AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“You don’t understand what this can be,” Maxim said, his voice soft and deadly. He was close — too close — and I didn’t have any more room to back up. “I can do things for you — and to you — that you could never even imagine.”
God. He was right. I couldn’t imagine it. Couldn’t fathom it. Wanted it bad and hated this entire situation.
“The concert starts at 8 p.m.,” I whispered, terrified and electrified.
“Excellent.” Maxim turned away. “Your dress will be delivered shortly. Alexei and I will be there at 7:30 sharp.”
What was I doing?
Nine
Maxim
It was hard to discern what I expected from tonight. I simply hoped that, once we picked her up, Ruth would be as delicious as I imagined her to be.
This time, I gave very specific instructions to the boutique that had supplied Ruth’s dress for the formal business dinner. I’d very much enjoyed the flash of her leg in her golden gown when she’d gotten into the car. I wanted
to see more of her. Parts I hadn’t seen yet.
But that would come. In time.
“Holy shit, brother,” Alexei remarked as Ruth walked out from the condo. Something I could take away at any moment. “This one is different.”
“Different how?” I asked even as I ignored him, pouring another glass of liquor and shifting over so she could slide easily into the seat next to me. I’d be damned if she tried to cross the car to sit next to my brother.
Ruth strode toward us in sky-high heels and I was impressed she didn’t stagger during the catwalk, hefting in one hand the train of the dress I had ordered. It was black, and completely straightforward at first glance. The material reached her neck, and was infused with threads of glinting gold.
“Different to anyone,” Alexei said, laughing. “To anyone I’ve ever seen you with.”
I didn’t have the chance to quiz him further on that point. The chauffeur opened the door and Ruth turned to slither into the backseat with us. That’s when I saw what I exactly wanted. The design of the dress I’d requested. It might have risen to her throat in the front, but it barely picked back up at her ass in the rear. The entire design was backless, designed to let her beauty shine.
I extended a hand to help her in and deployed another to cup her delectable body. She laughed and shivered as she made herself comfortable, beaming at Alexei.
“It’s good to see you again,” she said. “I didn’t think I would.”
“My brother has conceded that I can stay in the area,” Alexei confided in her. “Until I figure out what to do.”
“That’s nice of you,” Ruth said, turning to me for the first time since she’d taken her seat. “Will you continue to be nice to your brother?”
Her hair was contained in a low bun at the nape of her neck, and she’d decorated her eyelids with a shimmering gold powder that highlighted the subtle stitching in the dress I’d requested for her. Her lips? Blood red, perfectly outlined. It was all I could do not to ruin them, pressing my mouth against hers. Smearing that color across our faces. Fuck it.
“I am my brother’s greatest ally,” I said finally, to break the silence, long after the driver had continued on his path. “You should know that about me.”
“And you should also know that he’s helping me in my search for the mother of my future children,” Alexei said, leaning in, comically desperate, puckering up for a kiss. “I think it’s you.”
I shoved against Alexei’s forehead, sending him sprawling back against the seat as Ruth huffed a laugh at his behavior. “False. All we are doing is going to a performance.” I offered Ruth a drink, but she shook her head. Nerves, maybe. It didn’t stop me. I already had a good buzz by the time we rolled up to the hall.
“Come here, kitten,” my brother crooned, hauling Ruth out of the car. I was right behind him, furious and ready to fight, but he was already out of reach.
“My brother thinks he’s a comedian,” I said loudly enough for him to hear as he sauntered away to find our box. He chuckled and waved at me over his shoulder. I lowered my voice and turned back to Ruth. These words were only for her. “But he’s a fool if he thinks that you’re anyone’s but mine.”
She shuddered, gooseflesh prickling the smooth skin of her shoulders and back. I could tell. I was touching that expanse of skin, enjoying the effect I had on her.
“How do you like the dress?”
“I love it,” she gasped as I kissed her jaw line as gently as I could. “Do I know where I’ll wear it next? No. But it’s beautiful.”
“You’ll wear it into this performance with me,” I reasoned, following my brother’s path through the chaos of the lobby. Ruth kept pace, and I had to turn my head to hide my smile. This entire event was a godsend — something to keep my brother occupied and hopefully snap him out of his funk, and another opportunity to continue to make Ruth mine.
