Page 24

Ok, gross. I don’t need to hear about all the ways she kept him awake. My arm drifts away from his, but his grip tightens, almost like a hug.

“I broke off our engagement.”

“Oh no, that’s awful.”

Fuck yeah.Can I do a happy dance? Probably not.

He lets out a small laugh. “You don’t sound like you think it’s a terrible change in my fortune.” He pauses and stops in front of a painting. It’s not one I’m familiar with. It’s amateurish compared to all the fine art on display—just a forest in the summer, green-leafed trees around a lake. He nods. “My mother painted that.”

“Oh. It’s lovely.”

He shrugs. “The proportions are off, and it lacks shading, but she was proud of it, no matter how imperfect it is.” He’s quiet, his focus on the painting. “What did you think about Svetlana?”

“Honestly?”

“I expect honesty.” His voice sounds thicker, like the words were cutting his windpipe as he spoke them.

“I’m not a fan. And by that I mean I hate her. I wish she would get a yeast infection that burns like a thousand hells.”

He snorts all the air out of his lungs, not quite a laugh. “My mother didn’t like her either.” He links our arms and continues to lead us down the hall. “My mother would’ve liked you, though.”

The approval of a long-buried woman warms my soul. I wish I could’ve met her, not just read her basic information in a file.

He opens a door and leads me into a small dark room. “A closet? This house doesn’t have a bigger place to talk?”

His hands wrap around my waist, and he pins me to the door. His lips brush my neck, his warm breath flaming the embers in my core. “I didn’t want to wait anymore to take you upstairs.”

I whisper his name, and he drops feathery kisses around my neck and ear. “Here’s just fine.”

Alone in the darkness, away from cameras and eyes, small moans escape my lips as his hands travel up my side. “I’ve imagined kissing you countless times.” His voice has a deep, husky timbre. I arch my back to allow him to mold my body as he wants. “I’m finally free.” His lips crash against mine, our tongues dancing as we release shared tension. My whole body tingles like a million tiny pinpricks.

I wrap my arms around his neck, pulling my body closer to his. My fingers run through his perfect hair, fulfilling my long-held desire to touch him. His left hand slides down my dress to the slit that runs up my thigh. His fingers search my body like explorers in an uncharted land—slow, cautious, but excited. Hiserection presses against my stomach, and my whole being wants him.

“God, you’re better than I’ve imagined.” He groans and goes back for more. His hand cups and massages my breast, and my hands trace his chest and around his belt. Our bodies find a rhythm, searching and stroking through the frustratingly thick fabric.

“I’ve wanted you for so long,” I confess, and this hurries his exploration. His knee pushes my legs apart as his fingers pry my panties away from my skin and coax the growing dampness out of me. He feels too fucking amazing with his hand sliding off my breast and up my chest, gently wrapping around my neck.

He breaks away from our kiss. “In my darkest dreams, I was with you. And for the first time, I was happy and content.” His fingers tighten around my neck. “But you’ve been lying to me, Katya.”

Desire transforms into dread. “Dimitri?” I plead.

“God, I fucking wanted it to be you. I’ve never wanted anything more.” In the darkness, I can’t see his expression, but I can feel his anger. “You’ve been lying to me and to my family.”

His other hand leaves between my legs, and it’s instantly wrapped around my throat. His fingers squeeze, and I pull on his arms to break the bond. “I will always choose them over a quick fuck.”

Outside the closet, there’s a pop, followed by screams. The music screeches, and more gunshots and blood-curdling cries echo.

Then it hits me: my team never responded.

Chapter

Twelve

Dimitri

Screams, gunfire—my family is dying out there, and I’m in a closet with the woman who betrayed me. My hands loosen around her throat. I’ve got to get out there. I’ve got to protect…who?

“Stop,” the voice hisses in the darkness.