The Russian's Assertive Lover (The Tonov Triplets Series Book 2) (7 page)

Nikolay made Courtney a cup of tea before they went into the kitchen. He watched her drink it out of the corner of his eye as he started the grill, happy to see it brought some color back into her cheeks. She had been looking like a ghost all night. She still didn't look strong enough to stand on her own two feet, but she looked more relaxed than he had seen her since that night she had spent at his place. He had a feeling she didn't let herself relax often.

“So,” Courtney said. “Do you often make dinner for your employees?”

“Only when they faint,” he said. “Or when I really like them.”

“So you really like me, then.”

He grinned.  “I thought it was obvious.”

“Not for me it's not,” she said. “I'm too oblivious and inexperienced to notice much in that area.”

He raised an eyebrow as his mouth went dry. “Inexperienced?” he asked. She couldn't be a virgin, could she? He hoped not.

“Yeah, I've only had two boyfriends,” she said. “Both times they asked me out and I didn't see it coming.”

“Ah,” he said. If she's dated before, then there was a good chance that she wasn't a virgin. He still didn't know for sure.
It doesn't matter if she is or not. You're not going to lose interest in her if she is.
No, but he would have to be much more gentle with her than he thought and he wasn't sure he could be gentle enough. “Only two, huh? A woman as beautiful as you must have had more than two offers.”

“Maybe I would have if I didn't have to work so much,” Courtney replied. “And there were a few more offers after... but I wasn't really interested in dating at the time.”

He caught her slip and his curiosity peaked, but he didn't dare probe further. Not when things were going well and she was in such a good mood. Instead, Nikolay put two pieces of chicken on the grill and started heating up the fryer for the fries. “Well,” he said, “Two boyfriends is two more long-term relationships than I've had.”

“Really?” she asked, surprised. “Dating trouble, Mr. Tonov? Are you really a jerk to your girlfriends?”

“I sincerely hope not but I've never had one so I can't really know. Truth is, I haven't met someone that I really wanted to date. Until now.”

“I bet you tell that to all the girls,” she said.

“Only the cute ones,” he replied as he watched her blush.

The food was ready in a few minutes and Nikolay arranged it on plates. “It’s not as good as Paddy Murphy's but it will do.”

“Oh please, this will be the best thing I've eaten all week.”

Somehow, Nikolay didn't doubt that. He just hoped it wasn't the only thing she will have eaten all week.

They went into the break room again and sat on opposite ends of the overstuffed couch, facing each other. “So,” Courtney said, curling her legs underneath her. “What do you like to do for fun if it isn't dating?”

“Business. I enjoy reading,” he said. “And I am a huge fan of Hitchcock.” He smiled. “Besides, I do go out occasionally, and sometimes it is with women, but never for anything more than a good time.”

“Oh really? Where do you take these women?”

He shrugged. “Well, there is a nightclub below my apartment in the basement below the boutique. Sometimes we go there. If there's a music festival or a play going on, then maybe we'll go there. Or we skip the night out and just go to my apartment.”

Courtney swallowed hard. “It sounds like you have a lot of experience with the ladies.”

“Not in the ways that matter. Now, tell me what you do for fun. You can’t be working all the time.”

“Well, I hate to say it, but there isn't much in the way of fun for me. I go to events with free food sometimes. Maybe an amateur concert or a book club at the local library now and then but I spend most of my time listening to music while making a few extra dollars. That's my fun time.”

“That is absolutely terrible,” Nikolay replied as he looked at her. “I have to get you out of the house more often.”

Courtney giggled. “Janet has been trying for years and she still hasn't succeeded so good luck.”

“Maybe I can be a little more persuasive than she can,” Nikolay replied.

They talked for a bit more as they ate. When they were done, Nikolay put the dishes in the sink and was about to start washing them when Courtney put her arms around his waist. He was barely able to stifle a groan at feeling her body pressed up against his. She pressed tighter against him and he went completely hard.

“Thank you.”

“You're torturing me, Courtney,” he said, turning around.

Her eyes widened when she saw his heated look. “I guess I'll have to stop torturing you, then,” she said, licking her lips, as she looked him up and down. Each of Nikolay's breaths became heavier and heavier.

“I know you won't stop,” he said, grabbing her hand and pulling her to him. He tilted her face up to meet his, and he pressed his lips against hers. Courtney melted into his arms and hugged him tighter. He groaned and was barely able to restrain himself from dropping her to the floor and making her his right now but he had to be gentle with her.

She had experienced enough pain in the past and he didn't want to cause more. It didn't help that she felt so fragile that it would only take a strong wind to break her. He kissed her forehead gently and then her temple, his arms encircling her to hold her close and support her. His hand went to stroke her silky hair and she sighed, leaning into his chest.

“You're too nice,” she said, her eyes drifting shut.

“I'm not,” he said. “If I was, then I wouldn't be thinking the things I am right now.”

“Why not?” she asked, looking up at him. “What could you be thinking of that would take away the nice guy label?”

How about fucking you until we're both exhausted?
Instead of replying, he gently lifted her chin for a long, sweet kiss. He closed his eyes, indulging in the mix of feelings she made him feel. Lust, protectiveness, and fear surged through him as they kissed. Finally, they broke apart, breathing hard. Courtney shifted from side to side and Nikolay realized her feet must be killing her.
Some nice guy you are, making her stand for so long after a long shift on her feet.

“Let's go somewhere a little more comfortable,” he said, grabbing her hand and leading her out of the kitchen.

“Good idea,” she said, taking the lead from him and pulling him to his office. As soon as they were in and the door was closed, her arms were around his neck and she started kissing him again. Her kisses were less shy now and she grinned when she felt him respond.

Nikolay pulled her down to the couch and into his lap, kissing her neck as tenderly as he could. His hands felt her bare back and stomach, wanting to touch more, but not daring to. Courtney explored his torso through his shirt, feeling his hard muscles and sending trails of fire running through him. Any clear thought he had before was gone when her hands went even lower. Courtney kissed his neck right below his ear.

His body was responding to her touch as if he was a hormonal teenager. His entire being was hers to manipulate, and the thought terrified and excited him. He kissed her roughly then, unable to restrain himself anymore. He pushed her back against the cushions and leaned heavily on top of her, kissing and loving her until no doubts crossed his mind, and no fear. He trusted her completely. He loved her. Completely.

              He reached down and pulled her top and bra up over her breasts before attacking them like a man long starved. They were beautiful, he thought briefly as his mouth suckled her nipples, as if he were possessed. He had long dreamt of them when he would see her exposing her cleavage for the customers and they were far more perfect than he ever imagined. Moaning, Courtney held his head to her chest as he lavished attention upon them.

              Moving his head, he kissed her stomach as his hands roamed freely over her body. She still felt so fragile to his touch, but he could detect a strength inside her. Kissing his way down her body, he sat up to pull her shorts off. Lifting her hips, Courtney wiggled her butt as he pulled them off. Groaning, he held her legs in his arms as he kissed and massaged her feet.

              Tossing her arms over her head, Courtney closed her eyes and immersed herself in the pleasure that he was giving her. While she wasn’t a virgin, never in her life had she ever felt this good. She opened her eyes in surprise when she felt his lips on her mound. Looking down at him, she watched the rapt look on his face as he lightly tangled his fingers in her blond curls before dipping his head down to taste her. His eyes closed in pleasure as she gasped.

              “Oh, my god, Nikolay,” she managed to say as his mouth settled on her clit and began sucking with abandon. His hands held her hips in place as she bounced her feet on his back in pleasure. Moaning, she grabbed his head as she felt her orgasm building.

Realizing that she was close, he held his mouth tightly to her as two fingers rubbed up and down her slit before slipping easily inside. Slowly pumping his fingers in and out, she might well be a virgin; she was so tight, he thought as her legs began to shake with need. As her body began to stretch to accommodate his fingers, he kept going; worried that he might hurt her when he took her with his cock. With each stroke, he worked to get her used to him as she began to thrash beneath him.

With a cry, Courtney felt completely overwhelmed as sensations she had never experienced before filled her to capacity. Calling out his name, she arched her back as she lifted her hips against his mouth. Holding her to him, he drank his fill, as she came not once but twice. When her body sagged beneath him, he pulled his fingers out as he looked at the satisfied look on her face.

Reaching for the button on his jeans, he popped it out before pulling the zipper down. He sighed in relief when his cock sprang free. His raging erection was causing him immense pain but he was too wrapped up in giving her pleasure to do anything about it. Until now. Sitting back, he slipped out of his jeans before joining her back on the couch. Courtney’s eyes had slowly opened and grew wide when she watched him stroking his shaft.

Kneeling between her legs, he reached for her, pulling her onto his lap as his cock slipped easily inside her welcoming sheath, which still pulsated from her orgasms. Yelping in surprise, she wrapped her arms around his neck as her legs hugged his waist. Holding her hips, he began to plunge in and out, as he worked his cock in, groaning in satisfaction when he had buried himself completely inside her.

Capturing her lips, he kissed her deeply as he felt his own pleasure grip his balls painfully before releasing. With a growl, he came hard as he felt her legs tighten in response and another orgasm hit her as her muscles spasmed around his cock. Holding her tightly to him, they rode out their orgasms together.

Courtney woke up the next morning in Nikolay's arms as they lay tangled together on the couch in his office. She smiled to herself and snuggled closer to him. Last night had to be the best night of her life. They had made love over and over until they had fallen into an exhausted sleep.

She looked at his bare chest, which was just as chiseled and gorgeous as she had imagined. Her fingers traced the scars that covered it. She couldn't imagine what caused them and she wasn't sure she wanted to.

If she hadn't known before that Nikolay Tonov had lived a hard life, she definitely did now. Courtney kissed a particularly thick and jagged scar that ran across his chest. Her touch caused him to stir and she felt his hand go to stroke her hair. She smiled up at him. “Morning,” she said, rising slightly so she could kiss him on the lips.

“Morning,” he said. “You look beautiful.”

She giggled. “Hardly. My hair's a mess, my makeup is smudged and I'm sure that I don't smell too swift either.”

He held her tighter and kissed her forehead. “You're always beautiful to me.”

She went back to exploring his scars, smiling as she did so. She didn't know why they fascinated her so much but they intrigued her. She wished she could touch every one of them until they were all healed. Nikolay grabbed her hand and splayed it flat against his chest.

“I'm not a saint, Courtney,” he said. “If you don't stop, you are in danger of never leaving this room again.”

She sighed. She didn't want to leave his office. She didn't want to leave his embrace but she knew that she had to eventually and she had to face reality. If she didn't, then she would end up going nowhere and she would still have that mark on her skin. She just didn't want to leave yet. She kissed him again and then kissed his neck, smiling as a groan escaped his lips. “Courtney,” he gasped. “I'm serious.”

“So am I,” she said, going lower and lower as she kissed him. “Just one more time, okay? One more time.”

He groaned again and wrapped his arms around her, moving her under him. “How will I ever get through the day without you?” he murmured into her hair while his hands explored her body.

“You only have to wait until tonight,” she said. “And I'm sure you can manage. You'll have to. Because we both have work to do throughout the day and we can't stay here forever.”

“Why not?” he asked. “I'm sure both of us need a day off.”

“Maybe,” she said. “But I'm not going to have one until this damn tattoo is removed.”

He smiled. “I know,” he said. Nikolay looked down at her hands, which still wore the gloves, the only article of clothing she was still wearing, and that was because she insisted on keeping them on. He kissed the tip of her nose, making her smile. She was beautiful all the time but she was completely breathtaking when she was happy. He would have to do his best to make her as happy as possible. “You're so beautiful,” he said, and he grabbed her hair and kissed her for all he was worth.

She managed to work her hands between them as she pushed him back against the couch. Sliding to the floor, she rubbed the inside of his legs as she looked up at him. “My turn,” she told him with a smile.

“Woman, you are treading on thin ice…oh…my…god,” he managed to say before his head hit the back of the couch. He clenched his hands in fists when he felt her warm mouth kiss the top of his cock as her small hands wrapped around it and began to stroke up and down. Looking as though she were about to lick an ice cream, she delicately stuck her tongue out and began to trace swirls up and down his shaft before becoming more bold.

Sliding her hand down, she pushed the foreskin back before wrapping her mouth around the head and blowing warm air on it. His cock twitched in response as he fought the urge to push her head down and take him deeper. Starting slow, she found a steady rhythm as she bobbed her head up and down. With each downward stroke, she would take more of him inside her mouth. Because of his size, she knew that she couldn’t deep throat him, so she used her hand to stroke the lower part of his shaft as her other hand massaged his balls.

Using his moans as incentive, she sped up as she felt the tension building inside him. With a groan, he came as she tightened her hands and continued to pump. She giggled as she slurped noisily, swallowing everything that he gave her before licking him clean. Sitting up, she gave him a smug look as he reached for her and pulled her onto his lap.

*****

Courtney couldn't stop smiling as she drove home. For someone who had never had a serious girlfriend, he certainly knew how to please a woman. The one more time ended up being two more times plus breakfast and it was only by sheer will that they were able to part then.

It all felt like a dream to her, one that was incredibly nice but so far from reality that it didn't even feel real to her. And, if it was a dream, she hoped that she would be able to go back to it again and again. When she got home, she found the mail already delivered to her door and there was a pile of boxed books waiting for her, all ready to ship out to the distributors as soon as she changed the shipping labels. She brought them inside and reluctantly got to work.

An hour later, the euphoria she had been in was gone and she was back to reality. For every dollar she earned, she made a note of it on her wall, taking out rent and gas as her only necessary expenses. After she browsed through the online marketplaces and bid on any profitable books she found, she shifted over to the surveys. When she hit her daily limit of surveys, she started on the data entry work.

At five in the afternoon, Janet came in with her laptop. “Hey,” she said. “I've got a few writing jobs on the side that I'll be able to do in time for the deadline so it's even more money going your way.”

“Thank you so much,” Courtney replied as she smiled up at her friend. “I'll pay you back as soon as I can, I promise.”

“Happy to help. I also brought food,” she tossed a granola bar to Courtney as she settled on the floor with her own laptop.

“Thanks.” It would definitely come in handy later when she was tired from work and had to go to her night job.

Janet looked at her intently. “Something's different about you,” she said.

“What?” asked Courtney, blushing, “Nothing's different.”

“No, there's definitely something different about you,” Janet replied as her eyes widened. “Wait, did you sleep with Nik? YOU DID!”

Courtney groaned and buried her face in her hands. “How did you know?”

Janet grinned. “I have an instinct,” she said. “I can't believe you slept with him! How was it? What happened?”

“Well, it happened quickly,” Courtney answered. “And it felt like a dream, honestly but he asked me to stay for dinner, and the next thing you know...” she grinned when Janet squealed.

“Oh my god, I'm so happy for you!” she said. “How was it?”

“It was really good,” Courtney said, unable to stop herself from giggling slightly. “Okay, it was amazing.”

“So, what's happening next?” Janet asked. “Are you guys dating now, or do you think it's even going to happen again, or what?”

“I definitely think it's going to happen again,” she said. “Hopefully tonight. As far as us dating... I don't know. It seems like we are, but we've only had one date, if you can even call it that.”

“He made you dinner and then you had sex,” Janet said. “It was definitely a date.”

Courtney shrugged. “Well, when you put it like that...”

“So you really like him, don't you?”

Courtney smiled. “I do,” she said. “I really do.”