Page 35 of Wicked Embers

“It’s the truth wrapped in a gentle warning,” Fredrik corrects me.

“I think I’ll take a dip in the pool later,” I tell him.

“Then I suggest you use the indoor pool,” he advises. “I don’t think the boss will take too kindly to you being skimpily clad in front of his men.”

“Why?” My brows rise with my ire. “Haven’t they seen women before?”

Fredrik sighs and shakes his head again. “Can I give you some advice?”

“Would it stop you if I said no?”

“No,” Fredrik admits with a laugh. “The boss has a soft spot for you, but don’t push him, and if you stop fighting him, you may just start enjoying your new life.”

“Is that your form of pep talk, Freddie?” I pat his solid shoulder. “You might want to work on it. Because everything you just said had the exact opposite effect that you were going for.”

Fredrik rolls his eyes again. “Come on. Let’s map out a running path for you.”

“Do I need to wear a suit of armor to avoid titillating one of the boss’s men?” I quip, falling into step behind him.

By the time we return to the house for lunch, my head buzzes with information—far more than I expected to learn about the estate. The security here is tight, almost impenetrable, but I’ve noted a few potential vulnerabilities. Whether I can exploit them is another matter entirely.

Radomir waits for me in the dining room, seated at the head of a long, polished table. The spread before him is enough to feed a small army, and my stomach growls embarrassingly loud at the sight.

“Enjoy your tour?” His tone is casual, but his sharp gaze cuts through me.

“It was enlightening,” I reply, sliding into the chair beside him. “I’m sure Freddie is already typing up a full report for you.”

His jaw tightens, but he says nothing, letting the tension hang in the air between us.

I focus on the food, trying to ignore the way his gaze feels like a physical weight on me. The meal is decadent—truffle pasta, roasted vegetables, fresh bread—but it tastes like ash in my mouth with Radomir sitting there, silently watching my every move.

Halfway through the meal, his phone buzzes. He glances at the screen and then stands abruptly. “I have to take this.” He glances at me. “Enjoy the rest of your meal and afternoon.”

He strides out, leaving me alone at the table.

After lunch, I decide to explore the house.

The interior is as opulently extravagant as the exterior, dripping with obscene wealth. I wander through a ballroom with glittering chandeliers, a private cinema with plush reclining seats, and a state-of-the-art gym near an indoor pool and sauna.

The pool catches my attention, its crystal-clear water shimmering under the soft overhead lights.

Back in the bedroom, I find the walk-in dressing room Radomir mentioned earlier. It’s filled with brand-new clothes, all in my size. My fingers trail over the soft fabrics, and I pull out a pink and blue bikini that’s almost too pretty to wear.

I slip into the bikini. Its fabric cool against my skin as I tie the strings behind my neck. I drape a robe over my shoulders before heading toward the pool area. The air feels heavy with humidity as I walk through corridors adorned with art that speaks of wealth and history. My footsteps echo on the polished marble floors until I reach the pool room.

The pool glimmers under soft lights, its surface smooth as liquid glass, inviting me to dive into its warm embrace. Eager for distraction, I dive in; the water envelops me in an embrace that quiets the noise in my mind. Stroke after stroke, I cut through the pool’s length, focusing on the simple rhythm until my tense muscles relax.

Eventually, I find solace in the spa pool on one side. The jets work wonders on the knots of tension in my muscles, eachbubble rising to the surface as if carrying my stress away. Closing my eyes helps me detach from reality for brief moments where worries can’t reach me.

That tranquil bubble bursts when Radomir’s voice slices through—deep like distant thunder yet near enough to send ripples across both water and my nerves.

“Mind if I join you?”

My eyes snap open, instinct jolting me upright so quickly that waves crest around where I floated serenely. Radomir stands at the poolside, clad only in swim trunks perfectly fitted over powerful legs, and his chest and arm muscles ripple beneath his skin.

The man is fucking gorgeous, and as hard as I try, I can’t stop the way my skin and other more intimate parts of me respond to him. My skin prickles as Radomir wades closer, the water rippling around him like a predator circling its prey.

His words are soft, but the weight behind them is anything but. “You look nervous, Leigh. But you don’t need to be… unless you’re hiding something.” His gaze pierces me, sharp and unrelenting, and I realize there’s no hiding anything from this man—not for long.

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