YURI (Her Russian Protector #3) (27 page)

When Lena rolled onto her side, he shifted and spooned her from behind. He lifted his head high enough to see the clock and groaned softly. It would be time to wake much too soon. He still hadn't figured out what the hell he was going to do about keeping Lena safe. She couldn't leave the house—that was for damn sure. He wasn't even sure he wanted her passing by the windows.

He'd just dozed off when Lena's phone started ringing. She bolted upright and started slapping at the bedside table. Putting a comforting hand on her belly, he silently urged her to relax. She threaded her fingers through his and answered the call. "Dad?"

Yuri listened to her side of the conversation. From the sounds of it, her father had no idea what had happened and Lena didn't trouble him with the details. He sensed she wanted to spare her father the gut-gnawing worry.

His chest tightened as he thought about the very important details he'd kept from her. What Nikolai had told him about the deadline and the terms Guzman demanded had to stay secret between them. He wouldn't burden her with things beyond her control.

As Lena wrapped up her phone call, Yuri wiped a hand down his tired face and decided he wouldn't go into the office downtown today. Everything that needed his attention could be taken care of from home.

"Yuri?"

Lena's gentle voice interrupted his thoughts. He glanced over and discovered her holding his ringing white phone. He hadn't even heard it. Taking it from her, he sat up and studied the screen. That international dialing code belonged to the only person he desperately wanted to hear from this morning.

"Niels?"

The amused chuckle on the other end confirmed it was the Dane in question. "I debated calling so early in your time zone. I'm sure I woke you."

"I don't mind." Yuri didn't dare hope for good news. "Well?"

"Relax. I've found your painting."

Yuri's stress levels plummeted. "And?"

"It won't be easy to pry from its owner's greedy little hands. I made an offer but he refused. Don't worry—I've got an idea. We'll have to call together our poker club and I think we're going to need a very big boat."

Yuri and Niels belonged to an exclusive group of high-rolling billionaires and millionaires who got together to play poker a few times a year. Their games were rarely open to outsiders so naturally everyone wanted a chance to play.

"Lucky for me, I happen to know where to find a very big boat."

Niels laughed. "Yes, I thought you would. So shall we say Saturday evening?"

"Yes."

"I'll make some calls and get this set up for you. It will look better if you're not the one who arranged the tournament."

Niels would want a favor someday but being indebted to the Danish tycoon was worth it. "Thank you."

"Believe me. It will be my pleasure to see this pompous ass knocked down a few pegs."

The call ended and Yuri dropped the phone onto the sheet twisted around his hips and Lena's thigh. She stroked his upper arm. He couldn't see her face in the darkness but he felt the concern radiating from her. "Is everything okay, Yuri?"

"That was Niels. My friend who knows the art world," he clarified in case she'd forgotten. "He found the painting."

"What? Really? Oh my God!" She exhaled a sigh of relief. "What happens now?"

He rolled onto his side and caressed her cheek. Using his fingertips for guidance in the dark, he found her mouth and gave her a kiss. Nuzzling her neck, he murmured, "Right now, I'm going to make love to you."

She shivered as he nipped at the sensitive curve of her neck. "I see."

"When we're finished," he slid his hand down her side and along her hip, "you're going to pack a bag and I'm going to take you to Monaco."

"What's in Monaco?" She made a soft whimpering sound as his hand slipped between her thighs.

"One of my yachts," he explained while probing her hidden depths. "Actually it's anchored in the sea there."

"Ah!" She clutched his shoulders as he penetrated her slowly and dragged his thumb across her clitoris. "Oh! But—ah! What about Sasha?"

Yuri nipped at her lower lip. "He's staying here. The last thing I need is that dog running wild on a yacht."

"No," she said with a laugh. "I meant right now. He's got his head on my hand and it's sort of freaking me out."

Yuri tore his mouth away from her neck and glanced over at the edge of the bed. He could feel the big dog's heavy breaths wafting across his arm. Refusing to be cock-blocked by the dog this morning, he pecked Lena's cheek. "I'll be right back."

Snapping his fingers, he hopped off the bed and called Sasha to follow him. He opened the bedroom door and ordered the dog into the hallway. Kelly jumped out of his chair as Sasha trotted by him. Surprised to see the former Marine still awake, he hid his nakedness with the door. "Shouldn't you get some rest?"

"Sleep isn't something I particularly enjoy these days."

Yuri understood what the younger man meant. He'd never seen the kind of ceaseless hell the Marine had on his multiple tours but he could imagine how difficult the effects were to manage after leaving the service.

Clearly understanding why Yuri had put the dog out in the hall, Kelly cleared his throat. "I think I'll, uh, go get some coffee."

"You really should." Yuri shut the door and turned the lock. He didn't want anyone bothering them this morning.

As he crawled over Lena, she giggled furiously. "I don’t know how I'm going to look him in the face later."

"The same way I do." He grasped the hem of her nightshirt and dragged it up and over her head. Tossing it over his shoulder, he planted his knees on either side of her thighs. "Now—where was I?"

He skimmed his lips across the swell of her breast. "Here?"

"Um…a little bit lower," she replied playfully.

"Hmmm," he hummed just as playfully. "Was I here?" He dotted kisses up and down her bare tummy.

"Um…"

"No," he said definitively. "I'm fairly certain I was right down here."

Sliding onto his stomach, he pushed her thighs apart and planted a noisy kiss right on top of her clit. She purred and lifted her hips. Remembering how beautifully—and loudly—she reacted to his oral attentions, he mischievously instructed, "Kitten, try not to wake the whole neighborhood…"

Chapter Sixteen

I had to give it to Yuri. The man had promised me an unrivaled travel experience and that was exactly what he'd provided. Flying on a privately owned jet was so incredibly pleasant compared to the long, slow-moving security lines at airports and the cramped seating.

Jake, Derek, Vasya and Kelly had come with us and were in another section. They were kicked back in their reclining seats reading or watching television with headphones.

On the jet, I'd had an entire seating area to myself while Yuri conducted business in the mobile office in the rear of the plane. The comfy seats and scrumptious snacks had been heavenly compared to the bruised knees and stale pretzels from my last commercial flight.

But the very best part? I'd been able to nap with my head in Yuri's lap while he studied stock reports and forecasts. When he'd invited me to curl up against him, I'd declined out of embarrassment. Some of his employees were travelling with us and I'd already gotten quite a few looks. Then it occurred to me that I didn't really give a shit what those people thought. Yuri wanted me to relax and he wanted to stroke my hair and remind me how much he loved me. That was permission enough for me to enjoy myself.

When we'd finally arrived at the French airport closest to Monaco, I'd been surprised to learn that we would be taking a helicopter to the yacht. The realization that his yacht had a helipad drove home just how huge this boat was. At my first glimpse of the gleaming white mega yacht, I nearly fainted in my seat. Hearing something described as four-hundred-feet long conjured up certain images but
seeing
it with my own eyes was something totally different.

The damn thing looked like an aircraft carrier floating on the Mediterranean. Stunningly, it wasn't even the biggest boat anchored out there. I spotted two other yachts that made Yuri's luxury vessel look rather modest—and that was saying something.

Yuri leaned closer, pushing his shoulder against mine, and pointed at the big boats that had left me awestruck. His voice was crackly in my ear as we used the in-flight communication system to talk. "That one is owned by a sheikh from Dubai. Nice guy. Fantastic polo player."

"And that one?" I gestured to the other massive yacht.

"Oh, that's the Pyxis. It's Mikhail's pride and joy." He must have seen the curiosity in my eyes. "We were in the military together. He made a fortune in metals and minerals."

"I've got to get my hands on some aluminum or nickel," I muttered.

Beside me, Yuri laughed. "If only it were that easy."

The helicopter began its descent. On instinct, I gripped my hands together in my lap. My belly lurched as I prayed the helicopter wouldn't plunge into the sea. Always alert to my needs, Yuri pried my hands apart and held them in his own. He interlaced our fingers and smiled warmly.

The helicopter set down without incident. When the rotors finally stopped spinning, staff in spiffy navy and white uniforms rushed out to greet us. Yuri reached over and unbuckled my safety harness before dragging the headphones from my head and hanging them on their hook.

Holding my hand, he led me out of the helicopter and onto the helipad. We were quickly taken to a reception room where the rest of the staff stood in lines as if waiting to be inspected. Jake and Derek had come with us on the helicopter and were whisked away by two men who seemed to be the security officers on the ship.

As Yuri introduced me to the captain and crew, I heard the helicopter firing up again. A handful of Yuri's staff,Vasya and Kelly were waiting at the airport. I tried to concentrate on the names rapidly ticked off by the captain of the vessel but I had a feeling I was going to forget half of them. Thankfully every member of the staff wore a nametag.

One face in the second row caught my eye. I'd never met him in person but his face was familiar to me because of the photographs I'd seen around Benny's house and the bakery. "Johnny?"

He smiled at me. "Miss Cruz."

His respectful reply surprised me. He seemed so different from the mental image I'd created of him from the different stories I'd been told. I noticed the gang tattoo from some of his pictures had been covered with angel wings. The collar of his polo shirt hid most of it but the very tips of the wings peeked over the top. Apparently he was making a conscious effort to leave that old, dangerous life of his behind.

Even though I wanted to talk to him, I sensed this wasn't the time. Later I would track him down, but, right now, Yuri seemed intent on showing me some more of his yacht. The mindboggling tour left me reeling. The sleek, modern design elements gave the boat a five-star hotel feel.

"What is it?" Yuri asked as we took our seats in the private dining area overlooking the beautiful, calm sea. A champagne breakfast awaited us.

"I just realized it probably costs more to fill up this boat with fuel for one trip than I made in, like, an entire year."

He seemed to be mentally calculating the costs. "It's probably closer to two years."

"Ouch."

He blanched. "I'm sorry."

"It's fine. I know what you meant." I unfurled the perfectly pleated napkin and draped it across my lap. "Don't get me wrong. It's a little disconcerting to think of the disparity in our incomes in such real-world terms."

"But?" He waved off the crew members hovering nearby. "We'll let you know if we need anything."

"Yes, Mr. Novakovsky."

When they were gone, I answered Yuri. "But—I agreed to try to not let the money stuff bother me so I'm going to smile and pretend I'm not cringing inside at what it's costing you to help me."

Yuri leaned over and cupped the back of my neck. Holding my gaze, he asked, "What's the use of all this money if I can't do good things with it?"

"I'm not sure giving money to a cartel to ransom my father back is such a good thing," I whispered in embarrassment.

"Will it make you smile to see your father safe and sound?"

"Yes."

"Then I'd gladly spend ten times what this weekend is costing me to see you smile."

He meant every word of it—and I loved him for it. "Thank you."

He tapped his lips. "Kiss me and we'll call it even."

Happy to oblige, I leaned forward and pressed my mouth to his. "I love you."

With a teasing smile, he pushed the wispy ends of my hair behind my shoulder. "You're only saying that because you want me to hand over my credit card and unleash you on those high-end shops in Monte Carlo."

"You know me so well."

He teased his mouth across mine. "I'm not completely joking. I am taking you out for a shopping trip after lunch."

"What? Why?"

"Because I want to spoil you." He lifted one of the covered dishes and started to serve himself. "After last night, you deserve it."