Page 100 of Beneath the Light of the Moon
“I tried, Anika, I really did. This all started as a precaution, but now…” Mikko’s voice trailed off, “now, it’s spiraling out of control.”
Another shiver threatened to overtake her as Mikko’s body heat mingled with her own, her skin prickling with goosebumps. She fought against his hold if only to prove her point. “And who’s in control right now?” She pointedly looked at his hands and body compared to hers, but he shook his head.
“No,” he huffed, his fingers trembling against her neck. “Not when you’re in myhead”—Mikko rested his forehead against her own—“not when I can’t get you out.”
“Not. My. Problem.” Her voice was stern, but she didn’t dare move, his own body way too close. And the same feeling that had woven itself beneath her skin at the range had returned. Tenfold. The heat of his gaze was unbearable in this small of a space.
“Itisyour problem because youstartedthis.”
Anika tugged her arm from his grasp. “You’re crazy.”
“Should’ve done better research on me.” Mikko’s hand released her throat, slipping down, down, content to trace the line of her collarbone. “You should’ve known that I can’tjust ‘move on.’ I get too…attached.”
“Stop touching me.”
“You didn’t care when we met all those weeks ago.” Her lips pressed into a thin line. She wouldn’t rise to the bait; instead her hand inched back toward the door knob. “You didn’t care when you walked up and touchedme.”
“Is that what this is all about?” She tried to lean away from him but there was nowhere to go.
“Depends…why are my men going missing?” His hands wandered back up, trailing up the side of her face, outlining her lips. “And don’t lie. It only started happening after we met. I’m not stupid like Levi.”
A fire erupted in her chest, chasing away the ice gathering there. She stayed quiet, hoping he’d take her silence for an answer all on its own.
“Oh, don’t be shy now,malyshka,I know how much you like to tease.”
“Youknow nothing,”she spat.
“Iknowit was your DNA on the piece of gum securing the note to my bike’s windshield.” His hands planted themselves back on the door, bookending her head between them. “Iknowyou singled me out in the club. Iknowyou’ve been taunting me because I’m a Romanov.”
“You’re going to have to try harder than this to get answers from me, Mikko,” Anika countered, fingers closing around the door knob.
“You think I won’t do what it takes to protect what’s mine?”
“Is this what you call protecting? Storming into a random person’s house and demanding answers when you don’t even know the whole story.” Her words were dripping in venom.
A gust of wind rushed through the trees outside while she stood there, trapped, waiting for him to reply.
“If you were anyone else, my methods would be…different.”
“Is it because I’m a woman? Are you scared to hurt me? Finally find someone you can’t beat answers out of?” Anika laughed, the soundbright and loud despite the gloomy atmosphere. “Or is it because you’re a fuckingmuttof a man and can’t control the urge to stroke and shove you measly little cock into—”
“Shut up.”
“Looks like your father’s habits reallydidrub off on you,” Anika sneered.
Something in the air shifted. Mikko’s desperate mood evaporated, replaced with a more palpable anger.
“You don’t know what you’re saying…who you’re talking about.” His voice was strained, the leash on his emotions barely keeping everything in check.
Anika yearned to push him a little more wanting to see what happened when hebroke.“Oh, but I do. Alek would beso proud—”
Mikko caught her jaw between his fingers, squeezing painfully tight. The rest of the words died on her tongue, adrenaline freely flowing through her veins. Her stomach tightened in anticipation. Teeth cut into soft tissue, but she refused to yield even when rusted copper coated her tongue.
“Wrong thing to say, little moon,”the words were spoken through his teeth. “Now, I consider myself a patient man, one who is willing to wait for something they want—investigate those who are behaving suspiciously—but you–you’ve been a persistent, little problem.” His shaky inhale set her teeth on edge. “But I intend to rectify—”
Anika’s knee wrenched up, connecting with his groin, cutting his speech short.
“Ungh!”
