“And you have difficulty with that, Emily?”
“Yes. At the present moment, my new employer told me that I’m not allowed to date.”
“He sounds mean.”
“Bosses are bosses. Either way, I won’t be able to. . .you know?” I shrugged. “I won’t be able to get the edge off.”
“Correct.” He growled the word. “You’ll be busy.”
“Yes.” I bit my bottom lip, unable to look away from him. “I’ll be busy.”
Okay. New topic.
In a low tone, he whispered, “Come here.”
An instant blast of heat flooded me. My breath caught in my throat. I knew what those words really meant. They were lathered in lust. Dotted in hunger. And sex was all over his face, thickening in the air. I could taste it on my tongue, and I loved the sweetness.
That accent made his voice even more delicious as he licked his lips. “Emily.”
Slowly, I walked over to him.
I’m not going to have sex with him. I’m not going to have sex with him.
I stopped right in front of him. An inch closer and my breasts would’ve touched his chest.
He raised his hand to my head and ran his fingers through my curls. “This is how I like your hair.”
I blushed.
“I’m just telling you, but I know you will look different tomorrow and the day after that and the day after.” He slipped his hand to the back of my head and fisted my curls into his hand. No pain came, but he had a strong hold on me. “Beautiful. Stunning. But then, you’re more than that.”
I didn’t whimper or gasp, although I wanted to. But for some reason, I had to show that I was tough. I had to prove that he wasn’t getting to me, even though every inch of my body screamed for him to fuck me.
He tossed me a wicked smile. “I’m sure I’ll like all of the other looks too. I love your surprises.”
I just gazed at him, so lost in his heat—the way he could dominate me with ease and come closer to me than any other had ever come.
“What you did earlier today, not many would’ve done the same, especially in your position. You saved Luka’s and my life.” Still fisting my hair, he gently leaned my head back, exposing the curve of my neck to him. “So, I will give you two favors. But there’s one wish that I won’t ever give you.”
My chest rose and fell. He pressed against me so close that when my breasts rose with my breathing, my nipples rubbed against his muscular chest.
“For now, I don’t know if I can give you a temporary employment deal.” He slipped his lips along the curve of my neck. “You’re too smart. Too valuable. And too goddamn sexy. I like seeing you. Smelling you. I want to touch your skin too much.”
A whimper escaped me.
“I don’t like the idea of temporary, when it comes to you, Emily.” He nibbled at the curve, driving me crazy. My knees almost gave way. I leaned into him more as I arched my back, wanting to feel more of him. A thrill moved through me. Exciting. Intoxicating.
“And on the topic of your dating, I don’t want anyone else. . .keeping the edge off.” He growled those last words as he slipped his lips along my chin and then stopped at my mouth.
I shuddered against him, but still he didn’t kiss me.
I almost begged him too.
“Don’t be mad at me, little mysh.”
“I’m not,” I whispered.
“Hmmm.” And then his mouth went to mine before I could process what was happening. I thought a kiss from him would be rough and fast, but it was sweet, warm, and so soft. He took his time, giving me lazy wet strokes of his tongue, savoring my taste.
“Oh, mysh.” He captured my lips again, sweeping his tongue over mine and then fully claiming my mouth for his. Consuming me. His scent filled the air to the point where I knew I would smell like him the rest of the night—powerful and seductively masculine.
“You've taken good care of me today,” he whispered against my lips. “Besides giving you those two favors, you should let me further take care of you.”
Before I could respond, he stole another kiss.
Fuck!
And when he nibbled my bottom lip, desire shot through me. I needed more too. Whimpering, I rose on my tippy toes and wrapped my arms around his shoulders, needing to taste more of him. I sucked on his tongue, and he groaned in pure male pleasure, triggering carnal need to slice up my body.
And for several hot minutes, we finished the conversation without words. It was gasps and throaty moans. Lips smacking and sensual grasps of clothing and hair.
As if deranged with lust, he guided me backwards and pushed me up against the wall, cradling my face. Tasting me deeper than any man had ever tried.
My nipples pebbled in my bra. He sucked on my tongue and I could take no more. I didn’t even want to come up for air.
I need this.
I raised one of my thighs to his hip, wanting to climb this sexy man and rub my pussy all over him.
“Oh, Emily.” Understanding my hunger, he gripped both of my thighs, lifting me up with his palms. I moaned and wrapped my legs around his waist and locked my ankles. I straddled that huge waist. My dress climbed up and gathered above my hips.
He gripped my ass hard—pushing me back and forth between pain and pleasure. And then he ground his stiff cock between my thighs, rubbing that thick length against me.
He broke our kiss for an instant, looking into my eyes as he ground into me with slow, meaningful thrusts. Fucking me with clothes on, right through my thin panties. I grew so wet, my pussy probably would stain the front of his pants, but he didn’t appear to care as he returned to fucking my mouth with his tongue and continuing to rub his cock rhythmically against my clit.
Someone knocked at the door.
It was most likely Luka.
No. Not right now. Wait.
A dark growl left Kazimir. “What?”
The door opened right as Kazimir gently put me down.
Really, Luka?! I was just starting to like you.
Yanking my dress past my hips, I tried to walk around Kazimir, but he gripped my waist and kept me there.
“No.” He kissed me again.
A throat cleared behind us. Luka’s rough voice sounded next. “Kazimir, we have a problem.”
Groaning, Kazimir dragged his lips from mine. “More problems?”
I took that moment to catch my breath and process Luka’s words. But I didn’t get the time.
The burly man stepped inside my office.
“There’s a dead woman in the back of the gallery,” Luka said. “Still warm. We might’ve just missed who killed her as we were climbing up the ladder. It’s our style. Classic. Straight shot to the center of her forehead. No gun or nothing else was left behind.”
A dead woman? In my gallery? Who? Why?
Chapter 12
Maxwell
I watched the news. My eyes watered.
“As the death toll continues to rise in the bombing of the Financial District,” the news reporter stood in front of the bombed building and spoke into the microphone, “authorities believe the man in the street cam’s photo is Kazimir Solonik, head of the Russian Mafia known as the Bratva.”
I turned the volume up.
“Solonik is tied to a numerous amount of crimes and has proven ties with terrorists and a direct line to Russian President Vladimir Putin.”