Page 42 of One Dark Kiss (Grimm Bargains #2)

THIRTY-SEVEN

Rosalie

S itting on my bed, I rub lotion into my arms, waiting for Alexei, who s still on the phone downstairs arranging a meeting for his people for tomorrow.

Ella has long disappeared, and Garik is probably wandering the yard right now looking for threats.

I m wearing a sexy black teddy that I think Alexei will like.

As I wait, my mind spins with mysteries. Who could have possibly taken both my letter opener and paperweight from my office? Unfortunately, it could be anybody from the firm or even a delivery person.

Obviously, somebody wants to set me up.

I worry about Alexei and the internal war going on at Hologrid Hub.

He s already taken two bullets and a knife wound.

Of course, he stabbed himself, but that doesn t mean it hurts any less.

I also wish he hadn t dropped the bombshell to everybody that we re married like he had earlier today.

I was confronted by seven hurt and quizzical elderly men who only brightened after I promised that we ll have a big, lavish ceremony and that they ll all be included in the formalities.

I always figured that when I marry, I ll have Alana and Ella as my bridesmaids, but now I have two bridesmaids and seven attendants?

I m not even sure what to call them. I don t think Alexei would consider them groomsmen, but I figure if they re all wearing tuxes, who cares?

I know I m getting ahead of myself planning this ceremony, but I did take vows.

Yeah, that might be a comfort and a cop-out, but I want to see where this thing will go with Alexei. I ve never felt like this.

My phone dings and I glance at it before answering. Hi, Ella, what s up? I m glad she s checking in with me.

Are you at your computer? she asks, her voice low.

I can be. I reach for my laptop on the bedside table and boot it up on my legs.

She coughs. I just sent you an email. Open it.

Sometimes she is so dramatic. All right. I click on my email icon, see the email, and press PLAY on a video.

An expansive kitchen with marble countertops and stainless steel appliances comes into view.

I ve seen this room in crime scene photographs.

It s the Fairfax s kitchen from seven years ago.

The camera appears to have been mounted in the corner of the ceiling.

Then a man walks over to the microwave to take out a mug.

He s somewhat familiar. It s David Fairfax, I say. You managed to decrypt the entire disc.

I did. It s quite a virus that was introduced.

As I watch, a younger Alexei walks into the scene dressed only in boxers. David turns, yells, and throws the contents of the mug on Alexei, splashing his torso. There are fewer scars and tattoos on him, but he still looks dangerous.

Alexei almost casually opens a drawer, takes out a knife, and stabs David in the neck before ripping out his throat.

David grabs his neck, his eyes widening as blood spurts out between his fingers. Then he falls to the ground. Alexei looks at him for several moments, blood covering his torso and his face, then he reaches down and puts the knife into a plastic bag before walking out of the kitchen.

My entire body chills until I shudder. What the hell? I would ve bet my soul that Alexei was innocent. Had I just been lying to myself? Alexei did murder David Fairfax. The blood rushes through my head so quickly, I can hear the charge in my ears.

I m sorry, Ella says.

Wait a second. Alexei took your laptop and the disc. Not that it should matter right now.

I sent myself a copy the second I uploaded the disc the first time. Obviously. She clears her throat. I know you probably have guards there, but I can get you free somehow. We can head out of the country. Even use fake passports if you want.

I m numb. Lost. I shared my body, and more importantly my heart, with Alexei. I trusted him. Yet again, I m seeing casual violence. So easy for him. I married him.

I don t care.

Yet I do. Or I did. We most certainly consummated the marriage. Several times. He walks into the room, looking dangerous and invincible. I try to stop my trembling. I, ah, I have to go.

Do you need help? she whispers.

No. I ll call you tomorrow. Please don t do anything until we talk. I need to think.

She clicks off without answering.

Alexei unbuttons his sleeves and then his shirt, tossing the expensive material carelessly over my blue chair. His gaze is hot and his expression masked. Who was that?

Ella, I say breathlessly. She s leaving town for a while.

He sighs, his hands going to his belt. No, she isn t. I have two men on her right now. What s wrong?

I gulp and force a smile. Nothing. Honest.

He pauses and cocks his head. His belt makes a swooshing sound as he pulls it free of his pants. You re a terrible liar. I wouldn t try again.

My mouth goes dry.

What s wrong? He unzips his slacks, removes them, and places them over the back of the chair. In boxers, most men look vulnerable. Not Alexei. He looks stronger than ever. Deadly, even. I suggest you start talking.

I can t. If he can discern when I m lying, then I don t want to say anything. Telling the truth is impossible. So I remain silent.

He sits and pulls me over, planting me on his lap facing him. I realize in that second that the bandage is absent from his arm. There s no wound.

I look closer. You already healed?

Yes. I m still receiving extra help from charging the amethyst.

Fascinating. I m again reminded that Alana has never mentioned that she can heal herself when she charges the crystals at Aquarius Social. Maybe she can t. Perhaps it s a gift only Alexei s lineage holds. I see.

His thumb presses against my chin, and he lifts my face. I m not going to ask again.

I drop my gaze to his mouth. His hold tightens, and I look up in surprise.

His gaze is relentless. If I spank you tonight, you re not getting an orgasm afterward. Nor will you enjoy one second of it.

My butt tightens in denial. I consider my options. I know he doesn t bluff, but I m also not sure of Ella s safety if I tell the truth. As I weigh the options, he reaches for the phone he placed on the bedside table, presses a button, and draws it to his ear.

What is he doing?

It s Alexei. Take Ella Rendale to the safe house. Yes. Right now. He clicks off.

Panic engulfs me. Don t hurt her. Please don t hurt her.

He deliberately places the phone back on the table. Why would I hurt Ella?

God. He knows. You killed David Fairfax, I blurt out.

That little shit, he mutters. She kept a copy of the disc?

I nod. Ella can t resist a puzzle. She decoded it, and if anything happens to her, the video goes straight to the police.

His eyes go flat. Hard. Lying is a mistake. I suggest you learn to tame that part of your personality before I do.

Tears spring into my eyes. If you hurt my friend, I ll never forgive you.

He doesn t move. Now that s the truth.

I can t believe this. Why did you kill David?

He was a bad guy, and that s the only explanation you re going to get.

I do a lot of things for my business that will never be discussed with you, and that s just how life is going to be.

I suggest you learn to accept this reality.

Either you trust and believe in me, or you don t.

His eyes are hot coal, burning deep in the earth.

The guy never said he didn t kill David. He just said that he was set up—which he was. He lives in a world I can barely fathom, and now I live there as well. I m not a killer, I whisper, knowing this to my soul. I can t survive in your world.

He brushes the hair away from my face, his large hand gentle now. There s only one killer in this marriage, Kotik. You will survive because I ll make sure of it. Your protection is my utmost goal. He kisses me gently on the nose.

Kotik? I ask. He called me that once before.

Little kitty. Always spitting fire at me. There s a fondness in his tone, even though his eyes haven t lost the intense expression.

I grind a fist into my right eye before a migraine can attack me. Why in the world did you go back that day? You killed him and left. I saw you put the knife into the bag, and then you left. So David had been killed earlier than I thought.

Alexei sighs. It was a normal practice for me to leave and then meet Blythe for lunch, and if I had refused, it would have been suspicious. I figured I d get there after the maid discovered the body, but she was late that day.

I can t believe this. Did you kill him because of jealousy? My lungs trap my breath.

No. He was a bad guy, who messed around with other women, girls really. Some very young ones. He also beat the crap out of Blythe, and I did want to protect her. But I didn t love her and had no plans for a future with her.

I wish those words didn t mean so much to me, but they do. I ve seen him kill before, but the idea still gives me pause. He s so dangerous. To the world. Not to me.

His gaze darkens. Do you trust me?

It s a real question. A primal one. I look into his eyes, as I sit on his warm body. Do I? I glance around my room, searching for answers.

My grandmother s mirror catches the image of the two of us, and I swear, it appears as if a force, barely discernable, surrounds us. Dark and light, male and female ... we look right. As if we belong to each other.

I stare back at him. Yes. It s the truth.

Even if all evidence points to a different answer, I feel him inside me.

Deep. As if he s a part of me. I do trust you.

Sometimes instinct is all we have, and upon admitting the truth, my body relaxes.

A pit releases and a coil unfolds inside me with a sense of peace.

Good. He runs his hands down my arms, grasping my wrists. Then he flips us around, flattening his large body over mine, my wrists now held in one of his above my head. I like this lingerie. He rolls to the side and tears the teddy off.

Then you shouldn t have ripped it, I say breathlessly, captured in place. I want him but not his world. Right or wrong, I like that he wants to keep me out of most of it.

He lowers his head and nuzzles my breasts, taking an obscene amount of time lavishing each one. I m gyrating with need before he even snaps the sides of my panties.

You have to stop doing that, I gasp, my body tingling with need. I m running out.

New rule. No panties for you. He releases my wrists and wanders his body down mine, reaching my clit. This is my favorite place. He bites my thigh and then goes at me, not taking his time, finally. Forcing me up fast, he hums in pleasure as I cry out with a violent orgasm against his mouth.

Then he s up me again, his mouth on mine, taking what he wants.

I lean down and help him yank off his boxers, and then he s against me, throbbing and ready. He pushes inside slowly, torturing us both. I dig my nails into his biceps, marveling at the cut muscle.

The panther on his neck gleams purple eyes at me.

Then he s inside me. All of him. Full and deep. I catch sight of us in that mirror again, and we look complete somehow.

Pausing, he leans down and kisses me, making me feel surrounded by him. Thank you for trusting me.

Emotion swamps me and I nod, one tear leaking from my eye.

He licks it away and then plants his hand over my breast—right over my heart.

Always, Rosalie, he whispers, before he starts to move.

Fast and wild, he pounds into me, driving me up again.

I climax with a desperate shudder, once and then again. Yet he keeps hammering.

I blink, trying to keep up, getting sore.

He reaches down and flicks my clit, arcing flames through me.

I cry out, holding on, shutting my eyes.

I m reaching the pinnacle again. So close.

Holding my breath, I fall over, biting his chest to keep from screaming.

The waves undulate through me with brutal strength, expanding when he jerks hard against me, grunting my name.

We both quiet. My mind is spinning, and my body is done. Alexei tosses the covers over us both and cuddles me close. I wasn t kidding about the panties, he murmurs.