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She nodded, picking up a fork and stabbing at the scrambled eggs. “Yes.”
There was no rancor in her voice and her eyes glinted with humor. “Did your father actually starve you?”
She seemed stunned by my sudden, straightforward question. But I’d been getting reports from the seamstress who had been hired to create her wedding dress, and Theresa had confirmed her suspicions after her short visit with Kira.
Her cheeks grew red, then she shook off her embarrassment with a shrug. “It doesn’t matter. Not the first time.”
I clenched my teeth against a string of curses and held my hands at my sides to keep from stroking her cheek. She didn’t want my pity, it would have made her go back to hating me in an instant. After a few more bites, she looked me straight in the eyes, serious and intent.
“It really doesn’t matter, Yuri.”
“If you say so.”
“I do.”
I couldn’t help it. I leaned over and kissed away a bit of jam at the edge of her lip. “Sorry, knee jerk reaction to hearing you say I do.”
She feigned a laugh, which soon turned into a real giggle. Pushing aside the tray, she reached for me, her hand sliding behind my neck and her fingers running through my hair. My reaction was swift, my cock rising. I pulled the hotel robe closer, not wanting to spook her when we were getting along.
She looked down with a grin and pulled my face closer to hers. “I do,” she said again.
Our lips touched and when hers parted, I swiped the space with my tongue, tasting hints of salty bacon and sweet jam. The sheet slid away and my hand rose to cup her exposed breast, caressing her nipple until it was a tight peak. She slithered down among the pillows, dragging me with her as our kiss deepened.
I slowly kissed my way to her earlobe and down her throat while she ran her hands under the bathrobe and over my bare shoulders. Getting back to real life didn’t seem so important anymore.
Her hands stilled when I began to nibble at her shoulder. “What did my father want out of the deal your brother made for me?”
I froze. Was she really asking me that at a time like this? Over the years, being rich and successful, and a bit famous, or infamous, to boot, I’d become aware of gold diggers and they always gave themselves away with inappropriate questions at inopportune times. Now, I knew that Kira was not out for my money. No amount of money would get her to stay with me if she was offered her freedom right then. That alone was enough to give me pause, but the fact she might be trying to seduce me for information put my hackles up.
I rolled off of her and sat up, glaring down at her. “I won’t play games with you. Do you really want me, or do you want information?”
Her eyes flashed with fury that I’d figured her out, even as her cheeks colored. At least she had a little shame. All the fight drained out of her eyes as she bit her lush lower lip and looked me up and down.
“Both?” she said with a shrug.
I burst out laughing at her unexpected honesty and leaned down to kiss her. Just a quick one, so I wouldn’t get caught in her web again. “It would be much safer for you if you kept out of it,” I told her.
She tightened the sheet around her again, a scowl marring her smooth forehead. “Do you think I can’t handle myself? Or is it that you think I don’t understand the business I grew up around?”
Ah, I offended her. And she raised a red flag against my trust. So much for our minutes-long truce and the chance for more senseless fun.
“It’s neither of those things,” I told her calmly, refraining from tapping her adorable button nose. She’d surely tear my finger off. “But you’re a lawyer’s wife now, nothing more. Now, if you’re interested in hearing all about the newest tax deduction rules that are being implemented for small businesses in Florida, I’d be happy to fill you in.” I stared at her in challenge.
“No thank you,” she said, her scowl deepening.
Her death glares were as enticing as her smiles, but I couldn’t risk losing control around her when we were both in a mood, so I got up and found the overnight bag someone had packed for me and left in the room. Pulling out jeans and a shirt, I started to get dressed, then glanced over at Kira, who was picking at the remainder of our breakfast. Digging through the bag, I found a pair of swimming trunks. I didn’t completely trust her. Really I shouldn’t trust her at all. But I wanted to see her smile again, wanted to get some color in her ivory pale cheeks.
“How about we spend the afternoon at the pool?” I offered, tossing the other overnight bag onto the bed. “I’m sure one of my sisters-in-law packed you a swimsuit.”
There was no smile yet, but her scowl softened as she began to dig through the bag. She finally held up a tiny red string bikini with a triumphant look.
“Oh, hell yes,” I said. My phone rang from the bedside table and we both looked at it like it was a rattlesnake about to strike. With a sigh, I hurried over to check it. “Only two numbers can get through the do not disturb setting,” I explained. “Ivan and my assistant, and they both know better than to call me unless—”
“Just answer it,” she said, flopping back on the pillows, the bikini discarded back into the bag.
“Damn it, what do you want?” I snapped at my brother by way of greeting.
“There’s been another attack in Boston,” he said.
