Page 56 of Lord of Passion

"Of course. Take care, son," he says gently.

***

Privet, syn- Hello, son in Russian

Chapter Twenty-Five

In which there is torture, or cake.

Caroline…

My finger taps absently on the dessert box Violet sent home with me. I will make it clear it's fromher.Not from me. My new besties Isaak and Rafail book-end me on the elevator ride up to the penthouse. I almost introduced them as my besties at lunch today but I was pretty sure one of them, probably Issak, would have had a stroke.

When the doors open, Nikandr is pacing the living room with his phone to his ear. He's taken off his suit jacket and tie and rolled up his shirt sleeves andhellllooo,ovaries, it's Forearm Porn time! His forearms are thick with muscle, tan still from summer and those skull tattoos…

No,I sternly lecture my treacherous lower half,this is not happening.It seems I have underestimated my lady garden, though. Now that Nikandr woke up my sleepy hormones with the sexual equivalent of a blow torch, they refuse to be ignored.

The man responsible for my hormonal revolt looks up as we enter, ending his call. He looks exhausted, mouth tight, and his usually chilly demeanor has turned polar. His gaze goes to Issak and Rafail. "That will be all for tonight."

They look slightly surprised but start backing toward the elevator. "Uh, goodnight, guys!" I call after them. "See you at eight."

Nikandr's texting someone, his thumbs flying and the reply doesn't seem to make him any happier. He may be the cold, supercilious bastard he's always been but there is something festering under the surface for him tonight. He tosses his phone onto the closest couch, taking a breath. When he looks up again, he's all composed.

"What do you think of Isaak and Rafail? They reported that everything went smoothly today."

This distracts me. "They sent you a report?"

"Yes."

"Will they do that every day?"

"Most likely."

"Do you think that's insanely controlling?"

Nikandr's not playing tonight. "I don't care. Your safety is crucial."

On impulse, I hold out the dessert box. "You need cake. Right now. I've heard it's either this or torture and I don't want you to cut off my fingers, so…"

He eyes the box. "Marzipan?"

"Of course."

I open the lid and make the box do a little dance. "You know you want it."

"Don't," he says sternly. "Do not make the box dance."

I pick up one of the little cupcakes Violet so sweetly made for him. "I could do the open up the hangar, here comes the airplane…" I singsong. He's staring at me as if he's beginning to question his life choices and really, he should. Then, though, he slowly opens his mouth.

A weak little puff of air leaves my lips. His eyes are blazing and that inviting, open mouth… I quickly stuff a cupcake in there and step back. "Okay! Well, good," I babble. "They're from Violet, she made them. I heard a story about you threatening to set half the Karelian Forest on fire if they didn't cut their wedding cake and so apparently this is your kryptonite?"

He chews slowly, watching me, slightly amused. I'm watching his sensuous lips and when he swallows, I gulp. "I'm going to put these on the table here and go…"

"Would you like to see the rest of the penthouse before my family gets here?" He's strolling toward me, still holding onto the marzipan cupcakes.

"Is there a drink involved?" I ask.

"Of course." We give each other a tentative smile and I follow him.