Page 27 of Frequency of Attraction

“I have a house in Boston. I don’t think I told you that.”

His hands clenched on the steering wheel. “You didn’t. Why Boston?”

She stowed her laptop away before replying. “Well, I wanted a place of my own. Somewhere with no ties to the Geier family. We have a flat in New York and obviously the villa outside Victory. Tate’s brother, Matt, is in L.A. Boston is a big, international city nowhere near my family. I found an old brownstone online and scooped it up.”

Scooped up a house, just like that. Though he’d been making good money for the past four years, Vadim would always be the poor kid who sometimes went days only eating broth. The other kids in the village had been the same. He hadn’t stuck out in that way, but those empty days tended to leave a mark on the soul.

“I’ve only stayed there one night. I haven’t been able to get back.”

“You work too much.”

She sighed. “I know. I’ve considered a change of role, but I’m just not there yet. And it’s not like I don’t want to go back. Boston seems like a beautiful city. Why did Annika move there, do you think?”

“No idea. I’m wondering if they have relatives there or something. There had to be a reason. I’ve got my sister working on it.”

“You have siblings?”

Vadim gritted his teeth. He had a sister and a monster. “Dasha is my younger sister. She’s great. She wants to be a nurse, but she can only take one class at a time and it’s taking forever. She takes care of my mother. I also have an older brother.”

She stayed silent, like she was waiting for him to continue. He didn’t.

“I have an older brother, too. He lives in Milan. We’re not close. I have Tate though, and lots of other cousins. Too many. Do you know who Maude Moreau is?”

A face flitted to mind. A tall, raspy-voiced woman who was all cheekbones. “I think I’ve run into her while I’ve been with the football team.”

Quinn groaned. “I’m sure you have. She’s everywhere trouble is. She’s one of the Geier cousins. Her brother Hadrian, too. They’re my biggest headaches.”

“Isn’t she the one with a shoplifting problem?”

She growled. Answer enough. A billionaire shoplifter. Rich people, honestly. At least Quinn didn’t act like a stereotypical rich girl. She worked for what she had.

Her phone rang. “I’ve got to answer this,” she told him. She spoke in rapid, increasingly louder French for the next thirty minutes. By then, they were almost to LAX. She fidgeted for the last few miles. He dropped her off at departures and retrieved her small bag from the trunk. She accepted her luggage with a smile. “See you next week.”

Vadim raised an eyebrow. “You’re not off the hook for the nights we’re going to miss. I’d practice if I were you.”

Her mouth popped open. Right when he thought he’d stunned her into silence, she said, “I’ll think about it.”

Vadim would make sure she did.

He picked up his sexy-as-fuck ride Saturday afternoon and drove straight to the beach. He’d been in Miami a couple of months back, on the beach with a drink in hand and a woman in his lap, a Dominican beauty with tits the size of grapefruits and a scream that nearly made him deaf. He’d talked to Chen about OrbitAll that day and remembered fighting jealousy at his friend’s second opportunity in space. Now Vadim had taken Chen’s place, seizing his own opportunity.

But no drink in hand or woman in his lap. Santa Monica wasn’t that kind of beach. It was more families and homeless people and vendors hawking fresh fruit, of which he bought several skewers and a cup of mango. He settled into a beach chair and lathered sunscreen all over his skin. He knew sunlight was terrible for tattoos, but he’d grown up in Russia. He’d soak up beach sun any chance he got. He’d brought Theodore’s flight manuals and checklist notebook with him, so the day wouldn’t be totally without purpose.

First things first. Vadim checked a time converter for Tokyo and decided eight a.m. wasn’t too early to send Quinn a text, regardless of jet lag. He snapped a picture of himself lounging in tight trunks on the beach chair.Because you love my body.

Ten minutes later, she texted back.I never said love.

I know how wet I make you. I want to hear all about it.

About what?she asked.

What you think about, what you feel, when you touch yourself tonight,he answered.

He could imagine Quinn’s blushing cheeks as she responded, but she surprised him. Who says it has to be tonight? I’m alone in this hotel room right now.

Vadim smirked as his dick hardened. Fine. He’d do this right now if she was willing.I want to see you touch yourself.

Her reply was instant.Absolutely not!

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