“Yes, boss.” He left, and I had a strange feeling about the new chef. Since when did Igor intentionally go out of his way to help the staff to please me? Was he seeing her on the side when he was supposed to be picking up my orders?
He often complained that he didn’t trust them and would sit and watch the meal be prepared, so it only made me wonder if there was a history between them.
I had to check this chef out myself. Something about her caused Igor to be extra attentive, and that bothered me more than anything. I’d already started to feel that he’d worn out his welcome and that his usefulness had faded. Maybe I’d send him back to Russia in an urn.
Waiting a few minutes, I stepped out of my office and made my way down to the kitchen. I’d hardly ever gone in there, but the second I opened the door, I understood why Igor had to be checking in on her all the time. Standing there, blowing a strand of hair out of her face, was a perfect doll made just for me.
My entrance had been so quiet that she hadn’t heard me enter. I stood there, stealing the opportunity to watch her work. Long blonde hair pinned back into a large messy bun with a few loose strands falling around her face sent a heated longing through me that I couldn’t explain.
Her hands were kneading dough with such a great deal of effort that she bit on her bottom lip to concentrate. My dick jumped in my slacks for the first time in forever as I pictured her riding me with her hands pressed on my chest, working her orgasm out on my cock.
The sudden urge to dominate her overwhelmed me. I’d never caved to lust like a simpering fool and yet, I wanted to possess this woman in every way, forgetting about dinner.
I wanted to slide up behind her and taste her neck before unpinning her hair and watching it cascade down her back. My soul ached to yank her pants down, tease her from behind, and then take her hard and fast as she tried to cook.
Unexpectedly, thoughts of other bastards who came before me whooshed through my mind. Igor. I saw red as I pictured hunting every single one of them down and putting a bullet in their heads for having stolen what was mine. A low growl rumbled through my chest as I realized that she was mine and I’d do anything to have her.
Her gaze shot up to mine and she jumped back, frightened. Damn her eyes were bright and round. My dick wanted those babies looking up at me while she took me down her slender throat. God, she’d fucking choke on my dick for sure. I’d barrel my thick, long rod past her lips and let her know who she belonged to.
“Oh my. Um…Sorry, I didn’t hear anyone come in. Did they send you in with another request?”
“Another request?” I asked, wanting to hear her speak to me. How the hell was her voice getting me hard? Damn. The woman had the power to own me, and that was unnerving to say the least. Yet, I would gladly claim her. Waiting impatiently, I darted my brows up and then down again.
She gave me an impish smile. “Yes, from Mr. Kazakov. Igor the ogre told me to make the whole menu to please him. If you do, can you tell him that I need more product? I’m talented in the kitchen, but I can’t make pasta out of thin air.” She waved her hands in the air in frustration.
It dawned on me that she had no idea who I was, and I liked it that way. I wondered that if she knew who I was, would she give me that attitude too? Could I handle it? I knew that if she did, I’d fuck it right out of her. My feisty little thing had claws that I wanted down my back very, very soon.
“Well, wouldn’t that be great if we could. No, there are no other demands, except to see how you are coming along?” I asked, wanting to know how she felt being here in her future home. She had no idea that the second she walked through those doors that I’d never let her out again. Hell, I didn’t know.
“The meal will be on time.”
“I assumed so, but I was asking how are you liking it here?”
“It’s not the worst day.” She rolled her bright eyes that were almost the same cerulean blue as mine. My balls ached to stuff her pussy with my seed to see if our babies would have the same color. I couldn’t wait to find out.
“At least the kitchen is gorgeous.” I felt a ridiculous amount of pride in that she loved the kitchen. I wanted her to love her home especially our bedroom.
“Well, it’s not like you have to spend all day cooking. At the restaurant, you make it seem effortless,” I muttered, unsure of how to make her relax without revealing who I was. I liked the little deception. People became who they thought I wanted them to be when they knew my name.
“Hardly. Vegetables and ingredients are prepped in advance, making cooking time the longest part of the process, but none of that matters. My biggest concern is pleasing the boss.” She rolled her eyes again as if calling me the boss was preposterous.
“The stress of giving him the right food without getting whacked is a little stressful and not very conducive to productivity. Never mind. Excuse me, but I have to get this in the oven soon.” She dismissed me, and I’d never been more turned on. If she only knew who she was talking to, I bet she wouldn’t be so vocal about her annoyance.
“I’ll see you around, moya krasota.” Stealing one more fleeting glance, I walked out of the kitchen to head back to my office, but first I wanted a word with Igor. Taking my future bride’s order.
Stepping into the security room where he normally watched the perimeter, I surprised him. “Is there something wrong?”
I grabbed him by the collar, lifting him from his chair, and through clenched teeth, I gave him a warning. “Yes, there is something wrong. First, do not speak to Maria if it’s not necessary. Two, don’t ever threaten her again, or it’ll be the last thing you do. Do you understand me, Igor?”
“Yes, boss. I only did what you said.”
“Well, here is my new directive. She only speaks to me or Nina. If she has a question or concern, she brings it to me.”
“Okay.”
I stormed out of the office, avoiding the question of if they’d been together before. A part of me couldn’t ask that or the house would be in an uproar before my guests came and I couldn’t hide my jealousy.
I didn’t even understand why I felt the need to keep her all to myself, even in the most trivial ways, but I did. There would be no questioning my decisions; they all knew the price for that. Now to prepare for dinner. It would be one for the books.
Chapter Three
Maria
“Holy hell,” I whispered, fanning myself with the baking sheet. The second he entered the room, my world shifted. I pretended not to notice and look, but when he growled, I couldn’t fight the tingling feeling that shot through me.
I didn’t know who he was or what part of the organization he worked for, but I wanted him. He had to be a half a foot taller than me with light brownish-blond hair and beard with sexy, bright blue eyes that were laser focused on me.
From the way he stared at me, he must have felt the same way. Feeling the weight of Igor’s words, I tried to put away the insane lust and focus on my task at hand. I’d been cooking for years, three years at Andretti’s, and according to Mr. Andretti himself, I’d been the one to prepare Mr. Kazakov’s meals.
I should have been able to whip up the meal without thinking twice about it, but when the thick, six-foot beast man with broad shoulders and chest and bright blue eyes turned his gaze on me, I’d forgotten everything. His sleeves were rolled up, revealing strong forearms. I held back a moan and realized that he was too tempting to me. Standing up straight, I informed him that he was interrupting my work and told him to leave.