Page 4 of Inconvenient Honor
Chapter Two
Lily’s head slammed against a solid wall. After Volkov pulled her down the terrace, he had pushed her through an open door into a dark hallway.
“What did you tell him?” Volkov hissed.
“Nothing. I told him nothing.” Her breath heaved. Volkov stood so close the familiar scent of bergamot and lime overwhelmed her senses. Once she had welcomed his touch, allowed him liberties. Now his very smell turned her stomach. Over the ringing in her ears, far from her revulsion and terror, Lily heard the faint sound of the waltz being played in the ballroom. Volkov’s touch made her skin crawl
“Liar.” He leaned closer, his face inches from hers. His breath reeked with whiskey and yesterday’s dinner. “I warned you to stay away from Glenaire. Don’t tempt me to change my mind about protecting your reputation. A few words in the right ears and your marriage hopes will die an untimely death.” The last word slid slowly off his tongue.
Lily swallowed her rising gorge.
“What did you tell him?” he repeated.
“Nothing!” she insisted, her anger growing. “You both ask the same questions. He demands to know what I say to you.”
She pushed against his chest, but the man didn’t budge. “I gave him the same answer I give you: nothing.”
“If my man in Thessaloniki is compromised, your father will paywith his life. Do you understand me? Fault will lie on your head. If you hadn’t been so nosy, you would not be in this position.”
“I’ve forgotten his name.” She lied. Shame and regret overwhelmed her. She had allowed herself to be lured to Volkov’s apartments. He had hinted at marriage. He had led her step by tempting step into sensual desire in a series of trysts until she lost all common sense.
“You know enough,” he snarled. “You listened at the door.”
“Yes, I listened.” Thank God for the interruption. “I heard enough to know what a fool I had been to allow myself to be seduced by a man who wanted only what information he could suck out of me.”
“Dear Lily”—Volkov smirked—“your tidbits about your father’s dealings with the Ottomans proved useless. Information wasn’t all I wanted.” He ran a hand down her neck to cover her breast. “If you had stayed instead of slipping out my bedroom window like a thief, you would know how much more I expected from you.”
She pushed harder, but he pinned her arms. When he leaned in for a kiss, she turned her head and kicked her knee up. He jerked away before she could hit his vulnerable parts.
Instead of cursing as she expected, he laughed. “If we had privacy, I would show you how much I like my women feisty. As it is, I’ll leave you. For now.”
Lily tried to slip out of his slackened grip.
“Remember your father,” he murmured against her ear. “A gentleman who walks alone in a strange city? So many things could happen.”
Lily’s eyes widened in panic.
Volkov smirked. “Or to an unmarried and no longer eligible woman in London, for that matter. Though that would be a waste.”
He pushed away. “Avoid Glenaire, Lily. Don’t make me question your loyalty.”
Richard stoodin the open door and watched Volkov swagger down the hallway. Lilias Thornton sagged against the wall.
“Don’t make me question your loyalty.” What the hell did that mean? Loyalty to whom? The damned woman went off with that worm as soon as I warned her away.
Richard saw them leave across the crowded dance floor and made it to the terrace in time to see them slip into a darkened hallway. A couple, intent on romance, came out behind him and forced him to slow his pursuit.
By the time he turned into the door, Volkov leaned in like a lover to whisper in her ear. The look on her face when Volkov slithered away, made his guts clench. Whatever just passed between them wasn’t gentle.
When he stepped inside, she jerked upward. Is she trembling? If I didn’t know better, I would believe she’s afraid.
“Volkov,” he said.
“What of it?” she demanded, pulling herself upright and lifting her green eyes to his.
He saw defiance, yes, but he also saw fear.
“Did he hurt you?” The bastard.
