Page 31 of Konstantin

“Boyfriend,” Konstantin cuts in, smooth as silk, while his arm curls around my hips.

My eyes widen slightly at him, but his expression is filled with amusement, like he’s daring me to fight him on it.

Caleb’s smile drops. “Oh. Cool. Well, congrats on the new job.”

He retreats fast, and Konstantin watches him with his nostrils flaring.

“Why did you just say that? You’re insane,” I mutter.

He sucks in a long breath before he turns to me, fingers grippingmy jaw as his face drops closer. “You haven’t even seen the tip of the iceberg.”

I can feel the truth of his words, like they’re living and breathing.

“So get in the car, Ms. Monroe…” His mouth lowers to the curve of my ear, palms tightly rounding my hips. “Before I show you exactly what I’m capable of.”

Pretty sure I already know everything this man is capable of. Nothing would surprise me. He’s a soulless monster while, to the world, he pretends he has an ounce of decency.

His fingers thread through mine, and a rush of warmth skates up my spine. I hate how good it feels to be held so protectively, especially by the likes of him. I grit my teeth against the comfort it brings, like my body is playing for the wrong team.

He leads me toward the car, opening the door in the back, and I slide in before he follows. Once we’re both seated, the driver takes the car down the road.

I turn toward him. “So, are you gonna explain why in the hell you called yourself my boyfriend? Don’t you realize how inappropriate that is?”

Konstantin reclines, spreading his knees, those dark irises roving down my body. “If anything, you should be thanking me.”

I laugh. “And why’s that?”

“Well, it seems as though I was saving you from what looked like a tragically boring relationship. And you’re not the kind of girl who thrives on boredom, are you, Ms. Monroe?”

I glare. “That was still not appropriate. You’re the furthest thing from my boyfriend.”

He sighs, as though this conversation is beneath him. As he draws closer, his fingers trail up my thigh, slow and measured. “I think you seem to be forgetting one thing.”

I quirk a brow in question, and his mouth tips up.

“You belong to me.”

“As your assistant. Not your girlfriend.”

His chuckle drips with darkness. The kind of sound that seduces and scars. He leans closer, mouth brushing my ear, the scent of him doing terrible things to my resolve.

“I love this skirt, by the way.” His tone turns gruff. “But if you wear that blouse again, I might have to fuck you across my desk just to get it off.”

My breath catches, thighs clenching on instinct. But the way he brushed past our conversation doesn’t go unnoticed.

The bastard smirks again. “You’re blushing, malyshka.”

I force my voice steady. “I don’t blush. But know one thing. I’m here to work. That’s all.”

He cups my chin, turning my face to his. “This is fun.” His thumb swipes my lips. “Watching you pretend you don’t want me.”

My jaw tightens beneath his touch. Because he’s not wrong. My body responds to him like it has never learned how to resist. No man has ever made me feel like this, like I’m losing control.

But that doesn’t mean he gets to have all of me.

I have a mission. A brother to save. A truth to uncover.

And Konstantin? He’s the villain in this story. The kind of man who burns everything he touches. The kind of man who doesn’t just destroy lives; he plays with them first, and I won’t be his next toy.