Page 73 of Claim Me
She signed ‘You’re a fascinating man.’ Few things floored me any longer. How could they? I lived a life surrounded by luxury. I’dseen countless experiences in running a resort that had kept me laughing or gritting my teeth. Including an Elvis impersonator singing a marriage proposal to one of my chefs. But after everything she’d been through, the hatred she’d felt earlier, her sudden change in attitude had created another vacuum of emotions, a stronger need to protect her.
Granted, later she’d added the sentiment since I’d deemed myself a very bad man.
That was true. Perhaps more accurate was that I was a dangerous man, too much for her. The rage that had nearly consumed me when Ryker hadn’t been at his post wasn’t like me. I could have easily killed the man. As it was, I remained determined to punish him.
Then I’d spouted off that she was mine. I think we both knew better. At the end of this experience, her initial feelings and instincts would hit home once again.
Well, fuck. However, shutting down my desires for her was becoming increasingly difficult.
While I meant what I said, the deep-seated need to have her more powerful than anything I’d felt in my life, our explosive passion simply couldn’t happen again. It would be like holding onto a live grenade with my thumb replacing the pin. I could destroy her in the process of caring for her.
No. I wasn’t going to allow that to happen.
Fuck.
The need was so goddamn strong. Where the hell had all my control gone?
Unfortunately, it was becoming increasingly clear I’d need to take her to Vegas for safekeeping. For how long remained to be seen. I’d yet to broach the subject. Another difficult moment. And what the hell was I supposed to do about the benefit concert she’d mentioned? Maybe the entire Dmitriyev family would attend.
I grinned from the thought. Allowing a little culture into the Russian world wouldn’t be a bad idea at all.
I needed to curtail my thoughts. In my life, I’d learned from experience that allowing emotions into any situation when danger was involved was risky. Enough so I’d remained the playboy I was rightfully accused of being. The single time I’d lost my way, losing my willpower just like I’d done with Marissa had proven everything I’d learned to be true.
Yet goddamn it, I craved the talented pianist.
My skin was painted with her scent, the fragrance of her sweet pussy juice embedded in my nostrils, the taste of ripe cherries lingering on my tongue. I’d even stood outside her door for several minutes, my cock aching like a son of a bitch in its hunger for more.
The woman made me make extraordinarily horrific decisions, succumbing to irresponsible actions. I rubbed my jaw, envisioning her expression when she’d orgasmed. Priceless.
After she’d fallen asleep, I’d carried her to bed and returned to work for a couple of hours, providing details to Mikhail and gleaning as much information as I could find on the Popov regime.
Their methods were completely different than those of the Dmitriyev Empire. Yet… we could play under their rules as well.
I grabbed my jacket, surprised Marissa had ventured upstairs where she’d remained for a couple of hours. After checking my weapon, I moved to one of two duffle bags I’d finally brought inside. After sliding two fresh magazines of ammunition into my jacket pocket, I checked my phone since I’d heard an incoming text only minutes before.
The company jet was on the ground in Seattle.
Good. We’d have enough fire and manpower to keep a war from ensuing.
Or to crush our enemies.
Noise from the top of the stairs grabbed my attention. I tipped my head and I had no doubt my facial expression was hard and cold. She was going to drive me completely insane.
“What do you think you’re doing?” My tone was stern, more so because I could read Marissa’s thoughts. She was dressed to kill in a bright red dress leaving little to the imagination. Seeing her in heels, her hair in soft curls floating around her shoulders as she walked, my entire body went rigid. With a small purse swung over her shoulder, she was ready to leave the house with or without my permission. She also had a single small suitcase.
What in God’s name was she thinking?
“I’m coming with you. As I’ve been reminded more than once, Marengo is fifty percent mine.”
My laugh was harsher than I’d intended, but if she thought I’d allow her to place herself in intense danger, she was out of her mind. “Not a chance in hell.”
Bound and determined, she dropped the bag on a stair near the front door.
She wasn’t deterred, walking closer in a way that could decimate most men. But I wasn’t someone who could fall prey to her feminine wiles or practiced determination. She had no clue she’d be walking into a lion’s den.
“I’m your business partner. Since I am, I need to have a better understanding of the kind of situation Charlie placed himself in.”
“It’s not a situation any longer, Marissa. It’s an explosion waiting to happen. I invited Popov to a meeting. I assure you it won’t be a typical corporate affair.”
