“Because when I come back…”
He stepped in again, close enough that his mouth brushed my ear, his breath hot against my skin.
“I’m going to take my time with you, dollface.”
24
LEO
Although I was being genuine with Sergei about needing a shower, I made it quick so I could return to his room and get some time alone. I found an extra toothbrush and cleaned my mouth while giving myself a pep talk that this was the whole point of giving in to Sergei. To get him to trust me enough to let his guard down.
Still, I couldn’t stop the guilt that buried itself in my chest. He thought so highly of me that he’d bought a house because he wanted me to feel comfortable at his place. And not just any house. A really nice one, which was even bigger than my three-bedroom.
Nobody did that unless they were serious about a relationship. A house was permanent for most people, which meant…Sergei wanted something steady with me, not just sex. While it was easy to think of using him when I felt he was also using me for sex, this was different.
He would be hurt if he found out the truth.
But so what if he hurt? He wasn’t a good man, and tonighthad proven that. If I hadn’t persuaded him, he would have let that man die out in the back of his truck. Sergei was a walking hazard sign.
He was also sweet and gentle with me, almost needy and naive in the way he opened up to me and exposed his feelings.
This would have been much easier if he just wanted me to fuck him. No feelings. No attachment. No consideration.
I slipped back into the room and noticed the door was still open, so I closed it. That would give me some warning before he entered. By my estimate, he would need a longer time to prep, which gave me just enough time, considering the bedroom was devoid of furniture.
With a nervous glance back at the bedroom door, I snuck over to his computer and hesitated. I didn’t want to get my fingerprints on his laptop. I grabbed the shirt I’d been wearing and used it to flip the screen, then hit the power button. The screen came on, but as expected, there was a password request. Since I had no inkling what that might be, I powered off the laptop and returned it to its original position.
Slowly I moved in a circle, scanning the room. I’d never done anything like this before. Not even with Brad. We might have been a couple, but I respected his right to privacy even when I’d been curious about what he spent so much time researching when we were home. He’d always said work, and I’d believed him until he died and I had to go through his belongings. He’d been compiling files about Maxim, and there was an entire case file on Wren and his background.
The closet caught my attention. Through the cracked-open door, I could make out a few clothes hanging on racks. I hurried over and slipped inside. He had exactly three pairs of shoes on one of the shelves—a pair of running shoes, black dress shoes, and combat boots. A couple of suits hung in thefar end of the closet, and I riffled through their pockets, coming up empty.
My eyes dropped to a black duffel stuffed at the back. My heart thudded so hard I placed a hand over my chest as I glanced back at the closed door.
Moving quickly, I unzipped the bag, holding my breath. Money. So much of it. Hundreds of dollars batched and held together by rubber bands. The only time I’d ever seen money like this was in the movies. There was only one reason a man wouldn’t keep so much money in the bank. It wasn’t sourced legitimately.
I was careful not to touch any of the bills as I zipped up the bag, then checked the exterior zipped compartment. I almost missed the SD card wedged into one of the corners. So easy to lose. If Sergei couldn’t find it, it was unlikely he would think it had anything to do with me.
I replaced the SD card and shoved the bag back to where it was resting before. It wouldn’t do me any good for the card to go missing while I was still there.
“What are you doing?”
I’d just straightened up when Sergei’s voice came from behind. I hadn’t even heard the door open. I breathed out slowly to dispel the guilt I was certain was written all over my face, then turned to face him.
“Looking for a shirt to sleep in. Unlike you, I don’t sleep in the nude.”
Sergei scanned my face, then his eyes drifted to the closet, focusing on the corner where the bag full of money was hidden. I held my breath, thinking he would call me out for snooping, but then his lips curved and he took a step toward me, his erection leading the way.
Only then did I notice he was completely naked.
“Well, you’re not going to need the shirt right now, are you?”
He came up so close to me that I put a hand up to press against his chest, hoping to stall him. He did stop, but the feel of his muscles under my palm was hypnotic. I cupped his pecs, my eyes trailing over his bulging muscles and seriously hot body.
“It should be illegal to have a body this perfect,” I murmured.
“Yeah?” His hand wrapped around my wrist, and he made his pecs move. Show-off. “Why don’t you come over here and I’ll let you do whatever you want to it?”
I would be damned if I let him be the one to lead.
