Chapter Seventeen

S aint reached out for Mia’s warm body, but his hand only touched ice-cold sheets. Popping up, he looked over to her side of the bed. Empty. Relax, he told himself. She’s just using the bathroom. He’d give her exactly two minutes. Then he’d go get her.

Because he was cold and she helped warm him. That’s all. Well, he also liked her soft curves. So unlike his hard body. Sometimes, she felt so delicate in his arms, and it brought out another side of him. A side that would do anything to protect her.

Where the hell was she?

With a huff, he was about to climb out of bed when she walked through the doorway. She was wearing his black T-shirt and it reached her mid-thigh. All he could think about was what was underneath it and yanking it off her so he could explore that luscious body all over again. He lifted the blanket and she ran across the cold floor, jumping into bed with him. Pulling her back to his front, wrapping a possessive arm across her body, he brushed her hair aside and began kissing her neck.

“Where were you, kotyonok ?” His tongue trailed a hot path down to the curve of her neck and shoulder.

“Bathroom.” She shifted against him, and he knew there was no way she didn’t feel his early morning wood. When his hand dipped between her thighs and covered her mound, she let out a soft breath.

“Are you still sore?” His finger traced up and down her seam. She moaned softly as he parted her folds and slid his finger into her hot channel. So slick, so damn ready, she coated his digit with her sweet juices. “Fuck, you’re already soaked.”

“I’m…better,” she gasped, rocking against his hand as he circled her wetness around that taut, little clit. He continued to finger-fuck her and when she ground against his hand, he returned the favor, grinding his dick against her ass.

Fuck, he was aching and she’d just given him the go-ahead. She was close, trembling, and he was desperate. Gripping her hip, he pushed his leg between hers, opening her up, and thrust inside her from behind.

A cry tore from her throat as he filled and stretched her, opening her sweet body up for him.

“Nik,” she rasped.

“You can take me,” he assured her, his fingers on her clit again. Rubbing, teasing, applying the exact pressure needed to make her shatter. “Come for me, Mia. Come all over my cock.”

She circled her hips, breathy and so damn beautiful as she accepted him all the way. His control hung on by a thread. Being fully-seated in her tight, wet pussy was beyond words. Nothing had ever felt so goddamn good. The need for more friction had him thrusting harder, faster, and she arched back, her core pulsing around him, and shouted a pretty, little curse word.

Nik would’ve laughed if he wasn’t about to explode.

Once she found her release, he shifted their position, pulling her back until she was on her hands and knees. Still inside her, he looked down, needing to see where their bodies connected. A shot of pure satisfaction ripped through him at the sight of his cock pushing in and out of her tight, pulsing pussy. Mine. His hips slammed against hers. Over and over.

“Keep that gorgeous ass up,” he growled and slapped her cheek with his palm. She gasped then shoved back against him, matching his hard strokes. Primal grunts and the sound of their slapping bodies filled the air.

Mia screamed as another orgasm swept through her. A moment later, Nik’s balls tightened and his release pummeled through him with the force of a goddamn semi truck. A powerful shudder racked his frame as he emptied himself. Groaning hard, he dropped his chest over her back as his cock spasmed deep inside her sweet heat, filling her up with his…

Oh, fuck. No condom.

The afterthought was like a blip on the distant horizon. No wonder it felt so unbelievably fantastic. Nothing separated them. They were skin to skin, absolutely bare, and his dick was loving every minute of it, still twitching in her depths.

He should regret it, should pull out immediately. But, he didn’t. Like the bastard he was, he savored her perfect pussy wrapped tightly around his cock for a few forbidden moments longer. Then he placed a lingering kiss on the back of her neck.

The moment he pulled out, Mia dropped face-first onto the bed. He laid down and pulled her into his arms. She felt like a ragdoll, all loosey-goosey, and he began to drop kisses all over her face. “Okay?”

She murmured something unintelligible then looked up at him with those stunning sky-blue eyes.

“What was that?” he asked, rubbing his nose against hers.

“We forgot protection.”

“I know, I’m sorry. I didn’t realize until it was too late.” Which was strange. He’d never lost himself in the throes of passion like that before. When going into battle, he always wore a helmet.

But this little blonde rattled his brain and made him forget his own damn name.

And that wasn’t good. It was damn dangerous. He needed to get his head back in the fucking game. Or, in this case, the op. Because he was still going to bring Chadwick Carlisle down and it didn’t matter how much he liked fucking Mia.

Fucking was fucking. He’d find someone else after the mission. However, he’d just messed up and fucked her bare. As much as he told himself to shrug it off and move on, a part of his brain started rapid-firing questions. What if she got pregnant? Would she terminate the pregnancy or have the baby? Would she try to find some rich douchebag to take his place and raise his child? Or simply leave it up to nannies?

The biggest question of all, though, was why did he care? The idea of some rich asshole playing dad to his kid left a sour taste in his mouth. Not that he’d be father of the year or anything. He had no idea what being a dad even encompassed, and he’d certainly never wanted to step into that role after his family had failed him so terribly.

Forget it, he told himself. They didn’t have much time left together. In the next couple of days, the op would be over. Everything would be over.

He buried his face in her soft, fragrant hair. It was almost time to say goodbye and his heart lurched in his chest at the idea.

But the mission had already been set in motion—Chadwick was going to die and Nik wouldn’t hesitate to pull the trigger. In fact, he would gladly empty his Udav into the man and smile while doing it.

Mia wouldn’t be a witness to her father’s demise—Saint would make sure she stayed at the cabin while he took care of business. Then they would leave Russia and go their separate ways. Saint would slink back into the shadows with his team and they would finish destroying The Agency. And Mia would go back to her richie-rich world and inherit all her father’s dirty billions.

But when the time came, would he be able to let her go?

You don’t have a choice , he reminded himself and pressed a soft kiss against her neck.

◆◆◆

The rubber band in Mia’s head now felt overstretched and ready to snap. Her frayed nerves couldn’t take much more. Nik pressed a kiss on her neck and told her to go to sleep. How the hell could she sleep after sneaking a call to her father and then letting Nik fuck her bare?

She’d like to think one had nothing to do with the other. But Nik Valentine knew how to bring her rebellious side out.

Even though she didn’t regret calling her father, she hadn’t gotten the answers she’d wanted. As usual, Chadwick had played it cagey and cool. The consummate businessman and estranged father, placating her with a promise that she now began to doubt.

“Hi, Dad.”

“Mia.” Of course, he sounded surprised. She very rarely called the number.

“What’s The Agency?” she asked without preamble.

He hesitated briefly. “A group of like-minded individuals with plans to change the world. How did you hear about us?”

Us. That confirmed her next question before she even asked. He was a part of it. “Change the world?” she echoed. “For better or worse?”

“Always for better. Who may I ask have you been talking to?”

“It doesn’t matter. But, for once, I’d like to have a transparent discussion with you. No secrets.” She pulled in a shaky breath. “What’s your role in this group? And how exactly are you changing the world?”

“Dr. Grendel introduced me to the other members,” he said, and her skin crawled. She’d had the misfortune of meeting Malcolm Grendel once and she couldn’t get away from him fast enough. Yes, he’d made her uncomfortable, but it was more than the lingering looks from his piercing, light brown eyes. The man radiated something she could only describe as evil.

“They needed financing to help with their operations,” he continued smoothly. “Once I learned more, I jumped aboard. They see the future with open eyes and I found their beliefs aligned with mine.”

“What beliefs?” she asked warily.

“There’s only one thing worth risking everything for, Mia—money. My faith in the almighty dollar triumphs everything else. You know that. It’s how I’ve been able to keep you fed, clothed and living in the lap of luxury. Do you think those schools you went to were free? Do you think groceries are cheap and the mansion you’re living in pays for itself?”

Here we go.

Her blood pressure skyrocketed, but she kept her voice down, afraid she might wake up Nik. “I’m sorry law school didn’t work out, but please don’t change the subject. I want to know why you need a certain Russian scientist. What does The Agency plan to do with a deadly neurotoxin?”

“What do you know about that?” he asked, tone neutral.

“I know more than you think and I’m trying not to doubt you, Dad. I’m trying really hard, but I have a lot of questions.”

“Ask me whatever you want, Mia. If I know the answer, I’ll tell you. Complete transparency. Just like you want.”

Surprise rippled through her. “I know we barely have a relationship,” she whispered, voice ragged, “but you are my father. I just … I just want more.”

Once again, she reverted back to that lonely, little girl wishing for her father’s approval and love. A love she’d been denied her entire life.

“Mia, this isn’t a conversation to have over the phone. When I get back home, let’s have dinner and talk. You may not believe me, but I’d like more, too.”

Her heart swelled. “You would?”

“Of course, sweetheart.”

“Okay.”

“I’ll call you when I’m back in San Francisco.” He hung up and she cradled the burner against her ear for a long moment, playing their conversation over again in her head.

She had no idea if she’d just made things better or worse. Only time would tell.

Eventually, Mia fell asleep, her face pressed against Nik’s firm chest. For a man who claimed he didn’t cuddle, he held her so close.

It felt like only minutes had passed before her eyes fluttered open. She rolled and stretched, hearing Nik talking on the phone. Sitting up, pushing her hair back, she pulled her knees up to her chest, unable to miss the twinge between her legs.

Nik paced back and forth, looking on edge. After a few grunts of agreement, he hung up and turned his attention to her.

“What’s going on?” she asked sleepily.

“My team is airborne and on their way, courtesy of Dash Slater’s jet. They have an exact location here in Perm for your father.”

Straightening up, a million questions flew through her mind. “H-how?”

“Zane cloned Elizabeth Salinger’s phone. She and her husband Benedict, a good buddy of your father’s, have been exchanging texts. Their conversation confirmed he’s here with Carlisle and my team managed to hack into his GPS.”

“When will your team get here?”

“ETA is three hours.”

Mia swallowed hard. Maybe she and her father wouldn’t get to meet for dinner after all. If Nik and his team found him, they wouldn’t allow him to escape with his life. What if they were wrong, though? As much as she knew her father was involved in shady things, how dark and deep did it actually go? Could she try to save him? Or was it too late?

Time to play Devil’s advocate.

“Nik, what do you really know about The Agency?” she asked carefully. “Could they possibly have good intentions you aren’t aware of or—”

He spun on her. “Are you fucking kidding me? They killed Tanner and tried to kill me, too. Tried to kill all of us multiple times.”

The angry scowl on his face told her there’d be no talking to him about it—he’d already made up his mind. “You don’t have to yell. I just asked.”

“I’m not yelling!” His voice roared through the cabin and Mia flinched. After pulling in a deep, steadying breath, he lowered his tone. “They’re an evil, power-hungry group who wants my team dead. But we’re going to destroy them first. Sorry, Mia, but your father is a dead man walking.” He shrugged a broad shoulder. “What did they expect would happen when they tried to fuck over a team of assassins? Because, news flash, Ex Nihilo used to kill people for The Agency. They put us together to take out their enemies, to create a void where they could take over, a complete power grab. They have no interest in making the world a safer place by destroying the enemies of the United States like they’d pitched. They’re liars and killers.”

Mia’s thoughts whirled and she was more confused than ever. But before she could say another word, the front door crashed open. Nik grabbed his gun off the nightstand and raced into the living room, and Mia sprang out of bed, right on his heels.

A team of men swept through the room and an ice-cold wind made the flames in the fireplace dance.

“Mia! Get back in there!” Nik shoved her toward the bedroom and managed to fire off a couple of shots before they were surrounded and ordered to freeze.

“Drop your weapon,” a man wearing a ski mask ordered.

Without an option, Nik tossed his gun out of reach. Several men immediately moved in, one grabbing Mia and two restraining Nik. Another man approached and Mia’s heart fell when she saw the syringe in his hand.

“Goodnight, asshole.” He stabbed Nik in the neck.

“No!” Mia screamed, struggling to break free. “What did you give him?”

Nik slumped sideways, forcing the men nearest him to hold his big body up.

“A very strong sedative. Put him in the SUV,” the leader ordered, and Mia watched them drag Nik out the front door.

“No!”

The leader turned his attention to her. “I suggest you put some pants and shoes on or you’re going to have a very cold trip.”

“Where are you taking us?”

“Your father would like to have a chat.”

Oh, God. What have I done?

Her gaze moved over to the burner phone on the table. It’s the only way her father could’ve found them. But it was a burner! She thought burner phones couldn’t be tracked.

Unless…

Somehow he must’ve been able to access the GPS in the phone. The one that would’ve led Pharaoh to her if anything had happened to Nik. Most likely, he had someone hack it for him.

This was all her fault.

Now Nik was in trouble, his life on the line, and she had no idea how far her father was willing to take things.