Justine gives him a look, as if to say,Yeah, and look where that got him. Facing an infinite number of line-ups in his short life.
Roman’s reasoning for hiding this footage from me is exposed when he responds to Justine’s silent scorn. “The exchange between Nikolai and his accused Friday afternoon was family business. It was not my place to intervene.”
“Family business?” Justine forces out with a laugh. “The man Nikolai attacked was from the Petretti crew. How could that be family business?”
My knuckles pop from how hard I clench my fist from Roman saying, “That’s also a matter of family business. One that isn’t mine to share.”
Not willing to fall for his blasé response, Justine interrogates him further. “Family ties didn’t stop Nikolai from assaulting one of his own last night.”
“Are you sure of what you saw, Justine?” Roman asks her, stepping closer to her. “As from my vantage point, Nikolai appeared to be very much protecting one of his own.” He peers down at her, his face softer than the mask he wears around my crew. “You’re under Nikolai’s skin. Usually, I’d be pleased by that notion. But for a man with responsibilities like Nikolai, attaching himself to someone could mean death.”
“He’s not attaching himself to anyone,” Justine forces out through the panic clutching her throat.
I prick my ears, straining to hear Roman’s reply to Justine’s lie. “Nikolai calls himself The Snake as he must continually shed his skin to stay alive. I’ve yet to see him do that with you. That should mean something, shouldn’t it?” When Justine fails to answer his question, Roman lips tug into a grin. “Ah. He’s under your skin as well. This will make the fight a lot fairer.”
Before Justine can reply, Roman pivots on his heels and exits the kitchen.
After returning the surveillance tablet to its original setting, I glare at Roman. I’m pissed as fuck he intervened in business he doesn’t belong in, but I also understand where his worry stems from. He’s been my advisor my entire life. He stitched me up when I was beaten, and showed me ways to stop it from happening again. He’s been there for me more than the man people assume is my father, and it isn’t for monetary gain either. He does it because blood didn’t give him the title of my uncle. Respect did.
When an image on the tablet captures my attention, I leave Roman to untether the noose his interference wrapped around his neck. I’ve unearthed a loophole in Vladimir’s surveillance that presents the perfect opportunity for me to discover just how attached Justine is without the help of a pair of fluorescent pink yoga pants. Fingers crossed my lips are the only arsenal needed to convince an angel to side with the devil.
Chapter Nineteen
“Are you looking for this?”
Air leaves Justine’s lungs in a hurry when my thick timbre carries lust through her veins like liquid ecstasy. She peers at me standing at the entrance of her massive walk-in pantry beneath lowered lashes, acting as if the tablet I’m holding isn’t what she’s frantically searching for.
After taking a minute to clear the panic from her face, she shakes her head. “No. I was looking for the maple syrup.”
I pace into the pantry, loving the way the vein in her neck pulsates more for every step I take. When I lean across her shoulder to grab the bottle of maple syrup from the third shelf, goosebumps follow the excited shudder rolling down her spine. She isn’t shaking in fear. She’s mad about the laughter bubbling in my chest.
She snatches the bottle from my hand, whispers a quick “thank you,” then spins toward the exit. Since I have her trapped at the very end of the pantry, and she’s a good three to four inches shorter than me, her pivot places her nose a mere inch from my chest.
My scent has never had any issues attracting the ladies, and it appears as if Justine isn’t immune. After slanting her head to the side, her nostrils flare so she can suck in the aroma of her bodywash on my skin. When a gleam in her eyes has me convinced she’s seconds from peeling out of her clothes, my cock pretends it didn’t achieve release only minutes ago. It knocks at my zipper, pleading to be freed; it bangs as furious as the thud of Justine’s pulse.
When several painful seconds pass without Justine hearing the frantic pleas of my dick, I’m forced to get inventive. “Imagine how good we will smell when our scents are intermingled the old-fashioned way.”
I drag my nose down her neck to drink in her scent, growling when I smell myself on her skin.
“You smell like me.” She does. Every inch of her smells like me, and I fucking love it.
“Yes.” She licks her dry lips as her budded nipples compete for space with my chest. “I should probably shower?”
When she attempts to sidestep me, I move into her path, blocking her exit. I’m so starving for her, if the only way I can have her is in the pantry of her outdated kitchen, I’ll suffer the injustice. It will need to be hard and fast to keep Vladimir’s suspicions as low as his morals, but I’ll be sure to make it up to Justine at a more convenient time.
Don’t get me wrong. She won’t leave without coming, I just need to bring her to climax as quickly as she caught my eye.
“Nikolai...” Justine whimpers when I step closer, trapping her further, tempting her as she’s never been tempted.
“Justine...” My voice is as simpering as hers. Full of hunger and unanswered need. “I just came in my hand recalling the taste of your lips. What I wouldn’t give for another taste.”
A flare detonates through her eyes, revealing she loves the idea of me stroking my cock over her. However, they also expose she’s not willing to give in to the temptation gobbling up every inch of her sanity just yet.
Forever willing to push the boundaries, I say, “A kiss for a pass.”
I anticipate for her to shoot down my suggestion with a direct ‘no,’ so you can imagine my surprise when she says, “A kiss for the device.”
“No.” I loom over her, fighting not to take what I need. I could never be accused as being patient, so our prolonged game of cat and mouse isn’t just messing with my head. It’s killing me. “A kiss for a pass, or you remain trapped in the pantry with me…” The flare in her eyes deepens as excitement takes hold. “… for eternity.”
