Page 23 of Hunter's Trial

“You should see the other guy,” He teases.

I got him out just in time. I knew that my hunches were right.

“Really.” Nikolai says as he curls a finger under my chin and lifts my face to look at him in the eye. “It’s nothing. I’ve had plenty worse.”

I’m sure that’s true… but it doesn’t make me feel any better about it.

“I’ll find you something to wear then.” I mutter lamely and drop my hand.

Nikolai chuckles - it’s a wonderful sound. Rich and full as he shrugs a shoulder. “Not that I mind your concern. Touch all you like.”

My face heats. I must be blushing like a fool as I turn my back on him. The sounds of water starting up in the bathroom follow shortly after as he must be getting the blood off of him. I should be ashamed of the fact that he almost looked… sexy with all of the blood on him. Someday, I should look into therapy.

I rummage through my drawers for another loose shirt. Well, it won’t be loose on Nikolai’s hulking frame. Other than squeezing into some of my yoga pants… the best I can find is some shorts that aren’t going to leave very much to the imagination.

Hell, maybe I should just let him wear the towel that he’s going to come out here in. I can just picture it now - Nikolai’s large, perfectly muscled frame dripping with water so that his skin is practically glistening. Towel slung low on his hips as he holds it closed with one hand. I can picture it. Better yet, he could come out here wholly and utterly naked as he uses the towel to dry his hair.

I nearly drool over myself.

Pull yourself together, Kate.

Holding my oversized t-shirt and loose shorts to my chest I allow myself to indulge in the fantasy of what I imagine the other half of Nikolai might look like naked. So distracted by the image, in fact, that I almost don’t register the very real, actual, Nikolai coming into my bedroom like a damned Greek statue with the towel around his waist.

It’s every bit as attractive as I thought that it was going to be.

I roll back through my feet to stand and shove the oversized clothes at Nikolai quickly as I rush past him into the still steamy bathroom while I mutter some sort of nonsensical sounds in his direction. I slam the bathroom door shut so hard that I almost startle myself.

I bend over the bathroom counter, letting the cool marble press against my face as I try to collect myself. He’s going to see how embarrassed I am. It’s not a good look for me. He’s just here to help me out, after all. Isn’t he?

I have to handle this. Now.

I strip quickly and turn on the shower. I take a few moments to let the water get nice and heated before stepping under the normally relaxing spray. It’s not going to be enough to properly relax me. Not after tonight. I already have so much that I need to handle come morning.

But thanks to Nikolai, I have the time to wait until morning. I don’t have to do it right now. He’s here. He’s going to keep us safe, no matter what. I can’t remember the last time that I actually went to sleep and felt safe. I’ve been waking up every few hours since leaving Billy. I always have to mad dash to check on Liz in the middle of the night. But with Nikolai here? I can’t imagine that anybody wouldn’t be scared of him coming after them down a darkened hallway.

Maybe that’s what finally settles my mind enough to sit down on the floor of the shower. My hands roam over my body, relishing the feeling of actually being alive and not in a constant state of fear. When was the last time that I even showered without having to have all the doors open?

Nikolai’s here.

As I wash up, I tell myself that he’s got things handled, no matter what, even as my hand dips between my legs. The water is going to drown out any sounds that I might make anyway. I can relax - just a little bit. Besides, seeing Nikolai half naked was more than I was prepared for at a time like this.

My breathing quickens as my fingers move in the same comfortable patterns that I always know will get me off quickly. I can’t even begin to imagine what it might be like if Nikolai was the one in here, doing this for me. Would he take his time? He would know all of the right places to touch a woman. I know that for sure. Billy never made me cum - but Nikolai? I’m sure he’s the kind of man that makes sure his woman cums before he does. He would make it a point of pride.

In my mind’s eye, he’s talking me through it. That husky, accented voice in my ear just like it had been earlier. His lips against the shell of my ear as he coaxes me higher. My fingers move in accordance to the version of Nikolai inside my mind as I push closer to my climax. My head falls back against the shower wall as my eyes drift shut. My back arches as my toes point, flexing my calves as I get closer still.

I don’t even realize that Nikolai’s name tumbles out of my lips.

Nikolai

I don’t think Kate realizes that when she attempted to slam the bathroom door shut, that the thing actually bounced in place. It’s sitting there, cracked open and wafting curls of steam into her bedroom. I can’t help but notice that there aren’t any of the usual personal touches in this room that I might expect of a woman’s bedroom. It’s like she’s set everything up like a staged home. Basic furniture and no frills - ready to run at a moment's notice. I recognize it well.

My own mother used to tell me never to bother unpacking my suitcase as we spent a year drifting from one motel to the next. That man choking on his own blood outside is the reason that Kate lives like this. The way that I made Anya live. Helena before that. I recognize the irony of beating the hell out of that man.

He’s now a loose end that I need to handle.

Just a short amount of time ago I would have called Horus to come and dispose of the body.

I’ll have to discreetly slip outside and handle things after Kate’s asleep. I vowed to stay here and keep her safe, and that’s exactly what I’m going to do. She’s going to sleep a hell of a lot easier once he’s six feet under. Not that the prick deserves a proper burial.

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