Page 40 of Mr. Petrov

I look down at my hands. We shouldn’t be talking about this.

“He wanted what?”

I sigh. “Khristian, this is so inappropriate…”

“He wanted what, my Krasavitsa?”

I clear my throat. “He texted me, just recently.” Sure, it wasn’t a ‘will you take me back? I’m an idiot.’ But I know Nate. I know that he was asking for a reason, but he broke my heart once — I’ll never go back. And one thing I’ll never be is anyone’s sloppy seconds. “I think he may have been hinting at a reconciliation.”

I see his jaw clench tight. “And do you want him back?”

I shake my head. “No. He was happy to let me go once. It was his loss.”

“He broke your heart?”

“Yes. But then the smoke cleared and I realized I’d put him on a pedestal — something I apparently tend to do a lot, if you asked my best friends.”

He still stares at me. “Well, he’s a stupid, fucking idiot.” He looks annoyed.

“Yeah, I guess…”

“There is no I guess about it. How any man could let you go is beyond comprehension. You’re stunning. Smart. Sexy. You’re sweet like nobody I’ve met in a very long time. I like how you kept me enthralled even before I had your clothes off.”

I laugh, then sober when he frowns.

“Why do you laugh at me?” Oh, his accent just about sends me into a spiral.

“I’m not sexy, Khristian.” I shake my head. “I’m really not. And I’m still mad at you.”

His eyes peruse my body as I squirm in the chair. “Don’t be mad. Would you like me to remind you how hard you got me on Friday night?”

“Khristian!” I gasp.

He likes shocking me, I’ve realized. And he’s just so good at it.

“I’m telling you the truth. The second I laid eyes on you, I couldn’t believe a beautiful woman like you was…”

“Paying for sex?”

“You didn’t pay.”

I take a couple of deep breaths. “That was wrong of you, to do that,” I reiterate. “A lie is a lie.”

“Would you like to make a complaint to Margaret?”

No. I want to know if we’re going to do it again.

I want to be mad at him. To remind myself how unethical he is. Tricking me into believing he was a gigolo! As if this whole situation isn’t embarrassing enough.

Oh, my god. I’m never going to live this down with Ari and Charlize.

“Maybe I would.”

One side of his mouth tips up and I remember how it felt against my raw pussy when he shoved his tongue into me…

“You’re thinking about it now, aren’t you?”

Am I that transparent? I shake my head. “No.”

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