I stiffened, giving a polite nod I’d learned years ago. “Mrs. Volkov.”
“Oh, please. Regina.” She kissed both my cheeks, her perfume wrapping around me like expensive suffocation. “You look beautiful. Doesn’t she, Dmitri?”
His father made a noise beneath his breath. Cori mouthedsorry. Dmitri? He didn’t say a damn thing. He didn’t have to.His eyes said everything—slow, smoldering, claiming in a way that made my knees wobble.
“Dinner is served,” one of the staff announced.
Perfect. Now I could pretend to focus on food instead of the six-foot-four beautiful man-problem breathing down my neck. Everyone filed into the dining room. The table was ridiculous—long enough to seat twenty—but somehow I ended up right next to Dmitri. Of course, Cori had orchestrated this. He’d never been subtle.
I shot him a glare across the table, and he grinned like the little bastard he was. I sat, making a mental note to kick his ass later. The entire invitation to be here was a setup, and we both knew it. Then Dmitri sat so close our chairs nearly touched. My dress wasn’t meant for defense—it was light, silky, and suddenly I regretted every fashion choice I’d made for today. I’d worn it to be polite and in good taste for the dinner invitation. Had I known that Dmitri was going to be here, I’d have worn a turtle-neck sweater and an oversized long skirt. As demented as he was, he’d probably think that was sexy too. Dinner began with quiet clinks of silverware, murmured conversations, and the soft shuffle of staff moving around us. I took a big sip of wine to help calm my nerves. Shocking them with a quick rush of alcohol to stun them stupid.
“Relax,” Dmitri murmured beside me, voice brushing my ear like an acquainted lover. “You look like you’re about to bolt.”
I cleared my throat. “Maybe I am.”
“Maybe I won’t let you.”
His words slid down my spine, warm and dangerous. I focused on my plate. Mashed potatoes, beef, vegetables. Innocent food pairings much like my soul before he’d shown up. Then, his thigh brushed mine under the table.
I stiffened. “Move,” I whispered, meaning it. I couldn’t handle him being so close, and it was inappropriate with his parents sitting nearby. What was his problem?
“No.”
I exhaled sharply. “Dmitri…”
His hand slipped under the tablecloth. My breath caught when his fingertips grazed my knee first. A test. A gentle stroke that nearly bent me in half. Then he slid higher, warm and deliberate. His fingers traveled under my dress, and I bit back a moan that was hell bent on betraying me.
“Stop,” I hissed under my breath.
“Tell me like you mean it, baby girl.”
My fingers tightened around my napkin. “Your mother is right there. Show some decency.”
“She’s not the one I’m touching. She’s not who I want.”
My pulseexploded. The pulse drumming against my clit intensified, and I swore every part of me except my mind was on his side. I wasn’t giving in to Dmitri. Nope. No way.
Dmitri kept his gaze forward, pretending to listen to whatever his father was droning on about. No one looking at us would know anything was happening. But I felt every brush of his fingers, every inch he dared to climb.
I swallowed hard, trying to pretend I wasn’t breathing like I’d run a marathon. But then his fingers brushed my mound and my hips flexed in the direction of his hand, almost begging him to continue. He caressed the silk panties I wore, and I knew he could feel how damp they were when he moaned deeply.
Cori leaned across the table. “So, Natasha,” he asked casually, “how’s work?”
I shot him a murderous look. He ignored it. I can’t breathe, and he wants me to talk about my shitty job.
Dmitri patted my pussy and then stroked the top of it, reminding me of someone soothing a cat by brushing its head.
“It’s fine,” I said tightly, voice an octave higher than normal.
Dmitri’s fingers slid one inch lower.
Cori raised a brow. “You okay? You look warm.”
I could see the concern on his face, but this was not the time! I wanted to stab him.
Dmitri smirked—just barely—but I saw it. I felt it. The bastard was enjoying every second of this but didn’t dare stop his vicious game.
I shifted in my seat, trying to discreetly move his hand off me, but he just followed the motion, palm now warm against the inside of my thigh.
