Okay, there’s one obvious thing I haven’t tried yet. The windows are open onto the terrace. I could just… Climb out?
I don’t allow myself to second-guess. It’s a warm day, and I snatch up my phone, and rush to the window.
I’m belly over it before Kirill responds. “Are you fucking joking?”
A thrill of fear goes down my spine. I wriggle.
“You are so distracting,” he mutters. “That’s enough escape attempts, Tess. Now you pay.”
Within seconds he’s across the room, and bundled me into his arms, dragging me backwards.
“You’d hurt yourself.” He sounds exasperated. “Do you seriously think I’d allow that?”
I struggle, but it’s only half-hearted, because this man is huge, and very strong. There’s no getting free.
“I’m putting you somewhere you can’t get into trouble,” he growls.
The basement.
Dungeon. Whatever it is. The place he was going to keep that man who he killed.
“Don’t.” It’s a pathetic whimper. “Please.”
“You will obey me,” he replies implacably as he turns us away from the window, and towards the door.
His arms are solid bands of warm metal over my body, and I’m helpless.
I underestimated how dangerous this man was. Or maybe I didn’t.
“I’m sorry!” I’m begging now. “Please don’t put me in the basement?—”
“Stop wriggling!” he snaps as he carries me to his desk. “I need to work, and I don’t have a basement here.” He kicks a huge leather chair away, then sinks into it.
Then I’m in his lap.
“You will stay here until you can be trusted to behave.” The words are harsh, and his tone is almost teasing, but his touch… The way he holds me is completely different. It’s firm but gentle, like he can’t bear to let me go.
As though he needs this contact between us as much as I do.
He leans forward so he can reach his mouse with one hand, apparently ignoring me.
But he isn’t. His arm remains clasped on my waist and his thumb strokes achingly slowly up and down my side. A wide arc. He has big hands. And the way he’s big all over and I’m secure and petted slows my heart rate.
I allow myself to ease back. Maybe… Snuggle, just a little bit?
I didn’t sleep much last night, and honestly, I’m tired. And Kirill’s lap is so comfortable, his arms around me firmly. Trying not to think about what could happen if I get this wrong, I lay my cheek against the solid muscle of his pectoral.
“Good girl,” he murmurs, shifting to hold me tighter, and ohhhh I didn’t know I needed that. Then he leans forward to look at his computer screen, and his chin rests on the top of my head.
And we remain like that, layered together. My breathing slows. My heart rate drops.
There’s something about being held and cherished by a man who I’ve experienced as brutal and dangerous that’s oddly secure.
There’s no pretence, for one. He’s not doing this to show me or someone else that he’s a nice person. There are just the two of us, and no illusions. I’m his captive. But still, he’s holdingme. And the other thing is, that in the arms of a man who is objectively scary is a safe place. No one can get me here.
To get a bit more comfy, I shuffle back on his lap and suddenly there is something hot and solid against the small of my back that I’m confident in saying is not a gun.
That’s his cock. Just casually there.
