Still nothing but her the sound of her crying. He tried the handle and found it unlocked. She sat in the middle of the floor wrapped in a bath towel, her head on her knees. Tears streaked her face and her eyes were so sad. He knelt down in front of her and stroked her hair.
“What’s wrong, baby?”
She just shook her head. He pulled her into his lap. “Shhh, dushka, don’t cry. Tell me what’s wrong.”
Instead of telling him, she wrapped her arms around him and sobbed harder. What in the hell? She was starting to scare him.
“Lily, tell me why you’re crying.” He put an edge into his voice, a tone that told her he wanted no nonsense. She would answer him.
“Kiss me,” she said instead, and he looked down into her dark blue eyes, eyes so dark they looked black.
He wanted her to tell him why she was crying, but when she looked at him like that, it undid him. He lowered his head and kissed her softly, tenderly. Her arms crept up around his neck, her fingers tangling in his hair. She pulled him closer. He reveled in the feel of her lips against his, their breath mingling. He ran his fingers up and down her back, relaxing and seducing her at the same time.
When he pulled away, he left her breathless, and the haunted look had fled her eyes. Now they were sleepy with lust and desire. Nikoli gathered her in his arms, stood, and walked to the bed. Putting her down, he stripped off his shirt. She looked up at him, and the trust in her face was something he’d always wanted, and the one girl he didn’t want it from was giving it to him. What the hell was he going to do about Lily Isabella Holmes?
Lily stared up at Nikoli and waited for him to do or say something. He had the oddest look on his face. She had distracted him earlier by asking him to kiss her. She couldn’t tell him she was crying because she was losing him. He’d freak. She’d made up her mind on the drive back that she would lose their bet. If all she had with Nikoli was this weekend, then she’d savor it and tuck it away to bring out when she was feeling lonely.
She loved him. It was as simple as that.
He reached down and pulled the bath towel away from her naked body and sat behind her on the bed to dry her hair. He used slow, gentle movements, and she sighed. He always made her feel so safe, so cared for. He tossed the towel after a few minutes, and she felt his lips on her neck, nuzzling. She leaned back against him and relaxed as his lips made their way down to her collarbone, his tongue swiping quick tastes here and there. He was being so tender.
His hands traveled down her arms, slid over her thighs, trailed back up her stomach, and then brushed against the underside of her breasts. She moaned and pressed against him, silently asking him for more. His hands curled around her breasts, squeezing softly before rolling her nipples. Lily arched her back, thrusting her breasts out, demanding more.
“Nikoli…”
“Shhh,” he whispered. “Don’t talk, dushka. Just let me love you.” He moved from behind her and pushed her down on the bed.
She fought her tears at his softly whispered words. She’d love him as best as she could for tonight.
“Don’t cry, Milaya,” he whispered. “Please don’t cry.”
She smiled through her tears and reached for him. “It’s okay,” she told him. “I’m happy in this moment, Nikoli. Let me love you tonight too. Please.”
He stared down at her with wide eyes and then nodded. He stood and slipped his jeans off. Lily stared up at him. He was beautiful. His skin was a rich tone, reminding her of someone from Greece more than Russia. His black eyes and hair gave him that bad boy look, one he encouraged. His body was sculpted from hours in the gym, and she loved every inch of it.
Lily sat up and held her hand out to him. He took it without hesitation, and she tugged. He smiled and lay down next to her, turning so he faced her. “What do you plan on doing, Milaya?”
“Whatever I want.” She ran her fingers lazily over his chest. “Whatever I want, Nikoli Kincaid.”
Nikoli closed his eyes and let Lily have her way. He was so proud of her. She’d spent the entire day having her family touch her, and now she was here, naked and asking to touch him. He was so very proud of his Lily Bells.
Her thumbs circled his nipple and he let out a small gasp. No one had ever affected him like Lily. The feel of her hands on his skin was driving him crazy. He wanted to flip her, bend her over the bed, and take her, but he didn’t. Instead, he lay here, letting her exploring fingers torture him. Something he’d never really allowed any other girl to do. But then he’d never trusted anyone like he did his Lily Bells.
Her warm, wet lips started to travel over his skin, and it was all he could do to hold back a moan. He opened his eyes and stared down at her. She was doing to him what he’d done to her, and he realized how hard it had been for her to stay still if she felt even an ounce of what he did now.
Her touch set off a fire inside of him, and before long he was pulling her up to meet his lips. He could only take so much of her sweet torture. She tried to protest, but he hushed her and rolled so she was beneath him. “No, Milaya. Any more of that and it’ll be over before it begins.”
She laughed, and he felt it go through every part of him. He closed his eyes and forced himself to regain some control over the urge to fuck her hard right then and there. She deserved better than that.
“Lily, I need to ask…” She shifted under him, inadvertently rubbing herself against him. “Ah, fuck, Lily, don’t move.”
Another small laugh escaped her. “What do you want to know?”
“Are you a virgin?”
“No, I’m not a virgin. Remember when I told you I got caught up in the wrong crowd after my dad died? Lost my virginity way back then, but it’s been a long time, Nikoli.”
“Well, hell,” he grumbled. That was just as bad.
“Nikoli?”
“Yeah?”
“You’re thinking too hard.” Laughter danced in her eyes.
He laughed; he couldn’t help it. Lily’s laughter was contagious. He’d never hesitated with a woman in his life, but here he was worried about hurting this one. She was warm, wet, and willing beneath him, and telling him to get on with it. No one had ever had to tell him that before.
He thrust two fingers inside of her, causing her to gasp. “Still thinking too hard?”
“No.” Her voice was low, and deep, and breathy all at the same time.
She was dripping wet, but still he hesitated. He worked her with his fingers, thrusting them in and out, his thumb rubbing her clit, listening to her moan and mutter nonsense things.
“Tell me now if you want me to stop, Milaya,” he said, his voice harder than he’d intended, but damn, he hurt with the need to get inside her.
Lily gave him the softest smile he’d ever seen and cupped his face. “I don’t want to stop, Nikoli.”
He groaned and buried his face in the crook of her neck, his tongue dragging over the sensitive skin. He slid his fingers out of her and she whimpered in protest. “You’re sure about this?”
“Yes.” The one word, full of so much want and need did him in. He grabbed a condom from the bedside table drawer and rolled it on. The hotel always stocked them there at his request. He pushed himself up and dragged Lily toward him, her legs spread over his thighs. Moisture dripped from her opening.
“Look at me, Milaya. Don’t close your eyes.”
Lily felt the shudder go through her at his command, her body automatically reacting to it. She pulled her eyes up to his and gasped at the burning desire she saw there. The hesitation on his face made her reach up, and he laced his fingers through hers. His other hand curled around her hip and pulled her to him as he slid inside her. Lily moaned at the unfamiliar burning sensation as he stretched her.
“Easy,” he murmured. “Relax, Milaya, just relax.”
Lily gasped when he pushed deeper and the burning turned to something else, something she couldn’t define. He filled her, and she felt herself clench around him, reveling in the way he groaned every time she did. She squeezed the hand still wrapped around hers as he began to move within her. His pace was slow and gentle, letting her get used to the feel and size of him as he slid through her and back out. Fire ripped through her, its heat intensifying with every second.