Chapter 20 Lina #2
When we reached a large staircase, I paused and said, “This place is amazing.”
“I’m glad you like it.”
“I can’t believe you did all this.” I shook my head. “It’s incredible… you’re incredible.”
“You’re the incredible one.”
Without another word, he led me up to the second floor and down a long, dark hall.
When we reached the door at the end, Sergei opened it and waited for me to step inside.
His office was just as incredible as the rest of the casino.
There was a large desk in the center of the room with a table in the corner, a large leather sofa, and a wall of glass that overlooked the casino floor below.
I was still taking it all in when Sergei closed the door behind us.
I barely had a chance to blink before he was on me.
No warning. No whispers of sweet nothings.
Just one strong hand at my waist and the other at the back of my neck.
He pulled me closer and crashed his mouth against mine, kissing me so passionately, so intently, that it stole my breath.
I didn’t think. I just moved with him and clutched his side as he started leading me backwards.
The back of my thighs hit his desk, and his lips never left mine as he lifted me up and sat me down on the edge.
He stepped between my legs, and I instinctively wrapped them around his hips. I let out a soft whimper when I felt his erection pressing against me. He answered with a growl low in his throat, and it did dangerous, wonderful things to me.
We were seconds away from losing ourselves completely when there was a knock on the door. It swung open, and Sergei immediately tensed and broke the kiss. We both turned to face the door, and my stomach did a nosedive when I saw that it was Viktor standing in the doorway.
Sergei didn’t flinch. He didn’t try to explain or apologize. He didn’t even bother moving. He stood there between my legs and glared at Viktor. It felt like some kind of power move, and I didn’t like it.
I didn’t want to be a pawn in the game he was playing with his brother, so I eased down from the desk and stepped away. Viktor’s eyes drifted over to me, and the hurt look in his eyes made me want to crawl into a hark hole.
Sergei finally noticed the stoic expression I had fixed on him. The second he realized I was upset with him, his expression softened. “Lina, I’m…”
I started walking out of the room. “I’ll give you two a minute.”
Before either of them could stop me, I rushed out. As soon as the door closed behind me, I heard Viktor roar, “She’s been here five minutes, and you’ve already got her spread out on your damn desk!”
“Watch your mouth,” Sergei warned.
“Fuck you. You don’t get to use her to work out whatever is going on in that fucked-up head of yours. She is not one of your little playthings.”
“You done?”
“Fuck, no, I’m not done!” Viktor snapped. “You’re trying to put on that you’re protecting her and giving her time bit, but we both know that’s bullshit. This is about you wanting to get your dick wet.”
“Not another fucking word, or…”
“Or what?” Viktor pushed. “You’re only pissed because you know I’m right.”
I wasn’t surprised that Viktor was upset about me and Sergei, but this wasn’t just about us. This was about the two of them, and everything dark and tangled between them. I simply couldn’t listen to another word, so I started walking down the hall.
I made my way over to the railing and glanced down at the casino floor below. I was watching all the various people playing their slots and rounds of blackjack when someone caught my eye.
He was at the bar with one of the younger brothers, and he was leaning back in his chair as he watched people buzz around him.
He seemed completely unbothered and was enjoying life, and I was a little jealous of the fact.
He must’ve felt me looking, because he tipped his head back and glanced up to the railing.
The second his eyes found mine, a crooked, shit-eating smirk spread across his face.
I don’t know why I did it. Maybe it was nerves, or I was just trying to be friends, but I lifted my hand and gave him a small wave.
The smirk widened, and just like that, he stood.
The smirk remained as he started up the steps. Damn. I stepped back from the railing, silently praying he would get distracted on the way up, but no such luck. As he drew closer, he snickered, “Well, well, look who’s back.”
“I couldn’t seem to keep myself away.” I forced a smile as I said, “Goose, right?”
“Ah, she remembered my name,” he chuckled. “That’s gotta be a good sign.”
“I wouldn’t read too much into it.”
“I don’t know. That and the ‘come-hither’ wave is hard to ignore,” he teased, eyes dancing. “That’s practically a proposal where I’m from.”
“I did no such thing.”
“You didn’t just wave at me?”
“Well, yes, but I was just being friendly.” I cocked my brow. “Besides, I could’ve been waving at your friend.”
“Who? Skid?” He glanced down at the guy who was now watching us both and shook his head. “Nah, we both know that wave was for me.”
“You’re reaching.”
“Whatever you say, princess.”
“I’m here with Sergei.”
“Is that right? Hard to believe he’d be fool enough to leave you out here all alone.”
I rolled my eyes, and he took it as encouragement, stepping in just a little closer. He smelled like leather mixed with bourbon and cologne, and he had this kind of lazy confidence that made it hard not to smile at him, even when he was doing everything he could to get under my skin.
“Can I get you a drink or something?”
“No, thanks. I’m fine.”
“You most certainly are.” His eyes skirted over me, and that smirk still remained. “I don’t mind going down and grabbing you something. Maybe some wine or one of those fruity drinks you girls like?”
Before I could answer, Sergei came up behind me and announced, “If she needs a drink, I’ll be the one to get it.”
“Sure thing.” Goose’s brows lifted, but he didn’t look surprised or concerned. Instead, he looked amused. “Whatever you say, boss.”
Sergei glared at him in a way that would’ve made most men shake in their boots, but Goose didn’t flinch. He just stood there like he wasn’t taking the hint. Clearly annoyed, Sergei snapped, “You can go now, Goose.”
“Now, why would I do that?” He crossed his arms. “Me and the pretty lady here are having ourselves a friendly conversation.”
“You’re walking on thin ice, brother.”
“I know. I know. I’m just fucking with ya.” Goose paused for a moment, considering his next move, then turned his attention back to me. “Catch ya on the flipside.”
“That ice is cracking.”
“I’m going. I’m going.”
I shook my head as he turned and started his descent down the stairs. Once I knew he was out of earshot, I let out a breath and asked, “Is he always such a flirt?”
“With anything that breathes.”
“At least he’s honest about it.”
“If you say so,” Sergei muttered, but there wasn’t any real anger in it. Just annoyance laced with protectiveness. “You ready to get out of here?”
“What about Viktor?”
“What about him?”
“This thing between you two. I don’t like being in the middle of the game you are playing. It’s not right,” I told him, my voice tinged with annoyance.
“I’m not playing games, Lina. You’re mine now, and he needs to know that.”
“Maybe, but I don’t like hurting him,” I said to Sergei with a sigh. “He has been such a good friend to me for so long. And I don’t want to be the one to cause a rift between you two.”
“You’re not causing a rift.”
“Certainly feels that way.”
“I’ll handle Viktor.”
“Sergei.”
“I’ll make things right. I promise.” My annoyance slowly began to fade as he lowered his mouth to my ear and whispered, “Let’s go home and finish what we started back in the office.”
The hint of hunger in his voice sent a delicious chill down my spine.
The memory of his mouth on mine, his body between my legs, and the feeling of his erection pressing against me melted away any remaining irritation I felt and had me wanting to bolt out of there. I tried not to sound too overly eager as I answered, “I like the sound of that.”
He didn’t say another word.
He simply slid his fingers around mine and led me down the stairs.
The casino was busier than it was when we first arrived.
People were moving between tables and slot machines, and the staff was doing what they could to keep up.
A couple of men tried to catch Sergei’s attention.
One of them called out his name while another started to follow after us. But Sergei ignored them.
He didn’t glance in their direction.
He didn’t slow down or loosen his grip.
He never broke his stride.
The man had one thought. One goal.
Me.