“Really?” I lean forward, now curious. “What else doesn’t the boss like?”
Anya hesitates for a second, then begins listing the rules in a careful, quiet voice.
“You must not go down to the basement. Ever. The office is also strictly off-limits.”
I nod. “Yeah, he already mentioned that. What else?”
“You’re not allowed in the garage without permission. No touching any of his weapons or documents. You must always let the security team know if you want to leave the grounds. And… don’t challenge him in front of his men.”
She continues for a while, giving me a full list of Maxim’s many, many rules. She also tells me that the housekeeper, Mrs. Petrova, has been given a few days off by Maxim and will return before the end of the week. Her husband takes care of the gardens and grounds. Anya thinks I’ll like the housekeeper very much.
By the time she finishes speaking, I’ve already made up my mind. I wasn’t asking because I wanted to obey. I was asking so I’d know exactly how to break the rules.
The second Anya leaves, I abandon my untouched breakfast. I head straight to the bathroom, brush my teeth, and then my hairuntil it falls in soft waves down my back, then dig through the shopping bags Maxim forced on me.
I pick the most scandalous set, a sheer black bra that barely covers my nipples and a tiny matching thong that leaves almost nothing to the imagination. The fabric is so delicate it feels like wearing nothing at all. Perfect.
I slip it on, take one last look in the mirror, and head downstairs. Male voices are drifting from the living room, low, serious conversation. I smile to myself.
I walk straight toward the open double doors and step inside with a bright, innocent voice.
“Hey honey,” I say sweetly. Every head in the room snaps toward me.
“Sorry, oopsie! I didn’t know we had company.”
Viktor and Dmitri freeze mid-sentence. Their eyes widen. Maxim, who was leaning forward in his chair, snaps his head toward me so fast I’m surprised he doesn’t get whiplash. His eyes darken instantly.
“What…” I hear someone say. I hear a few whistles across the room.
The moment Maxim’s dark gaze lands on me, on the sheer bra, the tiny thong, my barely covered body, his expression turnsmurderous. If looks could kill, I would already be ashes on the marble floor.
The temperature in the room drops ten degrees. The sexual tension that always seems to crackle between us suddenly ignites into something much more dangerous.
Maxim’s jaw clenches so hard I can see the muscle ticking. His eyes burn with fury… and something darker. Hungrier.
I smile sweetly at him, tilting my head.
“Did I interrupt something important?”
Maxim stands up and walks out of his chair in one smooth movement, and in the next moment, he’s on me. His hands grab my waist, and in a swift motion, he lifts me off the ground and throws me over his shoulder like I weigh nothing.
I let out a scream. “Maxim! Put me down right now!”
He ignores me completely. His arm bands like steel across the backs of my thighs as he marches out of the living room. I catch a glimpse of his men’s wide-eyed stares before we’re moving up the stairs two at a time.
“Put me down, you caveman!” I shout, pounding my fists against his back. “This is ridiculous!”
“What’s ridiculous, is you showing up in front of my men naked,” he grunts, not slowing down, and doesn’t stop until we’re inside my bedroom. He kicks the door shut behind us and drops me onto my feet.
I barely have time to catch my balance before he’s on me again. He crowds me backward until my spine hits the wall. One big hand wraps around my throat, not squeezing hard, but firm enough to make my pulse race wildly under his palm. His body is pressed against mine, heat rolling off him in waves.
“Are you trying to get those men killed?” He growls, voice low and dangerous.
I tilt my chin up defiantly even though my heart is hammering. “I wanted breakfast. You had it brought to my room like I’m some prisoner. I felt like eating downstairs. How was I supposed to know you were having a meeting?”
His grip tightens just slightly on my throat. “My house. My rules.”
I smile sweetly, even as heat pools low in my belly. “Exactly. You told me your house, your rules. So I wore what you bought me. You’re the one who filled my closet with these scraps. Don’t get mad when I actually wear them.”
