“You don’t seem like you fit the lifestyle. I mean, you have to kind of be an asshole to be good at running a mafia family.”
“I can be when I have to be, but I will go out of my way to find a solution that doesn’t involve violence.”
She nods. “I agree. People need to learn to negotiate more before things get that far. I want to be a doctor so I can help people. It’s hard to know some of the things my brothers do because of our Bratva bloodline.”
“When did your parents pass away?” I ask, wondering if it’s too sensitive a topic.
“I was too young to know them. Rodion has always been like a father to me. He’s pretty scary when he’s angry.” She giggles and ends up snorting a little.
I start chuckling at how red her cheeks go.
Then, we both end up laughing loudly.
Raisa has another glass of champagne during dinner, and when the plates are cleared away, I can see she is a little unsteady on her feet.
I walk around the table to wrap my arm around her waist. “Come on, little flower, let me get you to bed. I don’t want you to have a hangover tomorrow and blame me.” I laugh.
She giggles and leans into me.
“I want to go dancing,” she says excitedly.
“That is not happening. I bet the moment you lie down, you’ll want to sleep.”
“Pfft.” She grins.
In the bedroom, she clumsily pulls her top off over her head and stands in her lace pink bra, looking for the oversized t-shirt she likes to sleep in.
I can’t help staring at her. She is gorgeous.
My body responds to the sight of her and I try to push the thoughts away.
She turns towards me and I quickly drag my eyes up to meet hers.
She bites her lower lip, her eyes filled with mischief. I can see that she no longer cares about finding her t-shirt. She wants the same thing I do.
Raisa steps up close and presses against me, her hands brushing over my chest, onto my shoulders, and around the back of my neck. Everywhere she touches me, it sends bolts of electricity racing through me.
“Hi,” she whispers, her eyes glistening.
“Hi, you,” I reply, knowing that this is wrong.
I shouldn’t even be thinking about doing something with her when she is in this state. It wouldn’t be fair of me. That’s not who I am.
But she’s leaning against me, and she clearly wants this.
I close my eyes and tilt my head as I growl escapes my chest.
You need to stop this, Oleg.
She stands up on her tiptoes as my hands run over the naked skin of her back. “Raisa,” I say with warning. “I don’t think—,“ she presses her lips against mine and kisses me.
It’s a fierce kiss, filled with heat and need. It sends my blood racing and fire pulsing through me.
I wrap my hand over the back of her head and deepen the kiss. My mouth locked over hers.
Fuck.
I want her so badly.