He smiled, a lazy smile that caused his cheek to crease into that almost-but-not-quite dimple, and her heart gave an irregular kick. He was so full of vitality, so ludicrously handsome, that she felt momentarily dizzy. The stark black and white of his formal evening clothes made him look both commanding and slightly wicked. Like Lucifer on his best behavior.
“You look exquisite, Miss Brown.”
Anya dropped him a pert little curtsey. “Why, thank you. Charlotte came and gave me some help to get ready. We both approve of your choice.”
She peered around his body, trying to sneak a glimpse of his rooms, but he placed both hands on the doorframe and leaned forward, denying her entry to what he obviously considered his private, inner sanctum.
The move only increased her desire to see it.
He leaned close enough for her to catch a faint whiff of cologne and warm skin, but she ignored the traitorous clenching of her stomach.
“I take it, from your outfit, that you’ve decided to lend me your assistance this evening.”
“That’s what I wish to discuss with you.” Anya ducked neatly beneath his outstretched arm and slipped past him into his room. He turned with a muttered curse, and she bit back a smile.
“Sothisis the lair of the big bad Wolff,” she teased. “I must confess, I’ve wanted to see it.” She studied the red leather-topped desk and overstuffed armchairs with a chuckle of delight. “Hmm. Rather disappointing. I was sure there’d be more ravished virgins and piles of human bones.”
He crossed his arms and sent her a look that was part amused, part exasperated.
“Make yourself at home,” he said dryly. He prowled toward her and she took a retreating step back. “So what was it you wanted to discuss?”
“If you want me to help you spy on my countrymen, you need to give me something in return.”
He raised his brows. “You want payment?”
“Of a kind. Skills. I’ve realized I need to be more proficient in certain areas.”
His mouth twitched, and she flushed as she belatedly realized the potential for misinterpretation in her words.
“And you want me to teach you?” he drawled.
“I do.” She quashed the highly improper thoughts his words had summoned. “At first I thought of asking you to teach me to shoot a rifle or a pistol, but then I realized that’s not very practical. I’m unlikely to ever need to know such things. Youcouldteach me some ways to defend myself without a weapon, however.”
The memory came, unbidden, of Vasili’s hands on her wrists, of his mouth grinding upon hers. Of how powerless she’d been. She never wanted to be in that position again.
“Knowledge is power,” she said softly. “Please show me.”
He gave a slow exhale. “Right now?”
She nodded.
“I’m not sure there’s much you can do while wearing that dress,” he said. “But I suppose I can show you a couple of basic moves.”
He took another step and stopped less than an arm’s length away.
“Because of your height, you’re at an immediate disadvantage. So you’ll need to be inventive when it comes to bringing down your opponent.”
“How?”
“Fight dirty. Hit him in the crotch,” he said baldly. “Or punch him in the throat. If he can’t breathe, he can’t fight.”
Anya nodded earnestly.
“Pull his ears, or better still, bite them. Jab at his eyes. And if you can grab his nose, snap it to the side. It’ll bleed like the devil.”
Anya’s gaze automatically went to the perfect line ofhis nose. Considering the number of battles in which he’d been involved, she’d have thought it would have been broken a time or two. The man was clearly charmed.
He smiled and Anya returned the gesture, delighted with this new information. Even Dmitri hadn’t discussed this kind of thing with her. Then she jumped as Wolff reached out, caught her fingers, and raised their joined hands between them. Her blood pulsed in her fingertips as he intertwined their fingers and then bent hers back with gentle force.
