Polar Opposites (In Aeternum Book 4) (4 page)

She rummaged through the storage, light clenched between her teeth. “Our ride,” she mumbled. Withdrawing the can of gasoline, she then began dumping it over the upholstery.

“What… What are you doing?”

Bailey paused and looked over the bow as the water churned before splitting to allow the sleek black conning tower of a US fast attack submarine to appear as they rose. The sight was always so powerful for her. She thrust the can at him.

“Finish pouring.” She went to the helm and checked the screen. Their pursuers were moving closer.

“Done.”

She shouldered her bag, the strap crossing her chest, and moved them nearer to the large black silhouette. A flashlight shined on them and she blinked before it moved to the side, allowing her to see four armed men plus the one holding the light.

“Ms Hyde?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Let’s get you on board.”

Three minutes later, she stood on the hull and watched the speedboat go up in flames. Then she and Ivan descended into the sub. The hatch closed and they sank below the surface.

“Chief Terry, ma’am. Sir. Cap would like to see you.”

“Yes, sir.” She didn’t even bother looking at Ivan.

Her rescued man hadn’t said anything since she’d had him pour the gasoline. He trailed her through the narrow passageways to the bridge.

“Permission to come aboard.”

“Granted, Ms Hyde.”

She walked close and shared a handshake with Captain Roger Woodson.

“Good to see you, sir.”

“You too.” He peered past her. “He something special?”

“So I’ve been told.” She stifled a yawn and met Ivan’s gaze. He watched her, not his surroundings, and, as before, his direct stare created a wealth of heat in her gut.

“You probably want to rest. I relegated a stateroom for you—it’s the XO’s. You’ll have to share.”

“Fine.”

Ivan’s remark shocked her.

“COB will show you to it.”

Bailey gave a nod of thanks to the executive officer. She understood the difficulties of a woman suddenly being thrown on board a sub and didn’t wish to create any tension for the men. “Thanks for the ride, Captain.” She walked out, hiding her smile as Ivan stepped right after her.

She thanked the COB, chief of the boat, as he opened the door to her temporary quarters. Then they were alone. Ivan stepped closer to her—his large body dominated the confined space. In the depth of his incredible eyes, she saw passion and a thousand promises. Promises she wanted to indulge in.

It wasn’t her style. Nor her wont. However, at this moment, nothing else mattered. There was too much that sizzled between them to ignore. She removed her shoulder bag and dropped it on the floor. While she didn’t have any condoms with her, she didn’t care—she was on the shot and knew she couldn’t get pregnant. His records, which she’d seen previously, had shown him to be clean as well, so there was no reason not to indulge. Ivan met her in the middle. His strong arms banded around her and he held her gaze as their lips met.

Chapter Three

Ivan groaned as her tongue slid along his. Her taste—intoxicating. Were he asked to give it a name, he would say velvety peppermint. Smooth and cool yet warm, it wrapped around him in a way nothing had before.

Not even Jaydee.

She fitted into him like the perfect puzzle piece. Lush curves pressed into him. Tempting him. Luring him.

He burrowed his hands into her hair and held her tight, surging through her mouth. Her tongue danced and wove around his. She wrapped her arms around his neck as a small purr rumbled up from her throat.

Desire swelled and he rubbed his erection against her. She didn’t back away. In fact, she pressed closer.

“Ivan.” Her voice, a deep rasp, skated over his skin.

He loved his name rolling from between her lips. Ivan backed her into the door, tugging harder on her hair.

“Tell
me
your name,” he ordered.

“Bailey Hyde.”

“Bailey,” he said, testing it on his lips. He liked it. Like the liquor that shared her name, she had a taste that flowed easily across his taste buds. Much like the drink, she was addictive.

Her moans reverberated through him and his cock jerked in his jeans. She lowered her arms and he inhaled sharply when her fingers trailed along his waistband. Bailey undid the buttons as he continued to dominate her mouth.

One. Two. Three. Four. And five. All were now undone.

She pushed his jeans down over his hips to pool at his ankles. He drew back, staring at her kiss-swollen lips for a brief second before meeting her gaze. Her golden eyes were dark with heated passion. It hit him low in the gut. The tip of her tongue snuck out and skimmed along her plump bottom lip. Ivan whipped off his shirt and allowed it to fall to the floor. Her grunt of approval preceded her hands touching his chest. He stepped out of his loafers and jeans before reaching for her again.

“You have too much on,” he mumbled against her lips.

“Need help taking it off?”

He smiled. “No. I can do it just fine. Slowly. One article at a time.”

“Too long.” She pushed him back, ripped off her T-shirt, and shimmied out of her cotton pants. Her canvas shoes sailed in a different direction. “Now works for me.”

“Damn, you’re fine.” His words left his mouth in Russian.

Her entire body looked to him as if she’d been dipped in luscious chocolate. His mouth watered at the prospect of tasting her. Everywhere. Her underwear were plain and unadorned. Didn’t matter. A ten dollar set or an expensive purchase—he knew his response would be the same. Cellular. Visceral. Powerful.

Not even the scars sprinkled over her body could take away from her beauty. Ivan approached, reached between her full breasts and unhooked the closure. The white material fell away and he approved.

She hooked her thumbs in the waistband of her low bikini cut briefs and arched an eyebrow at him. “Change your mind?”

“Fuck no.”

He stripped off his boxers, gaze remaining on her as she removed her final article of clothing. Her pussy, covered by close-cropped hair, drew his gaze. She stepped free and moved toward him.

Their mouths collided in a roar of craving. He couldn’t get enough and the need that had calmed down slightly during the disrobing kicked back into high gear. Ivan grasped his cock and slowly fisted himself. She added her hand to his and he groaned.

Her touch was firm and warm. Up and down, she stroked his rigid length. He released himself and lifted her, pressing her back against the wall. She licked her lips and swiped her finger over the head of his cock, smearing the pre-cum with the pad of her thumb.

“I want in you.”

She breathed hard while repositioning his cock to poise at the entrance to her pussy. He flexed his hips, their eyes locked, and drove into her. Her gasp was music to his ears. The feel of her velvet heat wrapped around him like a custom glove—heaven.

He leaned into her, pressing his lips to the base of her neck. She smelled amazing.

Bailey sank her short nails into the muscles of his back. She rotated her hips and her pupils dilated. “Yes,” she hissed.

Ivan tangled one hand back in her thick hair and braced his other against the wall behind her. He began with slow, deep strokes. The fire in his veins grew with each heartbeat. The slickness surrounding him launched his need to another realm. Never had his reaction to anyone been so volatile before.

He liked it.

The sting from her nails digging into his skin spurred him on further. He leaned into her, his strokes quickening. His blood sang and he knew he wouldn’t last long.

Her groans filled the air. She tightened her grip around his waist as her nails subsequently secured their position further. He captured one taut nipple, swirling his tongue over it. Her walls clenched around his cock as she gasped.

Right breast. Left breast. He paid both of them homage as he continued to thrust within her. The scent of her arousal permeated the air and it increased his desire.

She moved her hands to his head, threading her fingers through his hair. He gazed up at her when she pulled him back. Her eyes were wild with passion. He opened his mouth to speak and she shook her head. Ivan got it. No talking.

He could live with that. Still, surely screaming was allowed. And Ivan planned on having her cries reverberate off all the walls.

* * * *

Hours later, he stirred awake. Along his body pressed the soft curves of a woman. He smiled. Bailey. Their intermingled smells floated about the air.

She slept, using his shoulder as a cradle. The hair upon his skin was smooth and cool. She breathed slow and deep, resting her hand upon his bare torso. Ivan didn’t even bother opening his eyes—there was no need to see they were together on the floor. It didn’t matter where they’d ended up, there wasn’t much room regardless.

They’d fucked on every surface. The desk. The chair. Floor. She stirred, rubbing against him, arousing him again.

“You’re awake, why?” Her soft voice wove around him.

Sounds accented, perhaps Spanish.
The accent was faint but he picked up on it—she hadn’t had it before.

“Something woke me.”

She closed her hand around his cock. “Something?”

“You could say that.” He gritted his teeth as she slid down his body. Her warm breath, the forerunner to the heat of her mouth as she welcomed his cock between her lips.

Shit.

Bailey loved his taste. Salty. Male. She took more of him in, swirling her tongue around the large mushroom-shaped head. In her hand, he grew harder as she sucked and worked his length.

She bent forward and moved her hand over his shaft, her mouth having provided the wetness. Up and down she bobbed her head, her fingers drifting occasionally to tease his balls.

More.
That singular word was the mantra in her mind. She craved more of everything. Tonight she was going for broke, for they had no future.

Ivan Vinokourov was her polar opposite.

He fisted his hands in her hair, his hips thrusting faster. She relaxed her jaw and let him set the pace he desired. She just enjoyed having him in her mouth. Alternating the firmness of her touch, she hummed as he increased his pace. Words she didn’t understand spilled from his mouth. The emotion of them, she did.

“Almost there.” The words were guttural English. They sounded forced.

She brushed off his attempt to draw her up his body—she wanted to taste his seed. Bailey grazed her teeth along his shaft. He trembled.

One final thrust, driving his cock deep, he came. Bailey kept him in her mouth until no more of his essence escaped. This time when he tugged on her, she went up and lowered herself onto his hard shaft. Capturing her lower lip in her teeth, she began to rock on him. She rotated her hips, rose and fell until she found a rhythm and speed she wanted.

Ivan laced their fingers then used his strength to tug her forward. Their lips met and she moaned into his mouth. He filled her and she closed her eyes, allowing the pleasure to wash over her. Unparalleled, it rocked her. She moved on him, breaking their lip connection. She took him in fully then lifted until just the head of his cock remained in her.

She gasped when his mouth closed over the taut nipple on her left breast. His teeth grazed it and she shuddered, her internal muscles clenching around him.

“Let go,” he muttered, not releasing his hold on her flesh.

She listened. Bailey increased her speed until her own release poured over her. He followed her over the cliff and filled her with his seed. Momentarily, she held still upon him, hands now splayed on his chest. Beneath her palms, his heart pounded as hard as hers did.

“We need to get up. I have to see the captain.”

Ivan narrowed his eyes and captured her hips in his large hands. “You know this man.”

“Yes.”

“How so?”

She began to rise only to stop when he wouldn’t release his hold on her. “We’ve worked together before.”

He held her gaze, his eyes burning with an eerie possession. It unnerved her and she climbed off him, not allowing him to stop her a second time. She made short work of cleaning up. As she fixed her pants, she glanced to her left and saw Ivan had followed suit.

“No need for you to come with me. Stay and get some rest. You’ll be home soon.” She shoved her feet into her shoes and pivoted to the door.

Ivan grabbed her shoulder, halting her. “That’s it then?”

One eyebrow arched, she glanced back at him. “You expected more? Like what?”

“I don’t know, perhaps a bit of an explanation as to why this happened?”

She shrugged. “Attraction?”

“I meant you and why you came to rescue me. Why anyone from Theta Corps did.”

She opened the hatch. “I was following orders. That was my reason.”

“Just following orders?” His tone had a bite to it.

“Yes.” She stepped through and turned back. “I will see you in a while.” Bailey shut the door in his face and strode off, nimbly avoiding the other men who traversed the tube. “Permission to—”

“Granted, Ms Hyde.” The captain waved her forward.

She stepped closer, nodding at the XO and the COB before halting beside the man she’d come to speak with.

“Everything okay?” he asked, barely glancing down at her.

“Yes, sir.”

“So you came just to visit?”

“I need to get word out to my boss.”

“Where’s your man?”

Her stomach erupted into flutters at those words. Her man. She could see herself with a man like him easily. They might not know one another that well but it didn’t matter. She saw how he conducted himself. Cool. Composed. She liked that.

“I suspect the good doctor is sleeping.”

“He knows not to wander?”

She shrugged. “Was I supposed to tell him not to?”

“Lord love you, Bailey. You do keep things simple.”

“I find it best that way.” She slipped her hands into her pockets and rolled her shoulders. A good bed and some uninterrupted sleep would be a godsend.

“We’re not surfacing for a while but we’re also not under radio silence. Go see Benson, he’ll get the message out for you. I had some coveralls left in the room for you.”