Katarina appears in the doorway. Still naked, but her hair is brushed to a high shine, her cheeks rosy and her full lips looking a bit bruised from my attention last night.
“If you don’t come, it’s Katarina’s life he’ll take.”
“Impossible,” I grit out, standing so quickly that Katarina’s eyes widen.
“You know it isn’t. You can’t keep her locked in your house every minute. She’ll have to come out and when she does…”
Her wide eyes meet mine, her lips softly parted. Katarina is a soldier. But she deserves a chance to leave the fight, to have someone else buffer the harshness of the world for her. “When and where?”
“Tomorrow night. The Waldorf Hilton. Nine.”
I hang up. I don’t threaten. But Ken, the matchmaker, will know my wrath.
“Win? Is everything all right?” Katarina’s eyes have gone from wide, to concerned, her brow puckering as she approaches me.
“Fine,” I say, my breath ragged and my voice rough.
“You don’t sound fine.”
I know I told her we’d be partners, and I will do everything I can to help her, but if I tell her that her father wants to meet, she’ll insist on coming. And I don’t want her anywhere near him.
I don’t lie. I haven’t in years and years. But in this moment, the truth could hurt Katarina more than I’m prepared to risk.
So I do something I haven’t done in years.
“Deal gone bad back in the States.”
She wrinkles her nose. “That’s unfortunate.”
“We’ll turn it around. Now, slide into that bed and let me keep you warm.”
She does as I ask, and then I climb in behind her, curling my body around hers.
“I have a delicate question.”
She peeks back over her shoulder. “You? Delicate?”
I smile as I kiss her shoulder. “Your plan to hurt your father…what is it?”
“Are you snuggling me for information?” she asks with a tsk. But she doesn’t sound angry. If anything, she sounds amused.
“Is it working?”
“Maybe. Snuggling might be one of the most underrated couple pastimes. Did you know it was this good?”
“I did not.” I answer honestly. Snuggling has never been part of any relationship I’ve ever had.
“Seriously?”
“Seriously. But I’m inclined to agree. A soft warm woman, namely you, kitten, curled into my body, might be one of the best sensations I’ve ever experienced.”
“Win. From you, that might be actual poetry.”
I laugh softly as I squeeze her tighter.
From that first night, Katarina has been able to pull a chuckle from my lips. I rarely laugh, which means I’ve laughed more in the last few days than I have in years. “No one has ever accused me of poetry.”
She laughs too, a smooth mezzo soprano that makes my cock hard again; it’s so gorgeous. “If I tell you my plan, will you help me make it happen?”
