Page 72 of Lust and Honor

Ava’s voice pulls my attention from Ivan. I look at her stunning face, wearing soft makeup. Her hair is pinned up on the sides, cascading down her back, begging to be touched.

I brush my thumb across her cheek and murmur, “A few reasons, strawberry. Drinking, dancing, and fucking.”

Her pale skin flushes with embarrassment, and she glances around. She locks eyes with me, trying to seem defiant, but it only makes her more irresistible.

“It’s cute you think I’d let you grope me in front of all these people.”

I slide my arm around her waist and pull her against me, burying my face in the crook of her neck. “It’s cute you think you have a choice.”

She shoots me a small glare, and I nip her earlobe. “When I’m done with you, you’ll be begging me to fuck you.”

The shaky breath she takes makes me chuckle, but I say nothing, planting a kiss on her neck.

A tall blonde in nothing but a bikini approaches us.

“Welcome, Mr. Moretti. What can I get you?”

I glance at Ava. She clearly doesn’t have anything specific in mind. “A scotch and a cosmopolitan.”

“Maxim! You bastard, where the hell have you been all this time?”

It’s Ivan, striding toward me with open arms. He’s wearing a black vest over his chiseled frame, finished off with a fedora straight out of an old mob movie. I stand, slapping my hand against his in a firm grip.

He snaps his fingers at the staff and calls out, “Champagne!”

Then his gaze drops on Ava and stays there. “I see you brought your snack. As always, great taste.”

I sit back down beside Ava and drape my arm around her shoulders. Ivan’s leering stare on her body makes my blood boil, but I keep my voice controlled. “Eyes on me, Ivan.”

He extends his hand toward Ava with a sleazy grin. “This view’s more interesting. What’s your name, angel?”

Ava shakes his hand, but before she can introduce herself, I cut in with authority. “Her name’s the mother of Maxim’s daughter, Maxim’s private property, with a giant fucking warning sign around her.”

Ivan isn’t a desperate man. He doesn’t drool over pussy, he has every kind of woman crawling into his bed. Given my track record, he has every reason to think he can flirt with any woman by my side. I trust him completely, and I know this one warning’s enough. His eyes widen in surprise for a moment, and he looks at Ava again.

Ava rolls her eyes, then turns to Ivan. “I’m Ava. Nice to meet you.”

Ivan returns to his usual cool, bows politely, and kisses the back of her hand. “Ivan.”

He sits a bit farther away, his lively spirit returning. “Damn, Maxim, you’re full of surprises, man.”

I take a sip of my scotch. “What can I say? You’re not wrong.”

“So when’s this lucky kid due?” Ivan lowers his voice, as if he doesn’t want Ava to hear, but I’m damn sure she does. “I was just chatting with your little actress at another table. She didn’t know a thing.”

“The kid’s two years old already.”

Ivan cracks up, pouring champagne into our glasses. “I’ve got no clue what’s going on anymore, man, but congrats.”

He clinks his glass against Ava’s. “To you too, gorgeous.”

Ava stays silent, downing her entire glass in one go. Yep, she definitely heard. One of the staff whispers something to Ivan, and after ordering more drinks for us, he leaves us alone.

“I’m not your private property,” Ava snaps.

I take another swig of my scotch, then turn slightly toward her. I grip her neck, pulling her face closer, and lean in to kiss her, but she stubbornly presses her lips shut and jerks her head back. I tighten my hold on her neck until she gasps, and that’s when I claim her mouth in a hard kiss.

“Yes, you are. You’re mine, and you know what, Ava? You love that I’ve made you mine.”