Page 44 of SINS & Riley

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I do. “Ten…”

He unbinds my wrists.

“Nine… eight…” A featherlight duvet slides up my body.

“Before you open your eyes, I need one more thing, Zapretnaya.”

I stop counting. “What?”

“A kiss.”

The first time he demanded a kiss, it wasn’t on my mouth.

And it sure as hell wasn’t ten seconds. It was three glorious hours of relentless devotion to the gods of oral.

And even though I’ve already shattered harder than I thought possible, my body answers him instantly.

My legs part on instinct.

My eyes stay shut.

Before I reach one, his mouth collides with mine. A rough, consuming kiss that takes all the air from my lungs.

His hands cage my face, and he kisses the hell out of me. Suction on my lips. Tongue sweeping in and out. Heat. So much heat.

It’s a kiss that erases every kiss before it. Scorched them from memory until there’s nothing left but him.

When he finally pulls away, I’m breathless, heart pounding hard against my ribs.

I catch my breath and my brain catches up. I’m pretty sure it’s been ten seconds. Hell, it might’ve been ten minutes. Then, I whisper, “One.”

I open my eyes…

And deflate.

Three dozen roses crowd my nightstand with fresh blooms that weren’t there this afternoon. And in the largest one, the bishop stands, still damp and glistening.

But Zver, my big brut of a Russian beast…

Is gone.

14

ZVER

“You okay?” Dominic asks.

I don’t answer. I just take another sip.

For two hours I’ve sat here, drowning in whiskey, replaying every second of tonight.

To prod me, he adds, “Sir.”

Glass to my lips, I glance up, one brow lifted.

Am I okay?

The fuck if I know.

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