Page 59 of Bratva King's Secret Twins

“Do you have to do that?” she asks, a hint of playful annoyance in her tone, though her eyes betray her curiosity.

“Do what?” I drawl, clicking my head to the side as I stare at her.

Gwen’s lips thin as heat rushes her cheeks. “Do really sexy things like I don’t know, sucking the wine from the corner of my mouth off your thumb.”

A laugh boils in my throat as I lean in even closer, my voice dropping to a hushed whisper as I hold her gaze. “You, my dear, are like ambrosia. I can’t let even a drop go to waste.”The words roll off my tongue slowly, deliberately, and her eyes follow the slow flick of my tongue.

Gently, I reach across the table, lacing my fingers through hers. Her hand is warm, fitting perfectly in mine. “You taste like heaven,” I murmur, brushing my thumb across her knuckles. “And I’m the lucky one who gets to indulge.”

“Well fuck.” She huffs, shifting in her seat.

The waiter returns with our appetizers, setting down both plates before leaning over and pointing to the shrimp first. “Sorry for the interruption. On our right here, we have the Montauk shrimp and to the left, we have our oyster-uni. The chef said that he is excited to have you in attendance, Mr. Petrov, and would like to make you a special entree.”

I look over at Gwen as I say, “Sounds delicious.”

“I will let him know you agree.” He gives a courteous nod before stepping back.

She delicately spears one of the shrimp and takes a bite. The moment the flavor hits her tongue, a soft moan escapes her lips. Her eyes flutter shut for a brief second, savoring every note of the dish. I grip the edge of the table, trying to hold back a groan as I lean closer, the words leaving my lips in a low, restrained growl.

“Careful, kotik,” I warn, the roughness in my voice unmistakable. “You can’t make sounds like that here.”

Her eyes snap open, and she meets my gaze, feigning innocence. “Like what?” she asks, playing coy as she tilts her head slightly, her lips quirking into a teasing smile.

“Like you’re already begging for dessert,” I reply, my voice laced with a mixture of amusement and desire.

“Well, dessert is the best part of dinner,” she coos, picking up another shrimp with a naughty smile.

But I reel in the tension quickly, straightening in my seat as I take a sip of my wine. “As much as I enjoy watching you enjoy yourself, there’s more to tonight than just this game of ours,” I say, allowing a pause before adding, “I organized this date for a reason.”

Gwen’s brow furrows slightly as she dabs at the corner of her lips with a napkin. “A reason? And here I thought you took me out to wine and dine me.”

I set down my glass and lean in, enjoying how the candlelight illuminates her features as I speak. “I brought you here to spark a deal. I know how much my little lawyer loves negotiation.”

Her eyes light up as she studies me, a faint smile on her lips. “What kind of deal are we talking about?” she asks, shifting in her seat with excitement.

“I do not want to keep running in circles anymore. I know you are mine, Gwen, and I think you should admit that,” I say.

She sighs, humorlessly. “And how are you going to make me declare that, Nik? You already have me locked up in your penthouse like some New York damsel. What else could you want?”

You.I want Gwen to want me. To stay with me willingly. I don't want to have to track her to the ends of the earth. I don't want to have to keep dragging her back to me kicking and screaming, but I would. I would keep searching for her until my last breath. I don't want her to resent me, but with Gwen, being honest about how I feel hasn’t worked, and like any good businessman, I know now it’s time to pivot.

“If I make you cum in the middle of this restaurant, by the end of tonight, you have to admit that you are mine and give us an actual shot,” I murmur, looking at her over the flame.

Excitement, desire and something sinister sparks in Gwen’s eyes as she negotiates with me. “Now what do I get out of this if you can’t make me cum?”

“I’ll let you go back to living with your frat boy,” I growl, not wanting to show all of my cards but hating that one in particular.

“Oooh temporary freedom,” she mocks. “What about something real? Like ten grand.”

“Kotik, if you want ten grand, I'll just give you ten grand,” I say nonchalantly, picking up my wine glass with a flourish. “Or do you want to skip the game and just admit that you are mine now?”

“See, bargaining my freedom is pointless. You will find a way to drag me back to your lair,” she says, and I hide my smirk behind my wine glass. My girl is as smart as she is gorgeous. She could run circles around most people, but not me.

“Why do you need ten grand?” I ask pointedly, staring at how she nibbles the corner of her glossed lip for a second.

“For a money shower.” Her voice squeaks slightly, and I know she is lying.

“Kotik,” I warn, and she looks down at the appetizers for a second, contemplating her next move.

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