Chapter Two
Katya took a hefty gulp of the cool Negroni and set the glass down on the table with a clink. She took a deep breath and signaled the waiter for a refill.
What was wrong with her? She’d played the same trick on men more than once but none of them had made her feel this way.
She couldn’t seem to forget the last guy.
He was much older than her, at least twenty years, but there was something about him.
It wasn’t paternal, it was primeval. The desire she’d felt had been blinding.
For the first time ever, she’d regretted not taking things further, but fucking someone unconscious was no fun.
The waiter, Daniel, a tall lanky man in his late twenties dressed in a white shirt with a black vest, raised an eyebrow at her.
“Is that a new piercing?” she asked, noticing the shiny ball above his left brow.
He grinned, the stud on his bottom lip glinting.
“Thanks for noticing,” he replied. “Are you okay? You don’t usually drink this much.”
Katya shrugged. “Yeah,” she lied. “It’s just been a rough few days.”
“If you want to talk about it,” he offered, brushing back the strands of hair dipping over his eyes and giving her a sincere blue gaze.
“Thanks.” She shook her head and returned to her drink. She did not want to talk about it, much less with Daniel. He understood and wordlessly left her alone.
She sighed. It had been three days since she’d left that guy tied down to a bed in a hotel room and she couldn’t get him off her mind.
She hadn’t been able to sleep properly or work.
His memory, his scent, and the taste of his lips on her lingered in her brain like a persistent memory threatening to overcome her common sense.
It didn’t help that her tiger kept trying to focus on all of it.
How many times in the last few days had she had to shove it aside?
She couldn’t focus. She couldn’t unwind.
And she had to. She needed to continue working.
It was almost the end of the month, and she hadn’t fulfilled her quota, and it was all because of him.
The door to The Gin Room opened, letting in a breeze which caressed the nape of her neck.
Her hair stood on end. Her tiger lurched to life, stealing her breath.
She gritted her teeth to push it down. What the hell was wrong with it?
The beast had never been so persistent in coming out as it had in the last few days.
She swept her fingers through her hair and that’s when she smelled him.
She veered around and stared. As if the mere thought of him had made him materialize out of the shadows.
He stood at the door, taking in the bar.
She ducked her head. Shit. Her heart hammered in her chest. Her tiger clawed within its confines leaving her breathless.
That man wasn’t looking for a drink. He appeared to be on a mission, and she had the impression she was it.
She sneaked another glance in his direction.
Their gazes met and his lips tilted upward as he began to make his way toward her. Her tiger purred, satisfied.
Shit. Shit. Shit.
Katya’s pulse raced. She needed to come up with a plan quickly as there was no escaping the confrontation. He’d seen her and she had nowhere to run. Thoughts scrambled through her brain. How had he found her? She’d never had this happen before and she’d been in the business for three years now.
“Did you really think you’d get far?”
She jumped at the sound of his voice. How could she have forgotten it? Deep and mellow, it caressed her from the inside out.
“Excuse me,” she said. She gave him a blank stare.
Play it cool, Katya. Pretend you don’t know him.
That was undoubtedly her best bet at the moment.
He smirked, the gesture lighting up his dark eyes mischievously and making her squirm in her seat.
“You left me tied to the bed in a hotel room,” he stated.
She tilted her head to glance at him fully. How had she overlooked the fact he was so tall? A wave of desire crashed against her, and she swallowed hard.
“I don’t know you, sir,” she said. Could he hear the tremble in her voice? “But I sure as hell wouldn’t have left you alone in a room.” She gave him a playful smile.
That’s it, Katya. Play dumb. Flirt. It’s what you do best.
He scowled and towered over her threateningly, placing his arms around her on the bar and caging her in. Her pulse quickened. Was it normal for her to want to kiss him instead of fearing him?
“Is this your game?” His voice lowered. “You drug men to rob them? I could get you arrested, but really all I want are my belongings,” he said. “Especially my phone. There’s some important information on there.”
The thought that she could wrap her legs around him in this position and draw him closer sneaked into her brain. Her tiger mewled. She cleared her throat. “Listen,” she said. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
His gaze narrowed. He dipped his head, so close their lips were almost touching. His persistent gaze clashed against hers.
“Katya, I don’t think you realize you have messed with the wrong person.”
“My name is not Katya.”
He chuckled and took a step back. There was amusement in the sound but also a hint of superiority, as if he knew something she didn’t. Katya stood up. Enough. This was getting out of hand. She needed to get out of here fast.
He grasped her elbow, a current swept through her all the way to her toes, her tiger roared alive, crashing against her chest so violently it robbed her of breath and caused her knees to buckle.
“You’re right. I apologize, Katyuna. Am I correct? Isn’t that your given name?”
A shiver of fear ran down her spine. This was not good, not good at all. She shook her head.
Mate.
The beast pushed against the physical boundaries of her body.
One goal in site. Claim what belonged to them.
Her mind reeled. The room swerved. None of this made sense.
She grasped his forearm in an attempt to steady herself.
It was a mistake. Heat crept across her spine.
Her nipples hardened beneath her dress. She shut her eyes.
“Katya, are you all right?” Daniel asked from behind the bar.
Damn him and his kindness.
“Yes,” she called back. She opened her eyes again, meeting the man’s she held onto. His sharp intake of breath was loud in her ears, and she had no doubt he’d seen the change in her gaze.
“You are mistaken, sir. And I suggest you release me right now.” Her voice was cool and detached even as she was feeling the complete opposite.
“What if I don’t?” His husky tone had liquid pooling between her legs. Could he feel it too? Did he know?
Fire sizzled in the air between them, and all she wanted was to pull him closer.
“I will call for help and have you detained. You could be my father,” she blurted, hating herself for it.
He released her but his low chuckle was almost a physical caress across her skin. Goose bumps rose on her flesh. She took a hasty step backward, almost tumbling over the stool behind her. He made to grab her again, this time to help her, but she waved him off. He raised his palms in surrender.
“You can run, little one, but I will catch you. I know who you are.”