Forever Distraction (Distraction #3) (20 page)

I moved to the small kitchen and pour
ed a cup of coffee. Alex and his girl were in the living area with about five other people. I observed the tension-filled room before I entered it. The large, crazy, suit guy kept his eyes on me; I didn’t like it. I knew we were already enemies, and it took every testosterone-fueled piece of me to sit on the couch, on the opposite side of Cami. Food was the focal point; everyone was eating, no conversations, just the sounds of sipping coffee and chewing. It was mainly fancy danishes and bagels. I picked up the phone and dialed room service, ordering food I knew Katarina would eat and not this crap.

Alex caught my attention.
“They’re all here for Katarina.” His stare told me more. He was pissed. “They didn’t knock; they just came in. When I talked to her brother last night, I told him where we were staying and he said he would call in the morning. There are a hell of a lot of laws being broken.” That received a loud laugh from Mr. Dark and Impersonal. I stood; ready to confront the fucking elephant in the room. I stalked toward him, and his hand reached for something in his jacket. The fucker had a gun and he was giving me a sneak peek.

“What’s you
r problem?” I shouted, hoping to out-crazy him. He didn’t look down; instead, he took his hand off the gun and used his pointer finger to poke at my chest—one, two, three, four times. “Stop jabbing me with your finger, you fucking bitch!” I was looking to poke him back, but not give him cause to use his weapon. That got his attention; his glare lowered and I stepped forward so we were nose-to-frickin’-nose. I was seconds away from flicking the chip off his shoulder, the one he thought nobody would attempt to touch. I closed my fists into tight balls, my adrenaline coursing and rapidly encouraging me on.
And what did the motherfucker do?
He poked me in the middle of my chest
again.

“Sit the fuck down!
” he yelled, but I didn’t. I didn’t wait; I swung at his face, aiming for his cheek. I knew this could backfire, but I recognized this man as Katarina’s main bodyguard and I already knew he was going to take her away from me; the thought made me unstable. I swung again with my infamous left hook. Well, it wasn’t infamous yet, but as my fist hit his flesh and the feeling of power and euphoria hit me, I was a boxer with an infamous left hook. He didn’t even budge…or flinch…so I hit him again. Then, he growled loudly and shoved me, and I fell back onto the couch.

“Not today
, slugger.” He
fucking
just called me slugger. I moved to stand again and he put his foot out, and the bottom of his shoe knocked me back. Room service tapped on the door and entered; the silence in the room was broken as the squeaky cart rolled in and he delivered breakfast to the dining room table. I stared at my fighting companion, and he glared back. I watched the red area around his cheek and lip grow as he snarled at me.

Kat
arina entered the room and I glanced over to her; she was looking at Cami. It wasn’t a look so much, more like daggers she tossed at her with her glare. Then, she walked over and practically sat on my lap.

“I don’t share
. I won’t ever share him,” she said matter-of-factly to Cami before she twisted back to focus on me, and I wanted to laugh at my little tiger.

“Hey,” she
purred, just like the tiger I was thinking of her as and her face brightened, “how’s it going in here? Did you take my advice?  You know…to lighten up.” She leaned up and kissed my cheek. “I kind of want to punch sofa girl in the boob,” she whispered into my ear and I choked on my laugh, mainly because Katarina just said ‘boob’.

“Let’s eat.”
It was my attempt to distract her from the tension in the room. Her eyes shifted to the food around us, and she shook her head and wrinkled her nose. I stood and eyeballed the bodyguard. Katarina slipped her hand in mine and I walked her over to the table to our breakfast of scrambled eggs and yogurt with fruit. She sat first, and then started eating. She ate like she was starving. I wasn’t sure if she was aware of my absence or that I never sat down to join her for our meal; she was that hungry. The big guy walked over to stand next to me and I stared at him, amused at his surprised look. He started to say something, but I cut him off.

“
Shh, listen,” I whisper-yelled at him, and as if on cue, Katarina began to hum. I closed my eyes, enjoying the sound way too much. She continued to eat and hum, stopping momentarily to drink her water and twist in her chair to grin at me the most delicious, appreciative smile. I looked at her physical appearance for the first time since she came out of the bedroom. She was dressed in business attire, and her blouse was dark blue, her skirt was gray with blue stripes, and she had pantyhose and heels on. Her hair was in a bun, her bangs swept to the side, and she was wearing makeup. She appeared to be five years older, making me have mixed feeling about her look.

“What are you
thinking?” Her voice was muffled as she put more strawberries in her mouth.

“I was thinking your bun reminds me of when you danced.”

Her eyes focused solely on me. “You watched me dance?”

I smiled
, giving her the full-teeth smile she apparently loved. “I never missed a show. I even followed you afterward, hoping—like after the first show I watched you in—I could have a sundae and a cookie with you.”

She blushed
, making her appear youthful again. “We had a sundae together?” I only nodded; it broke my heart a little that she didn’t remember. Something I thought about for years wasn’t even a memory for her. “Thanks for breakfast,” she said, and her eyes drifted from mine to the man standing next to me. “Smith,” she greeted.

He settled back on his
heels, crossing his arms in a stance. I used the same stance to intimidate, dominate, but she wasn’t even fazed by it. I caught his eye and flashed him an amused smile.
Nice try
. I stepped back so he could hear me. “Doesn’t work for me either; she’s immune to it.” He raised a questioning eyebrow.

Kat
arina picked up her empty bowl, placed it on her plate, and began to move toward the miniature kitchen. The big man next to me moved to follow, and I put my arm out to block his path. “Wait.”

She twirled on the way to the kitchen
, and then stuck her leg out, bending her knee and her arm, and then twirled again; like an artist, the easy-flowing moves screamed beauty. It was a dance move I had watched multiple times, and it did different things to me now. She was so fucking hot. She looked at me and giggled. I had to wipe the drool that almost oozed out the side of my mouth.

“Did she just dance?”
the big guy asked.

“Yep
,” I answered with a happy sigh.

She walked back into the room and stopped just short of me
, saying, “I asked Gracey to take measurements; I want you to fit in. She’ll have clothes waiting for you at the office. I want you to come with me today.” She ran a finger over my hand and then looked at me in a haze, her lips lifting into a tempting smile. I leaned in and kissed her lips, devouring her mouth in the process. A loud “Katarina” pulled us away, breathless.

“Oh!” She blushed again. “This is Smith. He’s my
…” she looked at him and raised her shoulders; it was clear she didn’t have a clue what his title was, “…he was my grandfather’s bodyguard. He’s like my uncle,” she ran a finger over his swollen lip and the puffy area around his eye, “my favorite uncle.” He smiled at her, and his hard face was now soft and…goofy.

“We need to talk about last night
,” he pressured after he seemed to reel in his unconscious reaction to her sweet attention. She dropped her hand and bit both of her lips together, looking away. “You left the club without telling me, and now Crew is in Intensive Care. I was at the hospital all night and no one has any answers.” She smoothed her blouse down and then her skirt, avoiding his eyes. “I need…something. How did you end up here? How come he’s hurt and you’re not? There are too many questions,” he growled, shaking his head.

Two women began moving around me
, measuring different body parts. I unbuttoned my dress shirt and slipped it off never taking my eyes off Katarina. Her eye caught my stare and moved over my bare chest to a spot on my shoulder, and then her eyes widened and darted back to mine. I cranked my head to the side and looked at the beautiful bite marks left by my princess. She tiptoed closer to me, running her hands up my chest and her finger over the bright red bite mark; her eyes followed her finger and then she glanced up, a breathtaking smile on her made-up face.

“Mine
,” I repeated the words she mouthed silently as she stepped back and another lady examined the marks.

“That’s right
, princess; I am yours.” The examining lady’s eyes widened, followed by a weak, “Oh my…Katarina.” All I could do was grin.

Jason

The trip to the hospital was less entertaining. Smith
, whose real name was Owen, continued to grill Katarina, referring to her as ‘Miss Covington’, which irritated her to no end. They had a game between the two of them. He made her angry, and she returned her anger with fire. It was like watching siblings fight; no one ever won, but some good shots made it enjoyable to listen to and funny. She didn’t seem to have anything bad to really say to him. Katarina’s lack of vindictiveness was refreshing and fucking sexy. She referred to him as ‘old man’ mainly, which worked. He grabbed the bridge of his nose, attempting to hold off a headache.

What Kat
arina had on her side was information, information she was holding onto and not willing to share—, which was confusing as hell to me. These men worked for her, right. They lived to protect her…right? Why in the hell wouldn’t she just share whatever information they wanted to know? I also found out she’d been on a silent-strike for the last four days, which I found amusing. When we arrived at the hospital, I felt a little guilt for hitting Owen. The shit Katarina made him put up with was enough to drive a sane man to the nuthouse. We left the vehicle, and Owen referred to me as her ‘boy toy’—a stab at me for following her around—but Katarina didn’t bat an eye, replying, “That’s right, a toy I can really sink my teeth into.”

I chuckled at the statement. I could sense
her unease as we entered the hospital, making our way up to ICU. She felt guilty, responsible for what happened to Crew, but the way she continued to look down at her outfit and smooth it down made me feel there was something else behind her nervous energy. A weird thing happened to me; I suddenly felt her anxiety. I had a secret link inside her head and was on alert. I reached out, slipped my fingers through hers, and pulled her close.
Mine.

We stood outside Crew’s room
, viewing the machines. Katarina was businesslike when the doctors came over. I listened to her use, understand the clinical terms, and was reminded that her parents were doctors. I had done research on her when she was young, and even more recently, and I never found any pictures of her parents. I was assuming that was what her anxiety stemmed from. When the two doctors left, her attention turned to me.

“They said I can go in,
but just me.” Her blue eyes took on a lighter blue shade, and I was lost somewhere deep inside them when she asked me a question. “I think I should pray for him. What should I say? I only know the Lord’s prayer.”

She
scanned her surroundings and I grabbed her face in both of my hands. “Start with that.” Her eyes calmed as I stroked her face. “Then, ask God to help the doctors to help him; think about the details and ask Him to help the medicine work, and then ask for Crew to have the strength for the healing to take place.” She closed her eyes in understanding, and I kissed her forehead and then released her. She disappeared into the room and I watched her approach Crew’s side and take a seat. She closed her eyes and bowed her head, and then I could see her lips moving. I heard Owen approach and stand next to me, observing everything I was.

“She came to the club with him last night just after midnight. She used my name and
‘Adeline Covington’ to get in. It was completely random I was there, but I was, and they called me immediately. My friend and I watched her; she’s innocent and,” I paused, swallowed, and took a deep breath as I continued to watch Katarina pray, “I didn’t want anyone to touch her. She sat on his lap.” I nodded my head toward the window. “They watched, mainly, but then she kissed him. I didn’t do anything; I didn’t even want her to see me. She left me, and I was fucking pissed off about it. They moved to the bondage rooms and she sat next to him, but a crowd settled around her and I relied on my friend to watch her.

“
I moved to the staff part of the club to observe everyone. I was extra security, so I roamed and added extra eyes. I suddenly caught rapid movement and I just
knew
it was her. She must have zoned in on all the exits, you know…like she does…and chose the hidden exit by the bar. Most people don’t even know it’s there, but Katarina’s not most people. I caught up with her and pulled her into a storage room. She was fucking shaking, violently shaking. My plan was to hide her from what she was running from, but I couldn’t leave her. She was petrified.

“
I heard people outside the door; it sounded like two men beating on one man, but I can’t be sure. I should’ve helped, but I just held her. She was spooked because she saw her father; he was whipping someone. Fucking prick hurt her; if I ever meet him…” I turned toward Owen, “…he’ll wish he was dead.” I thought back to last night and the people in the security room. “Did you catch who was following Crew on the surveillance cameras?” We both continued to observe Katarina while we spoke.

“No
, whoever beat up Crew erased the whole time Katarina was there. We don’t know if it was done inside the club or from someone logging into surveillance and then deleting it. I have people working on it. I have a terrible feeling this was someone trying to get to Katarina. I think if you weren’t there, we’d be thinking she took off again, and no one would be able to confirm otherwise. She thinks she’s invincible.” I looked up at him because of the frustration in the tone of his voice. He shook his head as worry spread throughout his features.

****

We entered her brother’s office; Katarina hadn’t said a word since we left the hospital. Brian stood and walked over when all four of us entered.

“Kat
,” he said, and irritation flared in her eyes at the way he said her name.

“Brian
,” she mocked his voice.

“Did you hire Crew’s replacement already?” He looked at me.

“No, this is Jason. He
has
a job; he’s a sexpert.” I choked on my laugh as she moved to the desk in the far corner, never missing a beat. “I am going to fire the construction company that’s working for the foundation today.” Brian moved quickly toward her desk; she methodically took her jacket off and hung it on a coat hook behind her desk, and then she sat very properly and crossed her legs. “I don’t like the owner. He was foul with me. His language was inappropriate, and I learned more about how his last booty call than I’d like to know.”

Brian grumbled and he adjusted his tie. Again
, I found it humorous she made these strong men crumble around her. She continued, “I put a call into Father Nickels and he gave me some good leads. I will have him replaced before the 11am meeting.” His face twitched and he glared at Owen. Then, he paced back to his desk, clicking out of his computer and fleeing his office. Katarina called out before he left, “Glad we had this talk.” She grabbed the phone and started making calls.

S
he picked up a pair of glasses on her desk and slid them over the bridge of her perfect nose. Her voice trailed into the phone, but her new studious appearance rocked me a little. She was frickin’ hot right now. She reminded me of a principal at my elementary school I’d had a huge crush on. She was going to have to wear the glasses later. I made myself comfortable on the couch in the corner and pulled out my phone. I texted Alex, making sure he was on the road returning home. The morning was somewhat chaotic, and I never really got to say goodbye.

I started to doze off
, but when I heard Katarina’s office chair squeak, I knew she was on the move. “Where are you going, princess?”

She looked over at me all businesslike. Her chin stuck up
defiantly and I laughed out loud.
Bullshit if she thinks she’s going to treat me like I’m one of them.
“To the bathroom,” she answered attempting to snub me.

I jumped into stride right next to her.
“All right, let’s go.” She halted in her tracks and I flashed her my smug smile, because she was trying to dominate me and it wasn’t going to happen. I was different than them; my punishments stuck.

“You can’t follow me into the bathroom, Jason.”

“I lost you in a bathroom once. It won’t happen again,” I assured her with a glare.

“You can’t follow me into the bathroom for the rest of my life. You didn’t do this at home.”

She said two things in that sentence that fucked with my head: ‘for the rest of my life’, insinuating I would be there every day with her, and ‘home’; she called my place home. “When we are at
home,
princess, it’s different and you know it. Besides, I gotta go too; we’ll make it a twofer. I’ll let you go first.”

She huffed and widen
ed her stride in true pissed-off-princess form. She opened the bathroom attached to the large office and I stepped inside with her, peeking out into the office one more time. The shocked faces on everyone were priceless. I closed and locked the door and she flinched; I saw it. “Are you done throwing a tizzy fit?” She ignored me, lifting her skirt, revealing her garter straps and bow panties. “You’re hot, princess; the whole librarian, teacher, principal thing you have going on is blazingly hot.” She took her seat on the toilet and looked at me with disobedience again, like she was aggravated. She finished and washed her hands over the sink as I took a leak. When she finished drying her hands, she reached for the doorknob and I moved quickly, shoving her against the door.

“A wise person told me early this morning to lighten up.” I wrapped my arms around her
, and she struggled for a second, but then melted. I heard whimpers and then…sobs.

“I did that to him
, Jason,” she whispered. “He’s lying in the hospital because of me.” She let out more sobs and I squeezed her tightly.

“You didn’t do that to him, princess. He was in the wrong place
; that’s all. Shh, don’t cry. Please don’t cry.” My heart ached when I heard her cry. She eventually stopped and I pulled away, wiping her tears with my thumb. Her sad eyes drifted up to mine and I bent down to kiss her sadness away.

“Tell me again about putting me in your trunk and taking me away from here.” She rested her head on my chest.

“We’ll travel. I want to see the world with you, but not in the trunk. I bet you would love to see the world with me. We’ll have sex everywhere…with each other.” I meant it to be funny when I said it, and I waited for laughter. When it happened, my achy heart swelled with joy.

“I thought you wanted babies with me.”

The sound of her breathy voice made me instantly horny. “They can come. We’ll hire someone to take care of them so we can make more.”

Again
, her easy laughter made me feel like I was invincible. “Maybe we could see animals? Wild horses? Or other wild animals? Do you think Bo would like that?”

I held her close
, enjoying this moment more than any other, the moment we talked about our future together.
Fuck—this girl, she stirs so many emotions.
“Bo would be happy anywhere,” I answered and held her, trying hard to savor this moment and every emotion, every smell, and every touch, “but he definitely wants babies.”

A
nother giggle and just like that, I could die a happy man. “You smell good, Riggs…I love you.”

Moisture filled the brim of my eyes
, threatening to roll over, and I could only say one thing back. Lame, I know, but my brain wouldn’t allow anything else. “I believe you.” I really did; she was mine and I was hers, on a different level. We were friends; she let me inside her forever world. I was no longer a part of her rules. She wouldn’t leave me, because we made plans.

“I want Jessica’s number. I am going to send someone for Bo right away
,” her voice strong again.

“Katarina,
don’t fuck with my heart again…” I threw an ‘okay?’ at the end, because I needed her confirmation of understanding.

She shook her head
, and sadness took the place where hope had just been. “I won’t. I don’t like this place; it makes me throw tizzies.” I laughed and her face transformed into bright light with just a small smile playing at her lips. “Tomorrow, we go to my home. You’re going to be with me, right? Can you take a break from the sex expert thing?”

Funny fucking girl
.
“I don’t know. It’s kind of hard.” She raised an eyebrow, and then I took her hand and placed it on my cock.

“Maybe you can be
my
sexpert.” A rose color flushed her cheeks after she said it. “That was really corny, huh?”

I liked her corny side.
“Yeah…it was. How about we talk about your bow panties?” I lifted her up and set her on the marble countertop. “Fucking bow panties,” I looked up at her as I positioned her knees up and spread her legs, “what genius thought up bow panties?” My eyes dropped to her center and I bent down to get a closer look. The material was smooth as I slipped my finger over her clit, thinking,
Fucking white bow panties.

M
y fingers played with the ends of the bows and it took everything inside me not to yank them apart and open my present. I leaned in closely, smelling her scent, the sweet aroma between her legs, and then I gently moved the panties to the side, running my tongue between the swells of her lips and kissing her sweet nub. Her fingers laced through my hair, and her tugs distracted me from pleasuring her. The sharp pain with each tug made my cock jump. “Hands on the counter.” She obeyed and I buried my face in her goods.