Lost and Found: A Mafia Romance, page 9
Mikhail wasn't even sure why he was worried as to how she would react seeing Leo, everything for Misha was water under a bridge. She came into his office that day smiling and laughing with the blonde as if nothing ever happened. But now the friendship he allowed was starting to cause problems.
Mikhail rarely regretted anything, but he should have killed Leo from the start.
Chapter 11
With both arms stretched to the length of the back of the couch, Mikhail leaned his head back to stare at the ceiling of the darkened room and wondered how he got to this point. With only the flickering of the TV's lights across the room, the slight weight of Misha's head on his in his lap prompted him to recall the morning's events.
Sitting in his office, Mikhail found himself staring at the security feed of Misha's studio. This was not an unusual habit, every now and then he would take a look to see what she was doing or where were her whereabouts. But this morning in light of last week's event he was just staring at the monitor absently. Without thinking, he called her on her cell phone and informed her of his plans, after watching her face light up, she gathered her things, he met her at his car.
What in the hell inspired him to act like a complete idiot and play hooky on the day he was expecting a large shipment from the Colombians was beyond him. Though he would admit, the evening had been nice. For once in what seemed like forever Mikhail got to relax in his own home. The type of relaxation he knew he wouldn't get again for quite a while. Vladamir was keeping him very busy. For the next few months, he will be expecting weekly weapons shipments. Probably for the first time in weeks he sat down at the barstool in his kitchen for longer than twenty minutes. Tonight was special, he got not only to see but bask in another side of Misha—her domestic side.
He watched her prepare dinner while conversing with him in ease. Watching her handle herself in the kitchen brought an odd sense of comfort. He teased her with memories of her cooking failures when she was younger while learning from the kitchen staff at the Rose. Mikhail realized he loved the way she scrunched up her face when she was embarrassed. Sadly he was starting to realize he liked a lot of things about Misha. Hell, it was taking extreme discipline to try and forget the night he undressed her.
Even now as she lay on his lap breathing evenly as they watched the movie he couldn't stop his eyes from roaming. Unfortunately for him tonight her attire was a little out of the norm. The orange sweater still looked as if she raided a thrift store from the eighties, but it was shorter than all the others. This one didn't fall to her hips like all the others, and it sat high on her waist accompanied by electric blue tights.
And God were they tight. To both Krill and his chagrin, they realized early on in Misha's development she was not going to be average looking. No, the fates just couldn't let him have that. Misha filled out everywhere it counted. By high school her destined curvy figure was coming out in full force. Thankfully she had a predilection for the eighties fashion, and that meant big hair and baggy clothing. All of which Krill was immensely thankful.
Laying on her side, he was allowed full access to the outline of her round ass. Thick, firm thighs tapered gently at her knees before flaring into strong calves. Pulling his gaze back up her body he let his gaze rest on the slender neck resting on his thigh. He fought and won the urge to touch the soft skin.
The muffled sound of television gunfire hardly registered as he sat there watching the rise and fall of her shoulder. Mikhail didn't even need to look to know that she was asleep. Checking his watch he winced at the time. There were five shipments coming in tomorrow that required him being present.
"Misha," he nudged her shoulder. With the greatest interest, he watched her slowly sit up. "Go to your room."
Still sitting on the couch, Misha stared at him through half lidded eyes as he stood up to leave.
"No, I want to sleep with you." Slowly he turned to see her staring at him, her eyes were hazy with fatigue, but her brow furrowed in intent.
"You what?" surely he misheard.
"Mikhail," she whined as she plopped backward onto the couch, the abrupt position caused the sweater to ride high baring her smooth skin of her stomach. "Why can't we do this all the time, I had so much fun today I don't want you to leave me."
"So sleeping with me is your solution?" though he shouldn't even broach the topic he felt a sick sort of curiosity to hear her answer.
"Well, maybe not sleep together per se," by now she was fully awake as she slowly sat back up to reevaluate her request. "But you know, I meant--I just mean I didn't want it to end."
"Its three in the morning Misha, we have been together since lunch," he said flicking at his watch. Her face immediately looked contrite. With her head down she got up and grabbed her blanket she was laying on.
"I am sorry," she whispered in a low voice. She couldn't believe how selfish she was being, after all that he did for her today she was still asking for more. Looking up she was startled to hear the TV shut off causing the room to go pitch black. Her heart sank a little as she took that as his cue of dismissal.
Since her eyes didn't get a chance to adjust to the little bit of night light coming through the windows, she carefully felt her way around the couch towards her room. She felt as if she might have been halfway across the room when she felt strong arms suddenly wrap around her waist pulling her into a hard body.
"Dammit Misha." the familiar growl in her ear made her whole body shiver. The short sweater she was wearing rode up higher allowing her to feel his hands on her bare waist. Misha shut her eyes to the feeling of her butt pressed against his hard thighs while his face was pressed against the side of hers.
"I am so sorry, please don't be..."
"Shut up." The harsh command paired with the rough grip on her arm immediately silenced her. Still blinded by the darkness, Misha felt herself being pulled in the opposite direction. She felt herself being led through the open door of his hallway. The grip on her arm disappeared once they entered his dimly lit room. Only the light from the open bathroom door illuminated the masculine room. Realizing she was still holding her blanket like a child, she quickly draped it on the closest chair. Misha had no idea what was going on all she knew was that her heart was beating wildly. To be alone with Mikhail in his bedroom, at night, no less was a nonexistent occurrence. This was something only her fantasies conjured up.
Pulling a drawer open she watched as he grabbed a shirt, before tossing it to her.
"You can wear this." It was more of a command than a gesture. Not giving her time to answer he walked into his bathroom and shut the door.
Shocked and so dearly confused Misha stood frozen for five seconds before she realized he was going to come back out expecting her changed. Like the wind, she divested herself of her clothes and changed into the wonderful smelling shirt. Nothing compared to Mikhail's scent, it drove her senses crazy.
As expected Mikhail came out of the bathroom completely changed, wearing breezy cotton pants and nothing else. Misha could feel herself staring like an idiot. Pulling back the covers she watched him slide into the large bed, then looked at her. She was still standing in the exact same place wearing the t-shirt that barely touched her knees.
"You said you wanted to sleep with me," he waved his hand over the bed, "so what are you waiting for?"
At that moment, she died a little bit. Not believing this was happening, she slowly climbed up onto his bed and slid underneath the soft covers. Though she was probably the farthest away from him the bed could allow, she was shaking like crazy. Only in her dreams has she thought of herself in this position, but now that she was here in real life she never felt more unsure in her life. Mikhail was a man, a large dangerous man, just knowing that his large frame was lying next to her in bed was making it hard to breathe. Stiffly she turned her head to take a peek at him. Blue eyes and a large smile was waiting for her.
"Bit off a little more than you could chew huh?" it was rare to see Mikhail smile. It usually meant he was in a dangerous mood, or he was laughing at her expense. At this point, she honestly couldn't tell which it was.
Trying to hold back a pout she narrowed her eyes. "No its...its just that it's a little weird for me. I have never been--in--your bed before."
Something dark passed through his eyes before he let out a heavy sigh. Falling onto his back, she felt his arm snake around her waist. Pulling her close, until she was pressed against his side, Misha carefully laid her head on the only place she could, his arm.
"No, you're right to feel this way," his deep accented voice was laced with fatigue, "and technically you really shouldn't be here now."
"I can le..." the powerful arm beneath her curled tighter forcing her to lay partially on his chest.
"No for this one night we can have this."
Looking directly into his blue eyes, Misha was entranced. Not tired at all Misha took the opportunity of her new position to do something she has been wanting to do for years. Relaxing her clenched fist, she let her hands splay softly on his muscular chest. The deep purr like reaction emboldened her as she examined the ink on his body. Just below his nipple she traced the Cyrillic letters.
"Mikhail." she whispered, never taking her eyes off the firm skin beneath her fingertip.
"Mmmm"
"Why did you take me in?" It was a question that she thought of every day but dare never to ask. Tonight, however, the question seemed to roll out of her mouth before she could even think about it.
"Misha" he growled exasperated. "You know why."
Normally she would apologize and immediately retract the question, but this time she stayed vigilant. Still halfway leaning on his chest, she stared at his shut eyes and waited. Finally, his unwavering blue gaze meet hers again.
Seeing she wasn't going to let up he sighed in defeat before letting his hand that was somewhat beneath her, come up and rest on the curve of her back. The heavy weight pressing her flush against his naked torso.
"I took you in to save you and to save me." he looked at her with such blatant honesty, the answer gave her pause to think.
"Did I?"
"Did you what?"
"Did I save you?" she whispered, needing desperately to know if she at least did that, for this man she owed her life to. The hand on her waist slid up her back and buried itself into her loose hair while his eyes became dark with some uncharted emotion.
"You saved a part of me," her heart lurched at his words, she swear it didn't beat, "but you're destroying the rest of me."
Her heart never got a chance to react in pain, before the hand in her hair gripped her hair tightly and pulled her head back to his desire. Strong lips crashed against hers as his body turned and nearly switched their positions. The crushing weight of his body felt so beautifully alarming to the one part of her mind that wasn't stunned. Pulling away from her swollen lips he looked down at her with the fiercest expression she had ever seen.
"You're starting to seep into my mind," he growled. "Everything about you I never noticed, or purposely tried not to notice is starting to kill me. It's becoming harder and harder to ignore you." With each word, she felt his large hands glide over her body. Even with the thin layer of the shirt couldn't stop her from feeling the heat of his caress.
Distantly she heard herself moan at the feeling of his hands glide just underneath her breast. With a low growl, Mikhail dipped his head until his face was planted directly in the swell of her covered breast. The sharp feeling of his teeth nipping at her breast caused her to cry out.
The moment the sound escaped her lips, it was as if a trance was broken. Pulling away from her as if burned Mikhail sat up onto his heels. Rubbing his hand over his face, he looked at her with pain and guilt.
"What the fuck am I doing? You shouldn't be in here?" he groaned. "God you're just a kid."
A black hole seemed to form at the pit of her stomach as she watched him leave. Startled and partly in shock she slowly slipped from the tall bed and padded to the living room. The spot his keys normally sat was empty. The last time she felt pain like this was when she thought she was being kicked out. She didn't understand what happened. One moment, her dreams were coming true the next—her nightmares. Settling onto her own bed, she let the tears fall.
Chapter 12
No one said anything about the tangible tension surrounding the two. No one knew why Misha stopped talking to the boss. But what Leo did know, is that this was his moment. Between the new blonde broad Mikhail was supposedly dating and Misha's ongoing silent vow towards Mikhail, there was no better time than now.
It had been nearly two weeks now since everyone noticed Misha's seclusion. From what Leo could gather, Mikhail no longer ate breakfast with Misha. Now Leo was taking Misha to and from the studio, which she marched straight to and from, no more midday lunches or breaks in Mikhail's office. Leo couldn't be happier with the turn of events though the same could not be said for Misha.
Sitting in the chair next to her in the studio, Leo watched her focus intently on the laptop screen. Right now she was in the middle of editing music, something she normally would chat through while doing. Today, like the past few days, she remained dead silent as she worked. When she wasn't buried in her music all she did was eat and sleep, she was like a robot. Leo could tell it was worrying her friends, not to mention Krill.
Leo heard from some other guys that Krill had a rather loud conversation with Mikhail, and it wasn't Krill who was yelling. Everyone was shocked, and a little worried, to hear that Mikhail raised his voice, and to Krill no less. Mikhail Kulakov never yelled, he simply acted. From what he could piece together, Krill supposedly confronted Mikhail over his ongoing fight with Misha. But instead of listening to his captain yell and complain as per usual, Mikhail completely shut Krill down. Krill supposedly left very pissed.
Looking at the intense expression on her pretty oval face just seemed wrong somehow. Leo couldn't be happier with the opportunity to pry himself into her heart, but he needed her to focus on him and not her sadness.
"Come on let's go," taking the headphones off of her head he turned her chair around to face him.
"What are you doing, I need to work..." her voice sounded angry, but her eyes held a sense of defeat Leo was growing tired of seeing. Her face should be the full of light and excitement, not sadness from that asshole.
"We are going to go get hot chocolate," he interrupted. Tossing her coat, he watched her contemplate putting it on, finally with a sigh she slowly slipped her arms through the beige suede jacket.
The drive to the coffee shop was silent, just as all the rides as of late. On one hand, Leo couldn't love this fight between Misha and Mikhail more, but on the other hand it was actually making his progress with Misha harder. It was easier to get her to notice him when she would actually talk and not stay trapped in her mind.
Bringing their drinks to the corner table, he picked out Leo sat with his back against the wall. So he could not only see all the exits, but also so they could have some privacy in the corner.
"So are you going to tell me what's going on," he paused smiling devilishly. "Or am I supposed to suffer this in ignorance with everyone else?"
"Nothing is going on," she looked out the window. "Mikhail and I have just reached a different point in our...relationship," she choked out the last word, it nearly burned her throat to utter the word.
What was going on now between them is not what she would define a relationship. Misha wanted the ground to swallow her whole, anything to escape the onslaught of emotions. Regret consumed her for letting her pride destroy the one part of their relationship they did have, their friendship. But her pride burned forever bright, not allowing her to forget the way he left her on his bed looking the fool. The way the new dumb blonde woman pranced happily at his side, while she pined away on the side. Though she told herself every day to get over him, that it simply wasn't meant to be, she couldn't help herself as her eyes wandered up to his office window or across the living room to his door. The pain of her foolishness for the man was eating her alive.
The warm feeling of Leo's hand grabbing her nearly made her release the tears she had been saving for her nights. For the longest she seemed to just stare at the inked hand gently holding hers, she didn't even realize how much she needed the comfort. Grabbing his hands, she smiled brightly for him.
"There is that smile I have been missing," he soothed. "Tonight is the debut of your new song with that fairy, you should be thinking about that, not the boss."
"Oh my God will you stop calling Johnathan a fairy," she pleaded, exasperated by Leo's unwavering dislike for the new artist they were working with.
"Yeah well, anyone who wears jeans that tight deserves whatever name I give him." Leo obviously satisfied with her new mood, propped one foot on the empty seat next to them and lounged back comfortably in his chair.
Laughing at his overall cockiness, she took another sip of her hot chocolate, pushing her thoughts of Mikhail out of her mind for now. "Well, not all guys can be as handsome and stylish as you Leo."
