Page 28 of Seduction (Wicked Vows)

There was evidence that our room was broken into while we were gone.

There’s no response. I wait. And wait. Sons of bitches.

I put both phones away just as Vera enters the room.

“So why don’t you just. . . forget about what I said I wear to bed earlier.”

Ah, that’s right. She said quite a few things when she didn’t know I could understand her, didn’t she?

Now she’s wearing sweats and a tee.

“So you lied about what you wear to bed?” I stroke my chin. “You aren’t allowed to lie to me.”

Her back is to me while she puts her clothes away so I can’t tell if her cheeks have colored.

“We’re sharing that bed tonight, Vera. I don’t care about sleeping on the floor, but I want to be sure I’m right next to you in case anything happens.”

“Good. That’s fine. We can …do this, Markov.”

We can do this.

We can sleep next to each other and not fuck each other? Yeah, we can.

Still… I remind myself that seducing her would get me closer to where I need to be.

I remind myself that her father brought devastation upon my family with the sole purpose of destroying us.

I remind myself that my loyalty is to the Romanovs. . . my family. And only my family.

I remind myself that if I fuck her, I’m sleeping with the enemy.

CHAPTER EIGHT

Vera

“Bed,” Markov snaps, as if the fact that I’m not currently deep in the throes of REM sleep is a personal affront to him.

“Bed,” I agree, shaking my head at him. “Will you relax already? Also, if I’m wearing clothes to bed, so are you.”

“I am wearing clothes, woman.”

I’m holding my own. “If you don’t put a shirt on, I’m stripping.”

My cheeks color. No way, no how am I going to strip, but if he calls me on my bluff?—

“Fair enough,” he grumbles, walks back over to crumpled clothing, and tugs his tee back on. Argh. I wanted him to get a clean one since he’ll likely—yup. I knew it. As soon as he gets near me, his scent from earlier clings to him.

I scurry under the covers when he gives me a narrow-eyed look. I’m holding my breath, waiting for the bed to sink under his weight when he joins me.

“I did what you said. Now go to sleep. Early morning comes fast.”

I open my mouth to tell him I’m going to sleep because I’m tired and not because he’s bossing me around, then think better of it because he’s lying right next to me. He’s already given me a few warnings about behaving myself. I’m not sure if it’s my imagination running wild because I’ve read too many of a certain kind of novel, but it’s probably not smart to talk back in any event.

I’m also really tired and don’t need to be told twice.

I close my eyes, letting my mind wander. Of course it settles on all the little things that made my heart beat faster tonight.

The feel of his eyes focused on mine. The way his finger tipped under my chin. The command in his voice and his promise to protect me. The sight of his chiseled inked back—better than the cover of my romance novels. The sound of his voice, all deep and husky with that accent. The warmth of his body behind me. . .

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