“You’re shaking,” he murmured.
“No, I’m not.”
His thumb stroked slow, lazy circles. “Natasha.”
I bit down on my lip so hard I nearly drew blood.
Regina suddenly spoke. “So, dear, any new men in your life?”
My heartstopped.
Dmitri’s hand tightened possessively on my thigh under the table.
Cori looked like he wanted to melt into the floor. His father’s brows lifted. One cousin choked on his wine. Did they know Dmitri’s intention?
I set my fork down carefully, deliberately. “I’m not seeing anyone right now.”
Dmitri’s grip tightened more. Dimitri's griped tightened, a slow claim to his wordless warning.
Regina smiled. “Good. It would be complicated otherwise.”
I narrowed my eyes. “Complicated how?”
Dmitri answered before she could. “Because you’re spoken for.”
The world went still. Regina smirked. His father leaned back, satisfied. Cori’s gaze darted between us like a man watching abomb count down. Then Dmitri palmed my pussy, cupping it as if it was his to drink from.
“You don’t get to say that,” I whispered, trembling.
“I already said it,” he murmured, breath brushing my cheek. “And I meant it.”
His hand slid even higher, clearly indecent now.
My breath hitched.
“Dmitri…” I warned.
His tone dropped to a sinful whisper that curled around every nerve ending I had.
“You can pretend you don’t want me in public, Natasha. But your body?” His fingers pressed softly into the tender skin of my inner thigh. “It remembers. It knows. Keep fighting me as long as you want, but the truth is there. You’re mine, baby girl.”
My eyes snapped to his, heat, panic, and want all tangled inside me. The worst part? He was freakin’ right. I did want him, but this wasn’t the way.
I scooted back from the table immediately, and he pulled his hand away just in time. I stood and bid everybody good night. Quickly, I left the room, exited the house and made it to my car before Dmitri caught up to me. I entered my car and pulled off as he got to the bottom of the steps. There was no need to turn and look at him, because I knew what I was going to see.
My pulse hammered in alarm. I was fired up, aroused so much that my panties couldn’t hide it. Physically, I was ready to be every filthy thing that Dmitri desired. Mentally, I knew that he destroyed everything that he touched, and I refused to be another mess that he made and left for others to clean up. No, if he was serious about getting to me, then he needed to man up and do it the right way. I’d date him, give him a chance like any other decent man. However, I wasn’t going to be easy on him just because he was a spoiled rich kid who thought that he could have whatever he wanted.
He wasn’t a caveman, and I wasn’t helpless. Dmitri had just set himself back though. His little game at the table hadn’t won him any points with my heart. I hope he understood that sex wasn’t the way to win me over. Knowing that alone was probably enough to keep him away from me.
Natasha Everly wasn’t anybody’s fucktoy. Not even to the beautiful Dmitri Volkov.
Dmitri
Natasha’s chair scraped, she whispered something—maybe my name, maybe a curse—and then she was up and gone. Faster than I expected for someone pretending I didn’t affect her.
My pulsed kicked hard as I shoved my chair back and went after her without even thinking. The servants froze as I passed. Cori said something behind me, but his voice was faint under the pounding in my ears. All I saw was the swish of Natasha’s silk black dress disappearing around the corner. Her quickened pace exposed her bronze thighs. Her curly hair moved through the air.
“Natasha,” I called once. Fuck! I don’t know what set her off, but she was only making this harder for her. Because once I caught her, she’d pay for this.
