Page 12 of Immoral (Park Avenue Kings #3)

BENOIT

I ’D GLIMPSED THE maps oh so casually last night, so when I woke in the early hours and Dimitri wasn’t there, I knew exactly where he’d gone.

And when he wasn’t back in bed by the time the sun came up, that told me all I needed to know about his sleeping habits. He didn’t sleep, not more than three or four hours, and that tracked with many of the powerful men I knew.

Me, on the other hand? I slept like a perfectly swaddled baby.A full night’s beauty sleep was of the utmost importance, after all.

After a day of exploring the grounds, I joined Dimitri for dinner, separate from his team, which I found interesting. Would he dine alone if I weren’t around? Or did he just prefer not to bring me around his work?

So many questions about the man I’d be spending the next few weeks with.

I set my bishop in its new position on the chessboard and then reached for my wine. “Your move.”

Dimitri took his time, weighing every option like it was a life-or-death situation. Maybe for him it was. I got the feeling he didn’t like to lose.

When he finally made his move, his dark eyes flicked up to mine, challenging me.

He was so damn sexy sitting in a cozy leather chair by a roaring fire, its flames casting shadows across his face. It made him look even more dark and dangerous, which, apparently, was exactly the kind of man my dick was into, judging by the way I’d had a semi since we started this game.

Last night was an epic sex marathon, and I shouldn’t have even had the energy to look at him that way, but damn. Tall, intimidating, and Greek apparently did it for me. Who knew?

I focused back on the board, contemplating my move.

He’d just put me in a tough position, but if there was one thing I knew how to do, it was wiggling my way out of a seemingly impossible situation.

Usually that meant using every ounce of sex appeal I had, and while that didn’t help in a game like this, I could distract him a bit.

I made a show of slipping off my jacket, revealing a sleeveless amethyst silk top that showcased my arms and shoulders. Then, deciding that wasn’t enough, I unfastened a couple more buttons so he had a good look down my chest.

As I lifted one of my pawns, I swirled my finger over its rounded tip, keeping my gaze down at the board like I didn’t know what effect I was giving off.

“Hmm. This is so… hard ,” I said, bringing the pawn up to tap against my lips as I contemplated my next move.

“That’s not going to work.” When I looked up in question, Dimitri shook his head. “I see what you’re doing.”

“Oh? What am I doing?”

“You have a hot-as-fuck body?—”

“Why, thank you for noticing.”

“—but using it to distract me won’t work.”

I gave a shocked gasp. “Are you suggesting I’d cheat ?”

“Are you saying you wouldn’t?”

“Maybe the fire has me feeling a little…warm.”

“I could put it out.”

“Or I could just take off my clothes if I get too hot.” I dropped my pawn into position.

Dimitri’s eyes shifted to the move, his lips curled, and a second later he swiped my piece off the board, replacing it with one of his. “Told you it wouldn’t work.”

“Well, you don’t have to look so smug about it.”

“Maybe I’m just happy I can actually resist you when I put my mind to it.”

“Wait.” I lounged back in my chair and crossed one leg over the other. “Did you just admit to being…happy?”

Dimitri took a sip of his whiskey. “Now who’s being smug?”

“Me. But it’s well earned. You’re a tough nut to crack.”

“And is that what you’re trying to do? Crack me?”

I swirled the wine around the bottom of my glass and eyed the flickering shadows dancing across his face.“Just trying to get to know the man I’m?—”

“Sleeping with?”

“There wasn’t all that much sleeping going on last night. Before or after we tested out the mattress.”

Dimitri’s eyes narrowed. “You didn’t sleep well?”

“I don’t mean me, mon monstre. You’re the one who slipped out in the early morning.”

“I told you, I don’t like to stay in the same place for too long.”

“Even a night?” I finished off my wine with a final sip and placed the glass down. “I think there’s more to it than that.”

“And I think you’re overthinking it.” Dimitri eyed the board. “It’s your turn.”

I let out a sigh and sat forward, trying to determine what countermove he’d make depending on each of the moves open to me, but it wasn’t easy. Compared to Dimitri, I was a novice at playing this game. So much so I almost second-guessed the other game I was playing with him—almost.

I picked up my rook and moved it into the spot left open by the pawn he’d just knocked off the table. When he chuckled, I realized my mistake and went to pick it back up.

Faster than I could blink, Dimitri reached across the board and took hold of my wrist.

“What do you think you’re doing?”

I raised my eyes to his and almost melted on the spot under his incendiary stare. “I thought of a better move.”

“Too bad. Once you relinquish your grip on the piece, your turn is over.”

“You’re making that up.”

“Am I?”

“Yes. Everyone knows there’s a clock that you push when you finish your move.”

“And when there’s no clock,” he said, drawing me around the board until I stood in front of him, “your move is over when you stop touching your piece.”

“Says you.”

“Says me.” Dimitri tugged me down onto his lap. “And I haven’t stopped touching you yet, so it’s still my move.”

He slid his hand up my arm and then drew the tip of his finger down the V of the neckline.

“So I’m your ‘piece,’ then?” I whispered, my dick apparently not having an issue with that at all. Play piece, piece of ass, piece on the side—okay, I kind of had a problem with the last one. But I already knew there wasn’t anyone else warming his bed, so for now I was okay with this scenario.

Especially when Dimitri dipped his head and put his lips to the side of my neck.

“For the purpose of this game?” He smoothed his hand down to my waist and pulled me higher on his lap, sucking on the sweet spot just behind my ear. “Definitely.”

I hummed and wriggled in his lap, wrapping my arm around his neck. “And are we going to stay in this musty old castle and play games for the rest of our stay? Or are you going to take me out to explore?”

Dimitri flicked his tongue over my lobe, then moved the hand at my waist down to my thighs and urged them apart. Never once did he lift his palm, relinquishing his move.

“I’m having a good time exploring right here. Aren’t you?”

God yes, I was. If I had my way, I’d rip all my clothes off and let him explore me all night, naked. But I needed something else from him right now. Something other than multiple orgasms.

“I am.” I sighed, rolling my hips up into the hand now massaging my cock. “But you know something I’d really like to do?”

Dimitri kissed his way across my cheek to the corner of my lips. “What’s that?”

“See the Christmas markets.”

The hand covering me froze as Dimitri raised his head, and I put on my most dazzling smile.

“Not really my thing,” he said, and leaned in, about to take my lips with his, effectively ending the conversation. But that wouldn’t do. I had to get to those markets, and I would do—and not do—whatever I must to get there.

“Oh no you don’t,” I said, putting a hand to his chest and craning back to look him in the eyes. “You think you can keep me all locked up and naked in your bed the whole time I’m here?”

“That was the idea.”

I dropped my mouth open, feigning shock. “What kind of man do you think I am?”

Dimitri was about to answer when I put a finger to his lips.

“Nope, don’t answer. Just say you’ll take me. Please .” I batted my lashes for added effect. “Prague’s famous for them.”

“Is that right?”

“It is.” I could see I was breaking through his stoic wall, and I was hoping one more little push would get him there. “How about this? You take me to the Christmas markets and indulge me in some glühwein, and when we get home, I’ll indulge you in anything your heart desires.”

“Anything?”

I leaned in, took his lip between my teeth, and bit down. “ Anything .”

Dimitri raised a brow but then lifted his hands. “Then what are we waiting for? It’s your move.”