Page 4 of Kneel for Me
“We’re going to make this our priority,” Adrian told me, his attention on the trees we passed as we made our way down the highway toward the interstate that would take us to the airport. “I want to get back home as quickly as possible.”
“And get away from me?” I questioned, knowing I was just, essentially, poking the bear. But goddamn, it was so fun to do so.
Adrian swung his furious gaze to me, those dark eyes burning with fire. “Yes,” he finally growled. “No one truly likes you, Ivan.”
I smirked. “I beg to differ,” I said nonchalantly. “Plenty of people like me.” I looked at Mark. “You like me, don’t you, Mark?”
“Yes, sir,” he said without a bit of hesitation. And it was true. Markdidlike me, and not only because I signed his paychecks or that he had a ridiculously amazing benefits package working for me. He genuinely enjoyed my company.
“He works for you. That’s not the same,” Adrian glowered.
“I believe it’s all the same. You and James grew up together, no? Just because you work for him now, does that mean you don’t actually like him anymore?”
Adrian looked like he wanted to punch me in the face because he knew I’d made an excellent point. “Go fuck yourself, Ivan.”
Unable to help myself, I leaned into him, my hand coming up to latch around his throat. He swallowed thickly, his Adam’s apple bobbing against my palm, and his wide eyes met mine. I brushed my cheek against his, letting my lips linger at his ear. “In due time,” I whispered, my voice a mere rasp that made him shiver, “you’ll be telling me to fuckyouinstead.”
He shoved me away so hard, my back slammed against the door. I barely bit back a wince, but I didn’t retaliate. I’dneverlash out at this man in anger. Instead, my eyes remained on him as he glared at me, his fingers clenching and unclenching as he fought to regain control.
Come on,kotik, I silently urged.Let him out to play with me.
But he didn’t. He locked that monster down, just as I’d learned to do numerous times. But unlike him, I knew he hadn’t had numerous psychologists mentoring him and breathing down his neck while he was growing up. And, if my research proved correct, Adrian’s sociopathic disorder hadn’t made an appearance until he was in his twenties. And after diagnosis, he’d stopped seeing a doctor and had learned to control his urges on his own.
Which meant his control would be fragile, at best. I was relying on that.
“Keep your fucking hands off of me,” Adrian finally growled.
I just hummed, not giving him an answer. Pulling out my phone, I shot a message off to our pilot to check that we would be ready for takeoff when we got there. When Adrian realized I wouldn’t be responding to him, he muttered something under his breath I didn’t catch, then turned to face out the window, his body so tense, tension radiated through the whole car, damn near suffocating me.
Before long,kotik, you won’t be repulsed by my touch. You’ll be salivating for it.
4
Adrian
It was official. The universe fucking hated me. I thought that maybe—just fucking maybe—I might get lucky enough to take the plane ride to Russia on a commercial flight. But nope. Ivan fucking Volkov wouldn’t be caught dead on a commercial flight with other regular citizens, even if he could fly first class. Hell, he was rich enough that he could buy all the tickets in first class so he didn’t have to share with anyone.
Instead, we were boarding his private fucking jet. A private jet I was sure had extremely comfortable chairs, great flight attendants that he paid top dollar for, the best fucking pilot in the universe, and whole fucking chef so he could have a healthy, well-balanced meal while we were flying. Because he was pretentious like that.
It made it a bit difficult to hate it, honestly. But when I remembered Ivan was on the flight with me, it made hating this whole fucking jet just a little bit easier.
“I could have taken a commercial flight,” I grumbled as I shoved my bag into the overhead compartment.
“And wasted my time? No, thank you,” Ivan coolly retorted as he took a seat. He gestured to the seats across from him, but I only glowered at him before making my way to the back of the jet and taking a seat there—on the opposite fucking side just for good measure. I neededdistance. Distance was vital.
He sighed so loudly, I could hear it from all the way in the back of the plane, but I ignored him, choosing instead to stare out the window at the tarmac beneath us. A flight attendant appeared and stopped beside where Ivan was sitting, speaking to him quietly. He nodded at whatever she said, and then she made her way to me, a pleasant smile on her red-painted lips. She was pretty enough with long, chestnut hair and pretty blue eyes. She had curves in all the right places. Usually, I’d take a moment to flirt with her, but being around Ivan had put me in a foul fucking mood.
“Mr. Miller, we will be taking off shortly. Please fasten your seatbelt. I will let you know when it is safe to move about the plane.”
I reached for my seatbelt, snapping it into place. She headed back toward the front of the jet, and I sighed heavily, reaching for my phone when it vibrated. I glowered at James’s name.
James:
Try not to be douchebag. He doesn’t have to help us. Remember the family, Adrian.
I couldn’t forget the fucking family. How the hell could I? The Jacksons were all I’d know my entire life. My father had served with James’s father, and then, I served under James. I’d beenborninto this life. I wouldn’t turn my back on it, even if it meant I had to work with a pompous piece of shit like Ivan Volkov.
After a few more minutes, the plane began to slowly take off, and then, we were airborne, heading for Russia. Trapping me with Ivan for the next however fucking long.
