His shoulders straightened as he launched into a diatribe about the stock market. Of course, Charles left out the part where he was under investigation for insider trading. The entire reason I was here.
Charles’ company didn’t believe he’d keep his mouth shut with the feds, and by how easily he was revealing corporate secrets, I didn’t blame them.
Dmitri leaned forward, invading my space. The crisp scent of snowfall threaded into the air, and enveloped me.
“Hurry up and kill him, so I can finishyou off,” he whispered roughly, his gaze locked on my firmly clenched thighs.
“What makes you think you’ll ever get the opportunity to do that again?” I whispered back.
He raised a knowing eyebrow and then brushed his hand along the shoulder he’d marked.
My mouth dried as all the liquids in my body soared south. My skin pulsed beneath his touch, and I was reminded that he’d not only been the first man to ever get me off, but he’d done it multiple times.
While my body was entirely on board, my mind sensed danger. Even before we’d hooked up, whenever we were in the same room, everything seemed to tilt off-kilter.
And now?
Charles’ chatter was muffled by Dmitri’s dangerous energy. Fantasies of what Dmitri would do with those skillful fingers that were now tapping against the backrest of my barstool…
When his finger casually brushed against my back, my skin burned. It spread outward, scorching across my body. He’d barely touched me, and yet he’d taken up nearly all of my brain’s bandwidth.
But a movement at the end of the bar had my heart thumping for an entirely different reason.
Gemma’s date scratched at his wrist, revealing the hint of averyfamiliar tattoo.
He pushed his sleeve back down, but I knew what I saw. And it couldn’t be a coincidence that the man who’d stalked Gemma also had the exact same tattoo. I’d stupidly hoped that we were free and clear after Dmitri had dealt with Igor.
I swallowed down all the emotions swirling through my veins and came up with a plan.
While Charles continued to drone on about his work, I flicked a powder into his drink that would send his heart into overdrive.
The timer was on.
“I didn’t realize you were in such a hurry to get me alone,” Dmitri drawled into my ear, his eyes flicking to Charles’ laced drink.
I ignored the goosebumps traveling from the shell of my ear down towards my warming center. If left unchecked, the sensations would flicker and flame until they exploded. I took another glance at the blissfully naïve look on Gemma’s face.
“I need to use the restroom,” I said, anxiety coursing over me at leaving Dmitri alone with Charles.
I swallowed, second guessing my plan. But my decision was cemented when Gemma stood up from the bar with a stumble in her step.
I needed her away from that gangster at all costs, and I did not want her anywhere near Charles while he was dying.
I quickened my pace so I beat Gemma to the bathroom. Relief flooded through me when I found no one else inside. When Gemma stumbled inside the room, I discreetly locked the door behind her.
“Hey Gemma,” I said.
I was curious if she’d be able to see beyond my disguise now that we were only a foot away from each other.
Confusion skittered across her face. “Do I know you?” she asked, a slight slur in her voice.
I whipped off the wig, revealing my blonde hair.
“It’sme,” I said.
Only a blank look in response.
“It’s Alisa,” I said, gesturing at myself as if that would clarify it. “I was trying a new look.”
