“Not at all.” I headed toward the stone steps, Omar following, his gun still trained on the three at the table in case anyone got any stupid ideas. Before we disappeared out the door at the top, I called back, “I’ll be in touch.”
12
BENOIT
I’D GLIMPSED THE maps oh so casually last night, so when I woke in the early hours and Dimitri wasn’t there, I knew exactly where he’d gone.
And when he wasn’t back in bed by the time the sun came up, that told me all I needed to know about his sleeping habits. Hedidn’tsleep, not more than three or four hours, and that tracked with many of the powerful men I knew.
Me, on the other hand? I slept like a perfectly swaddled baby.A full night’s beauty sleepwasof the utmost importance, after all.
After a day of exploring the grounds, I joined Dimitri for dinner, separate from his team, which I found interesting. Would he dine alone if I weren’t around? Or did he just prefer not to bring me around his work?
So many questions about the man I’d be spending the next few weeks with.
I set my bishop in its new position on the chessboard and then reached for my wine. “Your move.”
Dimitri took his time, weighing every option like it was a life-or-death situation. Maybe for him it was. I got the feeling he didn’t like to lose.
When he finally made his move, his dark eyes flicked up to mine, challenging me.
He was so damn sexy sitting in a cozy leather chair by a roaring fire, its flames casting shadows across his face. It made him look even more dark and dangerous, which, apparently, was exactly the kind of man my dick was into, judging by the way I’d had a semi since we started this game.
Last night was an epic sex marathon, and I shouldn’t have even had the energy to look at him that way, but damn. Tall, intimidating, and Greek apparently did it for me. Who knew?
I focused back on the board, contemplating my move. He’d just put me in a tough position, but if there was one thing I knew how to do, it was wiggling my way out of a seemingly impossible situation. Usually that meant using every ounce of sex appeal I had, and while that didn’t help in a game like this, Icoulddistract him a bit.
I made a show of slipping off my jacket, revealing a sleeveless amethyst silk top that showcased my arms and shoulders. Then, deciding that wasn’t enough, I unfastened a couple more buttons so he had a good look down my chest.
As I lifted one of my pawns, I swirled my finger over its rounded tip, keeping my gaze down at the board like I didn’t know what effect I was giving off.
“Hmm. This is so…hard,” I said, bringing the pawn up to tap against my lips as I contemplated my next move.
“That’s not going to work.” When I looked up in question, Dimitri shook his head. “I see what you’re doing.”
“Oh? What am I doing?”
“You have a hot-as-fuck body?—”
“Why, thank you for noticing.”
“—but using it to distract me won’t work.”
I gave a shocked gasp. “Are you suggesting I’dcheat?”
“Are you saying you wouldn’t?”
“Maybe the fire has me feeling a little…warm.”
“I could put it out.”
“Or I could just take off my clothes if I get too hot.” I dropped my pawn into position.
Dimitri’s eyes shifted to the move, his lips curled, and a second later he swiped my piece off the board, replacing it with one of his. “Told you it wouldn’t work.”
“Well, you don’t have to look so smug about it.”
“Maybe I’m just happy I can actually resist you when I put my mind to it.”
