressing his lips to hers. They shared a long, sensual kiss, and then Mia pulled back, searching his charcoal eyes.

“What happens after it stops snowing?” she asked softly. She’d been dreading the question, but now she needed to know. Everything between them had changed and she had no idea where that left them. Was she still just a pawn in his game, waiting to be used and discarded? The idea hurt, but she had to prepare herself for it. Nik was a self-proclaimed bastard and she’d be a fool to harbor any expectations.

Nik Valentine isn’t a man who can give you a happy ending, Mia, she told herself. Even so, she found herself wishing…that just maybe…if the stars aligned…

“My team and I worked for an organization known only as The Agency,” he said, lips near her ear, and she perked up. This was the first time he was sharing anything about the situation regarding his team and how she fit into that puzzle. “Black ops stuff. We were on a mission when they decided we no longer served them. They managed to kill one of our men, a guy much better than me, and they’ve been after us ever since.”

“Oh, my God.” She pulled back so she could study his face. “I’m so sorry.”

For a long moment, he didn’t say anything, and she had the feeling he was trying to determine her sincerity. Then, in a low voice, he asked, “What do you know about them, Mia?”

She frowned. “Nothing. Why would I?”

“Because your father is a part of The Agency,” he said.

A shaky breath escaped from between her lips, yet deep down she’d already known from the moment Nik had abducted her from the parking lot that her father had something to do with it. “I’ve never heard of them until now. Who are they exactly?”

“A group of power-hungry people with a kill list. And my team is at the top of that list.”

Her mouth opened slightly as the significance of his words hit home. “Why did they turn on you?” she managed to ask.

“Long story. Suffice it to say, we aren’t stopping until we take every one of them down.”

“Including my father.” It wasn’t a question.

He inclined his head. Somehow, she wasn’t surprised. At the same time, he was talking about her dad. Yes, he’d never treated her like he loved her, but could she really stand back and let Nik and his team destroy her only blood relative in the world?

Shit. Some misplaced, long-lost loyalty sprang up out of nowhere, and her attention flickered over to the window covered in snow. Inside, her heart warred with her head.

“Mia? Hey.” He turned her face back to his. “Let’s not talk about this anymore.”

She swallowed hard, wondering what she would do if the time came and she had to choose sides.

A father she barely knew? Or a lover who wouldn’t last?

◆◆◆

Later, lying in bed and wrapped in Nik’s warm embrace, Mia’s conscience fought within her. Caught in a terrible situation, she didn’t know if she could just step aside and allow her father to die. Granted, he wasn’t the nicest guy, but honestly, neither was Nik.

At least, he hadn’t been, but something had shifted between them. Squeezing her eyes shut, she tried to be logical. Nik Valentine had kidnapped her in order to use her against her dad. As soon as he and his team achieved their goal, Nik would toss her out like yesterday’s trash.

Or, what if…

Her eyes popped open. Nik had admitted they planned on destroying The Agency and he’d confirmed that meant they’d kill her dad. Once she’d served her purpose, would they kill her, too? The first trickle of fear slid down her spine.

Then the worst thought of all started pinging around in her head like a rubber band. Was Nik only playing her? Trying to gain her trust so he could control her better?

Mia wanted— needed —answers. Nik had given her very few and kept her on a need-to-know basis. Well, dammit, she needed to know more right now so she could make an informed decision about how to move forward. She refused to become another casualty in his team’s war. She needed to be brave.

For the first time in her life, Mia was putting herself first. Up until meeting Nik, she’d always been somewhat of a pushover, too timid to speak her mind. But all that changed when Nik tossed her into the back of his SUV. Somehow, he’d managed to unleash her inner fire like no one else. She wasn’t afraid to speak her mind or challenge him. Ironic, since his intimidating presence should make her quake. But, despite all his growling and prickliness, she’d discovered the fire-breathing dragon was hiding a heart beneath his scales.

His heart didn’t belong to her, though. And Mia was smart enough to know it never would. Nik wasn’t the kind of man to fall in love, get married and have a family. He thrived on danger. The proof was in his past—his association with the Bratva, The Agency and who knew what other sinister groups.

Sure, he seemed to enjoy kissing and touching her, but he was a man. Didn’t they all? She should probably feel used, just a convenient way for him to pass the time, but she didn’t. Maybe because he was the first man to make her feel desired. He certainly wasn’t a selfish lover. She’d lost count of the number of orgasms he’d given her, and they’d only had intercourse once. He said he knew she was sore. And if he was only using her for the time being, why would he care?

Ugh. Chewing her lower lip, Mia fought to process everything going through her mind. She needed space and to clear her head. To be objective and logical like they’d taught her in law school. She had to get out of that bed before she fooled herself into believing Nik was her boyfriend and that his warm body pressed against hers actually meant something. Winding up hurt was inevitable if she allowed herself to entertain such foolish fancies.

Get up, Mia.

Sliding out from beneath his heavy arm, doing her best to not wake him up, she slipped out of bed. The cold, wooden floor made her toes curl, and for the first time in hours it had nothing to do with the inked, naked man sprawled before her, deep in sleep.

Forcing herself to turn away, she tiptoed out into the living room where the fire burned low and steady. Nik checked it every couple of hours, making sure to add wood, so she wasn’t worried about it going out. The wind still whistled outside and she squinted out the frosty window. It looked like the snow had finally stopped.

Their time together was coming to an end. She had no doubts about it. Once the weather permitted him to leave, Nik would do exactly that. Then his team would kill her father. After that, what would he do with her? She honestly had no idea.

Determined and desperate for answers, not wanting to fall in line and allow other people’s decisions to dictate her life any longer, she swiped up the burner. Ignoring the goosebumps on her skin, she hurried into the bathroom and shut the door. Her best option was to go straight to the source, to hear both sides of the story, and then make an informed decision. If law school had taught her anything before she dropped out, it’s that there were always two sides to any given situation.

Back against the wall, literally, she pulled up the keypad and typed a phone number. One she’d memorized, but rarely ever called. Even though the display screen showed it was only four thirty in the morning, she knew he’d answer. He’d once told her he had trouble sleeping at night. That little fact didn’t surprise her. People with a guilty conscience usually didn’t sleep well.

It rang and rang, and she was about to hang up when a voice finally snapped, “Carlisle.”

“Hi, Dad,” she whispered softly.