Collateral
Chapter Ten

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Raven was out for another walk. Nikolai was discovering that being out here in nothing more than barely habitable wilderness was good for her. Her temper had slowly boiled down and nothing had exploded yet. He silently thanked the Goddess for that. It was harder than Hell to get supplies out here. The closest paved road was nearly two miles away, and the closest town was almost an hour.

He sighed and looked at the satellite phone sitting in front of him like a death warrant. He had gotten a call from the government; some dumb-ass congressman had gotten himself captured halfway around the world in a terrorist zone. Nikolai had been called immediately, of course, and who was he to deny the government? The unfortunate thing was that it meant returning to Jump City as soon as possible. What was worse, it also meant leaving Raven alone for a week while Nikolai trekked through mine-infested guerrilla camps. He wasn't sure which part was worse. Raven he trusted, it was Richard he didn't. Nikolai rubbed his neck and sighed, trying to ward off a headache.

He pushed himself up and walked outside, hoping the cool air would help. Although, it didn't seem like anything would help at this point. He walked around the grounds close to the cabin, waiting to hear the soft crunch of Raven's footsteps in the woods. The scent of fall permeated his senses and he couldn't help but feel an attachment to the place.

He'd never noticed how beautiful the small property was. It had always been just a safe house hidden in the foothills of the mountains, nothing more than that. But with Raven here… it was beginning to feel like a home. He liked curling up next to her with the fire roaring beside them. He liked waking up with the sun and going on walks with her. He loved kissing her under the stars. It was heaven to make love to her at any time in the day. Everything just felt… natural.

"What's going on?"

Nikolai started. He hadn't heard her approach him, but she stood bathed in the failing sunlight watching him, waiting for an explanation. When silence was her answer, she frowned and pushed past him into the cabin. It was more than obvious that she could read his worried expression. He sighed and followed her in. "I've got to go back to Jump."

"Mm." Raven took a seat at the dinette set and glared at his satellite phone. He could almost see her plans to throw it into the nearest lake. After a long silence, she raised her eyes to meet his, a small frown playing on her lips. "I suppose it was inevitable. I guess I just wasn't expecting to return so soon."

Nikolai sat across from her. "I'm sorry."

"Mm." Pause. "We're leaving immediately, aren't we?"

"Yes. I've got to catch a flight in twelve hours." He glanced at his watch, feeling his heart sink into the floor. It was at least a six hour drive back to Jump City, giving him little time left with Raven. It was not the most ideal situation, but he didn't have a choice. Time he wasted here was time that wasted the prisoner's life.

"Where to?" Raven picked up the phone and ran her fingers across the buttons. Nikolai plucked it out of her hands before she had a chance to throw it somewhere he couldn't retrieve it.

"Afghanistan." He watched a look of fear cross her eyes before she stood up, the chair clattering to the ground with the sudden movement. There was a long, heavy pause between them and it took a long while before Nikolai gathered the courage to make any move. He reached out and stroked her cheek for a moment, feeling her tremble under his touch. "Calm down, little bird. I'll be fine. I've done this so many times it's become second nature."

"That doesn't ease my nerves." Raven pulled away and glared at him. He could feel her hurt and anger reverberating through the room like the pungent breeze before a thunderstorm. She was beyond angry at this point, she was livid, and Nikolai couldn't do anything but look away in sudden shame. She always knew how to break down his defenses. Raven growled angrily, bringing his attention back to her. The fire in her eyes was building, and Nikolai was getting the impression that he was in trouble. "Did you ever think that now you have some one other than yourself to worry about?"

"What?" Nikolai watched her for a long moment, trying to decipher her. The slight shimmer in her eyes and the slight tremble on her lips made everything crystal clear. He couldn't believe it though. It seemed impossible. His heart turned over and he wasn't sure when he had stopped breathing, but it didn't seem important. He felt his stomach twist into a thousand knots as he watched her, looking for any indication of another meaning to her words. "Are you saying what I think you're saying?"

She frowned and looked away. "You're smart enough to figure it out."

Nikolai, unable to stop himself, leaned forward and captured her lips in a kiss. He felt her surprise, then Raven's head tilted up to meet his, and her own body became soft and pliant as she leaned into his body. He gathered her small frame closer to himself, holding on to the edge of her unspoken words. Raven reached up and ran her fingers through his hair pushing his mouth gruffly against her own. Passion ignited between them and Nikolai was helpless to stop the conflagration.

Nikolai's hands whispered down her sides until they reached her hips. He grabbed her hips and ground his own against them before he lifted her onto the dinette set. His fingers made quick work of her jeans and, without any preamble, he yanked them off taking her lacy panties with them. He almost couldn't control himself as her hands reached out, tugging at his own clothing.

"Get these stupid things off." She muttered against his lips. Nikolai smiled and unclothed himself, stepping between her legs. Raven wrapped her legs around his waist and drew him close to her. Their scents mingled, creating an entirely new perfume that nearly drove him to insanity. His erection pressed against her, and Nikolai was feeling frenzied. He wanted her more than anything he could think of, but her hands stopped his movement. He let loose a low growl. Raven looked up at him through her lashes, her eyes dark. "You better come back alive, Nikolai. Or I swear I'll resurrect your body and kill you again."

A small smile touched his lips and he thrust into her, delighted with the shocked moan that escaped. Her nails dug into his shoulders, the pain bringing his mind back into focus. He kept his hips still, but pressed his forehead against hers. Raven tried to move against him, but he held her still as well. "Can you even do that?"

"I'll figure it out." She dug her heels into his back, urging him closer. Nikolai grinned as her need washed over him. "Now, finish before I shoot you."

Nikolai was only too happy to oblige. He thrust inside her again, sending white-hot lightning streaking through her body. She shivered against him and he leaned down and kissed her neck. Her back arched, thrusting her chest up toward him. If possible, he hardened even more. There was just something incredibly sexy about making love to her when she was still half-dressed. His hand slid between their two bodies and he swirled his thumb around her clitoris. Raven jumped and moaned again.

"I thought you wanted this to last." She accused, her lips pressed against his neck.

"I changed my mind." He rubbed her again before Nikolai pulled out, yanking her off the table and onto her feet. She didn't even have a chance to glare at him. He nipped at her lips and spun her around, pressing her arms against the tabletop.

Nikolai stood there and admired the art before him. She looked so incredibly vulnerable stretched out like that, and something male inside him responded to the sight. How could he refuse her anything she wanted? How could his heart not go out to the small woman in his hands? He pressed his erection against her tight entrance. "I want you writhing in pleasure."

"Nikolai…" She pushed against him, and Nikolai lost control. He thrust into her, rejoicing at the scream that pierced the still cabin air. A fine sheen of sweat spread out against her alabaster skin, and she pushed against him, bringing their blood to boil. Nikolai refused propriety and took her unabashedly. His hands were everywhere at once, on her breasts, at her hips, stroking her back, and every movement seemed to send Raven closer to the stars.

The friction between them was so intense, it bordered on pain, but Nikolai couldn't stop. He wanted every part of her. Every inch of her sweet, dark body. Every part of her bright white soul. He wanted Raven more than he wanted anything in the word, and Goddess be damned if anything stood in his way.

His name escaped her lips as she reached her climax, and Nikolai wasn't far behind her. The pleasure ripped through his body, it was almost painful. He gripped her hips and buried himself to the hilt, whispering her name against her back. Colors burst around him and everything seemed to slip into place. For one second, he didn't even care if everything fall apart, he wouldn't even care if the world ended. He had Raven, and that was the only thing that mattered. He didn't know how long he stayed there, in the sanctuary of her body, but he knew that time hadn't stopped for them. His duty was staring him in the face.

"Wow." Raven whispered as he pulled out of her. She tried to turn around, but her legs had turned to jelly and Nikolai had to catch her before she tumbled to the ground. He chuckled and carried her to the bed, wrapping the comforter over them both. There was a long, peaceful silence, and Raven curled against his chest, her eyelashes drifting down. Nikolai couldn't bear to look at the clock. What was another hour of sleep? They would still make it back to Jump on time. Raven placed her chin on his chest and looked at him, her gaze drowsy with their lovemaking. "Do you really have to go?"

"Rae… I have to go." He kissed the top of her head. Something in his mind clicked as he called her a pet name. It was as if everything had fallen into place. He belonged in her arms, whispering sweet things into her ear. "I can't just tell the president that I don't care about a congressman."

"I can go with you."

Nikolai shifted, uncomfortable with the way the conversation was turning. True, he had thought about bringing her along. After all, she was much stronger, faster, more intelligent, and she had magick. But even still… he looked at her, watching as her body started to drift into a light sleep. He wanted to keep her out of harm's way, no matter what. It made him nervous to keep alone her at his apartment while he was gone. Bringing her into one of the most dangerous countries on earth was not his idea of bubble wrap. Nikolai rubbed his forehead and sighed. "Not this time."

Raven picked up her head, and a shade of red crossed her vision as she glared at him. "Oh, so it's okay for you to throw yourself into imminent danger, but I have to stay at home? Some equal relationship this is." She blew air out her nose and got out of bed, angry. Nikolai cringed. He'd opened the flood gates.

"Come on, Rae. Next time, I promise…" Nikolai followed her, trying to keep her hands from pulling on her jeans. She pushed him away, her greater strength sending him back onto the bed. Nikolai sighed and stared up at the ceiling, knowing he was going to lose this argument. "Please. Anything but this one. Not Afghanistan. I would have gladly taken you into the Siberian Mountains into a village that still believes in vampires… but not Afghanistan. Please, don't make me bring you there."

"Fine. You go kill yourself and I'll sit at home like a good little girl and wait for her lover to return." Raven sighed and stomped toward the door, grabbing his satellite phone and jeep keys. The door opening made Nikolai realize how late it was. They had enjoyed their last few hours together, but now it was time to get back to Jump City. He stood up and pulled on his clothes. Turning off the lights, he followed her out to his jeep. She was blowing off steam, and a nearby tree was taking the brunt of the attack. She turned and glared at him.

"Nothing is going to happen, Raven. I promise." He grabbed her hand before she could retreat into the automobile. Raven glared at him and yanked her arm away. The silence between them was tangible, and Nikolai knew she was just trying to build their emotions up until he gave into her. Nice try, but he wasn't going to let her put herself in front of gunfire because he'd miss her. "It's too dangerous. Please, Raven. I wouldn't be able to live with myself if you even got a scratch. Next time."

"It's fine." She snapped and opened the door, getting in. "Let's go before I change my mind and decide to kill you."

Nikolai sighed. It was going to be a long drive back to Jump.

"At least you still have Robin's suit."

A very long drive.

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Well, there it is, Chapter Ten. I believe Eleven will be the last chapter. I hope everyone has enjoyed this so far! Leave a review, I love to hear from you!

Also, if anyone is interested, I have a Raven/Speedy one shot called Curiosity. Just to let you know! have a lovely day!