“Let’s go,” he says grumpily.
After what feels like ten days, wefinally reach his sleek, black sportscar. Thank goodness he didn’t bring the motorcycle. I probably wouldn’t have been able to hold on and would’ve become roadkill on the highway in two-point-five seconds.
Dimitri opens the passenger’s side door for me and waits.
“Where are we going?” I question.
“You’ll see,” is all he says.
“I want to know before I get in.”
“Fuck, you’re so damn stubborn.” The muscle in his strong jaw ticks as he grinds his teeth together. “Get in the car, Savina,” he growls.
“Or what?” I press.
“Or I’ll bend you over my knee and spank your ass raw in front of every person on this street,” he threatens in a growl.
My mouth suddenly goes dry at his words, and I struggle to swallow. I’ve never been spanked before, but just the thought of his large hand reddening my cheeks does something to me. My panties are instantly damp, and I have to squeeze my thighs together. “Okay,” I say, but I don’t know if I’m actually agreeing to getting in the car with no more problems or if I want him to spank me in front of complete strangers.
He doesn’t let me decide before he gives me a small push, and I fall down into the bucket seat. Reaching across me, he grabs the seatbelt and buckles me in. The smell of his cologne fills my nostrils, and I breathe him in deeply. Expensive cologne with the usual hint of mint and tobacco. I don’t know if he catches me smelling him, but he doesn’t let on that he does. Instead, he simply straightens and slams the door shut. I watch him round the front of the car and climb into the driver’s seat. His large, tattooed hands grip the steering wheel. Hard. So hard his knuckles turn white from the force.
“You put yourself in danger tonight, Savina,” he starts.
I roll my eyes. “You sound just like my father.”
His right hand reaches out and grips my chin, holding my gaze to his. “If I was your father, I would never let you out of my sight. Yourbeauty is alarming, to say the least. I would be tempted to keep you under lock and key.”
My brain takes a while to process his words. “You think I’m pretty?” I whisper.
“No, I don’t think you’re pretty,” he says, and my ego instantly deflates. He stares at my face, his eyes lingering on my lips. And when his eyes meet mine once more, he rasps out, “I think you’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever laid eyes on. No one even comes close to comparing to you.”
Dimitri has never been open about his feelings for me or given me compliments before. I have to wonder if it’s because I’m drunk, and he thinks I won’t remember any of this in the morning. But I won’t forget this. I won’t allow myself to. A compliment from Dimitri is so rare and precious that I’ll lock it away forever in the back of my mind and keep it there always like a prized possession that only I can see and listen to on repeat.
“Darby is a bad influence,” he tells me, breaking the spell, as he releases me to push a button to start the engine.Test Driveby Artemas filters through the speakers as he pulls the car away from the curb, squealing the tires in his haste.
“She’s a great friend. She just wanted to have a fun night out celebrating my birthday.”
“And she let you leave with me,” he points out.
“She knows you won’t hurt me.”
“And how does she know that?” he asks, quirking a brow.
“Because I’ve told her about you.”
I watch as his hands once again tighten around the steering wheel, and I can’t help but fantasize about his hands on me.
“Girls tell each other everything,” I explain.
“Everything?” he questions.
“Well, maybe noteverything.”
“What haven’t you told her?” he asks, his tone curious.
I hesitate. “I don’t tell her how you make me feel. I don’t give her details.” In all actuality, I haven’t told Darby very many things, but Iknow she knows I’m safe with Dimitri. She let him in my room that one night weeks ago after she threatened him with a butcher knife. That’s proof enough for me.
A car suddenly pulls out in front of us, and Dimitri slams on the brakes and lays on the horn at the same time. He shouts in Romanian. I don’t understand a word of it, but it sounds so hot coming out of his mouth. And then he places his large palm on my bare thigh in reassurance. “Are you all right?” he asks, his blue eyes meeting mine.
