Page 17 of The Deceived

I sure as fuck didn’t buy that for him to enjoy.

I almost can’t blame him. Almost. She looks goddamned amazing.

When I sent that lingerie set to her, I’d hoped she’d wear it tonight and realize that I’d been thinking of her these last couple of weeks while I’ve been away. I wanted to let her know I had thought of her. And fuck have I thought of her.I’ve jacked off thinking of her more times than I care to count.I knew when I had that set made that it would look sexy as hell on her and I can’t wait to peel those scraps of fabric off of her. It’ll be like unwrapping a present.

I have plans for mypresenttonight and those plans sure as fuck don’t involve the King of the Volkov Bratva.

My teeth grind, my jaw clenching so fucking hard it’s bordering on pain, as I watch Winter kiss Volkov’s fucking cheek.

Stop fucking touching her.

The Wolf is one of the very last people on the planet that you want to fuck with, and I know that. But my inner monster doesn’t give a fuck. It’s howling with the need to possess Winter and destroy anything that stands between me and achieving that goal. I haven’t felt this need to possess, to fucking dominate, someone in a very long time.

I flex my fingers then make fists, repeatedly, willing myself not to go over and show the Wolf what happens when he touches things that do not fucking belong to him.

“Everything okay Governor?” Knox Bane asks as he hands me a whiskey. I toss it back, not even taking my eyes off of Kirill as I relish the warmth of the booze. It does nothing to calm my nerves though. I know Knox isn’t one to play games and right now, neither am I. My next move needs to be stealthy, or I risk being barred from the Manor. From being barred from Winter and I cannot risk that.

I’m banking on the fact that Knox Bane is looking to be in my good graces.

The Wolfe has to be removed.Immediately, or I’m going to do something irrational.

The last thing that I need is a war with the Wolf.The man is the head of the Volkov Bratva for fuck’s sake. I take a breath, willing my nerves to settle. I need to be smarter than my urges. I’ve spent decades honing this unflappable façade. There is no reason to let this mother fucker have an opportunity to unravel it. I’m fucking smarter than these base desires and I need to act like it instead of thinking like Volkov is touching my favorite toy.

I inhale a deep breath, calming myself, then exhale before replying. “All good, Mr. Bane. I’m going to take a walk around the floor. Maybe play a game or two; find some company for the night.”

I am not going to go over there and punch Kirill in the fucking face for daring to touch what’s mine.

“If you need anything, Governor Dean, just ask. Drinks are on the house.”

Kirill’s fingers touch the side of Winter’s breast again and I watch as she tries to move out of his grip. Her big blue eyes cut to me briefly before scanning the room and that fucking does it. I need something all right and I’m going to go fucking get her.

“Thanks, Mr. Bane,” I say as I sit my glass down on the table beside me, and without taking my eyes off my prize, I make my way straight to where Winter sits with The Wolf.

Winter looks up as I approach, her mouth hanging slightly open in shock that I’m daring to approach, but she quickly recovers. Her cool, unflappable façade sliding back in place.

She’ll find out soon enough that I don’t fuck around with what’s mine.And by the end of this night, she will be mine.

The Wolf eyes me as I approach but he leans over, speaking to his associate. His goon gets up and stands between Vilkov and me before I can get too close.

“Winter.” I wink at her and she just tilts her head, staring at me. I focus on the goon before me. The massive wall of Russian muscle in a suit.

Mr. Volkov isn’t in the mood for company.” He crosses his arms across his broad chest, trying to strike an imposing figure. Too bad for him that I don’t find his bull shit intimidating.

“Mr. Volkov has something that belongs to me. So, I’ll just take the lady and be on my way.” I take another step into Volkov’s lap dog’s space, standing toe to toe.

The Wolf stands up, grunting something in Russian under his breath, nudging his associate out of the way. The fact that I cannot understand what these two assholes are saying between each other pisses me off even more than the fact that this buffoon believes he has some sort of claim on Winter.

I make a mental note, right then and there, to learn Russian. I’ve changed too much, come too far in my life, to not be on top of my game at all times; in every fucking situation.

The lack of knowledge can be the difference between life and death.

I’m nose to nose with Kirill Volkov.

“I don’t think the lady is too interested in you, and what you have to offer, mudak.” Volkov looks me up and down as if he finds me lacking. “She seems to be enjoying my company just fine.”

I don’t need to speak Russian to know this piece of shit just called me some sort of name. I step deeper into his space.

“You may intimidate others with your bullshit Mr. Volkov, but you’ll find, I’ll not be easily intimidated.”

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