"Now," I said, rising from my chair, "I suggest we move this conversation to more secure quarters. My apartment is on the top floor. No one enters without my explicit permission."
I watched carefully for his reaction, ready to clarify that I wasn't propositioning him. But something in his expression—a flicker of interest quickly masked—made me hold my tongue.
"Alright," he agreed finally. "But just so we're clear, I'm still not convinced you're not planning to eat me or something."
"I assure you," I said, moving around the desk to stand before him, "if I wanted to eat you, I would have done so already."
The double entendre hung in the air between us, neither acknowledged nor denied. The slight flush that crept up his neck suggested he caught it.
My bear rumbled with satisfaction. This unexpected intruder with his electronic abilities and quick wit had somehow managed to awaken parts of me I'd thought long dormant. Protective instincts, yes, but also desires I hadn't felt in decades.
How very inconvenient.
And how very, very intriguing.
Chapter Three
~ Mishka ~
The elevator doors closed with a soft hiss, trapping me in a metal box with a bear shifter crime boss who'd just declared me under his protection.
Great.
Just when I thought my day couldn't get any more surreal.
Nicolai's massive frame took up more than his fair share of the space, his presence so overwhelming I could practically feel the heat radiating from his body as we ascended in tense silence.
I pressed myself against the opposite wall, trying to create as much distance as possible in the confined space. The elevator hummed beneath my feet, its electronic systems whispering to me like old friends. If things went south, I could stop it between floors with barely a thought.
Always have an escape plan. It's served me well so far.
"Your heartbeat is quite rapid," Nicolai observed, not even looking at me. "You can relax. If I wanted to harm you, I would have done so already."
"That's exactly what someone planning to harm me later would say," I shot back.
The corner of his mouth twitched. "Fair point."
The elevator continued its smooth ascent, floor numbers lighting up one after another. I noticed there was no button for the top floor—just a keycard slot that Nicolai had activated with a wave of his hand.
Exclusive access.
Figures.
"So," I ventured, desperate to break the suffocating silence, "is 'bear shifter' the politically correct term or do you prefer 'were-bear'? 'Ursine-American', perhaps?"
This time, a full smile ghosted across his lips. "Bear shifter is fine."
"Just checking. I try to be sensitive to the supernatural community's preferred classification."
The elevator slowed, then stopped. When the doors slid open, Nicolai gestured for me to go ahead of him—a gentleman mobster.
How quaint.
"After you," he said.
"So you can watch my back or stab it?" I asked, but stepped out anyway.
I immediately froze, taking in the space before me. Penthouse didn't quite cover it. This was more like a luxury fortress.
