CHAPTER 8 #2
My control snaps like brittle glass, although the truth is that I never had any control when it came to her.
Before she can even think about pulling away, I drag her onto my lap, one hand wrapped around the back of her neck and the other clamped tightly around her waist. Her mouth parts beneath mine and I take advantage of it without hesitation, letting my tongue and teeth and every greedy piece of need I have claim her.
I know every pair of eyes in the restaurant is on us, but their attention means nothing to me.
She tastes like vanilla and my ruin, my cock is already painfully hard making me feel like a teenager discovering pleasure for the first time.
She kisses me back with hesitation that burns away into heat and then into raw want.
Her teeth graze my lower lip before she bites down with enough pressure to make me groan against her mouth.
She trails kisses down my jaw to my neck and bites me again, sharp and claiming, sending fire straight through every nerve.
A startled gasp breaks the quiet across the room as silverware slips from someone’s hand and strikes a plate, and a wave of hushed, unsettled whispers sweeps through the tables around us.
But I don’t care, the woman I’ve fallen in love with is kissing me and I don’t want it to end.
she finally pulls back, her lips are swollen and her breath comes out fast. There is a thin sheen of saliva between us, and she looks dazed before reality snaps back into her eyes.
She slides off my lap and smooths her dress, but the moment she steps back, she freezes.
Her gaze drops to the wet patch spreading across my trousers.
She lifts her eyes to mine with slow amusement.
“You really can’t control yourself around me,” she says, her voice soft and cutting making my pulse pound. “if you knew I can’t why do you keep trying to tempt me.”
She picks up the file and the box containing the dress. She turns toward the exit, then glances over her shoulder with a knowing smile that I will think about for the rest of the night.
“Handle that,” she murmurs, her tone wickedly satisfied.
"Thank you for your cooperation, Mr. Ivanovich.
" And just like that, she's gone. I sit there, dazed, pressing a hand to my chest trying to catch my breath.
My neck still throbs where she's bitten me.
"That woman," I mutter, watching the door swing shut behind her. "is going to get me killed."
***
Two weeks later and I swear I can still taste her on my lips. Not a day's gone by without thinking about that kiss. I think I've gone insane, yes that has to be it. Meanwhile, the senator? Let's just say he folded like the pathetic coward he is.
According to my informants, he lets go of the property and still pays three hundred and forty-seven thousand euros in damages to keep his secrets buried.
Pathetic. Of course, he comes storming into my office afterward, red in the face, finger pointed at me like I personally handed over his dirty laundry.
I mean I did, but it was for a good cause.
"You gave the lawyer my secrets," he hisses. I stare at him, keeping my expression neutral. "I did no such thing." And what can he do? Nothing. It's not like he can kill me. The man leaves coughing, still humiliated, still broke, and still without the damn building.
Meanwhile, my woman is living her best life.
Word has it she's been driving around the custom-made Porsche Cayenne I got her.
Bright yellow with cream leather interior, bold enough to turn heads on every street.
I've noticed how much she gravitates toward bright, eye-catching things, so I make sure every damn inch of that car screams hers.
My phone rings three days after the car is delivered. I pick up on the first ring. "Mr. Ivanovich," her voice comes through, sharp and amused.
"Angel," I say, leaning back in my chair, already grinning like an idiot. "To what do I owe the pleasure?"
"Listen here, Mr. Ivanovich. I don't know what kind of sugar baby fantasy you're living in, but I'm keeping this car. Consider it compensation for my mental health, the kiss you forced me to give you, and that awkward public spectacle you put me through."
I chuckle. "I'm glad you like it."
"I didn't say I liked it," she shoots back. "I said I'm keeping it. There's a difference."
"Noted."
"Also," she purrs, dragging the words out like she knows exactly what effect they have, "wire me money for a full tank. I can’t afford to keep the car sitting without fuel,” she says, her tone playful over the line. “And since it was your bright idea to buy me a car, don’t you think you should handle filling it up?”
I'm already pulling up my banking app. "How much do you need, my love?"
"Fifteen thousand should cover it for a while. Maybe throw in some extra for insurance. This thing's a liability waiting to happen."
I type in the amount without hesitation. Sending Fifty thousand euros. Just because, she’s just a girl, and all girls love round figures.
"Done," I say. There's a pause on her end. "Already?"
"yes, my love."
She scoffs. "You're ridiculous."
"And you're expensive," I counter, still smiling. "But I don't mind."
Theres another pause. I can imagine her rolling her eyes. "So…..When can I see you again, there’s this new restaurant I want us to visit downtown?" I ask, anticipating our next meeting. Theres silence on her end that stretches long after my question. "Angel?"
"Goodbye, Mr. Ivanovich," she says sweetly. And then she hangs up.
I stare at my phone, the call ended screen mocking me. I laugh, shaking my head. Feisty, but its hot as fuck. Her rejecting me for the fifth time is very sexy.
I've never met a woman so unashamed to demand what she wants. It doesn't matter if it's money, revenge, or respect. She takes it like it's owed to her. I feel like a damn pay pig, just sitting around waiting for her to call me and ask for more.
And if she does? I'll give it. Gladly. But just as I'm enjoying the sweet, maddening thoughts of my future wife, the door to my office swings open without a knock. Only one person in this damn city has the audacity to do that.
Natalya.
My sister strolls in wearing a long black coat cinched at the waist and boots to probably crush a man's windpipe on her way home.
Her dark hair is slicked back in a ponytail, and those sharp eyes sweep the room before landing on me.
Natalya isn't just my sister. She's one of the deadliest people I know.
Hitwoman, information broker, and a bad cook.
"Brother," she greets dryly, as if my presence is just another item on her to-do list. She does not move in for a hug and I do not expect one, because affection was never part of the way we were raised. "Natalya," I reply, leaning back in my chair. "It's been a while."
"It's been… productive," she corrects, dropping into the chair across from me. "I've been busy gathering intel. You know how it is." I raise a brow. "What brings you here?"
She smirks. "I heard an interesting rumor going around." Here we go. "What kind of rumor?" I ask, already annoyed.
She leans forward until her elbows touch my desk.
"Something about the big boss finally falling for a lawyer.
" She does not need air quotes for me to hear the mockery.
"Who's spreading that nonsense?" I ask, rubbing my temple.
She shrugs. "People talk, Ilay. Especially in our circles.
You know how vultures are. I also heard you bought her a car. "
I don't respond, which only encourages her.
"A Porsche, no less," she adds. "You don't even buy your one night fuckups a drink, let alone a six-figure car.
" I look her dead in the eye, irritation already building up in my chest. "There's nothing strange about a man pursuing the woman he plans to marry. "
She holds my gaze a second too long, then a soft laugh slips out. “Marry? You? I didn’t realize you were doing stand-up now.”
“Yes. Marry. Your misery is your own curse, so keep it off me. Ask a pastor why God keeps you single. You are nosy enough to need confession anyway.” She shakes her head, a smile playing at her lips.
Wait. Let me see if I got this right. You’ve spent years dodging bullets, cops, and emotions, and now you’re ready to…
settle down? All because of a law-abiding woman?
Hilarious.” I smirk. “What can I say? I’m a reformed villain.
” “Reformed villain my ass,” she snorts.
“I’ll believe it when pigs fly, and even then I’d check twice. ”
“I’ll get you a flying pig for your birthday,” I reply coolly.
“Do it and I’ll personally decapitate the thing.
” She narrows her eyes. "You really think you can keep a woman like that in your world?
" I lean back in my chair, picturing her beautiful face and smart attitude in my head, "No, I don't want to keep her in my world.
" I pause. “I want to build her a kingdom. And if mine gets in the way, I’ll torch it.”
Natalya studies me for a long moment before sighing.
Right. You’re clearly a body double, because my real brother is trash.
Where did you hide him?” I sigh. “If I killed him, I’d send you an invitation to the funeral so you could dance on the coffin.
” She rolls her eyes and sits across from me.
“Now that we’ve established you’re possibly a better replacement, tell me what you’re doing about the property.
We need the deed. The senator wouldn’t piss on you even if you were on fire. So what’s the strategy?”
I lean back in my chair, fingers tapping against the armrest. "I have a lawyer I'm pursuing." She gives me a look. "The same lawyer you're buying cars for?"
I nod. "She takes cases. And she wins them."