Page 65 of Shadowed Sins: Nitro

"Indeed." Viktor's smile holds threatening promise as he lifts my free hand to his lips, forcing me to step slightly away from Jax. The separation makes Jax's breathing audible.

"Beautiful women make every business discussion more pleasant. And you, my dear, seem to have..." he pauses for a moment and his eyes narrow slightly, "excellent taste in men."

Invitation colors my voice, breathier than planned as I lean into Viktor's space. "Jax mentioned you appreciate fine things, Mr. Kazakov."

"Perfect. Let's move to a more private table." Viktor gestures toward the restaurant's elevated dining section, away from the main bar area. "Better for business discussions."

He starts walking, expecting us to follow. "Sterling sends his regrets. Pressing business kept him in Washington. But I'm sure we'll manage without him."

Business in Washington. Right.

"He'll be sorry he missed this." Gideon drains his whiskey and stands, moving to walk beside Viktor. "But you're in excellent hands."

Asher's clinical voice fills my ear. "Heart rates at 140. Both of you. That's tachycardia territory."

Cole's response is sharp. "Maintain operational focus."

"They're vibrating at frequencies visible to the naked eye," Remy adds, and I can hear him trying not to laugh. "Like tuning forks in heat."

Viktor leads us to a corner booth in the restaurant's quieter section, intimate seating where upholstered walls provide some privacy, but we still have a view of other diners and the bar area beyond.

"After you." Viktor gestures, forcing us to slide in first, trapping us against the wall.

The leather whispers as I settle beside Jax, immediately draping my leg over his thigh to claim space and maintaincontact. His hand finds my knee before I've even finished moving, thumb tracing possessive circles against bare skin that make my breath catch.

Christ, I need more.

The server materializes with the first course, artfully plated appetizers that neither of us acknowledges. The interruption gives me a moment to breathe, but Jax's thumb never stops its maddening circles.

"So, tell me about these West Coast opportunities," Jax starts, his whole body moves as he talks, hands gesturing, shoulders rolling. "Gideon mentioned logistics coordination, complex timing, and I'm wondering about—"

I lean across him to reach for my water glass, deliberately pressing my breast against his arm. My lips brush his jaw as I whisper, "More about the containers."

His entire body jerks at the contact, knee hitting the table's underside. His hand clenches on my thigh hard enough to bruise as his scent fills my lungs.

Through comms, Remy definitely chokes on something. "Did she just—"

"Professional. Operation." Cole's words come out clipped, each one a bullet.

Fuck, he's responsive.

"These container operations." Jax shifts forward, elbows on the table now, trying to look engaged while his thumb draws circles on my inner thigh. "How do you manage security? That seems like the most complex element."

The Viktor leans back, making us lean forward to hear him. Power play.

"Light patrol schedules, automated systems with twelve-minute gaps." His attention drifts to where Jax's hand has disappeared under the tablecloth. "We also have contacts within Port Authority providing updated schedules."

My fingers trace patterns on Jax's knuckles while processing this intelligence, and I shift closer, my breast pressing against his arm again. His deceptively elegant hands flex and tighten with each touch.

"That's impressive coordination." My voice wavers as Jax's thumb finds sensitive skin.

"My associates handle international connections while I manage West Coast distribution." Viktor swirls his drink, the ice clinking with each deliberate movement. "We work with various partners. Alexei Petrov coordinates the European pipeline, for instance."

Jax's whole body goes rigid. His hand clenches on my thigh hard enough that I gasp. Viktor notices everything.

Alexei. Holy shit, finally.

"Petrov. International expansion must be... challenging."