9. Nina

9

NINA

Does Anton really believe the attack was nothing more than a case of wrong place, wrong time?

If he does, that seriously fucks up my plans.

If he dismisses the threat, he might send me back to the city, and I’ll lose my all-access pass to him.

While it wouldn’t be the worst thing to have some distance between us, especially considering what went down last night, it will slow things down significantly, which could anger my father.

I need to do something. Fast.

Excusing myself from the table, I head into the bathroom just off the kitchen to send my father a message.

I don’t risk calling in case there’s any hidden cameras around that could pick up my conversation. I quickly type out a text and attach my pinned location, trying to ignore the guilt weighing heavily on my chest as I click send.

Remember why you’re doing this.

I try to mask the guilt on my face as I walk back into the kitchen and sit back down at the table. I have no idea what my father might do in response to my message, but knowing him, people will get hurt.

Anton smiles. “Don’t suppose you made dessert too?”

Anton insists on doing all of the clearing up after we’ve finished, considering that I cooked, so I make my excuses about being tired and head up to bed just to avoid him.

I hate that he’s being so nice to me because it’s really making it hard to hate him.

I know it could all just be an act, but I find that hard to believe when he’s not getting anything out of it. Except maybe the sex… But I refuse to count that because he was just as kind and selfless then, considering I came twice.

This man is seriously confusing, and I can’t afford to have another lapse in judgment like I did last night.

Sex will only make things worse.

Even if it was the best I’ve ever had.

Despite my racing thoughts, after soaking in the jacuzzi bath and slipping on a fresh pair of silk pajamas, I fall asleep the moment my head hits the pillow.

But my blissful night doesn’t last long as I jolt awake at the sound of a loud bang.

“What the hell?” I groan, throwing the covers over my head.

My room is still pitch black and from the grogginess I feel, I doubt it’s much past midnight.

I’m not sure if I dreamed the loud noise.

Was it a crash? Did Anton knock something over next door? Either way, I’m not ready to get up, so I screw my eyes shut and try to fall back asleep.

Then the noise happens again, and I bolt upright in bed, my heart hammering in my chest as I realize what it was.

It was a gunshot.

Seconds later, the door to my room flies open, and Anton rushes inside, the light from the hallway casting him in shadow.

“Nina, get up.” He hurries to my side.

“W-what’s happening?”

“Get on the floor,” he hisses, half pulling me out of the bed.

I cling to his strong arms as I crawl out of the bed, and we both sink to the floor.

His face has drained of color, and he keeps looking over at the door. “I need you to crawl into the bathroom.”

“Crawl?”

“I need you to keep hidden.”

“Anton, what’s happening?” My voice cracks as I cling to him even tighter.

What has my father planned?

“Stay in the bathroom until I get back.”

He goes to move, but I grab hold of his shirt.

I don’t know how many men my father sent here or what weapons they might have. For all I know, Anton might not come back, and the thought has a strangled sob escaping my lips.

I throw my arms around his shoulders and bury my face in his neck, wanting to inhale his earthy scent perhaps for the last time.

“Anton,” I sob as the truth threatens to come tumbling out of my mouth.

“Shh, it’s okay.” He wraps his arms around my shaking body. “I will keep you safe, Nina. I promise.”

My chest tightens at his words.

At what cost?

Anton grabs my wrists and gently removes my arms from around his neck.

“I’ll be back soon.” He climbs to his feet.

I watch him leave before doing as I’m told and crawling into my bathroom, locking the door firmly behind me.

I perch on the edge of the bath, nervously chewing on the skin around my nails as I wait for Anton. I’m tempted to call my father and ask him to call off his men, but it would look too suspicious. Besides, he’d only remind me of the fact that my ballet career is on the line, so there’s nothing I can do but wait.

The sound of someone trying to open the door makes me jump out of my skin and for a moment, I wonder if it might be my father coming to get me himself and put me on a plane back to Russia.

“Nina?” Anton calls out.

I release the breath I have been holding and get to my feet. I quickly unlock the door and step back.

“Hey.” He steps inside, closing the door behind him. “How are you doing?”

“I-I…” I run my fingers through my messy hair as I fight back tears, suddenly feeling overwhelmed by what I might have done.

“Nina, it’s all okay.” Anton wraps his arms around my shoulders, pulling me against his chest. “Nobody is around.”

“But I heard gunshots,” I mumble, sinking my fingers into his soft shirt.

“I don’t want you to worry about any of it. No one is hurt and whoever it was is long gone. We’re safe.”

“Oh, god,” I sob.

“You’re safe, Nina, I’ve got you,” he whispers as he gently strokes my hair.

The sweet gesture only makes me sob harder, but I’m not crying out of fear. I’m crying out of guilt.

“Do you want me to stay with you tonight?” he murmurs.

“Yes.”

Anton moves his hands to my cheeks and gently brushes the tears away with his thumbs.

For a moment, I lose myself in his dark brown eyes, trying to see any hint of the monster that my father told me was there. But all I see is warmth.

“Come on, let’s go to my room.” He takes my hand and leads me out of the bathroom.

Being inside Anton’s room feels strangely intimate. The room is lit by the two bedside lamps, casting the room in a pale-yellow glow that makes me feel instantly calm.

I glance around at the various framed pictures on the walls and on top of the dresser.

His room is almost identical to mine, except with slate gray accents and no window seat. But the bookshelves on either side of the window are packed, and I find myself wandering over to scan the titles.

“Looking for anything in particular?”

I glance over my shoulder to find him leaning back against the closed door with his arms folded across his chest.

“Just trying to get a sense of who you are.” I turn back to the books. “Who is Anton Koslov?”

Anton softly chuckles, and the sound sends a shiver running down my spine.

“There’s not much to tell. I’m a pretty simple guy.”

“Coming from the person who has a ten-bed mansion.”

“It’s eight, but glad to know you’re paying attention when I talk,” he teases. “And I meant simple in terms of what’s important to me.”

“And what’s that?” I turn around.

His eyes flick to my lips.

“My family is everything. And so are my friends. I put them before everything.”

“Are we friends?”

“Do you want to be friends, Nina?” Anton’s eyes darken as they roam over my body.

I suddenly remember I’m wearing a skimpy pink silk cami and short set that shows off ample thigh and cleavage.

My cheeks heat, and he chuckles.

“I’ll let you think about it.”

I get a little breathless. “So, what’s your favorite food?”

“Pepperoni Pizza from Antonio’s .”

“Sunny or rainy days?”

“Rainy. Perfect movie and pizza weather.” He smirks.

“Telling someone the truth or a white lie if it meant sparing someone’s feelings?”

“Truth.” No hesitation. “Always the truth.”

My throat bobs as I see how sincere he is.

‘My turn.” He pushes off the door, stepping closer to me. “Favorite color?”

“Pink.”

“That was obvious.” He chuckles. “Okay, what about your favorite movie?”

“Dirty Dancing. Come on, Koslov, you’re walking straight into these.”

“What would you do if you couldn’t dance?”

The question catches me off guard. I instantly picture my home back in Russia, and my stomach sinks.

“That’s not an option. Ballet has been my whole world for so long. It was my way of escaping from my life, and if I couldn’t do it anymore… It would be a death sentence.”

“Your passion is admirable, Nina.”

I shrug, brushing off his compliment.

I don’t see it that way.

My passion for ballet was born out of a need to survive in a world where I felt I wasn’t wanted. I needed ballet like I needed air. Without it, I would die.

That’s what I have to keep reminding myself, but it’s easier said than done when Anton Koslov is looking at me like I’m his own source of air.

How can this be the same man who murdered my brother in cold blood?

As I look into his eyes I see nothing but warmth and kindness, and perhaps a little arousal…

These aren’t the eyes of a killer, so there must be more to the story than what my father has told me because, so far, I’m not buying a single word of it.

Did Maxim provoke Anton? Did Anton kill him in self-defense?

Either way, whatever happened between him and Maxim, there must have been a reason for it.

Anton crosses the distance between us and reaches out to cup my cheek.

“You’re lost in your thoughts,” he murmurs. “If it helps, there are other things that you excel at, Nina.”

“Like what?”

Anton bends down and brushes his lips against mine.

“Kissing,” he whispers before crashing his lips against mine.

My hands go to his chest to steady myself as Anton licks along my lower lip.

I can’t help the moan that builds in my throat at the taste of him. It’s intoxicating, and my lower belly flutters in response, knowing just how good that tongue feels between my thighs.

He angles my head to expose my neck.

As he kisses and nips at the sensitive flesh, his free hand trails down my waist before squeezing my ass.

“Anton,” I moan, pressing my breasts against his chest.

The silky material rubs against my hard nipples, and I whimper, so desperate for more from him.

“What other hidden talents do you have, Nina?” he murmurs, pulling me closer against him.

I gasp, my back arching as his hardness rubs against my thigh.

“I-I want to show you.” I pant as I grind against his cock.

“I’m all yours, lapochka .”

I know I shouldn’t, but the thought of getting on my knees and taking his cock into my mouth has me forgetting all my morals. Before my conscience can kick in, I guide Anton back toward the bed. “Sit.”

Anton’s eyebrows shoot up, but he does as I ask, and I move to stand between his muscular thighs.

“Do you want to see my other talent?” I bend forward, resting my hands on his thighs. Anton’s eyes glaze over as he looks at my chest, at my breasts that are spilling out of my cami.

“Nina,” he chokes.

My eyes flick to the bulge in his pants, and I have to squeeze my thighs together as my pussy starts to throb.

I sink to my knees before Anton, and he leans back on his hands, watching me closely as I gently rub my palm along the outline of his cock.

“I didn’t get a chance to admire you yesterday,” I murmur as I gently squeeze his bulge.

Anton hisses, and I squeeze him harder. “But you felt so good .”

“Nina,” he groans.

I chuckle, enjoying the feeling of being in control of his pleasure. I make quick work of unbuckling his pants, and when I reach into his boxers and pull his cock free, I let out a whimper at the size of him.

I knew he was big from how well he stretched my pussy last night, but there’s no way I’m going to be able to fit all of him in my mouth.

“You don’t have to…” It’s as if he’s sensing my hesitation.

“I want to taste you,” I whisper, trailing my fingers along his shaft.

The skin is like silk, and Anton shivers as I gently caress the sensitive underside.

I bite my lower lip as I look up at him under my lashes.

“Whatever you want,” Anton grunts, his thighs flexing. “We can stop at any point.”

I nod before bending forward and swiping my tongue over the slick head, moaning at the salty taste.

“Fuck,” Anton groans and I smile before wrapping my lips around the head and sucking.

My eyes flutter closed as I start exploring him with my mouth, licking up the underside of his cock before swirling my tongue around the head.

He fists my hair, and I moan to let him know I can take more.

He gently forces my head down, and I relax my throat so I can take more of him.

When he finally brushes the back of my throat, his hips buck, and the sound he makes has my pussy growing slick with need.

I squeeze the base of his shaft before working him in time with my mouth.

My movements become sloppy as I suck and lick his thick shaft, swallowing the spurts of pre cum that he spills into my mouth.

The taste of his arousal on my tongue has my pussy clenching, so desperate to be filled by him.

“Fuck, Nina, your mouth is heaven,” he growls.

I swirl my tongue around the head before sucking him hard.

Anton tightens his grip on my hair and starts pumping his hips, groaning as the tip brushes against the back of my throat.

My eyes start to water, but I’m so desperate to take him to completion, wanting to have him be the one to come undone at my touch, that I increase my pace.

“Oh, fuck, that’s it, zayka . You’re taking me so well.”

I work my hand faster at the base of his cock, squeezing slightly harder to send him over the edge.

“Are you going to be a good girl and let me come in your mouth?”

I moan before hollowing my cheeks and suctioning my mouth around the head as he thrusts.

“Oh, fuck, I’m going to come?—”

With one last pump of his shaft, Anton spills into my mouth, and I greedily swallow every last drop he gives me.

When he finally stills, I lick his cock clean before getting to my feet.

Anton’s eyes are glazed as he watches me delicately wipe the corners of my mouth with my thumb and suck them clean.

I moan. “So good.”

“I think I need to return the favor.” Anton grabs me by the waist, tossing me onto the bed.

I barely have a chance to catch my breath before he’s sliding my shorts down over my thighs and burying his face in my pussy, licking my clit.

“Anton!”

“So fucking wet for me,” he growls before licking the length of my pussy.

I’m so turned on after sucking Anton off that I can already feel my release start to build.

“ Yes !” I arch against his touch.

Anton’s fingers dig into my hips as he starts feasting on me. He moves between pumping his tongue inside me to flicking his tongue over my swollen clit, building up my release just enough to leave me panting with need but not quite enough to send me over the edge.

“Anton,” I groan, sinking my fingers into the comforter.

He removes his right hand from my hip to gently tease my entrance with his finger.

I whimper, my hips bucking as he sinks it inside to the knuckle.

“Do you like that, Nina?” His breath tickles my clit.

“More,” I gasp.

“That’s not what I asked, lapochka .” He chuckles.

“Yes,” I grit out.

“I thought so.” He sinks his finger all the way inside me.

Wetness rushes between my thighs, and I reach up to cup my breasts, pulling the material of my top down so I can rub my nipples.

“So fucking beautiful,” Anton grunts.

I glance down to see him watching me, and I whimper at the desire in his eyes.

He doesn’t look away as he sinks another finger inside me, and my body arches off the bed at the surge of pleasure.

“Oh, my god ,” I moan, squeezing my breasts as I grind against his face.

His slight stubble feels incredible against my sensitive flesh.

“That’s it, Nina, come for me.” He curls his fingers inside me.

As he brushes against my G spot, I’m not sure if I’m screaming or crying as my orgasm hits.

My pussy clenches around his fingers as he continues to pump them inside my core while sucking on my clit, and my body trembles as I ride out my release.

When I’m finally spent, Anton lifts his head and grins at me from between my thighs, his lips wet with my arousal.

I don’t think this is what my father meant by getting to know the enemy.