Page 25 of Then We Shatter

Katarina would kill me if she knew I had my father’s blessing to fuck her, but I don’t intend telling her. She doesn’t need to know about the plan to make her a sacrificial lamb to destabilize the Barkov empire for the simple reason I’d never allow that happen.

“There’s someone we’ve been hunting for a few years. Ignacio Valera was part of a cartel run by his brother Alejandro, but he was kicked out after launching an attack on us without his boss’s knowledge,” I explain. “It was a power play to prove he was the better leader than Alejandro, but he fucked up big time. His little splinter group went underground and we’ve been looking for them ever since.” I skate kisses down her neck as I slip seamlessly into the lie. “I planted a rumor that they’ve been active in Chicago and as far as Dad’s concerned, the salon’s a front to help me keep low and gather intel. So here I am and here I’m going to stay…” I rock my hips. “Between your legs.”

“John would disown you if he knew where his heir’s cock was right now,” she says, to which I shrug. It’s not the location of my cock that would cause a family rift. It’s where my head is at. And my heart, which skips a beat when she adds, “And Uncle Vasili would kill me.”

My arms rope around her. “He’ll have to get through me first,” I say, but it’s a hollow promise. I can’t protect her. I can’t even spend a whole fucking hour with her. “But we won’t take risks.” I trail more kisses across her clavicle. “Just call me whenever you want a massage, Kitty.”

When she doesn’t immediately reply, I move lower and trail my tongue between the valley of her breasts. I cup one of her beautifully rounded tits in my hand, and my mouth takes care of the other.

“Fine,” she groans. “Give me your number.”

I suck on a hardened nipple and her thighs squeeze against my hips. “You use a burner phone?”

“No, I have code written into my phone to outsmart my uncle’s surveillance.”

My curiosity is piqued. The Griffins are always complaining that the Russian’s software is hack-proof. “Mace can do that now?”

“No,” she replies with a tut. “This comes from someone who knows Bratva technology better than anyone.”

“An insider?” I ask, my mouth hovering over her skin.

Katarina snags my hair to pull me off her. “Stop asking questions you know I won’t answer, Shorty, and concentrate on showing me exactly why I should spend the summer with you.”

Chapter 9

Killian

Candlelight flickers and my date’s dark lashes cast spidery shadows across her cheeks as she settles into her seat. The sound of Gregorian chants undulate around us, blocking any outside distractions. It’s just me and her.

“It’s a nice place you have here,” Katarina says with a heavy note of sarcasm.

The candles and mood music can’t quite hide the fact that we’re in a windowless therapy room, but I’m pleased with the transformation. As soon as her bodyguards gave the place their usual once over, I’d made Katarina close her eyes while I set the scene for our romantic date.

I rest my elbows on the flimsy bistro table. “I thought we were due an upgrade.”

We’ve seen quite a bit of each other in the last few weeks. Every inch. Every curve. Every twitch and spasm. But our snatched moments haven’t allowed for much else once we’ve fucked like rabbits. We’ve learned each other’s likes and dislikes, sexually and otherwise, but nothing deeper. Today will be different. I am not going to jump Katarina’s bones. No matter how much I want to. No matter how much she begs me to.

“Do you come here often?” she asks.

“Not as often or as loudly as I want to, Kitty.” Battling my failing resolve, I sink a spoon into my chocolate mousse. Katarina’s favorite dessert. “Eat.”

She’s getting better at taking orders and opens her mouth without complaint. The sight of her nude lips wrapping around my spoon makes me salivate. Katarina has stopped wearing her crimson lipstick to the salon. Fixing her makeup steals precious minutes when we could put that time to better use.

Katarina closes her eyes and groans. “You know how to spoil a girl.”

I go to feed her some more, but she takes the spoon and offers it to me. My woman feeding me is a version of heaven I’d gladly sign up for. But if we’re talking about wish lists, I’d also add taking her out to an actual restaurant, or just a walk in the park. A fucking bed big enough for two would be nice.

Maybe one day, but as things stand, I can’t even count on next week, not when I’m heading back home to touch base with my dad. I don’t intend to be gone long, but I hate leaving Katarina for even a short while.

She’s managed to hold off plans for her departure for now but every day is precious. Days are speeding by and summer isn’t going to last forever. Neither is Dad’s patience. Or Vasili’s. And while Ash is the kind of man who likes to keep a promise, even he’s getting pissed off with Katarina’s prevarication from what she’s told me. My contact with Ash has been minimal and I’ve avoided Katarina’s name beyond a brief comment or two.

We continue feeding each other in silence and when my plate is clear, I run a finger through the last smear of chocolate and Katarina sucks it clean.

She does the same from her plate, and as I suck her finger into my mouth, she shakes her head. “What are you doing to me, Killian?”

I draw circles around her finger with the tip of my tongue before she pulls out. “Getting you very wet?”

She rolls her eyes. “That too, but…”