How ridiculous, Stef, playing these silly little games with the person who kidnapped you.
Whatever, I have to entertain myself somehow, or I’ll go crazy.
In the beauty boutique, one particularly cute little blonde starts eye-flirting with him, as though I’m not even there, and this sparks some kind of possessive streak inside me that makes me want to teach her a lesson in messing with men that belong to someone else. Just because she’s gorgeous, and has that long blonde silky hair, and those beautiful blue eyes…
I step backward, knowing Marlen is close behind me, but not knowing that he has moved closer.
We bump into each other, and he slips his hand around my waist, his broad fingers stretching over the curve of my hip. My heart beats faster, and I take a sharp breath.
He leans down and whispers right against my ear, “You should look where you’re going, girl,” and it sends a shiver down my spine as his hot breathe brushes over me. I lean closer into him, feeling the hard curve of each muscle traced over his toned stomach. My mind spins, and for a moment, I’ve lost control.
He clears his throat loudly, and I snap back into myself.
Horrified, I step forward and brush my hands over my pants, muttering about narrow walk spaces and not enough room to move.
Marlen glances left and right down the wide aisle and at the bright shelves displaying a variety of products. I pull my mouth tight and huff, ignoring the amused accusation in his eyes.
“I’m hungry, take me for lunch,” I demand, changing the subject.
Marlen looks at his watch. “Closer to dinner than lunch,” he corrects me.
Rolling my eyes, I scoff, “Even more reason to feed me before I go feral,” I snap at him.
“Are you one of those people who changes personality when they don’t get fed on time?” he chuckles.
“I am, don’t say you weren’t warned.”
His smile is beautiful. In fact, this might be the first time I’ve ever seen him really smiling. It sets my heart on fire, and my cheeks glow red again. I spin away from him and march toward the counter so he can pay for my shopping. I stand so that he can’t see my face.
But Marlen clearly knows he’s had some kind of effect on me, and he’s not letting it go. He steps up behind me at the counter while the lady rings up my things. His body is practically pressing into me, and he leans over my shoulder and whispers, “I’m very good at taming feral things.”
His words run wild in my thoughts, creating images of him doing unimaginable things to me. My cheeks burn hotter, and I almost moan out loud.
Thank goodness the lady behind the counter finishes ringing things up, and Marlen has to step away from me to pay.
I hurriedly create distance between us, standing to the side and pretending to be interested in one of the displays. But my heart is screaming, and my whole body is drenched with desire.
“Come on, ravenous one,” Marlen says, placing his hand on my lower back and steering me toward the exit. “I know a good place to eat.”
Scrunching my nose, I walk in silence, not wanting to encourage his teasing or let him know what he’s doing to me.
***
The restaurant he takes me to is quiet.
“Where are all the people?” I ask, looking around at the empty seats.
“It’s an exclusive dining experience. They only open for three hours a night,” he tells me, gesturing for me to sit down. I don’t sit, though. This place looks dead.
“They clearly aren’t open now, Marlen. I think we need to go somewhere else.”
As I’m telling him this, the chef comes rushing over to us. “Mr. Popov, I can be so happy when you message me. It’s been too long a time, my friend,” he says in broken English with an accent I can’t place. He takes Marlen’s hand and shakes it enthusiastically.
“I’ve missed your cooking, Bartel. What are you going to make for my guest and me today?”
“Ahh, who is the beautiful lady? Is Mr. Popov celebrating the love?” he grins, winking at me.
Love. How funny is that?No, Mr. Popov is taking his prisoner out for the day like a little treat for a little pet.
