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“I might be an expert at many things.” As I half tossed him the bag, he leaned forward, cupping my jaw.
His breath skipped as he brought our lips to within a few inches. Almost instantly I was lightheaded, more so than before. “Then I’m going to need to experience every one of them.”
When I lifted my arm in his direction, I could tell he expected me to reach for him. Instead, I grabbed the bread, laughing softly as he shifted backward. He shook his head then leaned back against the ropes. There was an almost haunted look in his eyes, as if the time stolen away was sinful, irresponsible. He lifted his glass, his upper lip curling.
“Such a tease,” he whispered hoarsely.
I shuddered from the way he was looking at me, turning my attention to the treats between us. As I pulled off a hunk of bread, popping it into my mouth, I could hear a low growl coming from deep within his throat. He had the ability to make everything I did seem sexual in nature. A lump formed in my throat, almost preventing me from swallowing the bread.
When I pulled off another piece, he snapped his hand around my wrist, pulling me in his direction. Then he opened his mouth, taking his time to tug the still warm piece into his mouth. As he chewed, which was almost the most seductive nonintentional sexual act I’d ever seen, he held me in place. My God, the man emanated a tremendous amount of power in such a simple action.
“Ochen’ vkusno. Delicious,” he repeated.
“I’m curious.”
“It would seem that is always the case with you.” He nodded toward the bread, freeing my arm in exchange for another bite. This time, he pulled my fingers into his mouth.
I dragged my tongue across my lips involuntarily, trying to keep from visibly shivering in front of him. Everything about the man was overtly sexual.
“Another symptom of the trade, I’m afraid. You speak fluent Russian, yet your accent is almost nonexistent. If I remember correctly, your entire family is from a small province in Russia.” While I managed saying the words, I could barely recognize my voice given its husky drawl. I don’t know why I expected him to be angry at my admittance, but I was pleasantly surprised he wasn’t. I was basing what little I’d learned about the entire family working the case. The wretched prosecution had gone on for well over a month, only the bad guy wasn’t a member of the Kozlov family.
After licking my fingers, he finished chewing, taking a gulp of wine before answering. “It would appear my little lioness has the memory of an elephant. Either that or you spent time searching for me while on the plane.”
“Until I landed at the airport earlier today, I had no idea who you were.” I pulled off another piece for myself, avoiding his reach. When he grinned a second time, I was mesmerized by how I hadn’t noticed a dimple in his chin before. My inner thighs were slickened, my bottom aching as I shifted slightly. Whew. I was hot and wet all over.
“I find that impossible to believe.”
“It’s the truth. That’s one reason I didn’t call the police when I found you in my hotel room.”
“I’m dying to know the other reason.” He smirked and I sensed he was prepared to tell me that I would have never been allowed to make that call.
“Because I was foolish enough to believe my friends enticed you to break into my room after seeing us flirting.”
My comment amused him, his expression brightening. “Flirting? Is that what we were doing? As we’ve determined more than once, you are highly observant. I still find it somewhat difficult you didn’t recognize me, merely playing a game of cat and mouse.”
Why did I have the sense he was avoiding pulling Gregory into the conversation?
“I’m not a game player, Alexei. Why should I recognize you, from the newspaper articles on your family? From what I remember seeing of the glorified photographs, your father was always the front man.”
Alexei chuckled. “Actually, you are correct. My father often enjoys the limelight while I prefer to handle business in a more anonymous fashion. To answer your question, the United States is the only home I’ve even known, but both my mother and father insisted that our language and culture were maintained within the household. At least until recently.”
“Why until recently?”
He suddenly had a faraway look in his eyes. “Honestly? I’m not entirely certain. Other than perhaps it’s become harder for my mother to accept the death of my oldest brother.”
“I’m sorry, Alexei. I didn’t mean to bring up a sore subject.”
“Nonsense. I barely knew him. However, family is very important to my mother.”
“Not your father?”
As he leaned forward again, he gave me an admonishing look. “You ask far too many questions regarding my family, lioness. That could lead me to believe you are investigating my organization.”
“I’m sorry to disappoint you, Alexei, but I’ve yet to reach the upper echelon of my office, which would allow me to prosecute such high-profile cases. You’re safe with me.”
“I’m glad to hear that, my beautiful woman, for if you were investigating me, then our time together would come to an end. Please. We’re coming dangerously close to discussing work again. That could only prove to create disagreements.”
“The consummate businessman.”
