Page 20 of Slipping into the Dark Side

“It is real.”

Tatianna snorted. “I’ve played your game out of interest. I have it all written down.”

“I’d like to see it.”

Tatianna called upstairs to have one of her sisters bring it down.

Yakov hid a smirk. “Is that normal? To scream at the top of your lungs for someone to get something for you?”

She glared at him. “We have one maid, and she’s old. I’m not about to have her run up three flights of stairs.”

Her fourteen-year-old sister handed her the paper but lingered, looking at Yakov as if he were a piece of tantalizing meat. Tatianna shoved her onward before returning to the table with the paper held out. It took Yakov ten minutes to read over her story, and Tatianna sat with a smirk the whole time, congratulating herself on how his eyebrows rose at times. But as it continued, the way he nodded, as if he understood or even agreed with her assessment, made her uneasy.

“Have I passed your test?”

Yakov folded it up and slipped it into his pocket. “Very good. You saved me some time.” He got up and snatched his hat off the table.

Tatianna’s smile fell when he headed for the door. “What? Where are you going?”

“I have a coup d’etat to implement, don’t I?”

She snapped to her feet. “You can’t be serious.”

Yakov met her gaze. A moment of silence passed between them before he questioned, “Do I strike you as someone not serious?”

Her mouth bobbed, speechless.

Yakov went for the stairs.

“Wait,” she darted in front of him. “You risk too much. If it falls through–”

“It won’t.”

“How could you know that?”

He tapped his pocket. “It’s all written down.”

She shook her head. “I am not certified to take down a mafia family, Mr. Morozov. My ideas are erratic at best.”

“I thought they were very thorough.”

Tatianna had a hand on her lips as she stared at him. He was unbelievable, and nothing about this felt right. She was scared. “What are you doing?”

Yakov smirked. “I’m going to show you why you belong with me.”

The statement hung in the air, and it repeated in her head five times before she responded. “I believe in love, Mr. Morozov.”

Yakov clenched his teeth and shifted. He hated such a word. “Do you? As logical as you are, I highly doubt that.” He fixed his hat on his head. “YouloveFedor, then?”

Tatianna struggled to respond. She wasn’t with Fedor because she loved him, and Yakov knew it. He could see it and he didn’t feel guilty for exposing it.

“Yes,” she found herself saying. It didn’t matter if it was a lie. She wasn’t going to leave him. Fedor was the plan. There was nodanger. No question of morality. No risking her life or soul. He was steady, and she’d be happy with him.

Yakov took only one step closer, and his fingers graced the side of her cheek. Her eyes closed, her heart thumping with terrible force that her breath picked up. He cupped the side of her face, and then his lips were on hers, and she sucked in a gasp. His lips were soft like a caress on silk sheets.

Then his hold tightened, and he aggressively pushed her against the wall, kissing her with a sheering heat that hardened her nipples and drove a sharp stab of desire into her gut. His tongue found hers, deepening their kiss so hard the back of her head hurt from the pressure. His leg forced between hers. His other hand was on her hip, his nails digging into her skin. She felt the hard length of his cock against her thigh, and every fantasy she’s ever had was right in this moment.

Yakov leaned his head back, breaking their lips. They panted in each other’s faces. He cupped the side of her breast, and his thumb daringly graced her nipple. He observed how she arched against him and not away. Her body was a fucking masterpiece, and to know he was about to lose it nearly enraged him. “Enjoy your love. I hope it is as boring as it sounds.”

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