Page 59 of Scarred (Russian Sinners 2)

I didn’t know how to explain it without delving into all the painful, shameful details of my engagement with Malcome Schmidt. I couldn’t tell him he made me feel things I had never felt before. He made my body burn with desire.

Thankfully, the restaurant door opened, sparing me from answering. An elderly gentleman welcomed us.

“Hello,” he said and then proceeded to speak in Russian to Nikolai. Whatever he said, Nikolai nodded his head and then turned his attention back to me.

“Do you want to go back home?” Nikolai’s question surprised me. He was a force of a man and could easily make me do whatever he wished. And the fact that he was giving me that option, made me feel like he listened to what I tried to tell him. I appreciated him giving me the power to decide. It spoke volumes about him, didn’t it? This scarred man might have had a turbulent past but he was thousands of times better than Malcome. He used force to bend people to his will while Nikolai offered choices, and pleasure. In a leap of faith, I wanted to cease those choices and give this thing brewing between us a chance.

I shook my head. “No,” I answered briefly. “Besides, I’m hungry.”

His lips curved into a smile. He took my hand in his and we walked together inside. He wasn’t joking when he said we were the only guests. We were seated at a table fit for lovers. One that placed us as close together as possible. I tried to scoot the chair slightly away to allow me more space.

“Don’t worry,” he told me in a smooth, velvety voice. “I don’t bite.”

I stilled and our gazes met. I wasn’t really worried about him biting me. It was more that my body wanted more of him.

I should tell him I’m trying to protect him, I scoffed to myself.

Despite his scarred face, he was beautiful. His eyes glittered and I swore he sucked all the oxygen out of the room. I tried to take a deep breath as if gasping for air. It was insane how much he affected me. One side of me kept warning me to keep my distance, leery of men. But then I’d recall all the choices he had given me. All the pleasure he offered. My body caved under the weight of the need and desire he evoked within me.

A waiter came over to serve us.

“Would you like red or white wine?” the waiter asked me.

“White please,” I replied, my voice sounding raspy.

With the glass of white wine in front of me, and glass of bourbon in front of Nikolai, he lifted his glass in a toast.

“To us,” he toasted with a knowing smile on his sensuous lips.

What was I supposed to say to that? Nothing! So I put the glass to my lips and tasted the wine. It was smooth, light, and fruity on my tongue.

He was too close, way too close for my sanity, my body tingling at his nearness. Our food was brought in and I swore I would not be able to eat it. My heart was racing and I brought the glass to my lips with slightly trembling fingers for another gulp.

“Do you like it in St. Petersburg?” His question caught me off guard.

“Yes, I do,” I told him simply. “My girlfriends and I spent time here during our vacation but it’s different when you are not a tourist.”

“What do you like about it?” he asked, leaning in his chair causally.

“I like the old city feel,” I replied. “Katja and her friend gave me a night tour. In a bizarre way, there is an allure to this city. I finally understand Scarlett’s appeal now, going out every night when we were here. She found herself a guy the first day we were here.”

I recalled the moment in the elevator when I pondered whether being broke in Russia was better than Malcome Schmidt. I was broke in Russia, under Nikolai’s protection, and it was definitely better. Yes, I was distrusting at first, but he had proven over and over again, he was a good man.

“The guy she was going out with is my brother, Sergei,” he told me and my jaw just about dropped. “He is quite smitten with your friend. In fact, he was so smitten with Scarlett that he kidnapped Anja, and then Scarlett to keep her safe.”

I stared at him shockingly. “But why?”

“I’ll let your friends explain it all to you, hopefully soon. He was trying to save Scarlett and unfortunately, he made a wrong decision when it came to Anastasia.”

“Are you sure he is a good guy?” I asked him dubiously.

“Yes, I promise you that. He’d give his life for me and I would do the same for him. For both Dimitry and Sergei.” I could hear in his voice he cared a great deal about his brothers. “Sergei is utterly smitten with Scarlett,” he chuckled and I smiled at that.

“It was slightly annoying,” I told him, smiling too. “Scarlett kept ditching Anastasia, Brian and me for the guy she’d only just met.”

“It seemed they had an instant connection,” he cackled. “She’ll need all her wits about her to keep up with Sergei.”

I chuckled and replied in a dry tone. “Or he’ll need his wits about him to keep up with her. “

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