“Is that how we are playing this, detka?”
She does not glance up immediately. When she finally does, there is a small, careful lift at the corner of her mouth that isn’t quite a smile.
“I’m not playing anything. I’m simply declining your offer.”
She picks her book back up, eyes moving across the page like she’s actually reading it. But I know better. I move closer, closing the space between us until I’m right beside her.
“Come eat with me,” I say, letting the words slip into the quiet like a dare. “I won’t ask again.”
“No, thank you.” Her grin widens as she flips her page. “I’m good right here. Thanks for asking, though.”
She pats my arm, a clear dismissal, but my skin is too busy burning from her touch to care.
I drag a finger up her bare thigh. “You want to make this difficult, don’t you?”
“Of course not.” Her lips twitch, that almost-smile turning into a dare of its own, like she’s testing just how far she can push me.
It’s adorable. Infuriating. Addictive.
“Lucky for you, I happen to like difficult.”
She barely looks up before I hook an arm around her waist and flip her over my shoulder. She yelps, a burst of startled laughter escaping her. The sound cracks something wide open inside me, pure and bright and unguarded.
“What are you doing?” She half laughs, half gasps, pounding a playful fist against my back.
“Taking you to dinner.” I adjust my grip as I stride down the hall. “Konstantin said I needed to be a proper husband.”
“This is definitelynotwhat he had in mind! Put me down!”
“Net. You said the only way you’d sit with me was if I tied you up. I’m a man who takes requests seriously.”
Her laughter cuts off in a disbelieving sound. “That was not a request.”
“I think it was.” I give her ass a firm slap, satisfied by the way she jolts. “I think you wanted this.”
Once we reach the dining room, I set her down on the chair. The table glows under the soft halo of candlelight, crystal glasses catching the amber flicker of flame. A full meal is laid out—steak, potatoes, roasted vegetables—and for a moment, she just blinks, the fight in her eyes softening to confusion.
“You arranged all this?” she asks, breathless.
And seeing her happy, it makes me want to do this for her over and over again.
“I told you we would have dinner.” I loosen my tie, rolling it slowly between my fingers.
Her eyes follow the movement, and just like that, the energy between us shifts. Disbelief melts into hunger, the sharp edge of her defiance dulled by something far more dangerous.
“I wasn’t aware this was what you meant.” She straightens her tank top, trying to regain her footing. “It feels like a date.”
“What if it was?” I approach her slowly, tie in my grasp. “Would you say yes?”
I tip her chin up, her mouth so close I can sense her breath on mine.
“Answer me.” My lips stroke hers, and she groans.
Blyat. I was a fool for ever thinking I could resist such a tempting creature.
Bringing her hands to her lap, I wrap the tie around them. The silk glides over her skin as I knot it tight enough for her to feel it.
I lower my head until my mouth grazes the curve of her neck. “You still haven’t answered my question.”
