Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 83195 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 416(@200wpm)___ 333(@250wpm)___ 277(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83195 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 416(@200wpm)___ 333(@250wpm)___ 277(@300wpm)
Anya detaches the bar and clips it between the cuffs around her ankles, widening the submissive’s legs, and locks the bar in place so the audience can have a better view of the backside of the woman wearing leather lingerie.
The audience is watching intently, and I know it will bring in a good amount of money tonight.
“Mr. Ivanov,” Clay, one of Anya’s bodyguards, grabs my attention. “You have a guest.”
My eyebrows furrow. It better not be Cinita. I left Vance with her in the house because she’s driving me batshit crazy, but Will has assured me he’ll find the last man who hurt her any day now.
I want to hunt him down myself, but I’ve already wasted too much time being consumed by Cinita and making sure I’ll be the one to deliver the final blow to the men who put her in the hospital. I have other things I need to prioritize.
I stop short as I see the person who’s been on my mind is standing outside of Anya’s office door, waiting for me.
“Lena,” I call out, grabbing her attention. She seems nervous.
“I’m not here to dance,” she quickly blurts.
“Good, because I wouldn’t let you dance for any other man,” I reply.
Tension fills the space between us.
I hold my hand up toward the office door. “Let’s have this discussion privately.”
She swallows hard but says nothing as I push into her space and open the door. All I can smell is her fucking floral perfume, and I’m doing everything in my power not to take her here and now.
I close the door behind her, and she seems to idly look around.
“I had a not-audition this week. I’ve been offered a role in a Broadway show,” she says, watching me, hovering close to the wooden desk. It’s taking all my control not to take the two steps over to her.
Anya has chewed me out so many times, telling me I don’t have “tact.” Whatever the fuck that means, and I don’t think she knows either.
“Is the role not to your liking?” I ask. Because I’ll get her whatever she wants. I’ll set the world on fucking fire to make it happen.
She chokes out a laugh. “It’s an incredible offer, Alek. I just… I don’t understand why you did that for me.”
“Because I would do anything for you,” I say sincerely. “Whatever you want, I will make happen for you. You were made to shine bright on the stage as much as I was made to haunt the shadows.”
She sucks in a breath, and I can’t help but reach for her, take those two steps to fill the distance between us, because this woman… This woman has fucking consumed me.
“Alek. We can’t. I won’t be your plaything.”
“Who the fuck told you you’re just my plaything?” I demand, because I have every intention of killing them.
She seems confused. “Alek, I don’t know what you want from me.”
“You. I only want you,” I say as I brush my gloved hand over her cheekbone, and she sucks in a breath, her breasts rising under the long yellow dress. Just like sunshine.
“You and I are not a good match, Alek.”
“We’re a fucking perfect match,” I correct. “Everything about you was built just for me. I refuse to be in denial about it. Aren’t you tired of lying to yourself, sweetheart?”
Her eyebrows scrunch, and tears spring to her eyes. “The things you do scare me.”
“And that won’t change. I won’t apologize for who I am.”
“I don’t want you to change. I just—”
Too much talking. I lean down, and she sucks in another breath, her tongue darting out along her bottom lip.
“Just us,” I tell her as I slowly trace her neck with my fingers and then wrap my hand around her throat. Her eyes go molten. “I’ll give you everything.”
“Aleksandr…” A tear slips down her cheek, and I fucking hate myself so much that I’ve made her cry. That I’ve done this to her. I press my lips to hers, and she’s already open for me, melting into me as I pull her to me. Her warmth, her softness. Like fucking sunshine, and the voices don’t even put up a fight.
My sanctuary.
I lift her and wrap her legs around my hips as I devour her. This fucking woman who has somehow become my world. “Stop running away from me.”
“Stop being a dick,” she breathes.
I smile as I kiss her neck and place her on the desk. She grabs my gloves, ripping them off.
“I want you to touch me, Alek.”
Fuck. This woman.
I slip my hand under her dress, noting every touch and how soft she feels under my hands. I can’t stop kissing her, taking all that she’ll give me. Fuck, this is all I’ve been thinking about these past few weeks.
I feather my fingers along the edge of her panties and then push them to the side as I insert one finger. She gasps as I push in a second and watch her. Every hitch of her breath, every arch of her back as she grinds into my hand desperately.