Page 60 of Reclaimed By My Ex’s Bratva Brother

She had to tilt her face up to meet my eyes, nose nearly brushing my jaw. This distance finally cracked that aggressive expression, the overhead light exposing the gleam in her eyes.

"Aren't you?" She kept pushing. "Your ex-girlfriend's waiting for you."

"Since when does my assistant decide where I should be?"

"I'm just reminding you not to forget important people, Mr. Petrov."

"Important people." I echoed her words, thumb grazing her lower lip. "You seem very clear on who matters to me."

She turned her head, dodging my touch. Her resistance shredded what was left of my control. I cupped the back of her head and sealed my mouth over those flushed lips.

"Mmph!" Briony struggled, fists pounding my chest.

But I wasn't giving her an escape. I applied more pressure, pried her teeth apart, tongue invading her mouth to steal her breath. She bit down hard—my tongue stung with pain. Blood bloomed metallic between our lips.

I didn't pull away. I gripped her jaw, kissed her more viciously. Swallowed that blood along with her anger and resistance.

Her struggling weakened as oxygen ran out. This was the quiet I wanted. No sarcasm, no goddamn "Mr. Petrov," just her ragged breathing and sweet saliva.

When the kiss finally broke, she'd gone soft. I shoved her against the elevator wall, wedged my knee between her thighs. One hand slipped inside her blouse, kneading her breast through the bra, while the other slid up her skirt toward her panties.

She was wet. She shuddered when I touched her.

"Your body's honest, even if your mouth lies." I rubbed my thumb over the damp fabric. "You want this. So why the hell are you refusing me?"

"I'm not your toy." Her voice shook. "Someone you play with when you're bored, toss aside when you're done. Go back to Brinny. Do this to her."

"You're mine, Briony." I pressed harder, drawing a gasp from her throat. "Say it."

"I'm not—"

I clamped my hand over her mouth. My other hand kept working, rubbing her clit through the soaked fabric while my teeth closed on her nipple through the thin blouse. She got wetter with every stroke.

The heat of her soaked through the thin barrier of her panties, the fabric already clinging to her folds like a second skin. I circled that swollen bud slowly at first, then harder, feeling the way her hips gave a helpless little jerk against my knee. Her breath came hot and ragged against my palm; every time my thumb dragged over her clit she made a muffled sound that vibrated straight into my bones.

I shifted my weight, pinning her more firmly, and rolled the stiff peak of her nipple between my teeth until the silk of her blouse was damp from my mouth. Her body arched, thighs clamping around my leg as if she could stop the friction—or maybe chase it. I didn't give her the choice. My fingers pressed deeper into the wet cotton, spreading her open just enough to feel how slick she'd already become, then dragged back up to torment that sensitive spot again.

She couldn't take it—bit down on my palm. I didn't let go. My fingers hooked into the elastic of her panties, started pulling them down.

The overhead lights died.

"What the—" My words cut off as the floor vanished beneath my feet. The elevator plunged.

"Ah!" Briony's scream pierced the darkness. "What's happening?"

My body reacted before my brain caught up. I wrapped my arms around her and dropped into the corner, hand cradling her head, my back and shoulders shielding her. If the cables snapped, I'd hit the metal wall first. She'd be protected beneath me.

"Don't be scared, Briony," I called her name.

But she didn't seem to hear. Her fingers clawed into my shirt.

"Are we going to die? Varlam, the elevator keeps falling..." Briony shook violently.

Metal screeched from all sides, sharp as a blade scraping bone. Weightlessness yanked my stomach toward my throat.

"Briony!" I shouted over the mechanical roar. "Stay calm!"

The safety brake engaged with a heavy slam. The car jerked to a stop. Emergency lighting flickered twice, then held, casting her pale face in sickly yellow.