“Pretending to be a gentleman escorting a lady home?”
I do my best to make my voice sound snappy, but it comes out quiet and gentle.
“I’m no gentleman,malyshka.” The contours of that mysterious Russian word rumbles from his chest against mine, and sends another involuntary shiver of warmth dripping down my spine. “And you’re no lady.”
God, I hate him.I hate him and his stupid handsome face and the way his hands feel on me.
“Then what are we?”
“Isn’t it obvious? We’re enemies.”
We come to a stop outside of my door, and I peel myself away from his arms. His fingers remain for a second longer than they need to on my thighs, before he pulls back. I turn around, adjust my hair as best as I can, and catch him running his thumb over his lower lip again.
“If we’re enemies, then why did you save me?”
He cocks his head to the side, like I’m the most curious thing he’s ever seen in the world. Then, he takes a step towards me. Instinctively, I step back on uneven steps as he does until my back touches the door.
“Because the only one who gets to hurt you,” he says quietly. “Is me.”
“Are you going to hurt me now?” I regret those words even as I say them.
He leans in close, close enough that I have to tilt my head back to meet his eyes. His gaze drills into mine, burning me.
“No.” The harsh hallway light accentuates every line of his beautiful and dangerous face as he speaks. “Not until you ask me to.”
My thighs squeeze together instinctively as a sound—not quite a gasp and not quite a moan—escapes my throat. Shamefully, a warm dampness starts slicking my panties. I press my back harder against the door, hoping Lydia isn’t about to open it suddenly because it’s the only damn thing holding me up right now.
This is so fucking wrong.
His gaze drops to my chest and he’s staring at the necklace for the first time after rescuing me.
Then he steps back, and cold air fills the space between us. I almost step forward to reclaim the lost warmth.
“Tomorrow morning,” he says. “I’ll send a car. Alik will pick you up at eight.”
“That’s not?—”
He presses a finger against my mouth to stop me talking, and it’s like he pressed a hot brand to my lips.
“I won’t risk letting those D’Ambrosio animals get close to you again.”
The possessiveness in his voice should make me angry. No, fuck that, itdoesmake me angry with that fierce righteous fire that’skept me going for five years. But I know underneath it is a different fire altogether.
“Lock your door tonight, Ms. Farnassi.” His hand moves until it grips my chin. “Do you remember what I told you earlier tonight when I came?”
“Don’t ever open doors without knowing who’s on the other side.”
The corner of his lips tugs up in a genuine smile this time. “Good girl.”
Fuck…
He turns and walks away without looking back.
I fumble my keys from my pocket with shaking hands. It takes three tries to fit them in the lock.
Thankfully,Lydia is sound asleep when I open the door.
I shrug off my single toe pump silently and make my way first to Anthony’s room. When I see that he’s okay and still asleep, I breathe a sigh of relief and head over to the bathroom.
