Page 57 of Dancing With Distraction

He hands me the car keys, and I make my way out the building to pick Victoria up for dinner.

Marshall escorts Victoria down to where I’m waiting in the car park. I hand him the keys before opening the car door for her. She slides in elegantly, and I slip in beside her, leaning over to kiss her cheek. My mouth lingers by her ear, and I whisper, “Where’s the rest of your dress?”

She looks amazing in the little black number that comes just below the knee. It has a slit up to the top of her thigh, and the back of the dress is lace, showing way too much skin. I glide my hand up her smooth thigh, and she shivers in response to my touch. “I should march you right back up to the apartment and punish you for showing other men what’s mine,” I glance at my watch, “but we’re running late, so that will have to wait.”

I lean over to the centre console and retrieve a remote-controlled vibrator that’s small enough to slip inside her underwear without it being noticeable. “My krasota, this is a punishment for wearing something to entice me when I can’t ravage that sweet little cunt of yours until later.”

I place a hand on her knee, pulling her legs apart. Tori watches, her eyes wide with interest. She glances in Marshall’s direction, her expression nervous, gasping as I slip the contraption into her knickers. I smirk, adding a wink before telling her, “I’ll have control of your orgasms all night from the other side of the table.”

Pushing her legs back together, I sit back in my seat, taking out my mobile phone and opening the app. I activate it at the press of a button and watch as Victoria’s eyes widen and a small moan escapes her. I turn it off a second later, only allowing her a small taste of what’s to come. Her tongue darts out, licking her lips, and desire fills her eyes. This is going to be fun.

We pull up outside Pétrus in Central London, and Victoria’s eyes light up. I never thought she could look more beautiful, but the way her excited smile lights up her entire face has me completely captivated.

Marshall opens the door for us, and I grab Victoria’s hand, helping her step out the vehicle.

I place my hand gently at the small of her back, inhaling sharply as the same sparks that have mesmerised me from the moment we met run through me. I notice she’s just as affected because her body breaks out in goosebumps. I slide my hand farther until it’s around her waist, pulling her closer. It feels good to be out in public with her, not hiding away.

“Are you cold, my krasota?” She shakes her head, smiling. It’s the perfect time to flick the switch on my phone, and she freezes on the spot. “Everything okay, Victoria?” I ask, grinning wide as she takes a deep breath in.

“Erm . . . um . . .” is all she can muster.

As I open the door for her to enter the restaurant, I turn it up slightly, enjoying the way her breathing hitches and she bites her lower lip. The heat in her eyes tells me she’s already teetering on the edge, so I flick the switch off and she sags in relief. A small chuckle escapes my lips as she narrows her eyes. “Is something amusing you, Sir?” she whispers in my ear, and my cock twitches.

The maître d’ steps forward, and I keep my eyes fixed on my beautiful woman as I say, “I have a table booked for two.”

“Of course, Mr. Volkav. Follow me, please, Sir.” She says it with a hint of familiarity, and Victoria’s eyebrows shoot up in surprise before she fixes me with a glare that says she wants an explanation.

I grab her hand, weaving through the busy restaurant. “Jealousy suits you, Victoria,” I throw over my shoulder.

We’re seated, and when the hostess hands us two menus, I put my hand up in refusal. I already know what we’re having, and the quicker we eat, the quicker we can leave and move on to dessert. “Two of the specials, please, and a bottle of Romanée-Conti Grand Cru.” She rushes off.

Victoria’s expression has changed from heated to annoyed. “I can order my own meal,” she hisses at me across the table. “Is she another one of your fucking conquests?”

I throw my head back and laugh at her brazen attitude. Her fire is a huge turn-on, and I feel my cock coming to life again. “Victoria,” I say, my tone laced with warning, because although she amuses me, she will also learn not to embarrass me or cause a scene, “I come here regularly, and as for your food,” I reach into my pocket, switching on the vibrator before leaning across the table, “I’m in control.”

A moan escapes her lips as her face immediately flushes. Her eyes flutter closed, and she rests her head back against the leather chair. I turn it off, and she sits straighter, like she’s suddenly aware we’re in a busy restaurant. “No fair,” she murmurs breathlessly.

“I want nothing more right now than to bend you over this table and fuck you here in front of everyone.”

She blushes at the thought, thinking on it for a minute before leaning closer. “Do it, Dmitry, because I’m so fucking ready,” she says in a low, husky voice, dripping with need.

I growl in frustration. I thought this was a good idea, but now, I’m not too sure because I can’t think straight knowing she’s wet.

When the waitress finally brings our meals, I’m harder than I’ve ever been, and all I’m hungry for is the gorgeous woman sitting across the table from me. I go with a change of subject to try and distract me. “I wanted to talk to you about work, Victoria.” I’m unsure of how she’s going to take my proposition. She glances up from her food and eyes me suspiciously. “I want you to stop working at Harrods. In fact, I’d like you to give up work altogether.” I pick up my glass of wine, taking a huge gulp and preparing myself for her argument.

As predicted, she shakes her head reluctantly. “Dmitry, you may control me in the bedroom . . . and sometimes outside of it . . . basically, you control my orgasms.” She looks down. “But outside of that, I’m my own person, a strong, independent woman, and I won’t let you take my independence away from me.”

“I need to keep you safe, Tori.” I use her preferred name, hoping this softens her like it usually does, but she raises her eyebrows, letting me know she’s onto me. “Just hear me out.” I pick up my wine glass again, and she mimics my movement. “If anything ever happens to you, I would never forgive myself. I promised you no one would ever hurt you again, but I can’t ensure that while you’re working at Harrods. I was thinking you could go to university and get your fashion design degree, follow your dreams.”

She knocks back her wine as if trying to gain some Dutch courage and places her glass back on the table. “No disrespect, Dmitry, but this is one of my boundaries. You don’t interfere with my personal life.” She takes a steadying breath and whispers, “I can’t have you control my life or you’ll be no better than Marcus.”

My jaw clenches at the mention of his name. I’m nothing like him. I hit my fist on the table and the restaurant falls silent. Victoria jumps, and I instantly regret scaring her when I see a glimpse of that vulnerable woman I’d witnessed last night. Reaching across the table, I grab her hand. She tries to retract it, but I refuse to let go.

“I’m sorry,” I whisper as I rub circles on the back of her hand with my thumb. She relaxes under my touch. “I hate that I couldn’t protect you from him. Nobody touches what’s mine, and you, Victoria, are mine.” I release her hand to refill both our glasses. I have to tread carefully with Victoria or else she’ll leave. And she’s right, Marcus controlled her life for so long, so I need her to come to the right decision on her own accord. I’ll do what I can to keep her safe, and if my father was right about one thing, it’s that my enemies will come for her in order to get to me. This will be a learning curve for us both, and part of it will be learning to reason with one another, so I relent. “Okay, stay on one condition.”

“What’s that?”

“Marshall escorts you and you don’t leave his sight.”

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