Chapter 25
MILA
Tugging on the hem of my tight, black leather dress, this is the most me I’ve felt since I arrived. I hope it’s enough to impress him.
Not that I should want that as much as I do.
This is meant to be a job, nothing more. Except I make sure I have the perfect smokey eyeshadow and curls in my damn hair.
I don’t do that for men, ever. I hate to admit it, but I care what he thinks.
No, I need to remember why I’m doing this. Not the fact that my heart rate picks up every time I’m near him. Nor the guilt that is starting to eat away at me every day that I continue to lie to him.
I said yes to this date for my own selfish reasons. More time alone with him, not for anything else other than myself. I can’t deny the way my heart beats for him. I’m going to make the most of my seven minutes in the time I have left on this earth. Because after this, my life won’t be worth living.
I can’t save everyone. I learned that the hard way at a young age. I can save my brother. This is the only way.
I wish I didn’t feel anything for Nikolai. I wish he was the monster his father made him out to be. It would make this so much easier.
Instead, he’s the doting father that would burn down the earth for his daughter. The guy who is going out of his way to protect little, innocent me.
The guy who sets me on fire when he looks at me.
Fuck, I really am going to hell for this.
As I head down the stairs in my heels, my breath hitches when I see him tugging at the cuffs of his white shirt. Is he… nervous?
Our eyes meet, and it’s like I forget who I am for a second. His go wide and a smirk creeps up on his lips as I continue towards him.
“You look fucking divine.” He almost groans.
A blush creeps up my neck. What the hell is happening to me?
My eyes instinctively dart away, but his hand firmly clasps my chin, redirecting my gaze towards his captivating blue eyes.
“It’s just a date. They aren’t that scary.”
I swallow the lump in my throat. This is what I wanted, for him to fall for me. I wasn’t supposed to dive head first, too.
“You date often?” I ask, a pang of jealousy hitting me out of nowhere.
“Never.”
I really am becoming the woman I’m pretending to be. Is that what he’s into? Weak women?
His lips crash over mine, settling my crazy thoughts before I run away with them.
As his tongue slides into my mouth, I squeeze my thighs together and wrap my arms around his neck, forcing him to deepen the kiss.
I crave more.
His hand slides down my back and settles on my ass, and I let out a little moan into his mouth as he squeezes.
“Come on, I’ve promised you a date. If we keep going, we won’t be leaving the house.”
I bite down on my lip, feeling the sharp sting of pain.
“That doesn’t sound all that bad.”
He shakes his head, intertwining his fingers with mine, and guides me outside with a gentle pull.
The door of his Hellcat swings open, and I’m immediately hit with the strong, almost dark scent of his masculine aftershave.
His thumb brushes across the gloss on my lips.
“What did I tell you about biting your lip? They belong to me now.”
“Is that right?”
I’m genuinely intrigued.
With every touch he places on my thigh, it’s like another part of my resolve melts away. I turn my attention to the lights of Vegas as they flash past in the window. Even the breeze coming through isn’t enough to cool this scorching heat between us.
“What are you thinking about, krasivaya?” His deep voice catches my attention.
“What I want to eat.”I can’t hide my smile, even when I know deep down, I don’t deserve to be happy. One night.
My heart races. I’m not supposed to understand him.
“What does that mean?" I suck in a breath, “krasivya?” I say in my best American accent.
“Beautiful. We can work on how you pronounce it maybe?” he says with a playful grin, making my cheeks heat.
Shit. He has no idea.
“So… Anything you like on the menu?”
He shuffles uncomfortably in his seat, I catch a glimpse as his hands tighten around the steering wheel.
“Mhm, there are a few things I wouldn’t mind getting a taste of,” I reply, happy with the redirection of our conversation,
He nods slowly, his eyebrow raising as he looks at me. This time with pure fucking hunger. Enough to make my breathing go heavy.
“But I didn’t see your cock on the menu,” I trail off.
The veins on his neck protrude when I lick my lips, deliberately placing my hand on his thigh to rub slow circles over his pants.
I suck in a breath as his palm clamps over mine and he pulls it further up his leg, letting me feel how hard he is for me.
“I wanted to do this properly,” he mutters under his breath in Russian, before swerving left abruptly, making my side hit against the door.