The Red Ruse

“Ty opozdal!” Nikolai walked into the back private room of the Russian Samovar that had been reserved for the last two generations of his family and shook his head. “English papa! We’re in America after all.” “You want English Nikolai? Here’s some English for you, Get Married!” Nikolai Tatarov shakes his head indulgently at his father Viktor and sits down to fix his cups of Zavarka. To the waitress that stood to his left awaiting instructions he smiles and said, “Just the Zavarka and Vatrushka for me today Jane.” With a quick nod, the waitress hurries off to do his bidding so Nikolai could turn back to his father. “Spasibo, no net.” His father chuckles and leans back in his chair. “Ah, I see you remember your mother tongue quick enough when it’s convenient for you my son.” Nikolai took a bite from his Russian danish and smiled back. “As I see your English finds you when it’s convenient for you.” Laughing out loud Viktor gave a nod of acceptance. “What a pair we have turned out to be! If your mother could see us now! Ah, how I miss my Svetlana.”

Nikolai thinks back and has a flash of a black-haired, blue-eyed woman in a pretty red and white dress spinning him around in circles outside in the sun while he smiled and she laughed. “Yes, I miss mamochka as well.” As the two men sat in silence drawn into their own memories and hurts from the past Viktor cleared his throat. “This is not what I call you for. I call you because we need to have a talk, man to man.” Nikolai took a moment more to bury the grief of losing his mother and then took a drink of his tea. “What can I do for you papochka?” Viktor’s face went from sort of dreamy for where the thought of his wife is forefront in his mind to all business.

“It’s time for you to clean up the business.” When Nikolai gave his father a hard look and glanced around to see if they were still alone Viktor sat up straight waiting for his hot head of a son to explode. “Papochka, someone would think that your facilities were questionable discussing such personal business matters outside of our home.” Viktor blew that off with a regal wave of his hand. “I say what I want when I want to whom I want. Who will gainsay me!” Nikolai shook his head in impatience,” Do not drag me down with you because of ego! " Viktor looked sharply at Nikolai. “you dare to talk to me about ego when you and your heathens play in the Solnt Sevskaya Bratva's backyard knowing that Mikhas will find out and kill you? Have you lost all respect for me? Do you think me so old that I still don't have those loyal to me? Be realistic! I have lost your mother I have no one left but you. You have had your fun playing in the black market with Ivan time to go straight and for God's sake give me some god damn grandchildren before I die." Nikolai fought for calm. He knew his father's ire came from fear and so was determined not to fight back.

"I'm sorry Papa, prostite. Let’s not fight. Pozhaluysta, I must go. I have a meeting with the shop manager about our new shipment of khokhloma bowls." with a nod of his head Nikolai left Viktor sitting at the table shaking his head. "Svetlana what is it I am supposed to do here? You were always better at this than me." with a sigh Viktor threw some money on the table and walked out.

Across town, Connor O'Malley's stood at the stove flipping an omelet as he decided how best to convince his only child that the DEA was too dangerous to continue to work for since the last task force she was on nearly got her killed. Turning to flip the omelet in the plate on the table he tried a different tactic. "Gracie sweetheart, don't you want to give me a nice grandbaby to bounce on me knee before I pass? Lord knows I'm only getting up there in age faster every sodding minute of the day. I'll be seeing my Maeve sooner than later."

Sitting quietly at the table while scarfing down her habitual ham and cheese omelet 26-year-old Grace Connor rolled her eyes "Daidi you’re as fit as a fiddle and twice as sly. I know you worry I'm not going to tell you not to, but know that I know my job. I know how to take care of myself and for the love of all the saints and glory the last bleeding thing I need right now is a bun in the oven and no man I call husband in sight.' Connor’s face turned red in embarrassment. "I'll not listen to you talk dirty, and adult you maybe, but under my roof your mind your manners and tell Father Flanagan of those thoughts!"

Shaking her head, she decided to get the hell out of Dodge before he forgot himself and grounded." Daidi I have to go." handing him the empty plate she stood up and pulled her on her jacket which clearly stated DEA. tá grá mor agam ort Daidi." with a blush across his face, Connor shooed away Grace." go on with you ya silver tongued devil! just like your maither, God rest her, go on to work and leave me here by myself without nary grandbaby or son in law to keep me company." with a roll of her eyes Grace was out the door and on her way to her unmarked SUV wondering what bug crawled up her father's ass today "I need a freaking baby in a man like I need a hole in the goddamn head."

Central Park later that same day

Viktor concentrates then smiles. "E4 to E5." Connor looks down at the chessboard and scoffs. "I capture your pawn. E4 to F5." Viktor laughs triumphantly. "You’ll never learn my friend! QH5, I have your king pinned, checkmate!" Connor knocks over the chess pieces and snarls at Viktor. "Like I can concentrate when me only child won't settle down and give me grandbabies," Viktor smiles and shakes his head. "I know your pain old friend. I've tried everything I know to get Nikolai to take a wife and settle down. All he ever says is he wants nothing to do with you noyushchiy, how you say, a whining woman while he has business to contend with.

All I want is a good strong girl who can lead my son into a good life and have happy children like my Svetlana did for me." Connor nodded his agreement. "I understand completely my friend. My Maeve put me on the straight and narrow and made me the family man I am today. Well you know all the mischief we used to get into during the old days when we first came here. Who knew that a young Russian boy and a young Irish man would turn out to be such friends?" Viktor laughed and nudged Connor's shoulder. "You mean young Russian man and little Irish boy."

The old man laughed and then said in disgust, "what are we going to do with those two?" Connor shook his head in thought. "It would serve those two brats right if we were to make those two bullheads fall for each other." Viktor laughed, "Yes, my stubborn son and your stubborn daughter. Maeve and Svetlana would get such a laugh!" Connor’s face turned from mirth to calculation. "So why we make joke? Why not we make reality?" Viktor’s smile turned from laughter to cunning. "My friend, you are a genius."

As Viktor and Connor put their heads together to plan Nicolai and Grace’s meeting, Grace knocked twice on the door frame of her superior and entered. "You wanted to see me, sir?" John Adams looked up from his computer screen and smiles. "Come on in O'Malley, have a seat." Grace sat down in the single visitor's chair and tried not to let her nerves show.

It was never a good thing to be called into a special agent in charge Adams office. "How are you feeling O'Malley? Things got pretty dicey on that last one." Grace tried hard to completely clear emotion from her face. She would not get put on desk duty like some scared little girl. "In top form is how I feel sir."

SAC Adam smiled and nodded, "that's what I like to hear. I'm forming a new task force and you have a unique qualification I'll need to succeed." Grace’s mask slipped enough to show confusion. "I'm glad sir." Adams stood and reached out to shake her hand.

“It is so rare to have an agent with not only the knowledge of the Russian language but you have a background containing a welcome mat to what I can believe will turn out to be the largest Russian mob in the United States.” Grace pulled their hands free and shook her head. “You are mistaken on two points, sir. The first – it’s a Bratva, not mob when Russians are involved and second I know nothing about the New York Bratva you're talking about.” Adams shook his head “you're holding back O’Malley; the DEA knows all about your father’s former life and acquaintances.” Grace smiled finding her opening. “As you say, the DEA has knowledge of my father’s former life. My father is an old man who plays chess in the park every morning and pulls pints at his pub every night until eight. He’s a family man sir and a clean one/” Adams just nodded, “as you say, however, you'll come on board and work as our language expert.” Grace put her game face back on and gave an affirmative nod, “yes sir.”

Ivan brings Nikolai his phone with a look of impatience, "Would you please do something about this nepriyatnost!" Nikolai takes his phone and sees the 17 missed calls from Katya. With a sigh, Nikolai clears the phone from all the missed calls and hands it back to Ivan. "There, happy now?” Ivan gives Nikolai a dirty look.

"Spasibo, teper yeye ubit." Nikolai laughed and looked up to see his trusted right-hand man with nothing but seriousness on Ivan's face Nikolai scowls "she's a pain in the ass, yes, but she is not so bad she should die, Ivan. Quit being so dramatic I'll take some other lucky girl out and be photographed and she'll get the hint no harm no foul." Ivan sighed, “Prosti Nik, the girl she just, well, she just drives me nuts." Nikolai looks at his lifelong friend with a smirk. "Trust me, she's no better alone."

As the phone rings, again both men groan. Ivan looked down and smiles. "It’s Viktor." before Nikolai can grab the phone from him he answers the phone with an enthusiastic, "privyet Viktor kak dyela?" He laughs and says, "I give you Nik." Nikolai takes the phone and talks to his father about the business meetings he attended and other mundane things until Victor finally comes to the point. "I need a favor and Nikolai I know you are angry with me but it’s not even for myself." intrigued where this could possibly be going Nikolai just let his father continue. "You know my friend Connor?" Nikolai couldn't see any sort of trap so he confirms his recollection. "I remember Connor. You guys ran numbers and smuggled vodka and Connemara whiskey during Prohibition together." Victor laughed and said, "ah yes, the good old days, well anyways, he has a daughter that, like you, works too much."

Nikolai started to interrupt when his phone announced another call from Katya. Ok papochka, I will take out this girl. any suggestions as to where?" moving his phone away from his ear to show Ivan yet another call from Katya, Ivan smiled and set back in his chair in the victory. Viktor excited that so far, his plan was working decided the best course of action was to plan somewhere he and Connor could keep an eye out on the two. The charity fundraiser your mother worked so hard for is this weekend. Why don’t you plan on taking her there where I can rescue you if you decide she isn't your type?" Nikolai thought of all the photos that would be taken inside and out to be published in the paper. "Sounds wonderful, what are her name and number please." Victor hesitated and then cleared his throat, "well I'll get back to you with all the information." with that he hung up leaving Nikolai confused at what exactly it happened.

"Well, you use this girl and Katya go away?" Ivan looked hopefully at Nikolai. Nikolai thought about everything and then shook his head. "Hopefully, Ivan we've heard the last of Katya by this weekend.” Gracie honey, can you come here a minute." Grace drops her bag and takes her jacket off. "Where are you at then?" Connor gets Grace into the kitchen and sits her down to her favorite meal of colcannon and bangers. "Ok pop, something’s up, my favorite dinner in the middle of the week? What happened, did you dent the car? Get a ticket, what?" Connor looks at his daughter with affront in his face. "Listen, Missy, I can handle myself just fine. It happens I'm asking a favor for your uncle Victor."

Grace immediately set up straighter. "Ok Daidi, you have my attention." Connor nodded his head "I should hope so! Your uncle is worried to death about his son Nikolai - you remember Nikolai?" Grace thought of the tall gangly boy she met briefly what seemed a million years ago. "Barely, but yes I remember why?" Connor covered her hand with his. Viktor says the boy works so much he's afraid for his health. All that stress of the business and no other focus, terrible on the heart you know. I, well we, just thought that maybe you would be his date for the charity thing we have to go to for your mother." Grace thought about the task force Adams put her on. This may be a wonderful opportunity to get a bird’s eye view of him and get proof that her father's best friend is innocent of all charges he was trying to connect to the Tatarov's. "Ok Daidi, I'll do this for you, but this means you have to get off my ass about getting married for at least 3 months. Connor thought about it, decided 3 months gave Nikolai plenty of time to fall in love with his daughter and to make her fall in love with him. "You have a deal Gracie. For 3 months, I won't say a single word about you needing to get married, settle down, and give me a little boy or girl to spoil."

Grace laughed at his last attempt at guilt for the next three months. Victor checked himself out in the rear-view mirror before getting out of his silver 2016 McLaren 570s and walking up to the door that would hold his date that hopefully would send Katya right back to where she came from without starting a war with her uncle Mikhas. The last thing in the world he needed right now is to get into a war with a Bratva over a damn girl.

“I don’t know what the hell I was thinking!” Grace stood at the mirror next to the door checking out her hair and makeup and contemplating the mess she was about to put herself in the middle of on purpose. “Total stranger – well maybe not a total stranger but- “she looked at the door as the chime rang through the house like someone had placed a "cannot turn back now" sign from above. “Well, fuck; no going back now here goes nothing.” As she opens the door Nickolai sends up a silent prayer that she’s not a dog.

Their first looks at each other were humorous as they both let out a visibly relieved sigh. Noticing that he was not alone in his relief he flashed her a killer smile. “You make me feel better about not wanting to spend the night in the company of someone I was not attracted to.” She smiles, “Yeah well, call me shallow, but I’d prefer not to sit across from someone who repulses me while I try to choke down the infamous charity dinner dry chicken.” Laughing together he offers Grace his arm and they head to the car.

The car drive over was quiet and uneventful, but far from uncomfortable. A lover of classic rock Grace leaned back in the seat and listened to the soothing sounds of Eric Clapton discussing how beautiful his wife had looked tonight. Nikolai, feeling like he could fully understand the sentiment the song portrayed tapped his fingers on the steering wheel to the beat.

As they were pulling up to the valet station the song ended and they looked at each other with a smile. Stepping out he waived the valet away from the side of the passenger seat and threw him the keys instead. “Thanks, but I got it.” He opens the car door and offers Grace a hand. As they walk the red-carpet camera flashbulbs explode all around them. When they got by the door where they’d have to be stopped for a long pause he brought Grace closer to him and leaned down to whisper into her ear making her laugh out loud.

Nikolai knew that when the picture hit the newspapers it would look like they were enjoying a private moment between lovers. With a quick thought to how Katya would take the open announcement that they were over. He brushed everything else aside determined to enjoy whatever time he had with the Celtic goddess on his arm.

Taking a break from dancing they found their table and send for some drinks. “Ok, tell me who Nikolai is?” with a laugh he nods, “Ok, Nikolai is an only child of a difficult man who lost his mother at a younger age than was necessary. He I the head of the family business, and right now to me, the most important thing would be that I am enthralled by a Celtic goddess and am very single.” He wiggles his eyebrows as she laughed out loud at the last statement. “What kind of family business?” shaking his head Nikolai laughed, “Oh no you don’t, it is my turn goddess! Who is Grace?” she sat back, “Ok, that is only fair I guess. Hmmm…who is Grace…well. Grace is also an only child of a difficult man who lost her mother at a younger age than necessary. She works for the government, and she is also very happy to report that she is single.” With a laugh, he kissed her hand. “I cannot tell you how happy it makes me hear it.” She blushed and out her hand in her lap. “So, what kind of business is the family business you spoke of before?” he looked at her a minute and finally answered, “Imports, and you? What kind of government job do you have?” she smiled and sat back in her chair to match the at ease look he was portraying. “DEA.” He laughed and then got a good look at her face. “What, you are serious?” she nodded, “Well…how interesting.” She nodded again and they both laughed.

Nikolai took another drink of his wine and thought, “Note to self, kill the old man at the first chance I get for this one.” Grace, feeling confused about how nonchalant Nikolai acted at her revelation began to wonder if her boss was not completely off on all levels concerning the interesting man sitting across from her. Both deciding to enjoy the night put aside differences they pretended not to have and continued to talk, eat and dance like they had not a care in the world.

As the band played the last song of the night to a soft and quiet end, neither Nikolai nor Grace could stand the thought of the night coming to an end. If they were surprised at how well they meshed with one another it was unspoken. As the dance came to an end, staring into each other’s eyes Nikolai slowly bent down and brought his lips softly to hers. As heat sizzled between them they could feel what started out as a nice warm hum heat quickly to an inferno. As Gracie broke apart from the kiss Nikolai had taken from soft and warm to hard and hot she blinked back up at him and brought her fingers up to her lips.

With his breathing now harsh and need swimming though his blood Nikolai stared down at his little Gaelic goddess and felt for the very first time in his life like the big bad wolf others had portrayed him to be in business. Dazed she slowly dropped her hand and he could literally see the steel form in her spine. Expecting to be slapped either physically or verbally or Jesus even both Nikolai straightened his own self-knowing that he regretted nothing and would do it again if she would just let him knock him through a loop by blurting out, “I am not a slut.” Nikolai started and then looked fierce. “I do not believe I said you were. It was a kiss, not a freaking sexual assault. After all, we are in a public place in front of witnesses.”

Grace started shaking her head, “No, no you do not understand what I am trying to explain to you. I am not a slut.” Raising her hand to his chest she moved into him so she could feel how quick his breathing was and he could feel how hard her heart was pounding. “I am not nor have I ever been a slut, but I very much want you to take me out of here and take me to bed.” As her words finally penetrated his brain his face went from fierce to thoughtful. He raised his hand to cup the side of her face, Milaya; I would never think that of you.”

Grace knew better, she knew what he was suspected of not only being but overseeing. She knew what she was supposed to use this dinner date to accomplish, and how she felt good about the friendly foundation they had built up in the beginning of the night before it felt like she had known this man forever. The tenderness in his eyes and the feeling that she had seriously known him all her life hit her override button that very few ever even got to see let alone push. “Nikolai, I would like it very much if you would take me home and take me to bed.” His eyes sparkled and he stiffened just a bit. With a slow movement, he brought her face up to his lips for a slow dragging kiss. “I would not only love to take you home and take you to bed Milaya, I would be extremely honored.” With a quick look around for the exit, he nodded a fast goodbye towards his grinning father and was out to the coat check in minutes.

All the way down to the car, waiting for the mess at the valet stand, getting into the car and driving into the night neither of them said a word. When they hit her street, Grace looked around like she was coming out of a trance for the first time since the dance floor. “What are we doing here?” Nikolai looking pained at the thought of having to call his body off and confused at how quickly she could change her mind tossed her a quick look. "I am “taking you to bed unless you have changed your mind.” Grace blinked a couple of times and then busted out laughing. “This I am thinking is not a funny ha ha kind of time.” “Nikolai, I live with my father. That is why I said that I would very much like for you to take me home and take me to bed.” Hitting the breaks coming to a short stop Nikolai looked over at the now giggling Grace. “We’ve gone too far from my home for my sanity goddess, please do not be offended, or believe that I am expressing something about what is about to happen in any way by my decision, but the nearest hotel we reach, we take.: she looked over at him and fixed on a cat who got the canary smile, “So, Nikolai – just how fast can this thing go?” with a laugh he stepped on the gas.

Curling up in the seat facing him Grace slid her hand down his arm, “Say something to me, any little thing at all.” Confused Nikolai spared a brief second of his eyes on the road so that he could give her a very confused look. “You want me to think of idle chitchat now? Milaya, all the blood in my body is currently in my lap. I cannot think of what to say on my own. What do you want me to say?” she smiled a cat-like smile, “Any little thing at all, you see your accent thickens when you are aroused it seems, and that seems to be in turn very arousing to me.” Nikola changed lanes and stopped for a red light before speaking another word. Taking his hand off the gear shift lever to place a light trace of his fingertips up her thigh, his eyes met hers. “Ya idu, chtoby prinyat tebya v postel; ya idu yebat’ vas slepym, iyo marka aad ugu danbeyn soo laabtay hesho beefta, waxaan doonayaa ingan u dhan mar kale sameeya.” Grace stopped what she was doing and just blinked up at Nikolai. “What was that? I mean besides being completely panty-dropping hot, what was is that you just said to me?” Nikolai swung up to valet parking of the Ritz Carlton before she even realized that they had started even driving again. As he waited for the valet to come around to them he leaned over bringing his hand up to cup the side of her face. “I said I am going to take you to bed. I am going to tie you up and fuck you blind. Then, when you get your breath back, I am going to do it all again.” Grace blinked once, then twice and then Nikolai watched the small smile break through.

“Well, what the hell are we waiting down here for?” Nikolai stepped out of the car handing the valet the keys, then stopping the other valet from reaching for Grace’s door. “Thanks, but I will get it.” They stepped back out of his way as he came around to open her door himself and offered his hand to Grace for the second time that night. She reached out with a not quite steady hand and was pulled from the car in a slow sensual pace that sent shivers up and down her spine. Holding her hand all the way inside Nikolai dealt with securing a room and then leads her over to the elevators. As they patiently waited for their floor they walked hurriedly to their room. Unlocking the door, he swung Grace up into his arms and slammed the door shut with his foot. He only took one step before his mouth was locked onto her. Lost in the moment, lost in her, he didn’t care what she did for a living, he didn’t care that his father had set him up, hell he didn’t even care if he ever took another breath as long as her body stayed wrapped around his with her mouth fused to his in the most erotic kiss he thought he had ever been a part of in his life.

No longer being able to take it he brought her up against the door and while he wrapped her legs around his waist to steady her he kissed her without any control or finesse that he was so used to showing to women he was intimate with before Grace. He knew in the back of his mind that so far, everything to do with how he handled things when it had come to Grace has been something new.

He toed off his shoes while bringing down her zipper, as he brought her feet to the floor she whimpered in protest. “Just a minute Milaya let me undress you Detka.” Time slowed, clothes seemed to almost melt away until Nikolai Scooped up Grace and laid her in the middle of the bed. “Have you ever been tied up during sex before my little goddess?” Grace bit her lower lip and he watched in fascination as her cheeks started to pink. “Well, um, not, but...” Nikolai brought her face back up to his so they were looking into each other’s eyes, “No but what Detka?” Grace looked like should wouldn’t answer him without a little influence until she finally looked away and murmured, “I have not been tied up during sex before, but I have always been curious about how it would make me feel to be bound and helpless. I have such a take charge job; I just sort of think that maybe I would like to be able to relinquish control.” Bringing her face back to his he began to kiss her face slowly all over.

When he finally reached her lips he put the softest, sweetest kiss on her lips she had ever experienced. “Never be afraid to tell me what you want. What you want, what you like and most of all what you don’t like. If you don’t talk to me Detka, how am I to learn what my goddess likes and brings her pleasure and what she doesn’t like and shouldn’t be done again?” she smiled, “Ok, that makes sense, and honestly, I would really like to try it.” Nikolai slid off the bed and looked slowly around the room. “What’s wrong Nikolai?” Nikolai stopped looking around the room long enough to look back over his shoulder with a smile, I was not expecting my night to end quite like this Goddess, I am not properly prepared. But worry not; there is always the art of compromise.”

When he wiggled his eyebrows playfully at her she couldn’t help the giggle that escaped. Flashing her one killer smile Nikolai walked over to the drapes in the window of the hotel and started untying the rope looking decorative tiebacks. As he undid first the one on the left, and then the other on the right he carefully watched her face for any sort of signs of fear.

After pulling them both off and starting back towards her slowly he noticed no fear, but a beginning of excitement and arousal. With a small smirk, he tied first one hand then the other while listening to her breathing become faster and erratic with need. Nikolai leaned down and licked the outer shell of her ear and whispered, “When I touch you, it is out of a desire for you and your body. When I bind you, it is for your pleasure and mine. When I fuck you, and I will fuck you for hours, it will be my name, and mine alone you will scream.” Grace slowly closed her eyes and gave an experimental tug on both of her wrists. She may not be able to use them, but she felt no fear, no trepidation, all she wanted in that moment was Nikolai. Her eyes shot open as his hands came to her knees to slowly part her thighs. While she had closed her eyes, Nikolai had gotten undressed and had climbed onto the end of the bed to push out between her legs. As his hands slowly climbed up the inside of her thighs his eyes never left hers. “You are so beautiful Grace, you are just fucking breathtaking.” Grace blushed and again tried to move her hands down to cover herself. “This is why I bind, I need you still, and I need to be able to make you feel everything that is going on. Your instinct is to move, to block when all I want is you to feel.” Leaning back down Nikolai closed his mouth over her core and continued to destroy her.

Clutching at the headboard as hard as possible through the ties Grace felt herself start to climb; just as she felt herself start to fly Nikolai moved away from her hot core and started nibbling on her inner thigh. Letting lose a grumble of complaint she clearly heard his chuckle. “Patience Milaya, you fly too fast and the pleasure is over too soon. This way I can allow you the greatest of pleasures for hours.”

Grace felt his weight lift off the bed. As she whimpered in protest, Nikolai came to the head of the bed and she felt him climb up next to her head. Tracing her lips with his rigid member she opened her mouth in surprise. “Let me in Milaya, I need to feel your soft lips around me.” As Grace started to open her mouth Nikolai thrust himself inside of Grace’s warm waiting mouth around both of their moans of delight and enjoyment. As Grace began to suck hard Nikolai started pumping himself in and out faster and faster until he threw his head back and released himself in Grace’s waiting mouth. As she licked her lips Nikolai groaned and bent down to kiss her. Their flavors mixed and mingled into their mouths like a fine wine and it just seemed to make this both more aroused.

Taking his hand up her legs, across her stomach and up to her breasts he began to knead and massage her breasts until he suddenly bent down to take her nipple into his mouth. As Grace sighed in pleasure Nikolai bit don sharply bringing out a cry from Grace.

“Do you scream in pain Milaya? Or do you scream in pleasure?” Nikolai quickly and without warning flipped Grace over on her stomach and came down on her ass with a smart crack of his palm. When she moaned in pleasure he smirked and flipped her back over and grinned up at her. “My Milaya likes a little pain with her pleasure, how delicious.” When Grace blushed, and tried to look away Nikolai’s smile vanished and he gently put his hand on her face to bring it back to his. “I am sorry Milaya, I am sorry that you give me something so beautiful as your pleasure and I make joke. I love that you are the same as me. I love that I can take you places others have never even dreamt of and I am sorry I almost destroyed that pleasure for you.”

Nikolai released her right hand and kissed the red marks. When he went to reach for her left hand Grace found her courage. “Stop, what are you doing?” Nikolai looked back up and brought her hand to his heart. “Setting you free pitchka, so you can fly away from the likes of me.” When she reached up for his face and brought it down to her waiting lips instead of the kiss he expected she gave him the words he never thought to hear. “Do not free me when all I want right now is to be in your cage.” When the fire returned to his eyes Nikolai gave Grace a hard kiss and then pushed her back flat on the bed. “I have a feeling Milaya, neither of us will ever be free again.” With that omen lying between them, Nikolai jerked up her hips and plunged into her awaiting body to the very hilt. At their twin moans, he began a hard and fast pace that she knew would leave after effects and marks for days to come. When she realized that the knowledge of that only made her wetter she knew she was in serious trouble. The scary thing was she just couldn’t make herself care. She felt things for the very first time that she honestly never thought she would ever feel for another person and considering how little they knew of each other so far there was nothing, not even the opening of the gates of hell that would get her to back away now.

Grace came back to herself later in the dark and realized he had slept for over an hour. Turning her head to look at Nikolai she blinked when she realized that he was awake and laying there watching her sleep. When she smiled at him he reached out to run his hand down the side of her face. In his native tongue so she could not understand Nikolai felt the need to confess. “You are going to be trouble little one. You already claim half of my heart after only one night and I cannot make myself seem to care or run.” Grace gave him a puzzled look. “What did you just say to me?” Nikolai tapped Grace on the nose. “I said that lazy girls who sleep all night miss their dinner.” When she giggled he slapped her on the ass and stood next to the bed. “Come, we’ll eat.” Grace shook her head and laughed, “You are so Russian.” He looked at her in confusion. “You know I am Russian, I don’t understand.” When she only laughed more he looked perplexed and snatched her up and over his shoulder complete with a slap on the other cheek for good measure.

Sitting across from one another naked eating hand and cheese omelets was not how she expected to spend her morning, but as she was thoroughly enjoying the view she was far from complaining. “So, is this where you make me breakfast, engage in some small talk and then explain that there is a car downstairs waiting to take me home?” Nikolai stopped his fork midway to his mouth with a look of first disbelief, then a flash of hurt, to straight up invisible feelings mask. Putting his fork back down quietly on the plate he looked up at Grace with a polite expression one would see a person give a complete stranger who had just asked for the time. “If that is what you would prefer, I will, of course, get a car or you to return home whenever you are ready.” Grace sat there a moment wondering how she should play her cards. Truth, which some had considered her downfall won out in the end. “Listen, I do not know how to play these man/woman games. I do not know how to act coy, or suave, or whatever it is women these days are supposed to play at or behave like. I am a very upfront person. What you see is literally what you get with me. All I can tell you is that if this is a one night stand, I am a big girl and that is fine. I would just like to say that I would prefer to see you again.” He laughed and shook her head. “No, well, not that what I just said was a lie, but what I really mean is that I would like to be with you again.”

Nikolai pushed back from the table so quickly he upset his chair, in a flash, he was around the table with her jerked up from her chair and thrown over his shoulder with a whoop and headed down the hallway to his bedroom. Laughing she smacked him on the ass. “Ok caveman, I am guessing you don’t mind me not leaving right away?” bringing her around to lay cradled in his arms he bent down and placed a soft kiss on her lips. “You’ll not get away from me now. If you had wanted one night together and then to be friends I would have let you go. It would have been hard, but I would have respected your wishes and let you go. Tracing one finger around her lips he dropped her unceremoniously on the bed. As she watched him walk away she looked as confused has he wanted her to look. As she started to sit up he leaned across the door frame and crossed his arms and shook his head no, “You will show me how you like to be touched.” Grace looked at him in confusion, “Nik, I think you know quite well what buttons to push and how after last night and this morning.” Nikolai’s face turned cold as ice and he stood up straight giving her a glimpse for the very first time of the side of him she could truly believe would be involved in a Bratva.

You seem to be under the impression that you can question my directives, so let us get this clear in your mind. We had very good sex last night and we both were agreeable to the way it was handled. This means I will do to you whatever I feel will bring us both the most pleasure anyway, anywhere, anyhow I want. That is my job. Your job is to do what I say when I say, how I say without hesitation or question. Do you understand what I am saying to you?” she sat there on the bed trying to understand if she wanted to tell him to go fuck himself or agree and follow along with what she knew would be a life altering relationship in more ways than one. It took no time at all for her to stop kidding herself and drop her eyes to the bed in submission. Only having the information to go off from movies and different books she read she said the only two words she thought he would want to hear from her, “Yes Sir.” Nikolai came to her and brought his hand under her chin to bring her eyes back to where they would meet his. “Grace, you are a strong, beautiful woman who I am in complete and utter awe of, you will not call me anything but Nikolai or Nik, and you will never, ever disrespect yourself again by lowering your eyes in submission. I want your sexual submission, not your personal submission. I do not need to break your spirit to gain your submission. You want to give it to me, you need to give it to me and I will take it and make us both much happier people.” Nikolai had to take a full two steps back in order to keep them both from hitting the floor when she jumped into his arms and proceeded to smother his face in kisses. Getting a bug handful of her hair he pulled her face away long enough to look at her to smile and then lay one of those lip-locks girls only read about in novels.

Viktor offers Connor a basket of Danish from the table of the little hole in the wall diner they decide to meet at to update one another on the children’s progress. “Try the cheese Danish; it is one of the best ones in there.” Connor reaches in and takes cherry Danish. “Have to get my cherries where I can find them these days.” As the old men chucked they settled in with coffee and their choice of a sugary breakfast. “I can tell you that fresh flowers arrive at my house every other day.” Viktor smiles but shakes his head, “I can tell you that they spend every lunch together.” Connor laughs and said, “Oh yeah? Well, I can tell you that she hums all around the house. O reason she says just walks around the house with a goofy smile on her face and humming some song every damn where she goes.” Viktor leans close to his old friend and laughs, “I can even beat that!! I see your girl smile and humming and raise you one son who was overheard purchasing those flowers for his “girlfriend”. The two men picked up their coffee cups and clinked glasses. Connor winked at Viktor and said, “Na zdorovye!” with a laugh Viktor threw up his hand, “Slainte!”

Ivan sits down with Nikolai in his office and gets comfortable for his impromptu meeting. “You wanted to see me, boss?” Nikolai smiles over at his right-hand man, “Ivan, I am in love.” Ivan rolled his eyes and smirked, “No shit? I would never have guessed by the little hearts and flowers flying around your head.” Nikolai laughed, “Make fun my friend, it would happen to you too you know.” Ivan waved that away as if dismissing the very idea of someone bringing him down to his knees. Nikolai thought it would be very interesting to see the woman that it would take to complete that task, and then idly wondered if there were any amazons still left in the world. “You didn’t call me in here and close the door to tell me what blind man could see a hundred miles away. What is problem?” Nikolai grew serious and quiet. “When we decided to see just how much we could get over on customs and play around with our little gem hobby it was fun, exciting. Now I have Grace and she is fun and exciting.” Ivan broke in with a chuckle, “And DEA.” Nikolai snorted out a laugh, “Da, DEA. It’s time to shut our little game down and fly straight.” Ivan sat there quietly just staring at Nikolai. “She makes you that happy?” Nikolai answered without hesitation, “Da.” Ivan sat there another moment, “You are sure you will not change your mind? These contacts are not the back and forth kind of men Nikolai.” Nikolai smiled a little, “Nyet old friend, I will not be changing my mind.” Ivan gave a nod of understanding. “I will make the necessary changes immediately.” As both men rose from their seated positions they shook hands and went their separate ways. Nikolai picked up his office phone prepared to make the call that was about to make his father a very happy and smug man.

Nikolai was the one waiting for his father to arrive this time when Jane came over to bring him his favored Zavarka and Vatrushka. “Thank you, Jane, everything smells divine.” The small woman nodded and started to walk away. When she suddenly turned back around it was peculiar enough to have Nikolai raise his eyebrows at her in surprise. “Yes, Jane? Can I help you with something?” Jane pinked up a little in the face and laced and unlaced her fingers in angst. “It is just that I – I don’t mean to eavesdrop, but sometimes - well sometimes it is impossible to hear things and not like – you know remember them.” When she stopped and just wrapped her arms around herself and looked at the floor sympathy rolled through him in waves. “Jane, you may tell me anything. Anything in this world and I promise that whatever you say will not come back to harm you.” Jane looked up shocked, “Oh no Mr. Tatarov, I know you would never hurt me! It is just, what I must tell you might hurt you. I would never want to hurt you.”

Now confused Nikolai gently took Jane’s arms and led her to a seat at the table. “Ok Jane, why don’t you just sit down here for a moment and collect yourself and then you can explain what you mean by hurting me ok?” Jane shook her head and took several calming breaths. When she no longer felt like she would faint she looked up and through swimming eyes began to explain.

I know you are in love with that woman that you came in here with the other night. I know the signs even if I didn’t overhear the cooks in the kitchen.” Nikolai looked at Jane in confusion. “I am afraid I am not following you, Jane. How is it that you overhearing the staff gossip and seeing me with my girlfriend leads to me being hurt?” Jane covered her face with her hands in quiet sobs. “Oh Nikolai, she’s DEA.” As Jane burst into tears Nikolai was finally able to take a deep breath. “Jane, I want to thank you for your loyalty and compassion, but it is all for nothing. Grace is not hiding anything from me. I know she is a DEA agent. She told me on our very first date that she was a DEA agent.” Jane could not hide her shocked look. “But…you…” her face turned red and she looked away, “I am sorry Nikolai, I misspoke.”

When she started to get up to leave Nikolai grabbed her arm and sat her back down. “Why do you think Grace being a DEA agent would bother me?” Jane lost all color and looked down and away. “I don’t, I was mistaken, I am sorry I must be confused. I should go now.” When she tried to get up again Nikolai simply put his hand on her shoulder to keep her seated. “Jane, I do not know what you think you know about me, or about my business for that fact, but I am just a simple business man of a simple antiquities shop.” She looked down and away again. “Of course, you are sir. I am sorry sir. I will get the Zavarka now.” She was up and gone before he could hold her off another moment. Shaking his head, he had time for a simple thought of how grateful he was that he had already decided to go straight on his own. He would hate to resent Jane for making him feel pushed into going straight before he was ready.

When Jane sent someone else back with the tea he was going to go have another talk with her but was stopped by his father walking in the door. “What, I late a few minutes so you try to leave? Where is your respect for old man?” Nikolai laughed and clapped his dad on the back, “What? I leave? Before I have had my tea? Not a chance!”

As the men situated themselves the same unfamiliar waitress hesitated came back in the room to take their order. Then men gave their order to the waitress which was standing in front of them shaking like a leaf while Viktor kept giving Nikolai weird looks. Nikolai attempts to act like he doesn’t notice a difference until after she leaves the room when he just puts his head down into his hands and groans. “What the fuck was that?” Viktor demands pointing towards the direction the waitress had scampered back towards as soon as humanly possible. “Nikolai, I mean it, where is Jane? What have you done?” Nikolai scowls at his father, “What the hell do you mean what have I done. Who says I have done anything? Maybe the girl is out sick. Maybe today is her day off. Maybe the girl is on vacation. I do not know, not everything in life is my fault papa.” Viktor just sat there with his arms crossed waiting with a scowl on his face. When Nikolai could not take it anymore he threw his hands up in disgust. “Khorosho, chert! She had a crush on me, I knew about it, but ignored it for her sake and the sake of things not being weird every fucking time I want to eat or drink! Then today she breaks down and tells me she is going to break my heart. She then proceeds to tell me that I cannot love Gracie because I am me and she is DEA.” Viktor laughed out loud and slapped the table with his ham-sized hands, “I KNEW you loved her!”

Nikolai dropped his head in his hands. “Really papa, I tell you about Jane making noises about Gracie being DEA because of who I am and the best I can get you to say is you knew I was in love with Grace?” Viktor shrugged off his concern, “that was all that was important in your little tirade.” Nikolai banged his head on the table twice before looking back at his father with impatience. “Papa, she thinks I am in a Bratva.” Viktor shrugged, “So, you are a Bratva.”

The two men quieted when a couple of men brought in their order and set it up. “Where is my waitress?” Nikolai demanded, unimpressed the men looked at him and one shrugged and just said, “On break.” Since everything had been set up and they did not feel the urge to further speak to Nikolai about the waitress situation the two men walked back out without another word. Nikolai and Viktor got what they wanted to eat from the trays brought in and then Nikolai shook his head and looked at his father ruefully. “I guess it is a good thing I am going straight. Apparently, the only person that was not aware I was a fucking gangster was Grace.” Viktor just laughed, “Son, if you believe that then I really am glad that you are going straight because love has truly blinded you.” Nikolai sat back in his chair contemplating. After a few minutes, he looked at Viktor and just smiled. “I do not care. I love her. I have already talked to Ivan and we are officially clean as a whistle. You were right papochka, the love of a good woman and I am more than ready to fly straight and ask for babushka’s ring.” Viktor closed his eyes for a second and then reopened them with a sad look on his face. “I thought this would make you happy? I thought you loved Grace?” Viktor smiled a sad little smile, “I am and I do. It just saddens me that you momma’s not here to enjoy this. She would be so happy Nikki.” The nickname from his boyhood made him smile his own sad little smile. “I know mama would love her. I am just sorry that she will not get to see me marry.” Viktor snapped out of his melancholy to look over at his son. “Oh, but you are wrong my son. You mother would never miss you getting married.” When Nikolai just gave him a funny look Viktor laughed. “I am not ready for the home just yet my boy, I do not mean in person. When a beam of sunshine comes through the window on your wedding day then you will know, you mamochka is there.” As both men were choked up Nikolai just gave his father a short nod of acknowledgment and went back to his tea.

Grace always felt a little nervous dealing with Agent Smith, but since falling head over heels in love with Nikolai his office was literally the last fucking place in the world she wanted to be standing in front of like an idiot waiting for his permission to enter. He was the only asshole she knew that would summon you to his office and then make you stand there after knocking and wait for his highness to grant you entrance. Some days she honestly dreamed of just opening the door without knocking sitting down in one of his super fancy guest chairs and says, “What’s up Bossman.” Giggling to herself she finally heard the imperialness “Enter” and opened the door, “O’Malley come in, sit down, and let us have a little chat.” All she could think was “UGH!” she hated his idea of a fucking “chat”. She sat down in the chair farthest away from him and looked up at him expectantly. No way was she going to say anything unless totally necessary.

Agent smith eyed Grace with the same suspension he felt since he had found out about her family connections with what he knew was going to be his career changing bust. He did not know yet whether she was dirty he really hoped not for what he had in mind, but in a way, he was excited to know one way or the other how deep the hands of the Tatarov Bratva went. If they had one DEA agent in their pocket, maybe there were more.

“As you know I am heading the task force against the Tatarov Bratva here in New York City. I am bringing you in because of the family ties that can get us an immediate in with the Tatarov’s without raising any red flags. As my surveillance team assures me you are well deep “undercover” with the crime boss ahead of the family so we should be able to move quickly. I want you fitted for a wire immediately. You have had enough time to get him comfortable with you so we should have to worry about pay downs or bug checks.”

Grace was sure to show nothing on her face the whole time he was speaking even when several times she wanted to just get up reach over the desk and punch his smarmy entitled little face in. somehow though she could not see that being a very good add-on for her career. It is not like when you fill out a resume they have a space for, “If you have ever decked a boss was it warranted” checkbox. When she just gave a curt nod of acknowledgment of his statement he just sat there for a few minutes staring at her, when she did nothing but stare back at him without a single expression on her face he was forced to look away so that he could dial the geek squad on the 4th floor of the station to get her wired up. When he was given an hour before they could get something done she explained that she had a meeting with a confidential informant down at the coffee shop across the street so she was going to keep her meet and be back within the hour. Knowing there was nothing he could do about her needing to make a meet she got up calling her dad on the way out of the building. She may have less than an hour, but she did not know of anyone better to go to when she needed advice.

Connor O’Malley walked into the Good Stuff Diner and sat next to his daughter at the end of the counter looking exactly the way he wanted everyone to think of him – an old man walking with a cane. When Grace gave him a funny look, but shook her head and ordered his coffee he knew he raised a smart girl. “Never anymore on public then you want your worst enemy to know” had been drilled into her head since she could walk and talk. It was nice to know that he could trust her to be smart in public still today when she carried a badge.