She made a sound low in her throat, somewhere between a whimper and a moan.
I released her hand and leaned down, bringing my mouth close to her ear.
"Get ready for class," I murmured, letting my lips brush against her skin. "You can’t be late."
"Mikhail," she protested, her voice weak. She leaned toward me, and I was powerless to stop her. She pulled my mouth to hers and I let her have this moment. She took what she needed, slipping her tongue into my mouth to tease mine.
I pulled away first, feeling myself ready to cave. Not yet.
"Times ticking, Shanice." I straightened, heading for my room. I walked out, leaving her standing there, flushed and thoroughly wrecked.
It took everything I had not to turn around, throw her on that bed, and finish what we'd started. But not yet. The anticipation was half the pleasure. The waiting, the wanting, and the knowing that when I finally took her, it would be worth every agonizing moment of restraint.
Very soon, but not today.
Mikhail
Icleaned myself up, washing my hands and splashing cold water on my face. My reflection looked back at me, eyes dark and intense, jaw tight. I needed to shower and change before taking Shanice to class.
But when I stepped into my bedroom, Olek was there, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed.
"We need to talk," he said, his voice flat.
Something in his tone made my stomach tighten. "Now?"
"Now."
I followed him to his office, closing the door behind us. He moved to the window, staring out at the grounds, his jaw working.
"Dmitri called," he said finally.
Dmitri. Olek's cousin, the one who handled operations in the northern territories. A cold, calculating bastard who saw everything as numbers and risks.
"What did he want?" I asked, though I already knew. Could feel it in my gut.
"He wanted to talk about Shanice." Olek turned to face me, and I saw the conflict in his eyes. "The police found Marcus’ body. And Dmitri's concerned that our witness might become a problem."
My hands clenched into fists. "She's not a problem."
"Dmitri thinks she is. He asked if she'd talked to the police. Asked if I was capable of handling it, or if he needed to come down here and solve it himself."
Rage flooded through me, hot and vicious. "He threatened her?"
"He threatened to clean up what he sees as my mess." Olek's voice was tight. "And the thing is, Mikhail, he's not completely wrong. Shanice has no reason not to betray us. She's not bratva. She's not bound by blood or oath. She's just a civilian who witnessed a murder and is living in my house."
"She wouldn't talk."
"How do you know?" Olek moved closer, his expression hard. "How can you be sure? Because you want to fuck her? Because you've decided she's yours?"
"Because I know her," I growled. "She's loyal. She's Katrina's best friend. She wouldn't put her in danger."
"Friendship isn't enough. Not for this." Olek scrubbed a hand over his face. "I need a solution, Mikhail. I need her either gone or secured. And I don't know how to do that without destroying my wife in the process."
Gone. The word hit me like a bullet. He meant dead. He was talking about killing Shanice.
"No," I said, my voice deadly calm. "That's not happening."
"Then what do you suggest? Because I'm out of options here. Dmitri is right. She's a liability. And if I can't guarantee her silence?—"
