His hand moved higher, I leaned closer. It had been a long time since I was so attracted to someone. I was beginning to think it was over for me, at only twenty-two. That I’d never feel safe enough to allow myself to experience this heady rush that usually led to giving in and letting go.
The heat of his hand slowly edging up my side, and then the other one, as he slid it behind my neck, made me forget everything that could have held me back. His fingers gently glided through my hair. My eyes fluttered shut.
His mouth was hot and firm; the low sound of the groan deep in his throat was gratifying. An answering sigh swept out of me as he tugged me flush with his body, half onto his lap as he leaned against the desk.
I gripped his shoulders, rock hard under my fingertips. Memories of him shirtless flashed in my mind as I held on tighter. He broke the kiss for a split second to tug my head back by a handful of my hair. His rough stubble scraped against my cheek as he brought our mouths back together again, parting my lips with his tongue. This was the first time I caught a hint of spicy cologne as the heat of our bodies mingled. I gasped it in as my mouth opened wider for him.
Okay, it was time to admit I had been thinking about my boss. Thinking about this in my lonely little apartment. But was I thinking about him holding me so tightly to him, his tonguetangling with mine to keep the memories that haunted me when I was alone at bay?
Was I trying desperately to make myself believe that not all men were the same?
I was still scared, still running. The burly guy who might have been watching me was a constant reminder of that.
This was my boss, whose hands were setting me on fire, whose kiss was making me cling to him for more.My boss.
I shoved back, stumbling to put space between us. “I’m sorry,” I said, still not quite in control.
“Clem,” he said, reaching for me again. Much too tempting.
I had to get further away. Almost blind from lust and shaking with mounting regret, I turned and ran. Everything in me screamed to turn back for more, but the fear that might never leave me kept me running.
If I was going to keep a continent between myself and the danger that was definitely still out there, I needed this job more than I needed Rurik’s amazing kisses.
Chapter 9 - Rurik
The scent of her herbal shampoo lingered after she ran. I stood in my office, stunned that she took off like that. I was even more stunned by the force of my feelings after we finally kissed.
Wow. Nothing had ever knocked me back like finally getting Clem in my arms.
What I felt for her had been strong before, but now it was unbreakable. That kiss told me everything I needed to know, but why did she break away, like she’d been suddenly frightened?
More like terrified. I’d seen people being held at gunpoint who had less fear in their eyes.
I couldn’t have her out in the dark, and knowing Clem, she wouldn’t call herself a ride home, but stubbornly walk the fifteen or so blocks to her shabby apartment. Her move was still in the works as she waited for a better apartment to become available.
Following her as discreetly as I could in my flashy car, I parked at the curb and watched her go into the courtyard. She kept her head down the entire way, walking fast and clearly agitated. Every time she passed someone on the street or someone slowed their car anywhere near her, I tensed, my hand moving toward the gun in the glove compartment. Would I really shoot someone on the street for so much as hassling her? Yes, I would.
I was going crazy worrying about her, but everything would be easier soon.
I didn’t leave until the new guy I had assigned to guard her arrived. My original man was positive she was onto him. “Beextra vigilant tonight,” I told him before heading home, full of regret and confusion.
She was whip smart and aware of everything if she spotted the guard, and was that truly fear I saw in her eyes when she jerked away from our fiery kiss? She couldn’t think she was in danger of being fired. It was because of her that my new company was about to make a fortune.
That kiss. God. Hot, needy, a release we both craved after working so closely together for days now. The feel of her, the taste of her. I wanted more, and waiting was wearing on me hard. She shouldn’t be in that little box, not now that my rings were on her finger. I almost turned the car around, but laughed to myself at Clem’s reaction if I put the plan into action too soon.
She was worth the wait, and everything was lined up to fall into place in its own time.
My phone rang, and I glanced at the caller ID eagerly. Was it Clem, wanting to talk, or better yet, having second thoughts about leaving things hanging?
Just my brother Dan, and since he was recently married and his wife was about to give birth any day, I had a good feeling he wasn’t calling to meet up for a drink. With a groan, I answered. Bratva through and through, born into a life I didn’t choose, I would still drop everything at the first sign of danger to my family.
“Don’t sound so happy to hear from me,” Dan said.
“What do you need?” I asked.
The bruise under my eye already throbbed less after Clem carefully applied the cream to it, and I had faith that the routine she gave me would do the trick and make it disappear in time forthe big meeting. She’d kill me if I showed up tomorrow morning with fresh ones.
Though there was a very real chance someone I cared about would actually be killed if I didn’t show up to this most recent fight.