Page 15 of Diamond Don

I bend at the waist to retrieve my dress, my back turned to him. He hisses in a breath, and I can’t help smiling. Good. Our brief acquaintance will soon come to an end, but I will leave my mark on him—just as he will leave his on me.

I don my gown, a small sigh of relief escaping my lips when I feel the weight of the diamond against my chest again.

I spin on my heels to face him again and find him still standing there with his hands buried in his pockets. His expression remains politely aloof and guarded, but I don’t mind it. My life will be much easier if he doesn’t try to stop me from slipping away as he did earlier in the evening.

Our gazes link once more. His eyes still burn as hot as molten lava. The man is clearly very skilled at composing his facial features into any expression that pleases him, but his expressive eyes tell a different story.

That funny feeling tickles my chest again, but I ignore it. After all, I’m a practical woman with a purpose.

With a half-smile, I sigh. “Well, I’ll give it to you, Nik. You are a man of your word. This was fun.”

My flippant tone catches him off guard. He raises his eyebrows just before shaking his head and smirking at me.

The only thing more irresistible than the almost gravitational pull of his eyes when they lock with mine is the full force of his smile directed at me.

A practical woman with a purpose. It should be my new mantra.

“I guess I don’t have to ask you if it was as good for you as it was for me,” he says, sounding as glib as me.

I walk towards him, stopping just before our chests touch. Our breaths mingle for an instant, and the memory of how it feels to be kissed and touched by him rushes me, flooding my senses.

Woman. Purpose.

He carefully studies me, his gaze lingering on my face. He is trying to play it cool, but it’s obvious he is eager to learn my next move. I stand on the tip of my toes, stretching until my lips graze his ear. He shivers, and I have to hide my responding smile.

“I think we both know I had a blast. And I happen to know you did, too. I still feel it inside me,” I say, nipping his ear lobe. I pull it before turning away from him to make my grand exit. Unfortunately, there will be no encore.

Nikolai, as it happens, still has a thing or two to say in response to my teasing remarks. His arm shoots out, and he grabs me, pulling my body flush against his.

I grin—so much for his indifference.

He holds me tightly, but there’s no need—I don’t want to escape him just yet. Instead, I want to memorize the feel of his hard body pressed against my back, his breath touching the sensitive point skin of my neck.

I chuckle. “I guess you are not so cool and collected after all, are you?”

“Are you toying with me?” he asks through gritted teeth, as if the mere notion is extraordinary and unthinkable.

“Maybe I am. Something tells me you like it.” I punctuate my words with a teasing sway of my hips against his, rubbing against his hard erection pressed against my backside.

He walks forward until I am stuck between his body and the desk again. It doesn’t take a genius to understand he wants me to remember what happened on top of it not long before I dared toying with him.

“I ought to teach you a lesson about messing with the wrong man. As a matter of fact, I have half a mind to bend you over this desk again and remind you of what happens to flirty brunettes who like to tease me.”

I go completely soft in his arms. This man will be the death of me…

“Aw, Nik. Don’t threaten me with a good time.”

He spins me until we face each other once more. Playfully, I wrap my arms around his neck, giving him a peck on his lips. He shoots me an exasperated—and slightly dazed—look.

“You think I’m kidding,” he says in disbelief.

“No, no. You’re a very serious man. I see that,” I say against his lips, letting one of my hands snake down his body until it reaches his erection. I give it a firm squeeze. “Very serious, indeed.”

“That’s it. I’m going to bend you over my knee and spank that plump ass of yours until you show me the respect that I’m owed.”

“Sounds amazing. But I’m afraid I’ll have to take a raincheck on that, Nik. It’s almost twelve, and this Cinderella has to hit the road before her carriage turns into a pumpkin. You know the drill.”

Nik laughs darkly, and the sound sends shivers down my spine in the most riveting way. “You’re not going anywhere.”

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