“What did you say?” I ask, sipping from my glass of wine to hide my nerves.
He jerks his chin at me. “That you’re a curious kitten.”
I roll my eyes at him, and he grips my chin. “Don’t do that again. It makes me want to bend you over this table and spank your ass red.”
I arch an incredulous brow. “Something tells me you don’t need much of a push to want that.”
Laughter rocks his chest, the deep sound reverberating through me.
As the staff carries the main plates to the table, the housekeeper remains frozen at the door, eyeing him through glistening eyes. He laughs way too seldom.I know, I want to tell her, but remain silent. Placing a hand on her chest, she smiles at me in pure gratitude. This one reaches her eyes—a genuine, warm one.
Thanking them both, they nod our way before leaving us alone.
“If you could go anywhere, where would you go?” he asks.
I have been in a self-imposed prison for years. For a long time, my life consisted of just getting through one day at a time. Now the possibilities seem endless.
“Paris.” That’s the first thing that pops in my mind.
“Why Paris?”
I sigh dreamingly. “Fashion, food, architecture. Do I need to go on?”
“No, I think those were good reasons.”
He cocks his head, contemplating me before he takes my hand. Bringing my fingertips to his mouth, he places sweet kisses on each before kissing my palm.
“Your reputation might be at risk if someone sees you like this,” I tease him, my skin alive with goose bumps.
He regales me with a charming grin. “My reputation is already fucked. Might as well enjoy it.”
I shake my head at him, stifling my smile.
Why couldn’t I be someone different?
After the main course, giddiness spreads through my senses, awaiting the dessert. The rich scent of the chocolate mousse with a strawberry sauce reaches my nostrils, and my mouth waters. Closing my eyes, I savor every bite, the sweet taste invading my mouth.
“Stop moaning like that, baby girl, or you won’t get to finish it,” he groans as if in pain.
I do it on purpose just to mess with him.
“That’s it.” He shoots up.
I scarf the last bite and take off, hoping to outrun him. Knowing I can’t.
I don’t even take two steps before he snatches me, snaking his arm around my belly. Pulling me to him, my back hits the granite of his chest, and I expel a long breath.
“If you fell and hurt yourself…” The concern in his voice undoes me.
“You would have spanked my ass red?” I ask, tapping my chin as if in deep thought. That does the trick because it relaxes him.
“Ty stanesh’ moyey smert’yu,” he says in Russian.You’re going to be the death of me.
It takes everything in me not to roll my eyes at him. He’s so dramatic.
I palm my chest, batting my lashes at him in faux innocence. “What was that? I’m the sweetest girl?”
He shakes his head at me, groaning low, “No, you are a troublemaker that I’m a total sucker for. That’s what you are.”
