Page 9 of His Order

I walk out of the bathroom and take another one of Pavel’s shirts. The fucker is yet to offer me clothes of my own, but for now, I will make do. And though I hate to admit it, with the days that have passed, I have become accustomed to his scent surrounding me.

I take a shameless sniff of his shirt, and instantly, I am transported back to the bed last night. I picture the way his hand moved over his cock, slow and deliberate—how his jaw flexed, how he groaned like he was doing it for me like every stroke was a dare. How his tongue was filling my pussy.

The door creaks open.

“Slept well, zayka?” His voice is a low purr, laced with mockery and heat. “I thought we may spend the morning together.”

The amusement and mockery in his tone are evident.

I turn my head, meet his eyes, and glare. “Slept like a baby—had a dream of you. Excuse me, sorry—nightmare.”

“Funny.”

He moves to where I stand by the doorway of the closet slowly, deliberate in every step like he’s already decided whatthis morning will be. The top few buttons of his shirt are undone, revealing a glimpse of skin I shouldn’t be noticing. His sleeves are rolled up, forearms flexing as he runs a hand through his hair.

“What do you want now?” I snap, even though my voice comes out too tight. Too shaky.

“I want you to tell me what you found in Dmitri’s system. I need to know what you dug out about him.”

Wow. Right to business. I thought maybe he would try to schmooze me or, at least, feed me or eat me. I brush past him and make my way to the bed.

I flop back onto the mattress and roll my eyes. “What? No breakfast? Coffee?”

He sits beside me, and I immediately feel it—the heat, the tension, especially since I’m still in nothing but his shirt.

“Didn’t take you for a sentimental type,” he says, smirking as his eyes flick over me.

“Didn’t take you for the type to leave a girl with nothing else to wear and nothing to eat,” I fire back.

“You had a towel. And you seem quite comfortable in my clothes anyway.”

“Of course, you just want it so that I am half-naked moving around this damn room.”

A long-winded silence moves between us, and suddenly, I am plunged into this awkward moment where I want to press him on Dmitri.

“Get up,” Pavel says, his voice casual, like he’s asking me to water his plants. “You’re having breakfast with me.”

I blink. I am in shock, but I hold to my surprise. I don’t want to seem too eager.

He walks out of the room without much of a word, and I follow him. As soon as we enter the living room, I sigh like I have just been greeted by an incredible sight. The room is as opulentas the rest of the penthouse. The sofas are made of the finest leather, and the coffee table is made of glass and polished steel. The walls are adorned with paintings by modern artists, and the floors are covered in luxurious rugs.

But it's the view that takes my breath away. The floor-to-ceiling windows offer a panoramic view of the city, and the morning sun is streaming in, making everything look even more beautiful. Such a beautiful home—it’s a shame that it’s nothing more than a glorified cage.

Pavel is already sitting at the table, and he gestures for me to take a seat. A maid sets a tray of food in front of me, and I see that there are scrambled eggs, bacon, toast, and fresh fruit.

I make my way over to him cautiously. He may be holding out an olive branch, but I am not naive to think that this man is still not an apex predator.

“Bon Appetit, little rabbit.” He gestures to me to eat. “Have your fill.”

I take a bite of the toast, and it's the best I've ever tasted. The bread is soft and fluffy, and the butter is rich and creamy. The scrambled eggs are cooked to perfection, and the bacon is crispy and flavorful.

"This is amazing," I say against my better judgment. “Thank you.”

Pavel smiles, but it’s the kind that has a coldness to it. "I'm glad you like it."

We eat in silence for a few minutes, and then Pavel says, "I want to know what you found in Dmitri's system. Don’t bullshit me, please. I am not your enemy here.”

I take a deep breath. "I have breakfast in exchange for information. I must say that you have grown kinder.”

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