Page 38 of Taming Mika

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MIKA

The birds outside the master bedroom’s wide, picture window alert me to the time, their song bright and cheerful as it filters through the glass. When I open my eyes, it’s still dark outside, just a touch of dawn coloring the black pines a deep shade of hunter green. I can’t have gotten more than a few hours of sleep, and my body aches with the familiar muscle soreness that follows a full day of exercise. Only Alfie Bonetti’s version of a good ride is very different from what I’m used to in the saddle, and my cheeks flame as I think about what we did last night. Still naked, wrapped in his arms, my back trapped against his muscular chest and his stiff cock pressing against my ass as he holds me possessively in his sleep, it’s impossible to forget how it felt to have his hands all over me.

Alfie touched me in ways I’ve never been touched before, molding me like clay on a potter’s lathe as he made me realize my desires might be far dirtier than I realized. I’m mortified by how much it turns me on when he takes charge. Getting tied up and fucked in the tack room, making me cry out so anyone could hear—it was demeaning, and at the same time, so erotic. I never should have let him fuck me without a condom, but it felt so good, I couldn’t tell him to stop.And the way he played with my ass?God, it makes my skin burn with embarrassment to think about how good it felt. I can’t tell if I’m nervous, excited, or just appalled by the thought of enjoying his cock there, too. But my core starts to throb when I recall the dark promise in his voice when he told me it would happen,“I intend to claim every one of your holes, Mika… and you’ll enjoy it when I do.”

A shiver skates up my spine at the memory, and Alfie’s strong arms tighten around me, his palm covering my breast, squeezing as he pulls me closer. My lips part, a breath rushing from me as a surge of arousal dampens my bare thighs. I press them together, fighting the excitement because Ishouldn’twant what he has to offer. The way he ordered me tolick the cum off his cockand called me agood girlwhen I did as he said.

He’s a rich, arrogant prick—exactly the kind of man I promised myself I wouldn’t fall for again. Not to mention, I nearly gotblown upyesterday just because the Russian mafia decided I’m an inconvenience—all because Alfie decided he wants me. It would be illogical, self-destructive, and completely reckless to stay with him. Alfie isn’t just selfish and possessive—he’s dangerous. Falling for him will only lead to me getting hurt in the end, one way or another.

Still, I can’t deny that when he told me to get on my knees, it turned me on. He has a hold on me that I can’t quite make sense of—a magnetism that draws me in despite my instincts screaming that it’s not safe. Like a moth to the flame, I can’t seem to pull myself away. It doesn’t help that every time I give in to my attraction, Alfie rewards me with a kind of desire I never even knew existed. The man is a god with his tongue, his fingers—his cock. After last night, he’s touched every inch of me, and no matter how violent his lifestyle might be, he knows how to make me feel pleasure.

Closing my eyes against the unwanted excitement, quickening my pulse, I try to get ahold of myself. It doesn’t matter how good he makes me feel. Even if I could get past the humiliation of realizing I like it when Alfie dominates me, I don’t think I can stay here. It rips my heart out to consider leaving Fate, of leaving any of the incredible horses I’ve trained, of giving up the life if made for myself here. I loveeverything about my job, this barn, the animals. But being with Alfie would mean putting my life on the line—and not just mine. Any of the horses could have ended up as collateral damage yesterday. I can’t stick around to see what the Russians might think up next. As much as it pains me, I need to pick up and start over somewhere far from Alfie—far from the dangers of his world.

Holding my breath, I slowly ease my body out from under his arm, shifting an inch at a time as I try not to wake him. He grumbles in his sleep, shifting his position as he seems to notice the absence of my body, and I tense, looking down at him as I hold my awkward, half-sitting position. I can’t help but notice how handsome he is, even now, with his black hair rumpled and his facial hair darkening his strong jaw. Even in his sleep, his Roman nose and proud lips make him look cocky, powerful, and commanding, and my heart trembles when I think about what he might do to me if he finds out I’m leaving. But after I slowly lower his arm onto the bed, he seems to settle back into unconsciousness.

I slide slowly across the bed, only daring to release my breath after I’m successfully standing. I tiptoe across the wood floor and into the bathroom, where my clothes still lie in a heap from yesterday. My stomach coils when I think about our shower together—how Alfie pinned me against the wall and slid inside me without a condom for the first time.

Damn it, Mika, get it together.

I need to stop daydreaming about the way he fucks me and get out of here before he wakes up. Stooping, I snatch my panties from the pile, but they’re tangled with my jeans—and I don’t notice until it’s too late that they’re trapped beneath the toe of my barn boot. I flinch as the movement flings the boot into the hair, and the heavy leather hits the tile with a dull thud. Tensing, I wait and listen, unable to see Alfie from where I am, but he doesn’t seem to stir, and after a painstaking silence, I turn my attention back to my pile of clothes. Carefully, I start to disentangle my layers so I can get dressed.

“What do you think you’re doing?”

I nearly jump out of my skin at Alfie’s deep voice behind me, andI whirl, grasping my clothes to my chest as my heart hammers.Shit.“I-I—” I scramble for an excuse as heat creeps up my neck to pool in my cheeks. But maybe it’s not the worst thing for Alfie to know the truth. I’m strong, I’m brave, and I’m confident enough to tell him.

“I can’t stay,” I manage, seeing his gaze darken the moment the words slip from my mouth. “This—your world is dangerous, Alfie. Being with you wouldn’t just put me in danger. What if the horses had been on that trailer? Or any of the guys? It’s not worth the risk. I’m leaving before anything else happens.”

Alfie’s eyes narrow, their hazel color darkening as he stalks closer, and he captures my jaw in his long fingers, tipping my chin up so I have to look at him. “I can protect you, Mika. Iwillprotect you—and the horses and the men. There is nowhere safer than here right now. I won’t let anything happen to you.”

Tears sting the back of my eyes as a ball of tension starts to unravel deep inside me. I want to believe him, and honestly, I think I might. I feel safe with Alfie. But I’ve also never been more aware of just how dangerous the world could be now that he’s in it. I can’t stop thinking about how high the stakes are if hecan’tprotect me. I don’t want to die—and I definitely don’t want to be responsible for anyone getting hurt because I chose to stay.

“How can you be so sure?” I whisper, my heart in my throat.

Taking the clothes from my hands, Alfie drops them unceremoniously back onto the floor, and his arms snake around my waist as he pulls me close. “This is what I do. This is who I am. I have loyal men who would die for me, and I will make sure they protect you and this barn.” His eyes dip to my lips, and Alfie’s arm tightens around my waist as a spark ignites between us. He leans in slowly, one hand combing into my hair as he cradles the back of my head.

“But, Alfie, I don’t want anyone to?—”

He cuts my protest short, pressing his lips to mine and stroking his tongue into my mouth. Heat crackles up my spine, raising my temperature as he guides my arms around the back of his neck. He’s still naked, and the warmth from his bare skin seeps into mine, chasing away the chill from all my dark thoughts. He kisses me untilmy argument slips from my mind, and my lungs burn for oxygen. He pulls away just enough to peer down at me, his eyes fierce with desire.

“Mika, you’re mine,” he reminds me thickly. “I won’t let you go, understand?”

“But the horses?—”

A low growl of frustration issues from Alfie’s throat. “You really are impossible to distract, do you know that?” His exasperation still has a playful note as he shakes his head. “I’ll fix it. Alright? And until then, I want you to trust me. My men will keep you safe.”

“How long will that take?” I ask, thinking about the prolonged risks, the damage that might cause to the young horses’ training if I did stay.

Alfie’s hands roam possessively down my curves, his fingers spreading as they travel over my ass, and then he grips my thighs, lifting me and wrapping them around his waist. I gasp, my arms tightening around his shoulder to stop myself from falling as Alfie carries me back to bed.

“I’ll head back to the city to deal with it just as soon as I’m finished with you,” he promises.

My pulse throbs between my legs as my back hits the mattress, and Alfie pins me down with his powerful chest. His knee spreads my thighs, his erection pressing against my clit as he traps me beneath him, and the breath rushes from me as adrenaline rushes through my veins.

“You really think you can fix this?” I breathe, my heart racing as my desire starts to overcome my more logical reasoning. If Alfie has that kind of power, maybe it wouldn’t be the end of the world to let myself fall for him. I might still get my heart broken, because I don’t entirely trust that he won’t use me and toss me aside.But if he can make things right with Nikolai, then would it be criminal of me to enjoy the pleasure he has to offer for a little while?

“I can fix it,” he assures me, his voice infused with conviction.

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