Page 76 of Defiled Innocence

“That’s his job.”

“Oh. Well, then he’s good at it.” I step into the elevator with him and lean against the wall. “I’m tired. And I don’t feel good.”

He stands behind me, pulling me into his arms while the elevator whisks us up to his penthouse. It’s such a smooth ride, not like that car that kept hitting potholes.

The penthouse is quiet when we enter, and the lights are dimmed. Which is good, because my head is spinning and all the lights in the garage made it worse.

Dmitri helps me up to our bedroom and starts to get me undressed.

“I need to tell you something, Dmitri Dragunov.” I jab him in the chest when he’s standing in front of me, sliding my bra down my arms.

“I’m all ears, Mrs. Dragunov.”

“Oh, that sounds nice.” I pause; no, that’s not what I wanted to say. “You can’t do that. You can’t be nice. It makes me think you don’t hate me. So don’t do that.”

“I don’t hate you,” he insists while pulling a nightshirt over my head.

“Oh.” My stomach rolls. “I think I’m gonna be sick.”

I dart away from him to the bathroom, making it just in time.

A moment later, his big hands are there pulling my hair back and fisting it at the back of my neck as another wave of nausea hits.

He says something softly in Russian that I don’t understand, but it still calms me. It’s too easy, how he can settle me just by being with me.

“How are you now?” he asks when I sink back on my heels.

“Better.” I grimace. “I’m sorry.”

“You’ll be sorrier when you wake up, I’m sure.” He smiles and it’s sort of nice.

There’s no malice or agenda behind it. It’s just a nice smile.

“I need to brush my teeth.”

He helps me to my feet and puts me in front of the sink with the toothpaste already on my brush for me.

“You don’t usually drink. What made you start tonight?” he asks, leaning against the counter watching me.

“I don’t know. I was thinking maybe we aren’t just some business arrangements. And then I remembered my dad and how he treated Mom and why don’t you do that? Or when will you do that?”

I rinse my mouth then hand him my brush.

“Then I got the text from Christian about the investment thing and that made me think about Lucas and all the things I still need to do and then that guy offered us a shot… I’m really tired, can we talk about this tomorrow?”

Silently, he scoops me off the floor and I lean my head into his chest.

“What investment?” he asks while tucking me into bed.

The pillows are like clouds, and I’ve never loved them so much as right now.

“He wants three hundred thousand for an investment. But I’ll get my money back. He texted, just look at that.” I wave my hand at him.

“All right. Go to sleep now.” He brushes my hair from my forehead and kisses me softly.

“You know, Dmitri. I think I like you.” I close my eyes and snuggle into the pillows.

“Good.”

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