Page 120 of Dance of Devils

My mouth twists. “He says I’m not ready for him.”

Val hoots. “That'swhat he says? Could you make him sound any hotter?!”

I nod. “Yeah. He says hisbrandof sex is going to be too much for me.”

“I think I just came.”

“Dude!” I punch Val in the arm as he laughs.

“Okay, that's enough, Rocky.” He eyes me. “Have you tried just going for it? Like, don’t ask to jump his bones, just…jump his bones.”

I frown. “That sort of sounds like an absence of consent.”

Val rolls his eyes. “B, it sounds like the man goes down on you every hour on the hour. Consider that implied consent. Jesus, our generation isfucked.” He shakes his head as he looks me dead in the eye. “Brooklyn, don’t politely ask him if you can suck or ride his dick. Pull on your big girl panties…or in this case,maybe take them off…and just fuckingdo it. Then you canbothdecide if you’re ready for his…” He groans, biting his knuckle. “Brandof fucking.”

I suck on my teeth, mulling over his words.

“Don’t ask,” Val repeats. “Just pull his dick out and rock his world.You’rein charge of your life, so… Take fucking charge.”

28

BROOKLYN

Don’t ask.You’re in charge of your life. So… Take fucking charge.”

He's right. I’m done being told I’m not ready, or I can’t handle it.

It’s been me against the world since I wasnine. I fought off predators. Survived hunger. Kept fighting when I could have lain down and given up.

I lived out of Pearl for a year, for fuck’s sake.

I can handle anything.

That’s my mindset when I walk into Kir’s house after his driver brings me home. It’s time to take what I want.

Or rather,givewhat I want…

My pulse is thudding as I walk down the long, elegant hallway to Kir's office. The door is shut, and I can hear the quiet murmuring of his voice behind it—shifting effortlessly between Russian and English.

I take a deep breath, feeling a throbbing pull deep in my core. Then I twist the knob, push the door open, step into the room, and close the door behind me.

Kir looks up and smiles when I enter, but then his brow pinches and he points to the phone in his hand.

I just bite my lip and grin as I walk toward him. Kir looks at me in puzzlement until I start to undo the top button of my blouse, then the second, then the third. His brow darkens, his jaw clenching as he slowly shakes his head, pointing to the phone again.

Too bad.

My top hits the floor, followed immediately by my bra as I slowly walk closer.

His gaze hardens, his eyes flickering with dark fire as they hungrily roam over me. He covers the phone with a hand. “What the fuck are you doing?” he mouths.

Taking what I want.

My skirt drops next, leaving me standing there in knee-high socks and my panties. Kir growls something in Russian into the phone, then sets it down on the desk. His eyes rove over me, his jaw tightening.

“We’re muted right now,” he growls, eying me. “Icannotpostpone this call, Brooklyn. So whatever you’re up to?—”

“I understand,” I purr, swinging my hips as I walk around the side of his desk.