Page 10

Mikhail

“You know you can admit my choice was better and openly enjoy the meal,” Arielle teased with a smile.

“It’s not better. It’s edible at best.”

She scoffed, “You’re currently on your second serving, and the way I see it, you’re heading for a third.”

“That’s only because you ordered enough food to feed a small football team, and I hate waste,” I countered, shoveling a spoonful of white rice and chicken soup into my mouth.

Yes, you heard right. Arielle had somehow figured out that if you prepared white rice and drizzled some spicy chicken soup on it, it would make an absolutely delicious meal with a side of salad. I have no idea what sort of trials and tribulations she was going through at the time to come up with such a combination, but here I was, enjoying it against my better judgment. Not that I would ever admit it.

I was only glad I rented out the entire VIP floor of the restaurant for us. How else would I explain the abomination that was currently on my table?

“Whatever helps you sleep at night,” she rolled her eyes, flooding her rice with soup.

“You help me sleep at night,” I replied, and I could see a small dust of pink tinting her cheeks.

She was the most beautiful woman I’ve ever known, and the past two weeks with her have opened me to a side of life I never thought was possible for men like me. It might’ve taken a little while, with her constantly glancing over her shoulders whenever we were out, but once she was settled, it was almost unbelievable how things fell into place between us. She complimented every part of my being as if she had been put in this world for me to find her.

It suddenly made sense why I had no prior interest in women and why no woman could hold my attention longer than a night. They simply weren’t her. I watched in amusement as she doused what was left of her rice in more soup. She was practically sniffing and her nose was red from consuming too much spicy food but she wouldn’t stop.

“What would your mafia people say if they find their all-powerful Don staring at a girl like that?” she asked, shooting me a playful look of disgust.

Another thing I’ve learned about Arielle was how much she loved playful banter. She never backs away from the opportunity to get into a witty exchange at any given time.

It was a quality of hers I didn’t think I’d be able to deal with. I was a man of few words and didn’t enjoy verbal exchanges, but I made adjustments for her, and now, I have a few comebacks up my sleeves.

“If you’re really interested in what they have to say, I have a few things we can try out to get them talking.”

The pink on her cheeks deepened. “Eat your food.”

“Or I could eat you,” I replied, my eyes looking her up and down.

I’ve been dying to get her out of that dress from the moment I picked her up from her house. It was a short silk dress that hugged her waist and flared out at the hips, stopping about an inch below her ass. The material stretched over her body, drawing attention to every move she made. Not that she wouldn’t have my attention if she was dressed in a sac. This just made it slightly more difficult to look away from her. It’s why I emptied out the entire floor. I couldn’t have anyone else stealing glances at her.

And she’s been teasing me the whole night with her low neckline and long legs on display while trying to distract me with food. Didn’t work. My dick has been at half-mast since I saw her.

“Chicken soup didn’t do it for you?” she fired back, that playful glint returning to her eyes.

“Not even close,” I let out a low growl, my eyes devouring her.

The way her red-stained lips wrapped around her spoon, they should be wrapped around my cock instead, and her legs, they shouldn’t be tucked beneath her; they should be wrapped around my waist while her fingers draw irregular patterns on my back.

A little tent was beginning to form in my pants, and I tried to discreetly fix it, but her eyes had already found it, and she drew in a shaky breath, her tongue darting out to wet her lips. Her eyes darkened with lust, and I could see her squeezing her thighs under the table. The temperature in the room must’ve gone up by a few degrees because I was suddenly overcome by a strong urge to loosen my tie and take off my jacket. And if my phone hadn’t chosen that moment to go off, with the way Arielle was looking at me, God knows there’d be no telling what my next action would’ve been.

I cleared my throat, clicking on the receiver. “This better be important, Lorenzo.”

“We found him.”

I felt my shoulders relax, and the tense muscles I’ve been carrying around for the past few weeks relaxed alongside.

“Where did you find him?” I reached across the table, softly squeezing Arielle’s hand in a silent apology as I listened to Enzo run me the details.

“Overall, we should have him in New York tomorrow.”

“Thank you. I’ll make arrangements for his movement tomorrow,” I said promptly, clicking the red button.

“Sorry about that,” I turned to Arielle, who was pushing her last piece of chicken around her plate.

“Work?”

“Work,” I concurred, not offering any more explanations.

While transparency and honesty were a big part of our agreement moving forward, there were still details of the Bratva she couldn’t deal with.

Her insistence on calling my affairs work and using generalized terms for my conduct was proof she wasn’t adapting to this life any time soon, and frankly, I didn’t want her to. She was the only part of my life that was pure and untainted by the Bratva, and I intended to keep her that way for as long as I could.

“You have it under control?” She tried to look concerned about me, but the slight quiver in her lips gave her away.

“I made you a promise, Arielle. Nothing will happen to you, not while you’re with me,” I reassured, and she nodded slowly, not taking her eyes off her plate.

I could tell this was a big change for her, getting whisked out of her perfect world and into a world of crime and grey lines. And I appreciate her trusting me enough to venture into this with me. I was almost halfway certain she’d decline my offer when I appeared at her house, but I saw the way she looked at me, and I knew the feeling was mutual. It took a little convincing, but now she was here, I’d die first before I let any harm come to her.

*****

“We’re here,” I murmured, gently stroking Arielle’s head on my shoulders, a smile tugging at my lips as she stirred awake. She had fallen asleep the moment the car left the restaurant parking lot, and her hair was sticking out in every direction. Her makeup appeared smudged on one side, and I was sure if I looked over my shoulder, I’d find a makeup map the size of her cheeks on my suit.

“Woah, that was fast.” She yawned.

“It was forty-five minutes.”

“Okay, And?” She glared at me, daring me to make the comment we both knew was simmering beneath my tongue.

She looked so cute with her hair all over the place and her eyes narrowed to slits. I know she was trying to be intimidating, but I couldn’t help the chuckle that slipped past my lips.

“What is funny?” Her glare deepened.

“Nothing, princess,” I replied, laughter lurking behind my voice. “Why don’t you head in first, and I’ll be with you in a minute.”

She gave me a questioning look to which I replied with a smile before she picked up her purse and headed inside.

I waited till she was inside, the smile on my face fading into a cold, murderous look. I pressed the intercom on the side of the backseat, lowering the tinted partition. “Tomorrow, you and Cannan take the chopper to Enzo’s and fetch me that rat. Lock him in the warehouse. Make sure he stays conscious. I want to be the last thing he sees when life leaves him.

“Yes, Don.”

I’ve had the news in my mind since Enzo’s call came in, and I didn’t want to deal with it in Arielle’s presence. She had a slight idea what this was about, and I didn’t want her having flashbacks from the last time. I followed the sound of running water to my bathroom, finding a very naked and soapy Arielle standing under the shower. I leaned by the doorway, my cock hardening as I watched the water run down her curves in a manner only my fingers should. I would never get used to seeing her naked.

The sharp curve of her spine, the deep dimples on her lower back, and the soft swell of her ass. She was twice as beautiful as the artworks she admired. Deciding I’d seen enough, I tugged at my tie, roughly discarding the piece of cloth on the bathroom floor. My jacket followed shortly, and then my shirt till I was naked. I pulled her into me from behind, loving the way she melted right into me. “Hey.” I trailed kisses from the back of her neck to her jawline, pressing my erection into her ass.

“Hello, big guy.” She chuckled, pressing her ass deeper into me, drawing a low growl from me.

“You’ve been teasing me all night with that little dress of yours, princess,” I murmured into her ears, nibbling the soft skin.

My hands sank into the soft flesh of her boobs, and she threw her head on my shoulders, letting out a low moan as I rolled her taut nipples between my fingers. So responsive, all mine.

“I know. I wore it for you.” She drawled out, and I spun her around, capturing her lips in a hot, searing kiss.

Pleasure clouded my senses as I devoured the sweet taste of her. I would never get enough of her. She was worse than any addiction a man could ever think of—the kind you never want to be freed from. My hands dug into the soft, round mold of flesh on her back, pulling her impossibly closer to me. The only thing that could fit between us was the water pouring down from the shower.

She took charge of the kiss, her lips leaving a trail of kisses from my neck to my shoulder. Red hot waves shot through my spine when I felt her teeth sink deep into my deltoid, and my hold on her tightened. She didn’t stop there. She followed the map of my body till she sank onto her knees, soft blue eyes peering at me beneath her lashes.

“Don’t worry,” she said, picking on the question lurking behind my eyes. “I brushed my teeth.”

I felt myself relax. As much as I wanted her lips wrapped around me, she also swallowed two plates of spicy chicken soup minutes ago. Her fingers wrapped tightly around my cock, her thumb spreading the precum that collected at my tip.

“So big—so beautiful,” she murmured, watching as the skin pulled forward and back with every stroke of her hands.

My balls tightened with anticipation, and I almost lost my footing when her lips finally wrapped around me, taking me deep into her throat in one go.