Her smile falters, just for a second. “I had my reasons, Leonid. Reasons that had nothing to do with you.”
I laugh, “And now? What’s your reason for being here now,Red?”
I stand, closing the distance between us in two long strides. I tower over her, but she doesn’t flinch, doesn’t back down.
Blyat, she’s got balls. I’ll give her that.
She looks up at me, her eyes dark and glittering behind her mask. “I’m here because… I’ve missed you.”
I arch an eyebrow. “Missed me, huh?” No fucking way I’m letting her off the hook that easy. Not after five years of silence. “You got a funny way of showing it, Red.”
She places her hand on my chest, right over my heart. I feel it jump under her touch, the traitorous bastard.Chyort voz’mi, I’m acting like some green kid who’s never been touched by a woman before.
“I think you’re intrigued,” she purrs, reaching out and pulling me close by the back of my neck. Her lips crash into mine, hot and demanding. I growl into the kiss, my hands gripping her hips, pressing her body against mine.
Her tongue tangles with mine, teasing, tasting. It’s a dance we’ve done before, but fuck if it doesn’t feel brand new. I nip at her lower lip, relishing her gasp, the way her fingers tighten in my hair.
But something’s not right. I feel her eyes on me, even as we kiss. I catch her gaze darting to the whiskey glass, just for a second.
Blyat, I’m an idiot.
I pull away, ignoring the throbbing in my cock, the need pulsing through my veins. I grab her by the hair, yanking her head back, forcing her to look at me.
“What’s in the glass, Red?”
I watch her eyes widen just a fraction.
“It’s just whiskey.” She stares right into my eyes. Then her eyebrows squeeze together as she cocks her head slightly.
Like my question is just background noise, huh?
Plenty more important things to consider, I suppose. Suka!Must be nice living in that head.
I tighten my grip, watching her wince. “Don’t fucking lie to me. You’ve been eyeing that glass like it’s hiding some dirty fucking secrets. So I’ll ask again—what’s in it?”
She struggles against my hold, her nails digging into my wrist. “Let go of me, Leonid. You’re being paranoid.”
I lean in close, my nose almost touching hers. “Paranoid? No,myshka. I’m being smart. You show up out of nowhere after five years with a drink in your hand…”
Then it hits me.Suka.
I’m not listening anymore. Because I’ve just caught a whiff of something, something sweet and cloying, drifting up from the whiskey.
It can’t be.
Poison?
Novichok-5. My poison. The one I spent years perfecting.
She’s trying to fucking kill me. With my own creation.
Rage boils through my veins. I grab her neck, tightening my grip just enough to make her gasp for air. The sound sends a jolt straight to my cock, even as the rage boils in my veins.
“Enough of the fucking games, Red. Let me see who’s behind this mask.”
I reach for her mask, but she’s quick. She twists out of my grip, her elbow connecting with my ribs. I grunt, more surprised than hurt, and she uses the distraction to dart away.
But I’m faster. I catch her around the waist, slamming her against the wall. She struggles, her teeth bared in a snarl.
