“And if I say no?”
I punched him hard in the jaw once, a hit that left him staggering back in shock. He gripped his chin with his hand. “Bloody hell.”
I motioned with one hand for him to engage. “Come on, let’s go.”
This time he came in angry, which left the right side of his body wide open. While he swung and lightly connected with my chin, I hit him twice, very hard, in the ribs.
It almost took him down. He groaned and clutched his side while he worked to catch his breath. When he finally spoke, his voice was twisted with pain. “Screw you.”
“Just get in the car. This isn’t going to go well for you.”
My words seemed only to infuse him with more angry emotion. “Fuck you.”
I let his fist connect with my upper ribs so I could find the opportunity to hit him in the face. I battered him hard—not enough to shatter bone or anything, but enough that he’d be cursing my name every time he looked in the mirror for the next couple weeks. I was considerate. I made sure I didn’t permanently damage his eyes or his teeth. His nose, though, was open season.
It was now spurting blood through his hands.
“You broke my nose.” His voice was muffled behind his hands.
“I just rearranged it slightly.”
The front door flew open, and Blaire stood on the front steps, looking breathtaking in a soft pink dress with a bow at her waist. She looked between Pierre and me.
“What’s going on?” she asked, her eyes wide.
“What happened is this man is a savage. He attacked me like an animal.” Pierre pointed a bloody, accusing finger at me.
“I didn’t attack him,” I told her. “He started it.”
“He’s only here for your money. That’s what he just told me,” Pierre insisted. “This guy is a money-grubbing lowlife who wants to latch onto you like you’re his meal ticket.”
Her eyes found mine. “Why did you hit him?”
I spoke the truth. “He doesn’t love you the way I do.”
She made a noise, and then she flew down the steps and into my arms. Nothing felt more right or perfect that the feeling of holding her in my arms.
Pierre completely forgotten, we stared at each other.
“You love me?” she asked.
“You know I do.”
“He’s lying, Blaire,” Pierre yelled. “This man is a liar.”
She didn’t even look at him when she spoke. “Viktor doesn’t lie.”
I looked over her head at Pierre. “Beat it.”
He pointed his finger at me. “Fuck you.” But he wisely got into his car and, with a roar of the engine, gunned it down the driveway. Blaire’s bouquet flew off, and flowers broke as it rolled to a stop.
“Are those for me?”
“They were.” I couldn’t take my eyes off her beautiful face. I had never before told a woman I loved her, but now that the words were out of my mouth, I wanted to shout them repeatedly from rooftops.
“Say it again.”
“I love you.”
Her responding smile felt like a light so bright that it cast out even the darkest shadows from my heart. “It took you long enough to tell me.”
“You have something to say back?”
She laughed as she tightened her arms around my waist. “Viktor Mikhailov, I love you with all my heart.”
Right there I decided I would do everything in my power to make sure she never stopped saying those words.
“You sure about this?”
“Pretty sure,” she teased.
CHAPTER THIRTY TWO
Six months later
BLAIRE
I woke up with the awareness that someone was standing in my bedroom, a dark shadow beside the head of my bed.
Instinct made me open my mouth to scream, but a familiar hand lightly caressed my mouth. “Shh, darling, it’s just me.”
A happy noise escaped me as he bent down to kiss me. He smelled delicious. Fresh and clean, masculine with a hint of musk.
“Why do you smell so good?” I asked as I breathed him in. “Didn’t you just get off a crazy long flight?”
I could feel his smile against my lips. “I showered at work before I headed over here.”
“Turn on the light,” I demanded. “I need to see you.”
My bedside table lamp clicked on, and there he was, larger than life. I lay back on my pillow and watched with interest as he pulled his shirt off over his head, giving me an opportunity to admire his muscular chest.
His eyes didn’t leave my face. “You see something you like?”
“Oh god,” I breathed.
Planting his hands on either side of my head, he leaned down until his lips were pressed against mine. His kiss was skilled. He slanted his mouth over mine, moving his lips until I moaned and opened my mouth beneath his. He was patient, teasing me with his tongue. Sucking on my lower lip.
“You taste like strawberries,” he murmured.
“That’s my lip gloss.”
My arms wrapped around his thick neck, which felt warm and muscular beneath my fingertips. His arms wrapped around my waist, tugging me harder against his body. His fingers pushed into my hair, and he pulled my head back so my neck was exposed to his hot mouth. It had been six long weeks since he’d left for work. This felt more than good.
Without shame, I pushed my hips up, almost panting with desire.
Oh boy, but this man could kiss. He kissed my mouth, my neck, the side of my jaw.
“Sit up,” he commanded.
I struggled to push myself back up, and he grabbed my tank top and whipped it over my head. His mouth came back to mine, and then he was rearing back so he could gently tug my thong down my thighs. I lay back on the bed, my eyes glued to his face.
Big hands slowly slid down my thighs before gently pushing them apart.
He knelt between my legs and concentrated as he played with my clit with the tip of his thumb.
Oh fuck, that feels good.
His expression was hard to read. “You turn me on so fucking much.”
Our eyes locked as he slowly pushed the tip of one finger into me and rimmed my entrance. My mouth fell slightly open. My breathing was harsh.
He slowly pushed that finger deeper into me. I could feel myself clamp around it, wanting more. He played with me. His intense gaze alternated between his fingers, as they disappeared inside of me, and my face. He was watching my reaction. I bit my lip. My head tossed back and forth. All I could think about was the sensation of his finger teasing me, torturing me, bringing me closer and closer to the edge but never letting me go over.
And then he was standing, pushing down his jeans, revealing his magnificent cock. It was thick, hard and in complete proportion to his huge athletic body. My mouth watered.
Naked, he crawled up on the bed until he was on top of me. His mouth teased mine, tasting me, claiming me as his own.
His mouth clamped onto my nipple. Hot and wet, he suckled me, creating rhythmic waves of desire in my body that I could feel right down to my apex. My fingers pushed into his dark hair. He lifted his head, his dark eyes zapping me with heat and desire, before moving to my other breast.
I felt his cock. Between my legs. Poised at my entrance.