American Law (Law #2) (10 page)

Chapter 17

Elena left Dmitry to his hacking. The less she knew, the better she felt. She’d never liked her brother’s hobby or business venture—however he chose to see it. She’d always known it would lead him into trouble. He had an unnatural talent for delving into the world of cyberspace but she couldn’t complain too much since it had saved her ass more than once.

She made her way down the hallway of Lucas’s home. The house was predominately male. No woman had ever stayed long enough to leave a mark. Dark colors greeted her in chocolate, black, and forest green. She could see some work had been done recently. The smell of freshly painted walls assaulted her as she continued down the hall.

She felt Lucas’s presence before she heard him. He wrapped his big hand around her arm and catapulted her into the nearest room which just happened to be his bedroom, then pinned her with his gaze, not allowing her to break contact. She swallowed nervously at the fierce look on his face, her mouth suddenly dry. He crossed his arms over his broad chest and leaned back against the closed bedroom door.

She was trapped.

“We’re going to finish that talk we started in the car,” he told her, and the expression on his face told her it was non-negotiable.

She let out a deep breath and sat on the edge of his massive king sized bed, creasing the black and white swirled design duvet. She wasn’t looking forward to this talk. She shifted around, getting into a comfortable position buying herself some time while her incoherent thoughts flitted about her mind. She waited for him to start, not quite understanding why he was so mad at her if the look on his face was any indication. She glanced away, cowardly preparing herself for the confrontation.

He let out a deep sigh. “We shared something special at the airport, or at least I thought we did. Was I wrong?”

She jerked her head up to meet his eyes. Did he remember the airport? She sure did. That day had haunted her for eighteen long months.

“No, it’s just—”

“What?” he interrupted. “Why have you stayed away? Have you changed your mind about us? If so, you should’ve said something instead of leaving me in the dark, wishing…wanting.”

“Me? I haven’t heard from you in over a month.”

He blinked in surprise, then his face morphed into a frown. “The last time I called, I got the sense that I was crowding you so I thought I’d back off and give you the time I promised. You’re important to me, Elena. I didn’t want to screw up and push you away…or worse, have you run from me.”

Her stomach twisted painfully. She’d never meant to give him that impression. She remembered the conversation. It had been after one of her panic attacks and she’d been a little distracted. Dread unfurled in her belly as she wondered if she was too late. She rushed to explain.

“I felt guilty at not being able to commit to you. I never meant to send you away. I don’t want you to give up on me—on us.”

He huffed out a frustrated breath. “I thought I could be patient with you, Elena, but my patience has run out. I want to know.”

And he deserved to know how she felt. She wanted him to know. She hated the fact that since they’d first met she was the one holding back. First because of her allegiance to Nikolai and now from her own fear.

“I do love you, Lucas,” she said softly, her eyes begging him to believe her. How she loved him. The insufferable man had gotten under her skin and imbedded himself so deeply within her that she would never be rid of him.

“Then why haven’t you told me? Why haven’t we been together all this time?”

The hurt on his face was almost her undoing. She chided herself, having been so wrapped up in her own feelings that she hadn’t thought how he might take the situation. Exasperated, she threw up her hands. “Because I’m scared, okay?” When he looked like he was going to interrupt, she quickly continued, realizing how it must have sounded to him. “Not scared of us, Lucas. Never of that. I’ve only loved two men in my entire life and one was murdered. I don’t want anything to happen to the other. I don’t think I would survive that.”

“Oh, Elena.” He crossed the space of the room in three long strides and pulled her into his arms and held her tight, kissing the top of her head. “Nothing is going to happen to me.”

She shook her head. “You can’t promise me that.”

“I can and I will. I love you so much, Elena.”

She wrapped her arms around his neck and held onto him with all her strength. She kissed him hard with all the pent-up passion she had been harboring for the past eighteen months. She had let it grow and smolder and now she was ready to erupt. The electricity that had always been between them ignited and burned hot as it raced through her veins.

Her tongue stroked his as she took possession of his mouth, or was it he who took possession of hers? What did it matter? She was here with him, kissing him. Everything was finally right in the world as his large hands slid down her back, cupping her buttocks, pushing her body into his so she could feel his hardness on her belly. He wanted her. She kissed him again, moving closer to him, rubbing against his body, letting him know without words that she wanted him too.

He wrapped his arms around her waist and lifted her off the ground, settling her on the bed on her back. He pushed her thighs apart with his knee and knelt on one knee between them, his other foot still on the floor. Then he slowly lifted her blouse up and over her head, feasting his eyes on the creamy flesh he exposed. His flattened palm on her stomach made her shiver in desire. Small goosebumps appeared all over her skin. He kissed her again and again, letting his hands drift over her body, driving her wild as he pressed his hardness against her soft mound.

She quivered beneath him with passion as his hands settled on the waistband of her pants and undid them, pulling them down past her hips before discarding them. Now she only wore a lacy peach bra and matching panties. He gazed down at her, allowing his desire to show in the hard lines on his face. She felt her own desire course through her veins, warming her blood and causing her skin to flush as she realized how much the sight of her pleased him.

He removed his shirt and pants along with his boxers in record time. She heard the loud
clunk
sound as his gun holster hit the floor. Her lingerie shortly followed, and he settled between her thighs as he took one nipple in his mouth, caressing the other with his thumb so that the pink tip was hard and throbbing. He teased her mercilessly until she wildly bucked beneath him, raising her hips.

His hand slid down between the valley of her breasts and over her flat stomach before settling on her mound. Her breath hitched as he found her moist core. His tongue followed the path of his hand and she moaned at the first feel of his tongue in her most intimate of places. The world darkened as she thrashed her head against the already tousled sheets and she thought she might’ve passed out from sheer pleasure. Her thighs tightened around his head as he lapped at her, a shrill keening escaping her lips as he slowly tortured her, pushing her body higher and tauter without providing release.

She suddenly gasped, her body unwinding, shattering her consciousness as she came hard. She shivered and convulsed while he watched her. It should have disconcerted her but instead added to the sensual pleasure, his witnessing his effect on her.

He stroked her inner thighs with his tongue before sliding up her body to kiss her deeply, tasting herself on his lips. Once sated, she now throbbed with the need to feel him inside her. To join with him in the most basic and intimate ways. To show him without words how much she loved him so that he’d never question it again.

She felt his shaft pulsating against her damp mound, ready to explode. He was thick and long and smooth to the touch as she guided him to her. Perspiration dotted his forehead with the effort he took to hold himself back. Through clenched teeth he told her he didn’t think he could control himself.

She shook her head. “I don’t care, Lucas. I just want you.”

She lifted her hips, the end of his engorged shaft grazing her silken entrance. A deep hunger unfurled in her belly, and he cursed under his breath, his control snapping. He grabbed hold of her hips and held her still as he entered her in one long trust. Elena moaned as he filled her up completely. She had never felt anything so right. This is what she’d always been waiting for without even knowing it. She was connected to him in the most elemental way and never wanted him to leave. He swore savagely and began to withdraw, sliding from her body.

“No,” she protested, tightening her legs around his waist to keep him inside her.

“I know,” he said in a strangled tone. “But I’m not wearing a condom.”

“That’s okay. I’m protected. I trust you. Please don’t leave. I need you, Lucas. Now and forever. Take me and don’t hold back. I want every part of you.”

He grinned rakishly. “My pleasure.”

“Mine too.” Her breathing hitched with excitement and her body tingled.

He moved within her, stimulating her already sensitive nerves, bringing her to orgasm within minutes. She shuddered beneath him and he followed her over as the muscles inside her gripped at him. He expanded within her, stretching her further before his release jetted into her.

He collapsed on top of her, struggling to breathe. With her imagination and wildest dreams, she still hadn’t been anywhere close to conjuring up what it would be like when she and Lucas finally made love. She was in a state of euphoria, her entire being complacent.

He rolled off her and pulled her close. She stroked his chest as she waited for her heartbeat to return to its regular rhythm, feeling complete bliss in his arms. Something she’d not felt in a long time. Lucas made her feel alive again. She felt cherished in his arms and wondered how she could’ve ever thought he’d lost interest. Lucas was a man of his word.

“Good God, that was amazing.”

“It was, wasn’t it?” She suddenly had a thought and blushed. “I really hope Dmitry didn’t hear any of that.”

She hadn’t once considered that her little brother was only down the hall—awake. She felt mortified that she had been so wrapped up with Lucas that she had totally forgotten Dmitry. Her face burned as she thought of how she’d cried out. She certainly hadn’t been quiet.

“Relax,
sladkaya
,” he intoned, calling her
sweetheart
in Russian
.
“I doubt your brother would notice the apocalypse outside his window unless something happened to the Internet.”

Elena smiled. He knew Dmitry so well. He knew
her
so well. He looked deep into her eyes, having recently looked at every inch of her naked body. Her skin heated as she recalled the pleasure he’d built inside her and in her heart, as well. She wanted him again, more so than the first time. She began to wonder if she would ever have her fill of him.

“I promise the next time will last longer.”

Had he been reading her mind? Her face heated at being caught, and Lucas leaned over and nibbled on her ear.

“And you know how I am with promises,” he added in a husky voice.

Her heart beat sped up as his hands explored her once more, gliding sensually over her sensitive flesh. She turned her head to kiss him, and once more he kept his promise.

Chapter 18

Dmitry’s wound throbbed, dull and incessant, a reminder that he was lucky to be alive, though hurting. Ivan was not. Not just his arm ached, but his heart too.

Anger and sorrow simultaneously burned and he fought against the volatile feelings, needing to remain clearheaded. Now wasn’t the time to grieve. He couldn’t allow his emotions to rule. He had to be cold and unfeeling like his nationality were often accused of being. Later, he could mourn Ivan, after he’d fulfilled his promise and avenged his friend.

He tilted his head and the bones cracked with the movement. He’d been sitting in the same position for too long.

He considered himself a smart man, but right now he felt like something important had been evading him. A pivotal piece of the puzzle, and it annoyed him. He didn’t like the feeling, not having it very often. Something was very wrong. Something did not add up.

Why Sundown? That was the first question he asked, and it was a good one. He didn’t have an answer. The file had been classified, hidden deep inside the Pentagon’s mainframe. Who knew about it? Surely it wasn’t a long list, and it wouldn’t be easy to obtain, but he was good at what he did and would find out.

It also helped keep his mind off whatever may be happening down the hall. He’d seen the determination in Lucas’s eyes. Elena didn’t stand a chance. He sat back in his seat, the hour long past midnight. He wondered briefly at their relationship, knowing there was more than passing interest between the two. Smoldering heat appeared between them whenever they got together. Dmitry hoped they worked it out. He didn’t want to see either of them hurt. They both deserved a happy ending, at least for all the shit life had put them through.

He stared hard at the bright laptop screen. He certainly wasn’t about to get his answers tonight, not with Sundown having a flag on the file. Anyone attempting to locate information on anything named Sundown
would be getting a visit from the NSA. He would have to try something tomorrow, go to an unsecure location and download the information he wanted. He would have to be quick about it. The Department of Defense was not about to fool around. It was risky, but so was not doing anything.

He’d be crazy not to be scared, his future uncertain. Elena and Lucas could only protect him for so long. The rest would be up to him. He wouldn’t let them down. It wasn’t just about his life, but an entire country’s freedom and safety. He couldn’t step aside; it wasn’t in his nature. He was the world’s best hacker, and it was time to show them why he’d been bestowed the title.

The more Dmitry thought about it, the less sense it made. What good was stealing the security protocol for the country? There wasn’t much you could do with it. The only thing that came to mind was money. Always money. The whole world was ruled by it.

With the threat of treason hanging heavily over his head, he continued to work.