Dangerous Liaisons (Crimson Legion MC #1)

7. CHAPTER SEVEN

CHAPTER SEVEN

A robe secured around her waist; she slipped from the bedroom. It had taken everything to not wake Xavier when she had woken up. During the night, he had pulled her to him, taking her several more times, and the ache between her thighs was a pleasant reminder. She needed a hot shower, but she settled for coffee, making her way to the kitchen. Inside the doorway, she paused at seeing Kira, a cup already in her hand.

“I see the big one is here.”

She made her way over to grab a cup from the cabinet. She poured coffee from the fresh pot into her cup. “You were out late.”

“Eddie is a fun distraction.” Kira studied her, eyes roaming over her appearance. She sipped her coffee. “Someone broke glass in the hallway.”

“I’m fine. I dropped my drink by accident.”

“I am sure.”

Isabella rolled her eyes and focused on fixing her coffee with cream and sugar on the counter. “Do not start.”

“I am only concerned. While I am glad you are taking my advice, I didn’t think you would pick one of them.”

“It’s not serious.”

“I see how he looks at you. You must be firm with him and make sure he is not confused. We cannot afford trouble with the MC.”

“I’ll handle it.”

“Good.” Kira paused. “Was he acceptable? He is quite large with enormous hands. He is proportional, da?”

She cursed at the blush that covered her cheeks. “Please don’t ask me these things.”

“I am only curious.”

She paused as the other woman looked past her with raised eyebrows. A quick glance over her shoulder alerted her that Xavier had woken up, and she inhaled at spotting him in the doorway, a towel around his hips, and his hair wet from an obvious shower .

“Bol’shoy medved’,” Kira murmured into her mug.

She ignored her friend’s description of him as a big bear, beyond thankful that he didn’t understand Russian.

“Your clothes are where you left them,” Kira commented, her tone laced with amusement. “I will give you a moment.”

Isabella didn’t look away from Xavier as the other woman disappeared from the kitchen. She lowered her coffee onto the counter. “Good morning.”

“Morning.”

Fighting the sudden temptation to touch him, she toyed with the sash of her robe. “You’re leaving?”

“I need to get back. Hunter texted he needs me down at the bar.”

Nodding in understanding, she allowed herself to approach him. “What happened…”

“We both wanted it, Isa. Don’t overthink it.”

Her eyes trailed over his tattoos, and she didn’t stop herself from touching him, Xavier inhaling sharply at her fingertips trailing the ink there. She traced the image of the skull displayed in the center of his chest before bringing her gaze back to his. “And if I wanted it again?”

Xavier lowered his head, and she met his lips with her own. She melted into the kiss without complaint and found it difficult to pull away from him.

He brushed the side of her face with the back of his fingers. “You’ve got my number? ”

“I do.”

“Use it. I’ll answer.”

She gestured over her shoulder. “I’ll get your clothes for you.” She hesitated at the sound of a familiar ringtone echoing from her office.

“Answer it. I can get my clothes.” Pressing another kiss on her lips, he walked into the living room.

Isabella exhaled and made her way into her office, clearing her throat as she settled down in the desk chair and composed herself. Hitting accept on the blinking icon; she smiled as the Zoom window loaded.

Her son, Mikhail, greeted her, a wide smile on his face. “Mamushka!”

“Hello, Mishka. It is getting late there, is it not?”

“Uncle Sergei says it’s bedtime soon, but I’m not sleepy,” he pouted. “I want to stay up and count stars!” He paused with a sigh. “I miss you, Mamushka. I wish to come to America. Can I fly in the plane, Mamushka?”

“It is almost summer, little one. You will be here soon enough.”

His grin widened in his excitement. “Uncle Sergei says I can fly the plane! I want to be a pilot!”

She overheard Sergei chuckle in the background. “Did he now?” she laughed. “Be a good boy and let me speak to your uncle.”

He disappeared, and seconds later, Nikolai’s oldest brother appeared in the camera frame. She paused at hearing her front door open and shut.

“Isabella?”

Blinking, she refocused on the screen. “You are well?”

His gray eyes studied her. “We are fine.”

Five years older than Nikolai, he was the most serious of the three Romanov brothers. She accounted for it because of the responsibility he had always carried for the family, losing his brother affecting him as it did her. He barely spoke about that night, not one to share his feelings or dwell on his misfortunes. The only thing that seemed to outweigh his grief these days seemed to be his anger.

“I take it that things are going well with the Crimson Legion,” he remarked. “Kira informs me there was little push back to our proposal.”

It wasn’t surprising that Kira had been keeping Sergei updated. He was the oldest and last remaining Romanov outside of Mikhail. When Nikolai died, it was his right to take over the family, but in a move that shocked her, he settled for vengeance instead of duty. Sergei had passed the seat onto her in a move she knew was from the expectation his drive for revenge would end his life. It was something that she refused to allow to happen, unwilling to lose yet another person she cared for in her life. Using his connections to gain power, she joined his quest for vengeance, but maintained a steady hold on the Romanov seat at the table. The immediate push back from such an unlikely move had ended in bloodshed. In the end, she allowed Sergei his rage, and in return, he served her without question.

“We’ve come to an agreement.”

“And Diego Martinez?”

“Unhappy but alive.”

“He will need to be dealt with, Isabella.”

“He is not a problem.” She settled back into her chair with a sigh. “If he becomes one, I will deal with it as I always have, Sergei.”

“I will deal with him when it is time. You will not trouble yourself with such matters.”

There was no arguing with him, so she nodded. She glanced over at the clock on the wall. “It will be Mikhail’s bedtime soon. You’re still scheduled to arrive in one week?”

“Da, you will keep me updated on business.”

It wasn’t a question; they both knew that.

“Kiss Mikhail goodnight for me and tell him I love him. I will see him soon.”

He nodded at the instructions. “If you have any problems with the MC or Martinez, I will expect to be notified immediately.” He stroked his trimmed beard. “Is there anything you wish to tell me, malen’kiy zayka?”

“No, and I do not care about that nickname.” The affectionate term for ‘little bunny’ had been a favorite of Nikolai’s. He had teased her when they first met that her soft appearance hid sharp teeth. “How many times must I tell you this?”

“It suits you. Dasvidaniya, Isabella.”

He disconnected the call, and for several minutes, she stared at the dark screen.

A soft knock on the door frame snapped her back to reality where Kira stood. “We need to go if we are to be on time.” The Russian’s gaze lingered on the laptop. “Sergei means well.”

“I know this.”

“There was a time I thought you and he…”

“Do not speak of that.” Isabella pushed from the desk and rose to her feet. “I will not allow you to dishonor my husband’s memory by speaking of such things.”

“I mean no disrespect, but neither am I blind.”

“I won’t entertain such ideas. We have too much at stake, too much to worry about outside of trivial matters.”

“I know you found comfort in this biker, but Sergei would be the safer choice.”

Isabella snorted. “For whom?” she questioned as she came from around the desk. “We have talked of this before; this is the last time I will speak of it. My choices are that of my own, only mine to allow someone in my bed, but it will not distract me from what I must do for this family.”

“I only worry, my friend. It has been four years since Nikolai passed. Nothing states you must forever be alone. He would not want you to be unhappy, but you must be careful. This thing with Xavier…”

“I told you, it’s nothing.”

“Then you are free to choose another as well.”

“You are incorrigible,” Isabella laughed.

Kira shrugged, following her from the room. “You are a powerful and beautiful woman. Any man would be a fool to not want in your bed. Sometimes you must take what you want.”

“Kira!”

“It is a fact. Eddie does not mind this.”

“Is that why you’ve allowed him to put a hickey on you?”

The Russian stopped dead in her tracks, and she had no choice but to turn to look at her.

“What is this term you speak of?”

Isabella motioned to the side of her neck, past her ear. “A hickey, a mark left by a man when he bites or sucks the skin,” she chuckled as she continued to her room. “Check the bathroom mirror,” she hesitated. “Please do not break anything.”

She had barely changed clothes when the sound of loud cursing in Russian echoed from the hallway.