Page 32 of Nikolai (Kansas City Reapers)

“Coffee? Where?” Her eyes popped open wide, frantically searching the room til her eyes landed on the steaming cup next to the bed. Without asking, she grabbed a mug — mine, to be precise — and drank from it quickly, hissing as it burned her tongue.

“A coffee fanatic, I see,” I chuckled lightly.

“I prefer the term caffeine dependent, but whatever floats your boat, buddy.” I cringed at the pet name she had taken to calling me, but let it slide.

“Well, there’s also breakfast,” I added, grabbing the plate and handing it to her. “Eggs and bacon. I hope that’s alright.”

“This is quite the full-service operation you all are running here, isn’t it? Room and board, home-cooked meals, protection and safety, and orgasms as the cherry on top.” She threw me a wink over the rim of her — er, my — mug. That look made it almost impossible to go through with what I was about to do.

“About that. Maddy, last night was incredible.”

“It was, wasn’t it? I’ve never had such… rigorous sex before. But that was downright fun.” Her eyes lit up with glee, losing focus for a moment as she reveled in the memory. I knew the feeling all too well, having done much the same all morning.

“Maddy,” I tried again. “About last night. It can’t happen again.”

Silence hung between us as her eyes widened in surprise.

“Excuse me?”

“It can’t happen again,” I repeated gently. I didn’t want to upset her, but the situation had gotten out of control, and Deacon was right. I had a job to do. Mixing business with pleasure was never a good idea.

“I see,” she said plainly. I watched her shrink into herself. Instantly, I longed for a time machine, so I could go back and handle this conversation differently. “I guess I thought you enjoyed it.”

Her tone had completely shifted from her earlier delight, hardening into cold distance. That was the last thing I wanted.

“Maddy, Ididenjoy it. Too much, honestly. But it’s my job to protect you and keep you safe while you are here.”

“And you can’t do that if you’re fucking me?” she all but spat back at me.

“That’s … ugh, that’s not what I’m saying. I’m saying that mixing business with pleasure usually ends badly. And while all I want to do is take that plate from you and dive under these blankets for another taste, it’s not a good idea. Not with all that’s at stake.” I tried my best to explain, but as she crossed her arms over her chest after setting the coffee mug back down on the nightstand, I realized it had not had its intended effect.

“No, it is what you’re saying. I don’t understand why it would cause an issue. We are both consenting adults here, Niko.”

That was the same thing Deacon had said, though his message had been a little more clear that I was doing the wrong thing. Still, I had to think of the bigger picture, even if she could not.

“Maddy, in another time and another place —” I began, but she barked out a sarcastic laugh.

“Please. Do not give me a bullshit line like that, you coward. I deserve better than that. Now, if you don’t mind, I’d like to eat my breakfast in peace.” I paused for a moment, debating the right thing to do, but quickly settled on giving her the space she desired.

I stood from the bed and made my way to the door.

“As you wish,” I muttered gently before closing the door to give her privacy. Just as the door shut firmly behind me, I heard her response.

“Do NOT quote The Princess Bride to me! Ugh!”

Instead of barging back into her room and making good on the little fantasy of a morning orgasm session, I shook the thought from my head and made my way back down to my office. At least there, I could suffer in peace.

Hours later, and elbows deep into a work project for a custom car design that had been sent to our website, the door to my office slammed open. I winced, knowing with certainty that there would definitely be a mark left from it, if not a hole in the wall from where the doorknob had crashed into the drywall.

“You know, Niko, I’ve had some time to think about it, and I don’t agree with you,” Maddy began as she stormed her way into the room, finger pointed directly at my face.

“Well hello to you, too, Maddy,” I said, rolling my eyes at her antics.

“Don’thello Maddyme, buddy. I’m not in the mood,” she spat as she paced back and forth across the small expanse of my office.

“Obviously,” I quipped under my breath.

“The fact of the matter is that sleeping with me doesn’t have to affect the job,” she stated, still pacing like her life depended on it.

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