Page 91 of Her Selfless Warrior (Omega Sky)
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Great job,you almost fucking blew it, Baronavich! Here’s a woman who doesn’t need rescuing so there you go trying to force it on her!
Kostya stood behind Amy and Lark as they pressed buttons on the slot machines while they all waited for Ryker to come back with some information.
“Are you sure you don’t want to play?” Amy asked again. “Maybe you’ll have the lucky touch.”
Kostya shuddered. The idea of throwing his money away gambling held no appeal whatsoever. “Why do you keep asking me to play? Aren’t you enjoying this?” Kostya asked Amy.
“No. I know Lark likes to play blackjack, but other than that, we’re not into gambling.”
Lark turned on her stool and gave him a half-smile. “Nope, can’t say this turns me on. I like earning my money, and I find my job exciting enough.” She slapped her hand against her forehead. “Ah fuck, did I just say that?”
“What?” he and Amy asked at the same time.
Lark reached out and stroked the lapel of his jacket. “I really don’t want to stir anything else up with you tonight. I know you were just concerned, I get that. If we’re really going—”
Kostya pressed his finger against her lips. “Stop right there. Yes, we’re really going to have something together. Don’t doubt it. I fucked up tonight. I know you’re more than capable. I admire the hell out of you, Lark. Look, it’s my nature to worry. I don’t just do it for you, I do it for the men on my team, too. I’m the leader. Do you get that?”
She nodded her head, and he lifted his finger. She grabbed his hand and looked at Amy. “Excuse us.” She hopped off the chair and pulled Kostya through the casino to the Felt Lounge. He had no idea how she managed it, but she found a cozy corner on one of the couches and she pulled him down beside her.
Lark brushed an imaginary something off of his shoulder so that she could lean in and look up at him through her lashes. “Did you mean it? You really think that this thing between us is going somewhere? For real?”
Kostya didn’t think he had ever heard Lark sound so hesitant before. This woman was always flipping someone shit or throwing down because she thought something should be done a different way, but she was never hesitant. He put his arm around her shoulders and pulled her close.
“You’ve got it wrong. This isn’t going somewhere, it’s already gone somewhere, at least from my point of view. And I’m not just saying that because we’ve had made love. I’ve known you for three years, and you might have frustrated me a lot of that time with your save-the-world thinking, but I’ve always been impressed with your accomplishments, been struck by how well you have interacted with the different teams, and then when you stepped up for Ebrahem’s family I was awed by your bravery and compassion.”
Her eyes glistened silver and a tear slid down her cheek.
“Derr ?mo,” Kostya swore in Russian. “I didn’t mean for you to cry.”
Lark wiped her tears away and made a face up at him. “Suck it up. When you say beautiful things like that, a girl has a right to get all teary. It’s in the rule book.”
Kostya cupped the back of Lark’s head and drew her in for a kiss, but she held back.
“Not here.”
He looked around and laughed. Not only was there kissing going on, he saw one woman straddling another woman, and he was pretty sure that the woman on top was not wearing any panties.
“Yes, here.” Once again the taste of Lark obliterated every thought in his head. Tonight she reminded him of vanilla, pears, and spring. He wanted to pull her even closer so that her lush breasts could press against his chest, but he didn’t. In no way did he want to embarrass this elegant lady.
Lark cupped his cheek. Her fingernails speared through his short hair and he somehow managed not to moan with pleasure. Lark knew precisely how to touch him to provide the most satisfaction.
Kostya reluctantly pulled away and was pleased to see that her eyes glowed with desire, not tears.
“I love the way you apologize,” she murmured.
“I’m going to fuck up again, Lark. I’m telling you straight up, it’s going to happen.”
“Is it because you’re a lieutenant?”
“It’s deeper than that. I’ve let people down. People I loved. It twisted me up, and when I’m around others that I love and care about, I sometimes can’t help myself.”
It was the most he’d ever admitted to anyone about what happened in Russia. Not even Irina had any idea of everything that happened. About all the ways he’d failed.
“Kostya?”
He looked down. Lark’s slim, capable hand was resting on his knee. Her other was on his chest, gliding around in comforting circles. He shuddered.
