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Even in the fall, Lyon had made love the way he fought. The way he killed.
Determined. Dirty. Demanding.
It was how he’d brought her body to life like no man before him.
But he’d been tender too, his touch alternating between rough and gentle, the pivot part of the allure, the contrast part of the eroticism.
There had been no pivot, no contrast, in Prague. He’d been all hard edges, all demand, no give. And the worst part of all? Even as she’d missed his soft touch, even as she’d longed for his gentle words, she’d come to life in his hands.
She’d liked it. She would never admit it to anyone, but she’d liked the way he’d set the rules, the way he’d commanded her, made her obey. And worse than liking the sex, she still wanted him.
Still wanted the Lion to hold her, to open his heart to her, to love her.
The problem was, she’d had him. All of him. He could pretend it had been part of their business arrangement, just like she’d pretended when she’d written the letter.
But she knew, felt it in her bones: he’d dropped his guard in the fall. She’d gotten a glimpse of the man behind the legend, behind the name. He’d let her in, and it had felt like fate.
Like they’d been made for each other.
Now, she knew what she was missing. She knew what it felt like to blossom in the sunshine of his singular attention, to feel like the center of the universe to a man who’d spent his life traveling alone through space.
And she had no one to blame but herself. She’d ruined them. Had ruined the fragile seed of possibility they’d been watering and sheltering when Musa killed her father. Had been unable to see through her grief and guilt.
“Home sweet home,” Alek murmured, pulling into the underground parking garage.
Kira took off her sunglasses and shoved the memories of Lyon aside. She couldn’t bring back the past. What was done was done.
As for what had happened between them in the hotel, that was just sex.
Animalistic. Biological.
It didn’t have to mean anything more than what she’d intended: a peace offering, a sign of their necessary truce.
The best thing she could do — for both of them — was help Lyon secure his leadership with bratva. Once that happened, she could figure out her future, because there was one thing she knew with certainty.
What they had now wasn’t sustainable.
Alek pulled up next to the elevator lobby and everyone got out of the car. Kira stepped into the elevator with Lyon, knowing Rurik and Alek would bring the bags.
The doors closed and the elevator began to rise. She was surprised when Lyon spoke.
“Your peace offering is accepted,” he said.
She turned to look at him. “What if I want to take it back?”
She didn’t, but she couldn’t resist the urge to bait him.
Don’t poke the bear, moya zolotaya… She heard her father’s words in her ear.
“Too late.” He smirked knowingly. “I’ve already let you come.”
Her cheeks burned and she drew in a breath. “Fine. It’s better this way anyway. You can’t afford any more enemies.”
She flinched when he reached up and stroked her cheek. “Not even you,malen'kiy sokol?”
She hated the warmth that spread through her chest at the old nickname:little falcon.
She swatted his hand away. “Especially me.”
