Page 50 of Sinful Promise

Roman slips a funny-shaped glass into my hand.

“It’s called a lemon drop martini. I notice you like lemons, but be careful,” he warns. “It’s mostly vodka.”

I take a sip. “Oh, my,” I say, licking my lips. “It’s delicious. I can see how this can be dangerous.”

“Martinis are known as liquid panty-droppers,” Irina chimes in. “Be leery of men bringing you alcohol,” she warns, and then she winks at me. She’s wearing a white sundress, which contrasts nicely with her dark hair. Her flawless skin has tanned overnight. I wish I knew more about her. I don’t know how or when she got here. And I don’t know what she does for a living. I’m guessing she is more than friends with Alex.

“Come. Have a seat.” Alex says, putting his shot of chilled vodka on the bar and pulling out a chair for me. The chairs are white leather and feel as soft as glove leather when I sit. I rest my heels on the silver footrest.

“Oh, my, I forgot my shoes!”

“They will be there later,” Alex assures me.

I love having a collection of shoes in my closet. I have no idea where I’ll wear the red-bottomed ones. They are so tall, I should practice walking in them. Heck, Roman has a shoe collection as well. I notice he’s wearing a different watch today and assume he collects them.

“It’s not a big deal,” he says, and doesn’t seem concerned. “There is no way you are going out to get them in this storm, so don’t even think about it.” I know not to argue with him when he uses that serious tone.

I wonder how long he’s planning on keeping me. I’m nervous about the exchange. Of course, Andrian would want me back. The fact that I’m no longer a virgin makes me smile. Mission accomplished.

I need to plan an escape before the exchange because my body wants Roman, but I can’t trust him with my future.

He takes a sip of his drink and sets the rock glass on the bar. Then he lays his hand on mine. I cover my surprise by taking another sip of the martini. Does Roman know that I still want to escape?

He rubs a thumb across my knuckles, cradles my hand, brings it to his lips, and kisses it. He treats me as if I’m a delicate flower.

I relax. It’s silly to think he can read my mind. If that’s the case, why do I feel guilty for wanting to get away from him?

If I’m being honest with myself, my issue is that I want him. I would love nothing more than for him to carry me to the couch in the next room and fuck me. Every cell in my body yearns for his touch. He smells of salty air and musk. I inhale him and wonder how many more days we have together.

Thoughts of his hard cock dampen my panties. I’m so turned on that if he put his fingers in me right now, I’d come on them. The way he makes me feel physically and emotionally is an experience I want to repeat over and over.

“Oh, here come the appetizers,” he says, and snags a huge shrimp off a serving tray as it goes by.

A charcuterie board shows up with fresh fruit, nuts, olives, crackers, and a gooey chunk of cheese with a small utensil to spread it. I sample the green grapes without knowing how to eat the cheese properly.

Irina scoops some of the white cheese on a cracker and nibbles it, holding a paper cocktail napkin in her other hand. Alex chuckles when she suggestively licks cheese off her upper lip.

I take a shrimp. It’s so large, it takes three bites to finish. I’ve never had much seafood, and it’s delicious. Alex dips his shrimp in something that looks like ketchup. I try it and decide I prefer my shrimp naked.

“I hope you like seafood,” Roman says, leaning into me as he holds a drink of amber liquid with a floating ball for an ice cube.

“Why?”

“We’re having lobster for dinner.”

“Um, I’ve never eaten one. You’ll have to show me how to do that.”

Alex chuckles. “You’ll love it. They were flown in from Alaska.”

“Irina, your dress is beautiful,” I say to divert the conversation from me.

“Thank you. I treated myself to some shopping for the summer.”

“I haven’t asked anything about you, but I understand you live in France?”

“Oh, yes. I love it here.”

“Don’t let her fool you. She knows seven languages, and she’s an incredible asset to us,” Alex brags.

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