Page 16 of Born into Sin

I let out a soft laugh. I’ve been propositioned by enough women to know that it wasn’t what Natalya was doing when she cornered me on the back deck, but I hadn’t been expecting this.

“You have to be twenty-one to get into La Dolce Vita,” I remind her.

She looks up at me and huffs out a breath. “You’re the owner. Surely you can bend the rules a little.”

“Bend them for the Bratva principessa whose father and uncles are men I do business with and who would be furious if they knew I’d snuck their daughters into a nightclub?”

“We’re not going to drink or do anything wrong.” When she sees the disbelieving look on my face, she adds, “We’re not. We just want to see it. In case you haven’t noticed, our parents are a little strict.”

“They’re that way for a reason, and I think you know that.”

“I do, but we’re going stir crazy, and what better way to let off a little steam than while under the protection of one of their oldest friends?”

I laugh at the smile she gives me. It’s a pretty please mixed with desperate hope, and it’s fucking adorable. As beautiful as she looks under the moonlight begging me for something, there’s no way in hell I can give her what she wants. I’ve already broken enough unwritten rules by thinking about her in a sexual way, and I’m not about to add to it by sneaking her underaged ass into my club behind her family’s back.

“I’m sorry, but I can’t help you.”

She surprises me by gripping my arm when I turn to go inside. I look down at her small hand on my inked forearm, clenching my jaw at the sight of her pink nail polish against my skin, unable to not think about what her hand would look like wrapped around my dick, glimpses of feminine pink as she works me up and down in long, slow strokes.

Her skin is hot against mine, and when I lift my eyes to hers, her lips part in a soft gasp. Whatever she sees in my eyes has her releasing her hold on me and taking a step back.

Wise choice, principessa.

I look down at her, noticing the slight flush to her chest and the way her breathing has picked up the tiniest bit. I have no doubt that if I were to close the distance and lick my way along one of her pulse points, I’d find it racing beneath my tongue.

“I’m going to go inside and pretend you didn’t just ask me this. I suggest you forget about this crazy idea. There are a lot of dangerous men out there, principessa. It’d be best if you kept your ass inside where it’s safe.”

Without waiting for a reply, I turn and walk back inside, leaving her on the porch with a stunned look on her beautiful face and a pissed-off look in her eyes.

Chapter 4

Natalya

Iwatch Dominic’s broad shoulders disappear inside the house with my mouth still hanging open. I hadn’t expected him to just smile and say, well, okay there, sweetheart. I’ll sneak you in no problem, but I also hadn’t expected him to dismiss the idea so quickly. I thought he might at least think about it for a few seconds, but it’s obvious after talking to him that he was never going to entertain the idea of helping us.

I’m still staring into the house, even though he’s long out of sight, remembering the way his skin had felt beneath my fingers. I hadn’t meant to reach out to him. It had just happened, but once I’d felt the heat of his skin, I hadn’t wanted to let go. He’d tensed when I’d touched him, but he hadn’t pulled away. Instead, I’d been the one to let go when I’d met his eyes and seen what was behind them. He’d looked hungry, damn hungry, and I’ve never seen anything like it. I’ve had boys at school stare at me and I’ve gotten looks while out and about, but no one has ever looked at me the way Dominic just did—like he wanted to possess every damn inch of me, like he wanted to own me body and soul. I’d been so stunned I’d let go, but now I’m wishing I hadn’t. It’s stupid and pointless since he’s way too old for me and working with my dad and uncles, but I can’t help but be intrigued.

What would it feel like to be possessed by a man like Dominic? I have no idea, but I’d like to find out. With my head swimming with thoughts I shouldn’t be thinking, I make my way back inside, following the sounds of laughter into the large room at the end of the hall. There’s a couple of leather couches and chairs and a pool table that my family is currently standing around. My cousins are sprawled out on the couches, watching the game. Svetlana’s just finished her shot when her eyes meet mine. I give her a small shake of my head to let her know the mission has failed. She frowns, but I have no doubt she’s already coming up with a Plan B.

When I take a seat on the nearest couch and look around the room, my eyes meet Dominic’s. He’s standing on the other side of the room, one broad shoulder leaning against the wall, looking completely relaxed and sexy as hell. His tattooed forearms are still on full display, and I’d give just about anything to run my fingers over his olive skin again. His brown eyes linger on mine for longer than necessary before slowly turning his attention back to the pool game.

It’s only after he’s looked away that I realize I’ve been holding my breath. I’m used to dangerous men, I’ve been surrounded by them since birth, but there’s something different about Dominic. He’s an unfamiliar danger. I don’t know what he’s capable of, but I want to find out.

After Svetlana and Uncle Vitaly lose the game, she comes and sits next to me while my dad and Sasha step up to play next.

“No luck, huh?” She keeps her voice low so only I can hear.

“Nope,” I say, nudging her shoulder with mine while I huff out a soft laugh. “He didn’t even think about it.”

“Plan B it is.”

I look over and meet her honey-brown eyes, immediately comparing them to the much darker shade of Dominic’s. “Do I even want to know what Plan B is?”

She laughs. “Probably not. Once I get the details all sorted out, I’ll let you know. Just be ready to go next Saturday.”

We sit back and watch our Uncle Matvey and Aunt Alina win every game of pool they play. We all know it’s Uncle Matvey doing it, but the way he smiles at her every time she manages a good hit or sinks a ball, you’d think that she was the one carrying the game.

When they’re undefeated, Dominic looks at his watch and smacks my dad on the shoulder. I’m too far away to hear what he’s saying, but it’s obvious he’s leaving, and I’m surprised by how badly I don’t want him to. I’ve enjoyed stealing glances at him all night, and I’m not ready for my eye candy to leave.

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