Page 30 of Stolen By the Bratva King

“I’m not telling you how to do it. I’m suggesting you find your research with me out in the field, instead of on the internet,” I say. “I’m right here, trying to help you.”

She scoffs. “You will only let me go so far in the research.”

“Something is better than nothing,” I remind her with a growl, trying not to get frustrated.

I keep offending her. I reign in my emotions, so I won’t screw this up any further.

“Fine,” she says, her lips stretching into a straight line. “I’ll go get ready.”

She starts to stand but I take her arm, and she stays where she is, her eyes searching mine, trying to figure out a way that I might hurt her.

“About earlier, outside…” I begin.

She cuts me off, her voice frosty. “It was a mistake. It can’t happen again.”

I smile, because I can see the lie written all over her face, and hear it in the way her voice wobbles over the words. “If that’s the way you want it, I can respect that, but I hope itwillhappen again.”

She shakes her head, a laugh with zero amusement escaping her lips. “You mob men always think you rule the world, and everyone just bows to you. I hate to tell you, but I’m only in your orbit for the story.” She makes a point of meeting my gaze when she says, “and that’s all.”

I run my fingertips down her arm. She stiffens but doesn’t pull away. She knows I’m testing her strength when it comes to resisting me.

So far, she’s holding her own, but I see the vulnerability crinkling in her eyes and know she wants to be tempted.

If she wasn’t attracted to danger, she wouldn’t have agreed to any of this. She wouldn’t be sitting in my kitchen working as if she belongs in this crazy environment.

She makes herself comfortable in my hideout condo, which is what I want, but I also wanther.Fucking her once only makes me want to do it again. In my bed, with her legs on my shoulders. Everywhere, in every position.

Hazel glances down at my hand still on her arm and I pull it away. She stands up and starts walking away toward the bedroom.

I watch her, then decide to follow her.

She’s standing in front of the full-length mirror when I enter the room, fanning her fingers through her hair and applying a dab of perfume to her neck and wrists.

“Are you trying to make yourself irresistible to me?” I breathe out as I approach her.

I stand behind her and clasp my hands with hers. We stare at each other in the reflection of the mirror. Hazel’s eyes are conflicted with longing and wariness.

“You can’t do things like this in public,” she whispers.

“Like what?” I brush my fingers up and down her arms. I lean in and graze my lips against her neck and her lashes flutter as her eyes close. She breaths out a heavy sigh.

“Likethat,” she says. “What you’re doing now.”

“Why not?” I kiss her neck again and her body relaxes against me.

“Because it’s not appropriate,” she says in a shaky voice.

“That’s what makes it so fun,” I counter.

The veil over Hazel’s expression vanishes and she shakes her head, backing away from me. She clears her throat. “That’s not fair to either of us and you know it.”

My heart is pounding. Her face is pink. She grabs her purse off the dresser and gives me a look of resolve, distancing herself by another several inches. “So, what will we be doing at your warehouse?”

I grin at her. “I’ll show you how the money counterfeiting operation works.”

Her eyes shoot sky high. “Really?”

I bridge the gap between us, gazing down at her. This time I don’t touch her, but I’m invading her personal space, making her blush. “Why not? Until you give me a reason not to trust you, I’m willing to bring you along for the process.”

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