Page 44 of Caught By the Bratva Boss

“I need to deal with this.” He rubbed the tip of his nose against my cold one. “I’m going to leave you in some capable hands, though.”

I paled. “Are you leaving me?” I glanced around.” Here?”

His smile was indulgent.” You will be fine. I’m going to have someone take you to one of the private suites. Order a drink and relax.” He rubbed his nose on mine, back and forth.

Jesus, this side of Daniil Popov was loving. He almost reminded me of a puppy dog. How was I meant to figure out my true feelings for him when he kept acting this way? His lips found mine hungrily, and I responded by reaching up on tiptoes and kissing him back harder.

When he pulled away with a smile, we were both breathless. Yeah, how was I meant to figure out what all this was when he kept kissing me like that?

“George.” He called the burly man forward. “Please look after Miss Ridgeway. She’s my very special guest.”

The man didn’t smile, but his eyes crinkled. “You can count on it, sir. This way, Miss.”

I barely heard him because Daniil was kissing me again, and when he did that, my brain literally tuned to mush. “I won’t be long,” he whispered against my lips.

I couldn’t help but smile. “Take as long as you need. I’m not going anywhere.”

“What I need is to get you home and out of that dress,” he growled. The sound of it hit me somewhere in the lower stomach, and I fought back the urge to kiss him again.

“Go. The sooner you do, the sooner you get back.”

One last kiss, and he strode away. “Try to miss me.”

I couldn’t help it. I laughed. “The saying is try not to miss me,” I called out after him.

“Not for us it isn’t,” he threw back over his shoulder. “I want you to miss me.”

“This way, Miss Ridgeway.” The man’s face was totally unreadable, but his cold blue eyes held a shock. “I’ve already radioed through, and someone will be bringing you a bottle of champagne to drink while you wait. If there is anything else you need, you just need to ask.”

“I really don’t need all of this fuss,” I said. “I’ll just wait at the bar.”

His eyes widened. “I can’t allow you to do that. Sorry ma’am. Mr Popov was very clear in his instructions.”

I wanted to argue that I was a grown woman who was more than capable of sitting at a bar alone, but I didn’t want to get anyone in trouble.

“Fine.” Straightening my skirt, I smiled. “But can you direct me to the ladies’ restroom first? Am I allowed to go to the bathroom alone?”

“Of course,” pointing down a wide hallway to the left, complete with gold mirrors and frames on the walls and bare carpet on the floor. “It’s there on the left. I will wait right here. If you need anything, just call.”

I walked away with a roll of my eyes. What do you think I would need in the bathroom? I was just washing my hands when I heard the door open. Turning off the tap, I glanced into the gold-rimmed mirror and came face to face with—

“Greg,” I croaked. “What are you doing here?”

My eyes searched him. He was dressed in a suit that looked designer. I frowned. We didn’t have the money for those kinds of clothes. Leaning heavily against the wooden door, he scowled at me. “I could ask you the same fucking thing, Lily.”

My frown deepened, my eyebrows knitted together. He was clearly drunk, his words blurred together, and his eyes were glassy.

“I’m here,” I took a step forward, and he stepped to meet me, blocking my way.

“I saw you and him back there,” he slurred. “The way you were all over him. I always knew you wanted to fuck him, but I never thought you would be so blatant about it.”

Anger bubbled up. My fists clenched tightly at my side. “You were the one who gave me to him,” my voice shook with the effort to yell it at him.

I didn’t want to make a scene here and embarrass Daniil.

“To work.” Lashing out, he caught my upper arm in a bruising grip. I yanked it back, but he just held on tighter.

“Get off me, Greg.”