Page 33 of Deceitful Vows

“I’ll call you when I leave.”

Nikita nods before telling me she loves me.

I return her declaration of love with the addition of an air kiss before disconnecting our chat.

“Brother from another mother?” Mikhail asks when he spots the adoration adorning my face.

Nikita is one of the strongest women I know. She just has no clue of her worth. I’m hoping to change that. I am just a little lost on how to go about it.

His face screws up when I reply, “Do I look like I have dangly bits between my legs?”

“I can’t tell from this angle.” His smirk gains him the worship of dozens of thirsty eyes. Not all of them are feminine. “Maybe you should let me check?”

I punch him in the stomach, winding him.

I wait for him to catch his breath before nudging my head to the bar brimming with hotel patrons despite the early hour. “Is everything okay with Lynx?”

My screwed-up expression jumps onto his face. “Two bar staff called in sick, and he’s having trouble finding replacements.”

When he leaves it there, I say, “So you’re going to ditch our brunch and help out your work friend, right?”

“Fuck no,” he instantly replies. “What kind of host would I be if I only fed you a glass of orange juice and half a shot glass of cum for breakfast?”

My elbow gets friendly with his ribs when his mouth falls open from my lack of objection. I ate more than cum, but it was the most delicious item on the menu, so I keep my mouth shut.

“Now his hesitation to leave this morning makes sense.”

“You spoke with Andrik this morning?” I almost said,He was hesitant to leave?But I went for the line that wouldn’t make me seem pathetic.

“Uh-huh,” Mikhail replies, guiding me inside Tsar’s. “Who do you think gave me the shiner?”

Once again, I take the non-desperate route.

It is a challenging achievement with how high my shock is.

“I assumed the Triple Threat Team liked it rough.”

“Oh, they did.”

His moan at the end of his statement has me tempted to pluck an umbrella from a stack near the hostess desk. Above-par batting averages may be the only way I survive the stampede we’re about to face.

“But Andrik has a temper as short as a matchhead.” A smirk curls his lips. “I may also get pleasure out of pushing his buttons.”

We’re seated at a table with a prime view of most of the hotel’s foyer. Mikhail waits for me to sit before he removes a napkin from the hostess’s tray and drapes it across my thighs, ending their uncomfortable press.

Once I’m suitably covered, he leans in close and whispers, “He took your underwear, didn’t he?”

His words are soft enough for only me to hear. They cause a fiery heat to creep across my cheeks that colors my tone with just as much vibrancy. “Will you call me a hussy if I say yes?”

“No.” He sits across from me before accepting a menu from the smiling waitress introducing herself as our server. Her roguish blush is as evident as mine when she drinks in Mikhail’s handsome features. He doesn’t pay her an ounce of attention. His focus is solely on me and my possible confession. “But it will tempt me to ask what makes you different from the rest. He’s usually a fuck-’em-and-leave-before-they’ve-finished-shuddering kind of guy.”

My stomach gurgles. I downplay it as hunger. “Can we eat before you tell me exactly how many times Andrik has used your private abode as a whore house? I’d like to have something to bring up when I vomit. I have issues with dryness.” The heat on my cheeks doubles when he chuckles. “Not like that.” I pick up the napkin and toss it in his face. “You’re disturbing.”

“And you are even more feisty when you’re embarrassed.” He leans back in his chair so the waitress doesn’t bump into him when she fills his glass of water. “Maybe that’s what attracted Andrik to you? My brother usually goes for the demure, quiet ones. You wouldn’t fit that criteria even if you had one foot in the grave.”

Brother?

As my eyes zoom over every morsel of Mikhail’s face, I’m steamrolled with stupidity. The signs are in black and white for all to see, yet also not.

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