A growl rumbles through my chest as I brush my lips across hers, pressing her body against the door. It’s not enough, I need more.
“It wasn’t just a job. Last night,” I murmur. “You’re lying to yourself, to me when you say that.”
Her eyes meet mine, clear and wide. I kiss her, a hard, unyielding kiss, determined to erase the fear, the doubt, the thick wall she’s built between us.
Cradling her jaw, I pull her closer, and she doesn’t pull away. Her lips part on a breathless sound that opens the crack in her walls wider.
Her hands press gently against my chest, fingers curling into my jacket. She’s not pushing me away but holding me to her. It’s a soundless confession. And when she kisses me back, fierce and trembling, I know she’s feels it, too.
“Work for me, don’t work for me. It won’t change anything.” I run my thumb along her jaw.
“Your brother was almost killed last night, Ivan. You’re telling me that I could be in danger just for being with you. Is that what you really want? You want me in danger?”
My jaw twitches. Of course I want her safe. I’d burn the whole fucking city to ashes if it meant eliminating any threat toward her.
“It’s too late for that to be a consideration.” Getting my phone from my pocket, I swipe to the society blog that covered last night’s charity event.
The first picture on the post is of us getting out of the car when we arrived. Apparently, the photographer I scared away didn’t stay scared for long. There are two more photos of us inside the event, neither giving the impression the conversation we’re locked in is platonic.
“Oh no!”
She snatches the phone from me and scrolls through the screen, reading the article that goes along with them. We’re mentioned briefly, me by name. Since she was my plus one and not on the guest list, I guess they weren’t able to find hers yet. But it’s only a matter of time.
Fire burns bright in her gaze when she looks back up at me.
“Can’t you make them take this down?”
“I can, but it’s already been seen by too many people for it to matter. And it’s not a negative article. It mentions the millions of dollars my family donates to charities every year.” I take the phone back from her before she can smash it.
She looks ready to smash a lot of things.
“If you won’t stay with me, that’s fine.” She needs her independence for the time being. I can manage that. “But there will be security at your building at all times. And I’m getting that fucking landlord of yours to put in an actual security system and a lock on the doors that works.”
“Fine. I guess I can’t argue with a better security system on the building, but don’t you think having a babysitter outside is overkill?”
“No. Overkill would be having him sit in your living room.” I pause a beat. “If your bedroom wasn’t basically in your living room, I might do that.”
She drops her shoulders. “Fine. Babysitter outside. Is there anything else? Would you like to put up cameras in my apartment? Maybe have a sniper stationed across the street with a clear view of my apartment. You know, in case any bad guys get inside?”
“You’re back to being a smart ass.” I graze my fingertip over her jaw. “You’re looking for a punishment, I think. Something to take the edge off all the stress.”
“I’m not a child.”
“And yet, you’ve faked ill to get out of work today, you’ve lied to me, and your attitude suggests otherwise.” Snaking my hand up into her hair, I fist the strands at the scalp.
“Don’t worry, I won’t be gentle.”
Calling off for my shift had been stupid. Of course, Ivan was going to come over to check on me if he thought I was sick.
But he’s not here because he thought I wasn’t feeling well, he’s here because he knows I was lying. He’s here because he wants to be.
“Ivan. No.” I shove at his chest, but it’s no use.
No one will convince me this man was ever a baby, innocent and sweet and dependent on another human being for anything. Ivan was chiseled out of a block of marble and put on the earth to rule.
“Tell me you lied.”
“Fine! I lied. I’m not sick.” Obviously.
