Savage Tracker by Maggie Cole

16

Selena

Nervous flutters fill my belly.I haven't been on a date since I was twenty. I study myself in my full-length mirror. Obrecht said to wear something nice, but I didn't think to ask for more details. I was too shocked he didn't care anymore about being a top with no commitment. It was unexpected and overwhelming, and I'm still trying to stop myself from questioning it.

The green dress I chose has little specks of navy in it. It's form-fitting and hugs my body so every curve is on display. It shows a hint of cleavage and is more than Jack would have ever allowed me to wear. Since I got divorced, I haven't had a reason to wear anything dressy, so I feel a tad self-conscious compared to my normal casual attire.

I attempt to push the thoughts of Jack and what he approves of out of my mind.

I'm dressing up for Obrecht, not Jack.

What if Obrecht doesn't like it?

I turn to glance at my ass, which is now round compared to the flatness I used to have.

Jack would have a fit if he saw me this big.

Why am I thinking of Jack?

I study my hair and makeup then finally decide I look nice and pace my condo. The thought to have a glass of wine enters my mind, but I assume we'll have something at dinner, and I don't want to go over my limit.

There's a knock on the door, and my butterflies take off. I reach for my door handle and freeze. My gut drops as I stare at my shaking hand, so I take a few deep breaths, trying to calm my nerves. There's another knock, and I jump, then open the door.

Holy...

My lower body pulses, and I cross my foot over my ankle. Obrecht has on a dark-blue suit. His white shirt has the top three buttons undone, displaying his chest and neck tattoos. His ice-blue eyes take in every inch of my skin as he slowly scans the length of my body.

"Turn," he commands.

I spin, and my flutters reawaken.

He steps behind me so his body is flush to mine, moves my hair to the side, and kisses the curve of my neck. "You're stunning, my dorogaya." He wraps his arm around me and holds out a bouquet of purple calla lilies. "These are for you."

I turn my head. "You got me Greek lilies?"

"Yeah."

"Did you know they're my favorite flower?"

"No, but I thought my Greek goddess needed something besides stereotypical roses."

"Thank you."

He gives me a chaste kiss on the lips then pats my ass. "You're welcome. Are you ready to go?"

"Let me put these in water." I take them, go into the kitchen, and pull the vase out from under the cabinet. I cut the stems, fill the vase with water and half the packet of the flower food, then stick them in it.

Obrecht leads me out of my condo, into the elevator, and through the lobby. We get in the car. Matvey gets in the front.

"Why is Matvey with us?" I ask.

He puts his arm around me. "Precaution. Forget he's here. He won't bug us."

"Okay. Where are we going?"

"Not to a buffet," he teases.

"Ha, ha!" My cheeks burn from embarrassment, thinking about the club I erroneously chose. "Are we going to your club?"

"No, baby girl. We're going to dinner. Then we're going back to my place," he says.

I squeeze my legs together. "Am I staying the night?"

He leans closer to my face. "You are. In the morning, I'll make you breakfast."

My lips twitch. "You sound like you have it all planned out."

He studies my face. "Not all. Some of it is yet to be determined." He winks, and my heart misses a beat.

"Carla said I need to be clear about what I want," I blurt out.

His face turns serious. "Always." He tugs me onto his lap. "Tell me what you want."

My pulse beats harder in my chest. Heat fills my cheeks. We haven't been in the car for five minutes, and I'm already thinking about sex with Obrecht. "I-I keep having a dream."

"Am I in it?"

"Yes.

He smiles. "Good answer. Tell me about your dream."

I stroke the side of his head, trying to find the courage to tell him what I can't seem to stop obsessing over. Every night for the last five days, I've had the dream. It's so vivid, I feel like it's really happening. "What did you do with the three items you had me buy?"

"They're in my closet." His thumb caresses my ass cheek. Tingles shoot up my spine, and I shiver. He asks, "Why do you ask?"

I drag my finger along his chest, outlining the handle of his sword tattoo. My stomach continues to have anxious sensations, but I take a deep breath. Carla said I need to be honest and transparent with any partner. I'm not even sure why I'm nervous, since it's Obrecht. I'm pretty sure he'll be open to whatever I want to try. "So..."

Amusement appears on his gorgeous face. "So..."

"Is there anything I got you want to use?" I inhale a large amount of air.

He doesn't hesitate. "All but that face hood."

Goose bumps break out on my skin, thinking about the face hood. I close my eyes, trying to get the memories of it out of my head.

Obrecht circles his arms around me. "You okay?"

I open my eyes. "Yeah. Can we still cut it up and burn it?"

He nods. "Tomorrow. Let's do it at breakfast."

"Okay."

He sweetly kisses me then says, "Tell me about your dream."

"It involved the neck-wrist restraints."

He licks his lips and leans to my ear. Wet heat flicks on my lobe, and I squirm on his lap. His hot breath hits my neck. He murmurs, "Were your hands in the front of your body or back?"

"Back. But they were in the air, attached to something else, and I was facing you."

He groans. "That's hot, baby girl."

"It is?"

"Did you think so in your dream?"

I nod. "Yes."

"There's your answer." He dips to the curve of my neck and lightly sucks, mumbling, "Were you begging me to come?"

My body hums against his. I close my eyes. My voice comes out raspy. "Yes. A lot."

A deep rumble fills his chest. His erection presses into my thigh. "What were you wearing?"

"Umm... I was topless but had on the white crotchless panties I'm wearing right now."

He puts his face in front of mine. "You're wearing white crotchless panties right now?"

"Yes."

"Jesus. Why are we going to dinner?" he asks, and the car stops in front of a restaurant. There's a line of people waiting outside. It snakes around the corner of the building.

"We can go home if you want?" I bite my lip.

He slides his hand through my hair and palms my head. "Don't tempt me." He fists my hair and kisses me, sliding his tongue in and out of my mouth with urgency until I can barely breathe. My body heats, and I moan into his mouth. "You're tempting me, baby girl," he mutters and returns to taking possession of my mouth.

"Let's go home, then."

Obrecht pulls back. "No. I'm taking you on a proper date first." He slides me off his lap, opens the door, and gets out. He reaches in to help me out and guides me to the front of the line and into the restaurant.

It's dark, and candles glow throughout the restaurant. A woman with spiky red hair, a nose ring, and a friendly smile greets us. "Obrecht. Your table is ready. Follow me." She picks up two menus and leads us through the restaurant. We're halfway through when a woman's voice in a Russian accent says, "Obrecht."

He freezes then turns.

A striking older woman, with blonde hair to her shoulders, the same icy-blue eyes as Obrecht's, and a bright smile, rises.

"Mom. What are you doing here?" Obrecht asks.

"Eating," she replies then softly laughs. Her grin widens, and she addresses me. "I'm Svetlana, Obrecht's mother."

My stomach flips with more nerves.

Obrecht tugs me tighter to his side. "Mom, this is Selena."

She steps forward and embraces me then kisses my cheek. "Selena, it's so nice to meet you."

"You, too."

Obrecht eyes the man at the table. "Sorry, I didn't catch your name."

The man at the table rises. He holds out his hand. "I'm Stefano."

Obrecht shakes his hand. "Obrecht. How long have you known my mother?"

Stefano glances at Svetlana and grins. "Few months."

Obrecht says something to his mother in Russian.

Stefano laughs. "I speak fluent Russian. I can't answer for your mother, but I'm serious about her."

Obrecht's jaw clenches.

Svetlana blushes and beams.

"We just arrived and haven't ordered yet. Do you want to join us?" Stefano asks.

"No, we're—"

"Yes! Please! I insist," Svetlana says. She takes my hand. "Sit down. Is that a Greek accent I hear?"

"Yes. I moved here when I was twenty."

"Mom, it's nice to see you, but we have a table—"

"Oh, shush! Selena, I never get to meet any of Obrecht's dates. You don't mind humoring an old woman, do you?" she asks.

"Ah...no, umm..." I break away from her hopeful face and glance at Obrecht.

He sighs then pulls out a chair and motions for me to sit. He says to the hostess, "I guess we're joining this table."

"Very well." She sets the menus on the table and leaves.

Obrecht sits next to me and slides his arm around my shoulders.

"You're very beautiful," Svetlana says to me.

"Thank you. So are you."

"Yes, she is," Stefano says and kisses her hand.

Obrecht shifts in his seat. "How did you two meet?"

"Stefano is a doctor at the home I volunteer at," Svetlana replies.

Obrecht raises his eyebrows. "The one Aspen's dad is at?"

"Yes. How do you know I'm friends with her father?"

"Maksim said you have some serious card games going on."

"Your mother is quite the card player. She doesn't show any mercy to my patients," Stefano states with pride in his eyes.

"Yes, she is," Obrecht flatly replies.

I put my hand on his thigh. I'm unsure if he's uncomfortable with his mom dating or if he doesn't like Stefano. He glances at me, and I smile, hoping he relaxes.

"Where did you two meet?" Svetlana asks.

"We live in the same building. Obrecht was kind enough to change my faucet out when the new one arrived," I tell her.

"He and Adrian have always been handy like that. Their father taught them. So how long have you been dating?" she asks.

At the same time, I say, "This is our first date," Obrecht says, "A few weeks." Heat rushes to my cheeks. I glance at Obrecht as the server comes over with a bottle of wine. He kisses my forehead.

The server hands Stefano a glass to taste the wine. He passes it to Svetlana, and she approves. The server fills all our glasses then rattles off a bunch of specials in Russian.

Obrecht turns to me. "Do you want me to explain each of those dishes or just order?"

"Just order, please."

He and Stefano begin to order things, and Svetlana takes my hand. "Do you have children?"

"No."

"Do you want them?"

"Umm—"

"Mom!" Obrecht reprimands.

Her eyes grow wide. "What? She's beautiful and young. I'm just asking."

I decide to answer honestly. "I used to think so. Then I was glad I didn't. I'm umm... I'm not sure anymore."

"You don't have to know, my dorogaya," Obrecht firmly states.

Svetlana beams. "It's okay not to know. But you two would make beautiful babies."