The Master (27 page)

“H
ow goddamned quaint,” Máxim grated as we wandered through our suite.

The space was large and luxurious, with a sizable bathroom and dressing area, but there
were
some kitschy touches. The mobster looked so out of place in a room with plank wood floors and
Quaker quilts. Doilies covered the tops of oak tables.

“Quilts.” He smirked. “Charming.”

I hopped on the bed, giving him a pouty lip. “Oh, does my baby boy suffer without his Four Seasons?” There’d been a display in the lobby made out of cornstalks and a wide red
ribbon. Nothing brought to mind the holidays like cornstalks.

I stretched out and made snow angels on the bed. “Just think, we’re going to have to snuggle here for warmth. We’ll have to build up friction.” I widened my eyes.
“To preserve my very life, you’ll have to fuck me all night long.”

“If I must. But only to save your very life.”

A faint motion in the window drew my gaze past him. “Ah! It’s snowing!” I leapt up and scrambled to a window seat. I’d seen it
everywhere
on the ground during our
limo ride from the airport to the lodge, but hadn’t seen it falling. And I still hadn’t been out
in it
. “Máxim, it is
actively
snowing.” Every now and
then, a flake would dance by! “
Pero quién sabe por cuánto tiempo?
” But who knows for how long? “We have to go before the snowfall stops.”

“I’m not sure that would count as snowfall. Once we get changed, I’ll take you out—”

I started ripping off my clothes. “When will our bags get up here?”

“Our things are already here.”

I tripped in the direction of the dressing room, then yanked open a closet. “All our stuff is unpacked.”

“I bring a valet for events. And now we have a maid for you as well. They’re currently pressing anything that needs it.”

No wonder he always looked impeccable.

“Wear layers,” Máxim called. “The waterproof snow gear and warm socks.”

“Got it.”

In minutes, I’d rifled through my stuff and changed into a red turtleneck, snow-white ski jacket, black ski pants, mittens, and boots. The pants were surprisingly thin and fit like tights.
As with all pants on me, they were snug across the back. Fact of life. I had my red scarf, of course, and a cap to match it.

Once I’d dressed, I decided to tease him with my new outfit—just a little. I skipped back to the room. “Hey, Máxim, will you look at something?”

“Hmm?” He was unbuttoning his shirt.

I turned and leaned over the bed, innocently asking, “Do these make my butt look big?”

“You little witch.” He lunged for me, but I scampered over the bed. “I don’t think you want to leave this room.”

“No, no! I’ll be good.”

He hesitated, then pulled off his shirt, his expression telling me I’d been let off with a warning.

I manned the window. “The sun looks like it’s about to come out. Won’t the snowflakes go away? Come on, Máxim!”

“You try changing with a raging cockstand,” he said, his voice husky. “Those pants of yours aren’t even fair.”

I turned to him. “I need to touch snow!”

He’d removed his slacks, revealing gray boxer briefs and a very swollen erection. “And clearly”—he waved at his dick—“I need to fuck you. Yet
again.”

“What we did on the plane barely tided you over?” I’d joined the mile-high club with a scream. Sauntering over to him, I reached down to rub the wet spot on his briefs.
“Can you fuck me in the snow?”

“I like the way your mind works, Katya.” He swiftly dressed in jeans, a fleece pullover, and a black ski coat.

I grabbed his hand, pulling at him to hurry down the stairs. I’d seen a sign for a “winter wonderland trail” pointing toward the back of the main lodge. “
Si me haces
perdermela, no te lo perdonaré!
” If you make me miss this, I’ll never forgive you.

He groused, but I could tell he was having fun.

At the exit, I turned back to scold, “
Vámos! Apúrate, Ruso—
”

I ran into a chest. Gazing up, I found a blond giant peering down at me. He had a couple of friends with him. They all looked like Nebraska farm boys. Or possibly Paul Bunyan and his
brothers.

“
Disculpe
. Sorry!” I’d been chattering away, not looking where I was going.

The first one murmured, “Ma’am,” with undisguised interest.

Máxim’s hand tightened on mine. As we passed the trio, I glanced back to see him giving them a lethal look, which the men didn’t notice because they were still gazing at
me.

Outside in the courtyard, the Russian seethed. “Those fucking farmers were staring at you? Is it not obvious you’re with me?”

“It was my fault for running into them.”

He scanned me.

“What?”

“This is going to keep happening.”

“No, no! No more locking me up,
Ruso
. Remember, this Cat’s out of the bag. Weren’t we going to do a cab sign . . . ?” I trailed off when a flake wafted right in
front of my face.

At the edge of the courtyard was a snowy yard, beyond that a vast leafless forest. White drifts piled up against trunks and blanketed limbs. The sun was coming out, but I forgave it; icicles in
sunlight were spellbinding, like diamonds on the ocean. “Oh!” I hurried into the yard, and my boots crunched!

Máxim followed me, retrieving black gloves from his pocket.

“It’s . . . it’s so amazing.” It
was
a winter wonderland.

He frowned, as if we were looking at two different scenes. “If you say so.” His phone rang.

“Dmitri?” I asked.

“
Da.
Look around for a bit. I’ll try to keep this short.” He turned from me to take the call.

His shoulders tensed up, all relaxation gone. As he would say:
unacceptable
. Scooping up a big handful of snow, I made my very first snowball and beaned him in the back of the head.

He stiffened even more, as if his body disbelieved. A couple of barked words ended his call. He shook out his hair as he turned to me. “
Run.
”

With a laugh, I did, sprinting toward the trees. My heart raced when his footsteps crunched behind me.

I’d just made the tree line when he seized my waist, swinging me up, and we went tumbling into a snowdrift.

“Is that any way to treat your man?” He maneuvered on top of me, pinning my wrists above my head. As I caught my breath, he gazed down at me. “You are so bloody
beautiful.”

I grinned. “I’ve seen
less
handsome men.” Amid all this white, the blue of his eyes was even more piercing, his smile even more glorious.

“Have you, then?” He used his free hand to tickle me, making me squeal with laughter.

“I should never have mentioned tickling to you!” I squirmed, trapped.

“As if I wouldn’t have found out eventually.”

Eventually?
How long, how long, how long?

Soon his touches turned less playful. His lips slanted over mine. He slipped his tongue into my mouth, deepening the kiss into a thorough taking. . . .

Yet then he broke away.

“Why’d you stop?”

He levered himself to his feet, helping me up. “We have an appointment.” He brushed snow off my back, then adjusted his jacket to conceal his erection.

Hand in hand, we started on a path that meandered along the forest’s edge. “Where are we going?” We were heading away from the lodge, cresting a small rise.

“Patience,
solnyshko
.”

“What does
sol-neesh-kah
mean?”

“An endearment. You need to start learning Russian.”

I parted my lips. Why would I? Unless?
Cool yo jets!
Still, I was about to ask him to expand on his comment when I spotted a stable down the hill. The building was enormous, with red
painted walls. Corrals flanked it. “Oh! Can we stop at the stable?”

“I suppose.”

As we neared, I said, “Am I going to get to pet a horse?” My eyes went wide. “I—can—
hear
—them, Máxim. I want to pet all the horses!”

He chuckled as he ushered me inside. “You heard them, did you?” The air smelled like oats and leather. “We’re going riding.”

“
En serio?
” I clapped my mittens.

“Look at your excitement. For my Katya, snow trumps a private jet. Horseback riding trumps jewelry. Singular creature.”

Pleasure still coursed through me whenever he called me
his Katya
.

“I don’t know how to ride, but I don’t care.” Laughing, I said, “Shove a helmet on me,
Ruso
—let’s do this.”

He was grinning. “We will go together. They ride Western here, so I’ll put you in my saddle.”

“Where are we headed? To an igloo? To the North Pole? To a place where St. Bernards serve brandy?”

He laughed, looping an arm around my waist. “Not far. I’ll give you a taste, or else your thighs will be sore all weekend.”

I quirked my brows. “Don’t hold back on my account. I’ve been riding you like Seabiscuit at least twice a day for over a week.”

The stable hand, a bearded older man, chose
that
moment to appear.

He cleared his throat, even more red-faced than I was. Oh, but he was leading the most striking chestnut horse! “What’s her name?” I crossed to pet her.

The man said, “Chestnut, ma’am.”

“Of course!” Love!

Máxim talked with the guy about the trail and some sights; I wasn’t listening, too busy petting the horse and crooning to her: “
Poni bonita. Mi yegua castaña.
Yegüita . . .
” Pretty pony. My chestnut mare. Horsey.

Máxim turned to me. “Are you ready?” He grabbed my waist. “Up you go.” He lifted me, helping me into the saddle (which felt much higher up than I would’ve
expected!), then mounted right behind me. Snug fit.

He put his arms around me, grasping the reins. With a click of his tongue, we started from the stable. I was officially riding a horse! I savored the scents—Máxim’s
sandalwood, the leather of the saddle, the new-to-me smell of horsehair.

He directed Chestnut along a path, leading even deeper into the forest.

I stroked the horse’s mane, telling Máxim, “You’re really comfortable with this.”

“She’s a very gentle mare for a leisurely ride. At my estate in Russia, I have a stable full of spirited mounts. There are many horses to pet.”

Why tell me things like that? “And you have a closet full of blow-up dolls—by your own admission.
Pervertido.
”

He nipped my ear. “Smart-ass.”

“I can’t believe I’m on a horse. In Jack Frost’s hood.”

“You could almost make me enjoy winter again,” Máxim said. “Horseback riding and snow, two firsts of yours I get to claim. You claimed another of mine
earlier.”

“How?”

“I was about to fight a stranger over a woman. I was very jealous when those men ogled you. I’ve never known jealousy like I continue to feel over you.”

My toes curled in my snow boots. “They look at every girl they pass the same way.”

“Not like that. And they have no idea what you’re like. If others knew the pleasure you bring a man, I’d spend all my days fighting over you.”

I was glad he couldn’t see the wide grin that spread over my face. “Well, I’m sure you’re going to be very popular with the women this weekend.”

“I’ll smile at them, and you’ll see how it’s different from how I smile at you.”

When a deer bounded across the path, I cried, “Oh, look! Admit it, you paid to have that deer run in front of us. Come clean.”

Sounding furious, he said, “I cued the deer ten minutes ago. What kind of outfit are they running?”

I burst out laughing, sinking back against him.

“I like hearing that sound. You laugh like you do everything else—wholeheartedly.” He rested one of his gloved hands high on my thigh, and I could have sworn the heat of his
palm burned through our layers.

I was growing aroused for him, though this was not the time or the place. We were horseback riding! In snow! I adjusted my seat, which made it worse.

Yet then he tucked me even closer to him, and I felt the unmistakable outline of his erection.

“Ohhh.” I was about to schedule
un cafecito
for when we returned, but we emerged from the trees, coming upon a covered bridge. I’d never seen one up close.
“
Lindísimo!
So cute!” The structure was small and narrow, stretching over a frozen creek. The roof had a coating of snow atop it, and the walls were roughhewn. “This
is like a ride at Disney World! Are we going inside?”

“We should take a break. Get out of the wind.”

“What wind?”

“Work with me.”

“Ah! I’m freezing.” I leaned forward, wriggling my ass against the ridge of his dick. “Must go . . . inside for . . . warmth.”

He snatched me hard against him, grinding me. “Little witch. That’s the last time you’ll tease me before I fuck you.”

The horse’s hooves clipped over the wood, echoing in the enclosed space. Halfway through, Máxim hastily dismounted and tethered Chestnut, then held his hands up for me. As he
lowered me, he clamped me close to him. His lips covered mine, cool compared to his flicking tongue and the breaths we shared.

Only when I moaned did he set me down and release me. With that intent look in his eyes, he removed his gloves.

“
Aqui, mi amor?
In front of Chestnut?”

He peeled down my pants and thong to my upper thighs. “Here.” He turned me toward the wall.

I heard his zipper going down, and my body grew even wetter with anticipation. I spread my legs as much as I could.

He covered me, bending down to wedge his cock against my entrance. When he straightened his legs, his shaft surged upward into my wetness. “
Unh.
My Katya’s always ready for
me.”

He drove me up on my toes. “You devil, you make me this way!”

“I’m the only one who gets to.” As he thrust, his bare hand cupped my mons. When he covered my lips, his cock moved between his fingers. “This is
mine.
” He
jostled me, and I whimpered. “It belongs to me.” His grip was like iron, the heel of his palm grinding against my clit. “I own this. I own you.”