Page 30 of Bloody Lace

Her lips were so fucking soft.Allof her—even under all of the layers of clothing between us, I could feel her breasts against my chest, the curve of her hips against mine, and I could imagine what she would feel like if I stripped it all away. How fucking good she would feel against me. I think of her in that velvet dress the first night we met, the silk dress she wore to the party last night, the curve of her spine under my palm, the fragile shape of her wrist in my fingers. My slick cock throbs in my fist, my balls tight as my orgasm builds, and I suck my lower lip between my teeth, biting down where Evelyn did so I can taste that kiss again as I come.

I barely manage to grab tissues before it hits. That heat at the base of my spine explodes, pleasure bursting through me in one white-hot moment of bliss as I feel the cum spurt from my tip, one hand cupping over it as my other strokes feverishly, imagining that it’s Evelyn that I’m thrusting inside, her legs around my waist as I fuck her up against that door, poundinginto her with the same relentless ferocity that I’m stroking myself with right now.

In that moment, as I come thinking of her, I’d give anything to fuck her. Anything to find out what her naked body really feels like against mine, underneath me, wrapped around me as I come inside of her. The orgasm washes over me with a force that leaves me dizzy, stronger than I can remember coming in a long time, and I’m breathing hard as it ebbs, my cock clenched in my fist as it starts to soften and I try to catch my breath.

So much for blowing off some steam before the wedding,I think grimly as I clean up, tucking myself back in. This was the first in a long line of days that I’m sure will go just like this one, with me feverishly coming in my fist instead of inside my wife.

It’ll wear off, I tell myself as my breathing evens out and I call for a second drink. Evelyn is tormenting me now, every time she’s near me, but her effect will lessen. I’ll get used to having her around, used to the idea that she’s unavailable, and this feeling of desperate lust will dissipate. It’ll just take some time.

By the time I’ve finished my second drink and headed back to the lounge to collect Vik, I’ve almost convinced myself of that.

I tell my driver to take us back to the mansion as we leave, planning to finish the work that I started earlier now that I can think a little more clearly. When we get there, as we walk inside, I turn to look at Vik.

“Keep in touch with Gus,” I tell him firmly. “And I want some of our men patrolling that area. I want a watch on Evelyn’s apartment building. If anyone suspicious, or anyone who seems to be affiliated with the Crows comes near it, I want to know. If anyone else is seen following her, I want them apprehended and brought to the warehouse down at the docks, and then I want to be called. Understood?”

Vik nods, opening his mouth to say something, but a moment later, I hear my father’s voice cut through the air.

“Sounds like this new fiancee of yours is a distraction, Dimitri. And a strain on our resources.”

I see the gleam in his eyes the moment I turn to look at him, clear pleasure on his face at the idea that he might be able to find a reason to be upset with my engagement, beyond his personal reasons.

“A handful of men patrolling a neighborhood—one that we have other reasons to watch as well—isn’t a drain on resources,” I tell him flatly.

“And them bringing anyone they think is following this woman in for you to question?” His brows raise. “That sounds like a distraction to me.”

“Evelyn is my fiancee. That means she’s under my protection. If anyone threatens her?—”

“It’s still a distraction.” He lets out a huffing breath, his displeasure evident. “If you were still engaged to Nicci?—”

“Any woman that I planned to marry would be afforded this same level of protection,” I snap.

“I don’t recall you sending men out to protect Nicci. Or providing her with her own bodyguard.”

“She didn’t need one. She had her own money, to get her own security if she did.” I take a deep breath, struggling to control my temper. “Evelyn will be my wife, in a very short time. She is my fiancee now. Her business and now her neighborhood is being targeted by a gang that wants to harm us. That’s more than I need to send men out to keep an eye on what’s happening.”

“Dimitri—”

“Enough.” My voice cuts through the air with the same sharp quality that his had a moment ago, and I realize that I’ve had enough of letting my father jerk me around. I’m his heir—and with Alek gone, I’m his only child. I’ll inherit one way or another, and it’s time I started behaving like the man that will be running all of this sooner rather than later.

“Evelyn is my fiancee,” I repeat, emphasizing each word. “Her safety and protection are paramount. And putting a stop to this upstart gang that thinks they can tangle with the fucking Yashkov Bratva is paramount, as well. That’s the end of it.” I turn to Vik, who is standing there stony-faced, waiting for instruction.

“Make sure my fiancee is kept safe,” I tell him firmly. And then, without another word, I stalk out of the room and to my office, leaving my father there in silence.

11

EVELYN

For several long minutes after Dimitri leaves, I stand in my kitchen with no idea what to do.

Gus sits down at the small table in the tiny, tiled nook next to the kitchen. I hear the chair creak as he settles his muscled bulk down into it, and I wince, but the chair holds. He’s utterly silent, and I rip the tea packet I’m holding open, looking mournfully at the chipped mug in the sink.

“Do you want a cup of tea?” I venture, and he looks at me.

“No. Thank you.” His voice is gruff, but polite, and I feel a little bad for the way I spoke about him earlier. He frowns, glancing towards the bedroom. “Is there a dog back there?”

Shit. I wince, realizing that Buttons is still barking. I bite my lip, and nod. “Yes,” I venture. “But I’d really appreciate it if you didn’t tell Dimitri. I haven’t—told him I have a dog yet.”

Gus’s eyebrows rise almost into his hairline. “I’m not going to ask,” he says flatly. “Not my problem to get into.”

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