Page 134 of Beguiled

Hearing Saige’s voice, as seductive as it could be, dragged me from the intense moment. She’d been right about one thing. The game was Kazimir’s to finish. I respected that both with him being Pakhan and for having suffered more at the hands of Mikhail. However, that didn’t mean my patience was intact.

“I am breathing.”

She tossed her napkin onto the table, pushing obstacles out of the way and forcing my hand into hers. “Relax. All three of you have done everything in your power to lure him in.”

I also leaned forward, pretending to snag her nose. Wow. I looked away as the quick memory began to fade. “Which wouldn’t have worked without your assistance.”

“Anything for my man. What is it?” she asked while rubbing her fingers across my palm.

“My father rubbed my hand that way when I was in the hospital. How can I remember that? I was two.”

“There are scientific studies indicating children have memories that young. You were scared and he calmed you down. That’s what fathers are supposed to do.”

“Yeah, well, I wouldn’t know.”

“That’s what instincts are for.”

“I doubt I’d be good at knowing or doing the right thing. Not in my DNA.” As always, her voice lured me in like a fly close to a spider web. Only I was the one benefitting.

“I beg to differ.”

It was impossible to keep my hands off her. Why did I feel I needed to? We were in a Chertov-owned restaurant in a fabulous hotel owned by the family. We’d just enjoyed an incredible dinner with an amazing bottle of wine and we were together.

If we hadn’t been waiting for two events, I’d already have her sequestered in a hotel room where I’d spend hours ravaging her luscious body.

She leaned farther forward until our lips were touching. Lightly.

Romantically.

The candlelight and her sensual scent alone allowed me to continue pretending this was like any other night.

Yet it wasn’t.

We were the bait.

All the security in the room couldn’t change the fact Mikhail was dangerous.

Yet, with the Armenian election tonight, and the article that had gone out in theNew York Timesthis morning on the possible downfall of the Chertov Corporation, the stage was buzzing with electricity.

We were very much in control of the game and how it was played. And I had my incredible companion to thank for so much of that. Including her brilliant penning of the very article printed by a reporter at theTimes, a friend of hers.

Of course, the wording had been carefully selected since another article would clarify the accusations of blackmail and extortion. A risky game to play on its own merit, but one worth going through the hoops for.

My soon to be bride to be had laid it all out carefully. The timeline. How to go about correcting mindsets.

I rubbed my thumb across her chin as I took control of her mouth, enjoying the taste of red wine and the chocolate dessert we’d shared. An irresistible combination.

She slipped her tongue into my mouth, tasting me in the same way I was doing her. Fervently. With hunger that seemed insatiable.

But the feast would need to wait.

When I pulled our mouths free, she hummed slightly. “About time to leave.”

Easing back, I purposely rubbed my thumb across her stained lips, laughing when she took the thick digit into her mouth. I watched with continued lust in my eyes as she sucked for several seconds, allowing a hard pop when she pulled her lips free.

“Such a brat.”

Her eyes were instantly shadowed. “That’s what I used to call Tawny.”