“That’s it baby. Come for me.” His fingers continued their exploration, delving deeper into her body. “I’m not going to stop until you come.” His warm breath tickled and teased her. His tongue began its exploration again.
Her orgasm was hard and fast. Clinging to Dimitris’ hair, she pulled his face closer. “That was amazing.” She felt his smile, his face still nestled between her legs.
Slowly, Dimitris sat back. He gently lowered her dress, straightening the hem from his kneeling position. When he stood he cupped Cate’s face, once again, and kissed her deeply. She could smell her scent on his face, taste the salty evidence of her satisfaction on his kiss.
“You taste better than any meal I have ever been served. I believe I will fore-go food and eat you every night for the rest of my life, dear Cate.”
“You would become very thin, Dimitris, and I would worry about your health,” Cate teased.
“Come upstairs to my suite with me,” he implored. “I am not done worshiping your body.” His pushed her against the wall again, his mouth on hers.
She wanted to go with him. To forget her students and the party and just enjoy time with this man. She ached to have him spend the next few hours exploring her body. “I can’t. The charity auction will start soon. I need to be there when my cooking lesson is auctioned off.”
“To hell with the auction. I will buy your cooking lesson. Come upstairs with me and let me finish what I started. I want you Cate, more than I have ever wanted anyone. Please let me show you.” His body was in full contact with hers. She was trapped against the wall by his big frame. His mouth found her neck and began to nibble. Turning her head away, she allowed him more access to the sensitive skin. He nipped sending delicious shivers down her spine.
“I want to, believe me, but people would notice. I’m not here for me, I’m representing the school.”
“To hell with the school. And no one will care if you aren’t there, especially once we are married.” The words left Dimitris’ mouth in a rush.
“Married?” His words were ice water on her libido. “We just met. Why on earth would I marry a man I just met?”
He turned his golden gaze to her. “Do not pretend you don’t feel this, Cate. The pull between us is not just sex appeal, it’s real. Wewillbe married. You can fight it or you can accept it, but it will happen. You are mine.” His accent thickened on him impassioned speech.
Cate saw red. “Unlike you, I don’t have the ability to see the future, Dimitris, but I can tell you one thing, bossing me around will not win you my affections.” She pushed at his chest, fighting for distance from his body. “I like to make my own decisions, and I don’t appreciate when others try to commandeer control of my life. So, no, I will not be going upstairs with you. I will not skip the auction. And I feel very confident that I will not marry you.” She stomped from the room, applauding her ability to keep from slamming the door.
Cate thanked the bartender and left a few dollars in his tip jar. After a mind-altering orgasm and a shocking row with Dimitris, she believed she was due another glass of wine. She took a long sip to steel her nerves. The nerve of that man. To think that she would marry a man she had known for a mere six hours was outrageous. The Volkov’s were known around town for getting what they want, but that didn’t have to include her. She would decide who she married and when she married, and, she vowed silently,It damn sure won’t be a pompous Volkov.
Wine in hand, she begin to navigate the room. Across the dance floor she saw a couple she had met briefly at Peter’s school open house. She tried to remember their names as she cut across the room to chat. Mikaela and Erik, she decided.No, it’s Yerik,she chided internally.Cate wondered absently if Yerik was related to Dimitris. It seemed likely that the two were at least distant cousins. It was either that or Coyen was a landing place for Russian immigrants.
“Hi guys. It’s so good to see you again,” Cate held out her hand to shake Mikaela’s. “Are you having a good time?” Mikaela smiled her pretty smile and said that she was. Cate turned to greet Yerik with the same outstretched hand. Was it her imagination or did Yerik just sniff her? she involuntarily took a step back.Oh god, I smell like sex. Please don’t let me smell like sex.She glanced a look at Yerik. He sniffed again.Yep, I definitely smell like sex. Shit!
“So how is Peter liking Ms. Haley’s first grade?” Mikaela asked. Yerik sniffed again. Cate blushed. “Yerik,” Mikaela turned to her husband, “could you go and get me a refill on my drink?” Yerik took Mikaela’s nearly full glass without question. Clearly he knew when his wife wanted him gone.
“Sorry about that,” Mikaela turned her big blue eyes back to Cate. “I just really wanted a fresher glass. Now, where were we? Oh yes, Peter’s class? How is everything going?”
Dimitris watched as Cate laughed and shared stories with Mikaela Mikhailov. Yerik was lucky to have such a smart mate. If he had witnessed Yerik sniff his mate one more time he would have been forced to rip the man’s nose from his face. Likely Mikaela caught Dimitris’ scowl and sent her husband on some fool’s errand to keep him alive.
“Still stalking your prey, I see.” Dimitris did not bother to look at Alek, daring not to take his eye off Cate for a single second.
“You smell of her,” Alek continued. “I mean you still smell abysmal, but slightly less so. Until you are mated you should keep yourself covered in her scent. It’s a damn bit more appealing than yours.” Dimitris growled. “Oh don’t going playing alpha wolf with me, I can’t help it that you stink.” Alek laughed.
“The auction is about to begin. You should pay close attention to the cooking lesson, Dimitris.” With that, Alek walked away to seek out Cate and Mikaela who had now been rejoined by her mate. Dimitris supposed Alek wanted to be near the group to keep Yerik safe.
He turned his gaze briefly to the front of the room. Lukyan stepped nervously onto the small stage set at the front of the ballroom and silenced the band. A hush fell over the room. Dimitris was too agitated to take pleasure in his introverted cousin being forced to lead the auction proceedings.
“Hello, everyone. Thank you so much for coming to this year’s harvest party. Every year my family throws a big party to celebrate another successful year and the many blessings we have shared. This year we decided to do something a little different to show our gratitude. As you know, Volkov Investments has supported Coyen Community Food Pantry and Soup Kitchen for many years. Tonight we will auction off some special items and services so that you, too, can give to the kitchen. All proceeds from the auction will go to this wonderful charity which serves to provide food for those in our community that are hungry and food insecure. So please, give freely and spend big!” The crowd cheered as Lukyan brought the evening’s first offering on the stage. “We will start with a chance to bid on a year’s worth of couple’s massages from Coyen’s own Margaret Thorne.”
The bidding began, and the numbers ran higher than Cate expected. Dimitris’ clients and family were very generous with their bids. The year’s massage package went for five thousand dollars, the custom-designed birthday cake sold for over three thousand, and the family photography session maxed out at fifteen thousand dollars. Cate was amazed not only by the wealth of the people in the room, but by their generosity. Mikaela and Yerik purchased a wooden swing set by a local designer for seven thousand dollars. Cate wondered if she could snag an invite for Peter to come play with their son, Connor.
“And next up, we have Chef Cate Darling. Cate, come up on stage with me,” Lukyan gestured for Cate to stand next to him. Dimitris growled as she stepped near his friend. Lukyan must have heard the menacing sound, because he instinctively took a step away from her. Pasting on a smile, he said, “Chef Cate is new in town, and we want to give her a warm welcome. So get your checkbooks ready and bid high on the private cooking lesson she has offered. Cate is classically trained chef and before coming to the Coyen Culinary School of Arts she was executive chef for a five-star restaurant in Chicago.” Lukyan started the bidding at five thousand dollars and after a few volleys, the price for a single culinary lesson was up to thirteen thousand.
“Fifty thousand,” someone yelled from the crowd. Cate tried to search out the man that had offered the ungodly sum.
“Alek, I see you brought your checkbook with you tonight,” Lukyan frowned. “Would anyone like to top that bid? Fifty thousand will buy a lot of turkeys for the kitchen,” Lukyan sought Dimitris’ eyes, “But sixty thousand would buy even more.” The crowd laughed. “No one has a higher offer?”
Cate was uncomfortable. Was this Alek’s way of making things between her and Dimitris more awkward, or was he simply trying to rile his brother? Lukyan certainly seemed uncomfortable with the bid. “Going once, going twice,”
“Five hundred thousand.” She willed herself to stay by Lukyan’s side. She did not need to search out the owner of those words; Cate would know Dimitris’ voice anywhere. “Five hundred thousand dollars for a private lesson with Chef Darling.” Dimitris scanned the room, visually daring anyone to bid against him. Alek smirked.
