Page 6 of Love to Defy You (The Dark Love #2)

“The receptionist and I got acquainted. She buzzed me up.” Mikhail’s stormy gray eyes hold a mischievous glint.

“Why am I not surprised?” Alek mutters. “You could flirt your way into Putin’s bedchamber if you wanted.”

“Is that a challenge?”

“Wipe that shit-eating grin off your face.” Alek’s quip doesn’t hold any bite. “What are you doing here?”

Mikhail strides into the apartment and flops down onto a leather sofa, stretching his arms behind his head. “I just came by to welcome you to the neighborhood. You bragged so much about this flat, I just had to come see it for myself.”

“He lives down the block from here,” Alek explains to me before addressing Mikhail again. “Look, we just got in, and we’re exhausted, so if you don’t mind—“

“Come on, man, are you nineteen or ninety?” Mikhail groans. “It’s your first day in Zurich. Let’s go out tonight and get you both pissed drunk.”

“Perhaps tomorrow night.”

“Help me out, Willow.” Mikhail presses his palms together to beg. “He won’t say no to you.”

I throw a sideways glance at Alek, who folds his arms and pins Mikhail with an exasperated look. “What if we did dinner and drinks?” I suggest. “We don’t have to stay out all night.”

Mikhail sits up straight. “Exactly. You need to eat dinner anyway, and I know a great spot nearby with the best fondue you’ll ever have.”

When Alek turns to me, I shrug. “It could be fun.”

He lets out a breath. “Fine. Text me the address and we’ll meet you there at seven.”

Mikhail claps his hands together and stands up. “Great. See you lovebirds tonight.” He grins as he walks past us and heads to the door, throwing a wave over his shoulder. “Willow, you and I are going to have so much fun bossing him around this year.”

Alek rolls his eyes. “Can’t wait.”

The restaurant is a short walk from our apartment, and it’s tucked away at the end of a narrow lane of shops.

Tables spill out onto the sidewalk beneath a yellow awning, and the light from inside shines through the windows, illuminating the patrons in a golden glow beneath the night sky.

It stopped raining an hour ago, so people are taking advantage of the fresh air.

But the rain left behind plenty of puddles in the uneven cobblestone, which makes walking in heels difficult. I keep my arm wrapped around Alek’s for support.

“Remind me not to wear these shoes again,” I mutter.

Alek leans closer to whisper in my ear, “But they make your legs look fucking incredible.”

I grin. I’m wearing a short skirt beneath my coat, so there’s plenty of leg to show off. “Well, in that case, I’ll wear them around the apartment. For your eyes only.”

We pass by a table of rowdy men with empty pints of beer scattered across their table. They rake their eyes over me as we head inside, but when Alek turns his piercing gaze onto them, they quickly turn around.

Hiding my satisfied grin, I squeeze his hand and drag him inside the restaurant’s front door.

He’s so possessive, he makes men twice his age cower in fear for simply looking at me. It’s such a turn-on that I press my thighs together. I didn’t wear panties tonight, like usual, and I don’t need to get so aroused that I’m dripping on the seat cushions.

The interior walls of the restaurant are timber-framed, and rustic chandeliers hang from the wood beams above our heads. Each table is packed close together, but every seat is taken, which makes it a little difficult to navigate around them in the small tavern.

“Over here!” Mikhail’s voice rises above the din of chatter. He stands up from a table across the room, and his tall frame is hard to miss over the seated crowd.

We approach the booth that’s tucked away in the far back corner. A single pendant light hangs over the table, creating an intimate, sensual atmosphere set apart from the bustling restaurant.

Mikhail sits on one side next to a girl who I presume is his date, and Alek and I fill in the booth across from them.

“This is Josephine Grey.” Mikhail throws his arm around her shoulders. “She’s the granddaughter of an English earl.”

“Call me Josie,” she says in a posh British accent, acknowledging us before turning to Mikhail. “And would you please stop broadcasting my lineage to everyone we meet? Really, Mick, it’s embarrassing.”

“You’re royalty, babe. Don’t be ashamed of that. It’s fucking sexy.” He leans in and captures her mouth with a heated kiss.

Josie is stunning. She has dark auburn hair that hangs straight down her back, and her petite face is framed with fringe bangs. Her chic look is edgy and effortless, and with her twiggy frame, she looks like a supermodel.

When Mikhail leans away, her pale skin is tinged with pink. She tightens her black leather jacket around her shoulders and turns to us. “It’s a pleasure to finally meet you both. Mick talks about you all the time, Alek.”

At that moment, a server comes over to take our drink order, and Mikhail orders food for us in Swiss German. The only word I make out is “fondue.”

Josie turns to me and rests her chin on her delicate hands. “So, Willow, what are you studying at Weltner?”

She has a sophisticated air about her, but her light brown eyes are a little glassy, like she’s disconnected. Whether it’s from boredom or melancholy, I can’t tell.

“Um, I haven’t decided yet,” I say. “But I’m leaning toward literature. All I know is I want to make a career out of books, but I don’t know what that looks like yet.”

Josie gives an approving nod. “Well, Mick says Alek is going into finance, so it makes sense for a couple to balance that with something artistic. I’m sure you’ll be marvelous, whatever you decide to do.”

“Thanks, I appreciate that,” I say with a small smile.

Alek places his hand on my thigh and rubs his thumb in a gentle circle against my bare skin.

We spend the evening getting to know each other and drinking. The server keeps bringing beer after beer, and by the time the fondue pot is nearly empty, I’m four pints deep, and the room is starting to tilt on its side.

Alek leans close. “Mikhail and I are going outside for a smoke. Drink some of this while we’re gone.” He slides a glass of water in front of me.

I pout. “I don’t wanna. I want more beer.”

“Don’t test me, malishka . You know what happens when you don’t obey me.”

I giggle and raise my glass. “Which is exactly why I’m going to keep drinking beer.”

He pinches my ass, making me jump, and beer spills over the rim. “At least try to behave while we’re gone.”

“You ladies have fun,” Mikhail says.

The two boys slide out of the booth, leaving Josie and me by ourselves.

I set my beer glass on the table with a little more force than I intend. “Josie, you’re so cool.”

Even her laugh is elegant. “You must have had one too many if you think I’m cool.”

“No, I’m serious!” I slap my palm on the table. “You’re so pretty, and your style is so badass. I totally wanna be you when I grow up.”

She reaches across the table and pats my hand. “You’re so sweet. I have a feeling we’re going to become great friends.”

I gasp. “Really? I’d love that!”

“And as your friend, I’m telling you to drink some water.” She nods at my still-full water glass in front of me. “Otherwise, you’ll have a nasty hangover in the morning.”

“Fine, but don’t tell Alek. I want him to punish me later. And by punish, I mean—“

“I get the picture. Your secret is safe with me.” Amusement sparkles in her eyes as she watches me sip. “Your necklace is stunning, by the way. I’ve been admiring it all night.”

I glance down at the heart-shaped pendant hanging from a long, silver chain.

The pendant is made from black diamonds surrounding a red garnet, and a silver dagger charm pierces through it.

Running my fingers over the stones has become a self-soothing habit for me.

“Thanks. Alek gave it to me. But enough about me. What about you and Mikhail? Are you two...?”

“Are we shagging? Yes.”

I snort. “I figured that, but is he your boyfriend?”

Her expression falters. “We’re just casual. Once we graduate in June, he’ll go his way, and I’ll go mine.”

“Okay, good.” I blow out a long breath. “I was afraid to tell you that he was flirting with the receptionist in my building.”

“That sounds like Mick.” She gives me a wistful smile, but her eyes are a million miles away.

A figure approaches our table, casting a shadow over the booth. For a moment, I think it’s Alek returning from outside, but when I glance up, it isn’t him.

The stranger has a similar height and build as Alek, but his complexion is more Mediterranean than Baltic with its copper hue. His thick, raven hair is combed into a preppy style to match his beige cable-knit sweater and navy slacks.

The guy looks like he just finished having tea with the Kennedys and is on his way to a charity luncheon on a yacht. Like an old-money, Ivy League legacy student who knows he’s got a gorgeous face.

He folds his arms and leans against our booth. “Good evening, ladies.” He has a light German accent mixed with something else I can’t pick up.

“Oh, hello, Enzo,” Josie says. “Are you out with Birgitta?”

“No, I’m just having drinks with the guys.” He turns his dark eyes onto me. “Who’s your lovely friend?”

“This is Willow. Willow, meet Enzo.” She gestures between us. “He’s in third year with Mikhail and me.”

I hiccup. “Nice to meet you.”

He scans the empty glasses piling up on the table. “Did you two drink all of these by yourselves?”

“No, we had some help,” Josie says with a shimmering laugh.

He flags down a server. “Another round for my friends.” Then he slides into the booth beside me. “Is that an American accent I detect?”

“It is,” I answer.

Holy cow, he smells good. His cologne isn’t too strong, but it has an aquatic quality to it that reminds me of my tranquil days spent by the Mediterranean Sea.

“First time to Zurich?” he asks me.

“First time to Switzerland. First night here, actually.”