Page 59 of Vengeful Embers

“That’s the last time you heard from or saw him?”

“Yup. He flew away to whence he came!” I sigh. “And he got stuck in my head.”

“He’s a dick,” Konstantin mutters and something flashes in his eyes but it’s gone too soon for me to decipher it. “Trust me, you’re much better off without him. In fact, if he ever crosses your path again, run!” That time, he didn’t disguise the malice in his voice.

“Are you jealous?” I tease and run my hand down his chest. I feel the muscles ripple and my lips itch to kiss and taste him.

Konstantin sucks in a breath as I let my fingers trail down his torso. “Tara!” He groans, grabbing my hand. “I can’t do this.” His voice sounds like it’s laced with pain as he drags my hand away. “We can’t do this.”

He gently rolls me onto my back and leans over me. His eyes are dark pools of desire.

“This is because of your boss!” My eyes search his.

“There is so much you don’t know.” He kisses my forehead and rests his against mine, our breaths mingling. “My boss isn’t such a bad guy. You just have to get past his rough exterior.”

It dawns on me then. “You mean this wasn’t part of your assignment from the Dark Lord you work for?”

“Tara…” Konstantin breathes and rolls over, lying on his back and pulling me into him.

I rest my head on his chest. I know I should get up and leave, but I don’t want to. I’m warm, and even though this is the weirdest night I’ve spent with a man, I don’t want to go.

“It’s okay,” I assure him. “I’m well aware I was an assignment to you.”

“Was…” Konstantin says. “Well… I have to make it appear as if it still is.”

“I understand,” I say, stifling a yawn. “You don’t want your boss to kill you for sleeping with your assignment.”

“It’s not my life I’m worried about,” Konstantin tells me. “Ruslan is not a bad guy. He’s… just…”

“A Dark Lord on a mission to ensure I don’t come between his sister and her husband,” I say, my eyes starting to feel heavy.

“That was before…” Konstantin stops what he was about to say. “I think it’s become a bit more, though.”

“Like?” I start to snuggle closer to his warmth, and his other arm wraps around me, holding me, and I don’t hear his answer as I drift off to sleep.

I wake to his phone vibrating. The early rays of the morning sun are pushing in through the heavy drapes.

He slips from the bed to take the call.

A few minutes later, he returns, eyes dark.

“You have to go.” His voice has an urgency to it.

“What?”

“I’ve booked a car for you and I’ve arranged for my jet to take you back to Vegas.”

“Why? What’s happening?” I sit up and blink in confusion.

“Ruslan Dragunov is coming. He’ll be in L.A. soon.”

My breath catches.

He helps me dress and packs my bag with steady hands.

“I know you were sent to watch me,” I say.

He looks at me. Then nods.

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