Innocent Next Door (Military Men Book 1) (17 page)

Summer teetered on the edge of climax, her heart thundering. Nikolai’s hands curled around the dip of her waist and moved higher to palm heavy breasts. He pinched a nipple, his fingers biting enough to draw her gasp. He tugged and her channel contracted.

“That’s it, sweetheart.” He squeezed her distended nipple, and she exploded into a series of intense spasms. He slammed into her once more and stilled, his breathing hoarse, his chest rising and falling against her sweaty back.

Summer twitched her butt, rocking back against him. Sated and sleepy, the pleasure continued to hum through her veins like syrup. So good.

Nikolai drew a deep breath. When he’d entered via the window, he hadn’t bothered drawing the curtains and a stream of moonlight pierced the shadowed corners of the room. His gaze traced the sweet dip of her waist, the rounded arse cheeks, and guilt surfaced. He’d made a mistake fucking her. She was too young, and everything, every relationship he’d had in the past had turned to murky custard. The fact remained—he sucked at relationships, but even knowing that, he wasn’t sure he could walk away. Not now.

* * * * *

She’d forgotten to tell Nikolai about the fishing book. She skipped a couple of steps and came to a stop by the kettle. Her hands grabbed the marbled countertop. A breath whooshed from her. With a grimace, she did a quick series of breathing exercises. Gradually, she straightened and gave an embarrassed laugh. Thank goodness, that breathing hitch had happened while she’d been alone.

Summer went through the automatic motions of making tea and mused over the situation. Nikolai’s fault for distracting her this morning. It wasn’t as though she fired on all cylinders in the mornings anyway. But today she’d been semi-awake when Nikolai had yanked the covers off the bed. She grinned as she recalled his wolfish expression, how rough and rumpled he’d looked.

Her heart pounded anew from the memory. Chocolate-coated sex on a stick. The man had picked her up and carried her to the shower where he’d proceeded to wash her with the Brazil nut shower gel she kept in the shower. Once he’d finished, he’d briskly washed himself and pulled on a glow-in-the-dark condom.

She squirmed, shifting from one foot to the other. The kettle whistled and switched off. Her hand shook as she reached for it. Deep breaths. She inhaled, seeking control of her wayward emotions.

Sex. And Nikolai.

She seemed to dwell on them a lot these days. A shiver worked down her body, ending in an intense ache in her core. Arousal soaked her panties despite making love before Nikolai left. She had to get a grip. But Nikolai hadn’t helped. He’d dared her, and she never backed away from a challenge.

In the shower, he’d turned her around so her back was to him. He’d pressed her palms on the white tiled wall and crowded her from behind. The water had spilled over them, warm and steamy, and scented with Brazil nut. Then, he’d entered her from behind, and Summer had thought she might expire on the spot.

Her pulse jumped and she stayed herself from picking up the kettle. Not yet when she trembled so much. Her clit tingled as she recalled, as she relived the quick thrusts and the blast of pleasure. Nikolai filling her, surrounding her with his strength, propelling her into a climax that shuddered through her body for long seconds afterward.

Then he’d withdrawn, slapped her on the arse and turned her around for a possessive kiss.

But it hadn’t ended there. He’d washed her again and shut off the shower. In the steamy intimacy of the bathroom, he’d dried her and disappeared. Seconds later, he’d returned with one of the toys she’d purchased in the adult shop on K Road. The set of pleasure balls. With an intent look in his eyes, he’d pulled them from the packet and slowly inserted them into her pussy.

Summer shifted from foot to foot. Her core contracted suddenly. He’d instructed her to think of him during the day. How could she not?

Every step she took made the weighted balls vibrate. The sheer naughtiness factor turned her on just as much as the pulsing movement of the balls.

She picked up the kettle again and successfully poured a cup of tea. She perched on the edge of a wooden chair and took a sip.

Back to the book. It was in her straw basket, ready to take to work and drop for Dare at the restaurant. A frown puckered her smooth brow as she stared at the paper bag containing the duplicate book. What if Nikolai was right? What if Dare was using her for some ulterior motive?

Summer considered the indigestible fact for a few moments longer. Then an idea occurred, simplicity itself.

She could exchange the book for another of the same—that was assuming she could find one. After twisting the idea in every possible direction, it sounded even better. The reckless rebel inside her rejoiced at the thought of doing something constructive. This was a simple plan to prove or disprove Nikolai’s theory about the Martin family.

About Dare.

The perfect plan.

And it would work.

She wrapped her hands around her cup and figuratively congratulated herself on her cleverness. She was sure that in a week or two she could rub Nikolai’s nose in the fact.

The big, bad SAS man would have to bend and get with her program.

Chapter Thirteen

Later that day

The hairs at her nape prickled. Summer’s entire body pulsed with uneasiness until she wanted to jump like a rabbit. The desire to spin around and demand whoever was following her to piss off hammered through her brain, finding an outlet in clenched fists.

But she didn’t have soldier brothers for nothing. She knew a thing or two about subtlety. A snort escaped. Well, they were restrained and canny when it came to their work. Ditto Nikolai.

Just thinking about Nikolai made her hips sway a fraction more than normal and the pleasure balls seemed to vibrate with more vigor inside her pussy.

She paused to survey the contents of a large department store. Instead of looking at the clothes, she scanned reflections in the window. Nothing out of the ordinary. But that didn’t mean no one was there. She trusted her instincts. Perhaps she should tell Nikolai. Except he was sure to start yelling and ram a few “I told you so”s into the conversation. Of course, when he started shouting she could always try distraction.

After scanning the colorful swimsuits in the window, and the reflections of the passersby, she continued, heading for one of the three secondhand bookshops she sometimes frequented.

The bookshop was small, the shelves crammed to overflowing with books of all shapes and sizes. The bell on the door tinkled when she pushed it open. She took a deep breath, the book lover in her enjoying the dry, musty scent that permeated the room. Heaven.

Hustling, she wove between the shelves, scanning for the section on hobbies and fishing. Not a single book on fly-fishing. She nibbled her bottom lip, considering her options. It wouldn’t do to order one since she was time-challenged. The thin, elderly man behind the counter wasn’t a good option either, since she didn’t want anyone remembering her asking for the book. Time to try the second shop on her list.

Twenty minutes later, she rushed inside. Luckily, she was a frequent visitor and was familiar with the layout of the cavern-like shop. Summer checked her watch. Heck, she was going to be late back from lunch. Mrs. Ferguson would have two cows. She did that. A lot. The shelf space allocated to fishing took up a whole section of shelving in the narrow shop. She scrutinized the titles but almost missed the fly-fishing book in her haste.

Her stomach lurched when she spotted the title.
It was there
. She pulled the book off the shelf, her heart thudding erratically.

The point of no return.

If she bought the book, she was committing to the plan.

* * * * *

“Earth to Nik. Earth to Nik.” Louie clicked his fingers right in front of Nikolai’s nose.

Nikolai blinked back to the present, away from black thoughts of Laura and the baby. Nightmares tangled with the future and Summer. “Huh?”

Jake peered closely. “He looks tired.”

“Perhaps he didn’t sleep well.” Louie smirked at Jake. “Wonder how Summer slept?”

“Leave her out of this,” Nikolai growled.

“You didn’t stay
out
of Summer.”

A wave of fury swept him, and he had his hands fisted in Jake’s shirt before either of his mates could blink.

“Whoa.” Jake held up both hands in surrender but didn’t try to struggle from Nikolai’s determined grip. “Joke.”

Louie placed a heavy hand on Nikolai’s tense shoulder. “Let him go, Nik.”

He unclenched his hands and shoved Jake away. A fist-size circle of wrinkles remained on Jake’s shirt.

“Sorry, man. Bad joke.”

Nikolai didn’t want to discuss Summer with Jake and Louie. “Time to get back to the rest of the men.” Hell, he was kicking himself as it was. He didn’t need his mates’ help to fuel his betrayal and helplessness. Nikolai turned and stomped back to the assault course, leaving Jake and Louie to fall in behind while he tried to ignore the throb of his knee.

What the fuck was he going to do? He’d betrayed Henry’s trust, taken Summer’s virginity, and he continued to compound the bitch of a mistake. He couldn’t keep his hands off her.

But the worst part was the way his mind wandered to the future—a rosy dream of togetherness. Nikolai bit back a curse. He’d once dreamed of a future, a family with Laura, and look what had happened. While he’d been away on missions, Laura had got bored, felt neglected. So she’d gone out on the town, made friends with a bad crowd—people who treated drugs like candy. Bittersweet memories poured over him as he recalled the moment he and Laura had discovered her pregnancy. Their child would have been almost five, ready to start school.

A lump of emotion clogged his throat. He blinked and called upon every shred of his control. He had a mission to complete. Now wasn’t the time to dwell on what might have been.

* * * * *

She’d done it. Exchanged the books. Nerves pushed a shiver through her limbs as the cab drove up Parnell Road. Summer stared out the window at the rush hour traffic, the scurrying office workers heading home and the mature trees in the Domain. Please, please let her pull off the switch without making Dare suspicious. The cab pulled up outside the restaurant. She paid the driver and dawdled inside. Even the pleasure balls vibrating inside her pussy didn’t quell the skip and jump of anxiety.

A wave of chatter greeted her as she pushed through the double doors leading to the bar and restaurant.

One of the men standing in the group at the bar gave a long whistle. “Over here, sweet cheeks.” His gaze raved up and down, taking in her short black skirt and V-neck navy-blue top.

Summer ignored him, too wound up to flirt. Her heels clicked as she maneuvered through the crowd waiting to enter. She approached the reception desk once the large group of people waiting disappeared into a private function room.

“Is Dare busy?”

“Afraid so, Summer,” the receptionist said.

Summer nodded and tried to look disappointed, but in fact, everything was going according to plan. “Can I leave a package for him? I promised him I’d drop it off.” She handed over the book and was glad when another group of diners arrived behind her. “Looks like you’re busy so I’ll leave you to it.” She lifted a hand in farewell.

“Bye, Summer. I’ll make sure Dare gets his package.”

Outside on the pavement, she took a deep breath and reached for the nearest streetlamp to steady the sway of wobbly knees.

Had she done the right thing?

She sighed, unsure of her actions. But at least if Dare made a fuss, it would confirm her suspicions. She scanned the road for a cab. The prickly sensation that came from watchful eyes recommenced. The sooner she arrived home, the better. Along with the edginess caused by surveillance and burning anxiety, the pleasure balls had her so hot it was a wonder she hadn’t burned from the inside out.

* * * * *

Nikolai pulled up in front of his house after returning from their out-of-town training session. His knee ached like the devil, letting him know he’d pushed too hard. He needed a shower. Bad. He stunk like the bottom of a sewer pit after running the obstacle course through mud and God knows what else. But at least they were prepared for the mission. It was good to be involved again, even if it was as part of the strategic planning team.

He clambered from his vehicle with all the grace of a three-legged giraffe. Bloody good thing none of the top brass were witnesses. He’d hate getting stood down on medical grounds. Too much time to think about other parts of his life.

Laura and the baby.

Summer
.

Nikolai unlocked the door and dragged his weary bones inside. With the house locked all day, the scent of paint fumes almost knocked him over. And that sent his thoughts winging to Summer. He’d come to a decision. He had to stop seeing her in any capacity, except as a neighbor. Horizontal dancing was a no-go.

He scrubbed his hands over his stubbled jaw. His smell offended him, but hell, he needed a drink before a shower. He hobbled into the kitchen, opened a window and pulled out a bottle of whiskey from the pantry. Irish whiskey that was too good to gulp as he intended.

Nikolai grabbed a glass and made it as far as the table before a jagged shard of pain had him cursing. He sank into a chair and slumped to ride out the agonizing waves targeting his knee. Shit, he’d been okay this morning. He hoped like hell his injury settled in time for another go-round.

He leaned back in the wooden chair, knowing he needed to take it easy on the alcohol despite his driving need to bury painful memories. He let the whiskey burn down his throat in a slow trickle.

Outside, darkness approached despite the extra hour of light granted by daylight saving. The faint call of a seabird drifted on the breeze. A soft creak made Nikolai’s hand clench around the glass. Shit. He watched as she closed the small gate connecting the two properties. She skipped across the lawn, her blue hair fanning out behind her.

Even though he knew he’d have to blow her off, his heart skipped a beat. She wouldn’t make this easy for him. He knew it at gut level.