Page 54 of Taming Mika

“This is the safest place for you right now,” I state, focusing on calming her fear, though my body rages with protest at the thought of letting her go. “I can protect you, but out there, you would be on your own.”

“This isn’t just aboutmeanymore, Alfie!” she screams, her cheeks flushing as her tears come harder now. Guilt and agony are written across her face, her tortured expression twisting like a knife in my gut. “Staying could get someone else killed—like Joel. It could put the horses in worse danger than I’ve already exposed them to. With me gone, you can get the rest of the grooms to come back?—”

“Mika.”

She takes another step back as I close the distance between us, but I’m not taking no for an answer. Cupping her face in my hands, I peer deep into her tear-filled eyes as I stroke the tears from her cheeks with my thumbs.

“What happened to Joel was not your fault. Nikolai is a monster, and I will get him back under control—one way or another. Butyoudid not do this. This is my mess to clean up, and I promise you I will. Running won’t do anything but play right into the Russians’ hands, so like it or not, you aren’t going anywhere. You understand?”

Mika sniffles, then, after a long pause, she gives a reluctant nod.

“Good.”

“What are you going to do?” she asks softly, her voice quivering with emotion, and I want to wipe away every last ounce of her sadness.

I know she’s asking about my plans for Nikolai, but that’s not what she needs to worry about right now.

“First, I intend to punish you for thinking you could run from me,” I murmur, and my cock twitches as Mika takes a sharp breath, her full lips parting.

27

MIKA

The dark promise in Alfie’s eyes makes my pulse race and my stomach quiver. I’m still torn up by the guilt and horror of watching Joel die—of putting all those men and horses in so much danger—but I can’t help my physical response to Alfie’s words. I’m starting to associate the wordpunishmentwith pleasure, and it awakens a wicked desire in me I never knew I possessed.

His surprisingly tender, reassuring touch from a moment before becomes something more dominant, more possessive, as he leans in to claim my lips, his hands holding my face so I can’t turn away. Heat roars through me, and I gasp as he brings our bodies together. I can feel his growing excitement against my abdomen, and it makes my heart flutter. My fingers tighten around the soft fabric of his black dress shirt, and though I want to tell him no—to put distance between us so I can think clearly—I can’t seem to pull away.

“Take off your clothes,” Alfie murmurs against my lips, his fingers splaying over my scalp, combing back into my curls as he holds me captive, unleashing tingling relief at the roots of my hair. Before I can stop it, a groan rushes past my lips and into his mouth.

I need to stop this before I completely lose control.Thisis why so many bad things have happened—this overpowering sense of attractionthat’s obliterated the world I knew, all because Alfie was promised to another woman. But putting an end to our kiss is far harder than I ever could have imagined when my body is desperate for Alfie’s touch. Trapped in an internal battle, I cling to the back of Alfie’s perfectly fitted shirt, trying not to pull him closer but unable to let him go.

“I’m not in the mood to ask twice,” Alfie states, his low voice sending a shiver down my spine.

My head spins as he abruptly releases me, breaking our kiss, and goosebumps erupt across my skin as his fingers curl around the collar of my T-shirt, brushing across the swells of my breasts.

Then, before I can wrap my head around what he’s doing, he gives a forceful jerk. The thin fabric shreds like paper, tearing down the middle, and I gasp. Stunned, I gape down at my exposed cleavage and bare stomach, then back up at Alfie’s penetrating hazel eyes.

He shoves the ruined fabric over my shoulders, leaning in to reclaim my lips as he takes charge, undressing me. Heart hammering against my ribs, my core throbbing with sudden and intense desire, I kiss him back as his deft fingers find the clasp of my bra. Before I know what I’m doing, my hands are tugging at the bottom of his shirt, untucking it before I move on to the buttons holding it closed. My core tightens with anticipation, and when Alfie undoes the button on my jeans, a fresh flood of arousal dampens my panties, making the fabric cling to my sensitive skin. His movements are harsh and demanding—so different from his moment of tender concern, but they match my desperation. It’s like the intensity of our situation—the trauma and the heightened sense of violence—only adds to the heat of our passion, making it impossible to break free of my need for release.

“Get on your knees,vitale,” Alfie commands as he pushes my pants down my legs.

I step out of them and my riding boots all at once, stripping completely naked before him. I watch as he shrugs out of his dress shirt, tossing it haphazardly onto the bed, then he undoes his belt and draws the leather slowly out of its loops. I swallow hard, mymouth going dry as I wonder if he might use it to punish me—since there are no riding crops handy this time. Alfie’s hands stop on the button of his pants, and when I tear my eyes away from them to look at his face, his eyebrows rise pointedly.

Right.He’s not in the mood to repeat himself, and he told me to get on my knees. My natural instinct is to push back, to refuse just because he gave me an order, but I glance at the belt he tossed onto the bed and realize I’m not sure what kind of punishment he has planned—or if I really want to antagonize him more. My stomach clenches, nervous excitement pooling in my belly, and I know whichever path I choose, Alfie’s going to make this memorable.

Sucking in a shaky breath, I kneel before him without a word, peering up at him beneath my lashes.

“Good girl,” he murmurs, that signature smirk curling the corners of his lips as Alfie undoes his pants and pulls out his thick, hard cock. The tip is already swollen and dripping pre-cum, and my mouth starts to water. “Now, I’ll give you one chance to promise me you won’t try to run again.”

I’m not at all sure I can promise that. I don’t even think what I’m doing right now is necessarily right, but I can’t make my body cooperate with my head—not when I’m feverish with excitement, my body quivering uncontrollably. “And if I don’t?” I challenge, my eyes narrowing.

Alfietsks, his eyes sparking dangerously, and he combs his fingers into my hair, grasping a handful by the roots and giving it a gentle tug. “Then starting with your pretty mouth, I’ll fuck each of your holes until I change your mind.”

My stomach knots, and a flood of arousal gushes from my core, coating my thighs. I squirm, trying to rein in my excitement, mortified by how responsive I am to the idea of having him use me like that. I press my lips together, silently conveying that I won’t just say what he wants to hear because he told me to. Alfie’s cock twitches, his gaze darkening, and he grasps the base of his cock to rest the tip against my lower lip.

“Open,” he commands, his fingers tightening in my hair as he tips my head back.

I gasp at the stinging pressure along my scalp, and tingling relief follows a moment later as he guides his cock between my lips, claiming my mouth.

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