Page 144 of Savage Hearts

The men resume their conversations, the girls arrive with platters of food, and my heart remembers how to beat.

Chuckling, Pakhan says something in Russian to Mal.

“You should see her when she’s really angry,” he replies, and takes a sip of his whiskey.

Everything after that is a blur.

I know we eat, but I couldn’t say what. I know there’s conversation, but it’s in Russian, so I don’t understand a thing. At one point, Mal says the name Kazimir in a questioning tone, to which Pakhan shakes his head. Then dinner’s over, and we’re standing to leave.

“Miss Keller,” says Pakhan, still sitting. He holds out a ringed hand.

When I look at it, uncertain if I’m supposed to kiss it or what, he says gently, “I don’t bite, child.”

I doubt that but grasp his hand anyway. Then I watch in shock as he lifts my hand to his lips and kisses my knuckles.

“Thank you for an interesting evening. It was a pleasure to meet you.”

His powerful, piercing gaze makes me feel shy. My cheeks faintlyburn, and I find it hard to meet his eyes. “You’re welcome. It was nice to meet you, too. And thank you for not being upset with my bad manners.”

His smile is small and mysterious. “Those bad manners will serve you well in the future. Empires aren’t run by the meek.”

It sounds eerily like a prophecy.

Like he knows something about me that I don’t.

But there’s no time to dwell on it, because Mal is pulling me away, dragging me out of the restaurant and into the waiting car.

He pushes me into the back seat, slams the door behind him, and lunges at me.

THIRTY-NINE

RILEY

The kiss is rough, dominant, and demanding. It’s also totally unexpected and takes my breath away.

With his hands gripping both sides of my head, Mal ravages my mouth until I’m mewing and shaking all over, clutching the lapels of his suit. Breathing hard, he breaks away and stares at me with eyes like fire.

He says gruffly, “You told the king of the Bratva that you have feelings for me.”

I’m too dizzy to know if that’s praise or a rebuke, so I shake my head wordlessly.

“Yes, you fucking did. Said it to his face, in front of all his captains. Said it in a fuck-you tone that would’ve gotten anyone else killed.”

He kisses me again, devouring my mouth.

When he breaks away this time, my heart is racing, and I’m gasping.

He drags me onto his lap, pulling me over so my legs are spreadopen around his hips and my dress is bunched up around my thighs. He sinks his fingers into the tender flesh of my ass and yanks me against his crotch so I’m sitting astride his erection.

Fisting a hand in my hair, he pulls my head down and rasps, “You said I was generous. Wonderful. Loyal.”

He crushes his mouth to mine and drinks deep from it until I’m whimpering.

Then he turns his mouth to my ear and growls,“You fucking defended me.”

I say breathlessly, “I can’t tell if you’re mad or happy about that.”

He flexes his hips, grinding his erection against me. His answer comes through gritted teeth.