I melt into the kiss before I can stop myself, my body responding with humiliating eagerness. When Kazimir pulls away I follow unconsciously, only a little embarrassed.
His brown eyes look like caramel with all the lights around us. And there’s a smugness to the set of his jaw, the way his hand sits at my lower back.
I step closer.Just for tonight.
As they all look at me the only thing I feel is strong.
Seen and strong.
“Wait.”
I freeze, only steps into the hotel suite. It’s sprawled out before us, all dark blues and grays, like midnight. There are constellations painted on the ceiling. Lush rugs under my heels make me long to kick them off.
Looking over my shoulder, I take in Kazimir and the way he fits into this space.
How does he do that? Like he owns it, all of it. In a way, he does; he’s an investor in the casino.
He takes a slow step toward me with his hands in his suit pockets, eyes assessing. A lock of silver-brown hair has fallen and brushes against his beard. I flex my fingers, wanting to touch him.
No touching.
No intimacy.
As if he heard my thoughts, he reaches out, and my breath catches.
But I don’t feel the touch of his fingers. They skim against the adjustable ties at the back of my dress. Then, one by one, he begins undoing them.
I feel the thick, luscious fabric loosen over my breasts, releasing them though it clings to my shoulders, barely covering me.
Kazimir slowly walks around me until we’re face to face. His eyes are locked on my breasts; his breathing is slow and deliberate. Before I realize it, he’s holding the knife again.
It flickers in the dim light of the room. He the flick of his wrist, he cuts the strap, and it falls away. I gasp.
A sly grin forms on his face, and he glances up to meet my eyes.
“Take off the rest.”
So heisstill playing by the rules.
I shimmy out of the dress, but it’s not a flattering move. The fabric hugs my hips and belly, but eventually falls to the ground just like the blood did earlier in the evening.
The only clothing I still have on is a skimpy thong, cream-colored with gold lace, and strappy heels.
He smiles and reaches out again with the knife in a delicate manner. It’s as if he’s going to cut my panties right off me.
He hesitates.
“Go shower and then get some sleep. You had a long night.”
He turns and leaves me alone; aching and restless. The weight of everything I’ve witnessed and felt tonight pressing down on me.
Chapter 15
Kazimir
“She’s still sleeping,” Donna whispers as she serves me another cup of black coffee. “I apologize, Mr. Baranov. Would you like me to wake her up?”
I shake my head, trying to assess the situation objectively. Her absence irritates me more than it should. She’s not here, and Iwanther here. For some reason, it matters to me that we have breakfast together.
