Lion of Midnight (15 page)

A tentative smile curved up her lips, wiping away the sadness. “And, if I pass, what do I get?”

His body responded, and he wished there was time.
To hell with that; I wish she wasn’t going.
“Whatever you want.”

“I’ll study hard, then.” Cleo slipped her arms around his neck. “Kiss me goodbye, Nik. I have to get going.”

Lowering his mouth to hers, Nik swiped his tongue along her lower lip before delving it into her mouth. Her body arched into his and her purr vibrated through his soul. Nik growled in response and deepened the exchange. He wanted her submission and kept up his assault on her mouth until he received it. When her figure sagged against him, he gentled the kiss before pulling away.

Her glassy eyes peered up at him, lips swollen from the force of his kiss. With a gloved finger, he pushed back a loose tendril of hair from her face. “Until next time,
snežinka
.”

“What does that mean?”

He kissed the tip of her nose, spun her toward the steps, and smacked her on the bottom. “Go now, Cleo, or you won’t be going.”

Nik watched as she jogged up the steps and, at the top, turned to look back at him, a gentle yet sad smile on her lips. She raised her hand in silent farewell then disappeared into the interior of the plane. Moments later, a man came, folded them up, and sealed the door.

Nik remained there as the engines powered up and the aircraft began rolling away. As it took to the night sky, Nik noticed the fog creeping over his boots, and snow fell.

Nik tracked the plane until he could no longer see it. He felt empty and more alone than ever. Walking back to the waiting taxi, he found his gaze drawn back to the fog. And remembered something from a long time ago. When his brother had lost his woman, the night had been filled with fog.

Sitting back against the leather of the seat, Nik began to plan. Time to set up a trip to America. Cleo had been out of his life for all of five minutes, and it was five minutes too long.
Too damn long.

Nik left Moscow and headed home. Vassi opened the door for him, and he never had to slow.

“Good evening sir.”

“Vassi.”

“How was your trip?”

The image of Cleo came to mind. “I think, Vassi, it’s time I went to America.”

“Very good, sir. When will you be going?”

Dropping his coat on a chair, Nik sat on it before Vassi could pick it up. “I have things to attend first.”

“Of course sir. The information you asked for is on your desk.”

Pushing up from the seat, Nik grabbed his coat and headed off to his office. “Thank you, Vassi. That will be all for me for the night.”

“I’ll be by with some food before I retire for the night.”

Standing by the railing of the stairs, Nik glanced over his shoulder at his friend. Vassi had been with him for almost seventy years. “I can get myself some food; you go get some sleep.”

“It is my job, sir.”

“I’m not going to win am I, Vassi?”

“If you have to ask, sir.” Vassi smiled and headed off to the kitchen.

Nik chuckled as he strode to his office. Pushing open the door, he nodded in pleasure as he saw the fire raging in the fireplace.
I need to give that man another raise.
He never had to ask, Vassi just knew.

Lowering himself into his chair, Nikolas regarded the file, which lay closed upon the mahogany surface. Licking his lower lip, he never moved until Vassi entered and placed a tray with soup and a sandwich down beside him and left as silently as he’d entered.

With a deep breath, Nik flipped it open to the information on the paper. A slight smile crossed his face as he saw down to the image of two people he’d been positive he’d never see  Skimming to the last page in the file, he took note of the address and nodded.

As he ate, he checked the clock constantly, figuring on where Cleo should be by that time. He wanted to hear her voice. Preferably beside him, but he would accept it via a phone.
For now.
Reaching into his jeans pocket, he withdrew the card she’d written her cell number on for him.

Appetite gone, Nik pushed back from the desk and lifted the tray. Soon, it had been put in the kitchen, and he was on his way up the stairs. She was on his mind still as he stood staring out one of his large windows overlooking the grounds.

“Cleo,” he whispered, shutting the heavy drapes and walking to bed. “Travel safely, Cleo Laurens. I’ll be seeing you soon.”

Nik’s dreams were full of visions of him and Cleo. When his alarm sounded a few hours later, he wanted to see her even more. Checking the time, he frowned when he realized she should have landed by now. A scowl settled over his features just as his cell began to ring. Reaching for it, Nik flipped it open and said, “
Dobroye utro
,
snežinka
.”

Chapter Fourteen

Wyoming

Nik drove the black Jeep Commando up the plowed driveway. He slowed as he passed under a sign that read “Blackthorne Farms”. On either side of the writing was the silhouette of a black rearing horse. Beneath the front hooves sat a sapphire blue oval with a sword in it. The sword wrapped four times by a thorny rope.

He let his gaze travel over the horses out in their snow-filled corrals. Stopping the Jeep, he shut off the engine and got out. The January air whipped around him, and he took a deep breath. In one paddock stood a black equine all alone. A shiver shot through him.

“Ares,” he murmured. The last time he’d seen him was the night Kit had disappeared, centuries ago. Ares snorted and pawed at the ground, sending snow flying. The massive head snapped up, ears pricked forward and a slight whinny left him. The slam of a door reached Nik followed swiftly by a gentle voice.

“Hi. Welcome to Blackthorne Farms. Can I help you?”

“I certainly hope so,” he said with a smile. Nik turned and winked at the woman his brother loved. “I’m looking for my brother and his woman.”

Kit looked pretty much the same as he recalled. A few more curves but no less beautiful. Her mercurial gaze widened, and her hand covered her mouth before she dropped it.

“Nikolas? Is it really you?” she asked.

“Hello, Kit.” He bowed. “You’re still a beautiful lady,” Nik said in Russian.

“Oh, my God!” she screamed, launching herself into his arms. “Marcus! Marcus! Get out here.” Kit choked him, her grip was so tight.

“Kit! What’s wrong?” A deep voice thundered.

Nik looked over the hood of the Commando toward the direction the protective masculine timbre had come from and inhaled sharply as his gaze landed upon his brother. Marcus glanced back at him, confusion in his green eyes. Slowly, Nik placed Kit back on the ground and headed to his sibling. For a short moment, they stood there, seeming oblivious to the winter air blowing around them.

“I’ll be damned,” Marcus said.

Nikolas grinned and pulled him in for a powerful hug. “It’s good to see you, brother. By the gods, it’s good to see you.”

With suspiciously shiny eyes, Marcus drew back and said, “Come on in. We have a lot to catch up on.”

Kit on one side and Marcus on the other, Nik walked up into their house. Once out of his coat, Kit reached out and touched his arm. “I’ll go fix us some food. Why don’t you two catch up.” Her smiled filled her face. “It’s
so
good to see you.” With a kiss on the cheek, she headed off, stopping at a doorway and waving at them.

“This way,” Marcus said. Nik followed him, admiring the homey feel to the place. They entered a sitting room where a fire burned welcomingly in the corner fireplace. Marcus sat and looked up at him. “Sit down and start talking.”

“You seem happy,” Nik said, lowering himself to a couch across from his brother.

“Never been happier. I have Kit and our children. You’ll meet them later on.”

Kids? Cleo’s face came to mind. “I can’t wait,” he replied with all honesty, settling back against the couch.

“How?” Marcus questioned.

Nik knew what he asked. How
had
he made it to this time? “Freya.”

Marcus arched a black brow at him but held his tongue for Kit had just walked in holding a plate of cookies and coffee.

“This is all I have until dinner’s ready. Plus, I don’t want to miss the explanation.” She placed the container near Nik, served them all, then sat on the couch next to him.

“
Spasibo,
” Nik said.

“You’re welcome,” she replied.

They talked for two hours, Nik relaying everything he could and getting reacquainted with his brother, when a loud cry of “We’re home!” rocketed through the house. Nik had just gotten to his feet when through the open door charged two children. When they spotted him, they skidded to a stop.

Nik waited. Twins. A boy and a girl.
I have a niece and a nephew.
Damn near identical. The girl’s hair fell in ringlets around her face, and the boy had wavy hair, cut shorter. Same build and height. The girl had Marcus’ green eyes, and her brother had Kit’s quicksilver ones.

“Who are you?” his niece asked.

Such attitude.
Nik grinned. “I’m your uncle.”

Both children glanced to their parents as if to confirm his words were true. “How come we’ve never seen you before?” the boy asked.

“I live over in Russia.”

“You’re cute!” the girl said with a smile.

Nik blushed. “Thank you; so are you.”

Marcus smiled and picked up his daughter. “Nik, meet our kids. Marc and Evie. Kids, this is your Uncle Nik.”

“Uncle Nik?” Evie asked.

“Yes?”

“Did you bring us anything?”

“Evie! That’s not polite,” Marcus said.

Nik bit back his laugh and sent the girl a wink when Marcus wasn’t looking. He was rewarded with the widest smile he’d ever seen. And he lost his heart. Marcus led the way out of the room, holding Evie and Marc beside him.

Kit slid her arm through his, and Nik said as they followed, “Absolutely precious.”

“Thank you,” she replied.

“You know I’m going to spoil the hell out of them, right?”

“Does this mean you’re sticking around?” She rested her head against his arm.

“For a while. I’ve got something I have to take care of in the States before I go back.”

Kit stopped and drew him toward her, a smile turning up her mouth. “Wonderful. You’ll stay here with us. And what is this thing? Sounds important.”

“Very important,” he stated unequivocally.

“You’re here getting your woman.”

Nik cocked a brow at her. “How’d you come up with that?”

She laughed and kissed his cheek. “Please. Did you know your expressions are a
lot
like your brother’s? That look on your face was identical to the one when he came for me.”

“Well, good thing I’m the handsomer of the two of us.” Nik winked and laughed at the disapproving rumble, which came from Marcus. “You are right, though. I am here for my woman.”

“Good. Then, maybe you’ll leave
my wife
alone and stop filling her head with nonsense,” Marcus grumbled.

“Nonsense?” Nik asked, draping an arm around Kit. “Just the truth, brother.”

Marcus rolled his eyes and headed into the dining room. Nik sighed and marveled over how calm Marcus was, now.
I remember him almost ripping my head off just because I talked to Kit and helped her on a horse.

“Come eat, Nik,” Kit said softly.

Two days later, he strode through a local outlet mall with Kit while she shopped with the kids. At the moment, he was with Marc while the ladies tried on dresses for a dinner function they had coming up. Marcus had stayed back at the farm to deal with the people coming there, so Nik offered to go with Kit.

“I like this toy, Uncle Nik,” Marc announced.

Glancing down at his nephew, Nik grinned. Marc held a sword in his hands. “Ahh, a sword,” he said crouching down. “A claymore. A two-handed claymore.”

“It would go great with my others.”

“Is that a fact?” Nik asked with a grin.

“Yes,” Marc answered solemnly.

“Marcus Kevyn, stop trying to get your uncle to buy you things,” Kit reprimanded.

“I never asked,” Marc said. “We were just talking.”

Nik stood and smiled at Kit who glared at her son. “Where’s Evie?”

Kit turned and pointed by the bin of stuffed toys. Nik looked at his sister-in-law. “I’ll watch her if you need a suit for Marc.”

She grinned. “I could get used to having you around.”

“Use me,” he murmured in Russian with a wink.

Kit laughed and left with Marc. He and Evie went to the center play area. Nik sat along the benches with other parents and watched her play. Sure, the area was filled mostly with mothers, but Nik couldn’t care less. Just like he ignored the numerous looks he got from women. So, he sat a bit at an angle, one arm draped across the back, bags at his feet, and his eyes fixed on the third and newest woman in his life that he gave a damn about. A lazy smile curled up his lips as he watched Evie play along with the other children.

“She loves you.” Kit’s voice filtered through the noise to his side as Marc ran by to join his sister.

“Evie is absolutely adorable. Marcus should start collecting weapons for when she’s older. That child already is a heartbreaker.”

“I believe he’s already stockpiling them.”

Nik chuckled. “I’m sure he has.” He looked at Kit and winked. “I’ll send some when I get back home.”

“Men.” She huffed then punched him in the shoulder.

“God, I forgot you can kick my butt.”

Kit stood. “Marcus doesn’t complain.”

Following suit, Nik sighed and murmured in Russian, “He gets hands-on, tender care after. Give me the same, and I wouldn’t complain either.”

She burst out laughing. Waving at her kids, she said, “Let’s go.” Then, she glanced up at him. “I’m really glad to see you again, Nik. Thanks for finding us.”

“I only wish it hadn’t taken me so long.”

“You know we’ll have to do more things as a family, now.”

“Catch me!” Evie hollered.

Nik turned in time to snatch the small pixie flying off the bench toward him. Placing a kiss on her cheek, he faced Kit again and said, “Just try and keep me away.” Leaning down, he brushed his lips over the corner of her mouth. Gathering up some bags, Nik turned to leave the play area when a tingle went up his spine.

Loki.

Rage swept through him at the thought of that conniving trickster getting anywhere around his family. The soft touch of small hands on his face brought him back. Blinking, Nik found himself nose-to-nose with Evie, her green eyes soft and gentle.

“You’re frowning. Are you angry?”

He smoothed out his expression. “No, baby. I’m not angry.” His heart swelled when she wrinkled her nose and kissed him.

“Love you,” she whispered.

“I love you, too, little lady.”

With a squeal, she threw her arms around his neck. Nik adjusted his hold on her before grabbing the handles of some purchases. Nodding at a woman coming into the area with her kids, Nik looked up and froze. He barely registered Kit stopping beside him and laying a hand on his arm. Nothing else existed other than the vision he focused on.

Cleopatra Laurens.

“
Cleo
.”

The word ripped up from deep within his chest and yet barely passed a whisper. He eagerly drank in her image. She wore a plum mock turtleneck under her open black leather jacket. Slightly baggy jeans and black boots peaked out from under the cuffs of her pants. Her expressive eyes flickered between his face, the child in his arms, and Kit who still had her hand on his arm.

The shock wore off, and Nik would only describe the replacing emotion as pain. Deep, heart-wrenching pain. Betrayal and mistrust were swiftly on its heels. Again, those powerful eyes slid from his face to the girl he held. Despite the distance between them, he picked up on the quiver of her lower lip and knew she had arrived at a conclusion.

And, deep in his belly, Nik knew it was a wrong one. A cool, calculating expression settled upon her face before she spun on her heel and walked away. He took two strides before Kit’s grip on his arm tightened. Turning to look at her, Nik couldn’t hold back the growl of anger that rose at the slight shake of her head.

“Times are different, Nik,” Kit reminded him quietly.

What is she doing here?
Staring off in the direction Cleo had disappeared, Nik couldn’t believe he wasn’t running after her. Deep breaths were ingested as he struggled for control. He longed to roar in frustration and anger. As he strapped Evie and Marc in their seats, he’d barely calmed down any.

“I take it she’s the one,” Kit said on the drive home.

“Yes.” His hand clenched into a fist, and he forced himself to relax.

“Tell me about her,” Kit pried.

Nik obliged.

It had to be a dream. Right?

Cleo groaned and smacked her hand on the brick wall of her room. “What are the chances I was imagining that? Or that the fact he’s holding kids with another woman makes me wonder if he really lied about everything.”

She shook and sank against the mattress. “My God, they’re like six years old.” Tears welled up. “What is it about me? Do I attract the wrong kind of man?”

Her watch beeped, and she jumped up. Glancing at her face in the mirror, Cleo made sure there were no traces of tears.
Come on, Cleo. Pull it together.

Even as she walked across the snowy grounds, her mind couldn’t let go of the picture of Nik. She’d dreamt about him night after night once she’d left him in Russia on the tarmac. Seeing him yesterday at the mall had been a shock.
To say the least.
And, yet, all she could think was how handsome he was and how cozy he appeared with that woman and kids. The woman had looked vaguely familiar to her, but Cleo couldn’t place it.