Page 58 of Defiled Innocence

Amelia charges to my desk.

“Here. She’s here. I’ll have to call you later. Let me know what you find out about the bribe,” I instruct, keeping our conversation in Russian.

“Will do.” He clicks off the call.

“Amelia.” I swivel my seat to face her fully. She’s flushed and her eyes are wide with raw emotion. “What’s wrong?”

“You.” She throws a file folder on my desk. “You ruined him. You ruined everything!”

“Who?” I shove up from my chair and open the file folder, but before I can read what’s inside, she slams her hands over the papers.

“My brother! You ruined him. You took a decent man, a proud man, and turned him into a criminal. And now I could lose the foundation and the center with it!” Panic shakes her voice.

“Amelia, I don’t know what you’re talking about. Slow down, explain what happened.” I move around the desk.

If I can get my hands on her, she’ll relax.

But as soon as I get close enough, she slams her fist into my chest, trying to shove me away.

“Don’t touch me.” Her purse slides down her arm with all her wild movements and gets tangled up around her elbow.

It takes her a few seconds to unwind herself and she throws the bag onto the desk. On top of the papers that might explain what’s gotten her so riled up.

“You’re upset, obviously, but you will not barge in here and start screaming at me like this.” I stand my ground.

I should have known coddling wouldn’t help her.

She needs—no, craves—a strong hand. Whatever’s happened has gotten her all lost in her thoughts. She needs something to help settle her, something that will ground her so she can get them all in order again.

“Screaming?” Her voice dips dangerously low. “I haven’t even started yelling yet, you arrogant, fucking prick.”

Shock flashes in her eyes. She’s surprised herself with her outburst, I think.

“Hmm. All right.” Scooping her off the floor, I carry her, wiggling and fighting me, to the corner of the room. The same corner I placed her in the night I found the frat boy’s hand on her.

“What are you doing?” She spins around the second her feet touch the floor.

“I’m helping you.” Anchoring my hands on her shoulders, I turn her back to the corner.

“This isn’t helping!” She slams her palms into the wall.

Maybe she thinks she can push back at me and get away.

I lean into her, pressing my chest into her back and bringing my mouth to her ear.

“Moyo dikoye plamya.Trust me here. I’m helping. I could bare your ass and punish you for the way you’ve behaved since you’ve walked in, or you can stand here and calm down so we can talk.” Pressing a soft kiss just below her ear, I feel her heartbeat. It’s racing.

“I don’t want you to punish me.” She rests her forehead against the wall, dropping her hands to her sides. “I’m angry.”

I smile. “Yes, I see that. But why?”

She drags in an unsteady breath. “I think I need another second.”

“All right.” I retreat a step, letting her have some control in this moment as she seems to have lost it on the way into my office.

“No. Don’t go.” She holds her hand out to me.

Linking my fingers with hers, I move back behind her, letting her feel my warmth. And my length.

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