Page 24 of Beast

“It seems her father managed to put things on hold and the voting’s not to be done for now. It’s a long story.”

I stared at the phone for a moment, frustration boiling inside me. I wanted my money, but at the same time, a part of me was relieved that Natalia was safe for now. I didn’t like being used as a pawn in this game.

“Maybe we could persuade Golubev to cooperate and pay us the other half,” I offered and glanced back toward the house in the distance, imagining her in her room, thinking of me, embarrassed and frustrated after all she’d done.

My heart throbbed with longing and a regret that I hadn’t said anything to soften those hard edges and make her feel a little more comfortable with my refusal to have sex with her.

“Sure, we could try, but I wouldn’t advise it. Told you, if things don’t pan out, then you need to wipe her off the grid. As I said, she may not be our problem anymore.” Boris’s voice was cold as steel as the radio crackled. “And they’re willing to pay you double the fee originally promised. That’s it.”

“Fine.”

“This conversation is taking longer than expected. I’ll be in touch.”

“You know me, Boris,” I added in a flat voice, “I always get the job done.”

I closed my eyes and squeezed the radio in my hands. Fuck. Knowing that Natalia was in danger had rage pumping through my veins like white-hot fire. I couldn’t let anything happen to her.

I had to find out who was behind this and put an end to it. I’d get her out of here and somewhere safe before anyone could do anything to her. Even if I had to go against my orders.

Was Boris not telling me something? There were too many questions in my head at once, and I wanted to punch something or someone as hard as possible.

I had to make sure she got out of here in one piece, but I couldn’t let her out of my sight until I found out who, besides Golubev, wanted her dead. It was just him, I’d kill him without a thought. But I had to know for sure that he was the only link to this request. At least here, I knew she was safe. Keeping her alive was now my number one priority. I looked at the horizon, the waves licking the sand, and thought about how Natalia looked so beautiful naked and wanting me.

“I’ll talk to you soon, comrade.” There was a click on Boris’s end and the radio went silent.

Fuck! I jammed the radio into my pocket, my wolf howling to be let loose. But I had to deal with this shit first. I turned back to the house, and Natalia’s shadow crossed the balcony window. Had she heard my conversation? Nah, she was merely a human.

Yet, why was she still in my room?

What, did she think I would go crawling back to her like she had some magical pussy now that I knew she was a virgin?

I curled my hands into fists and stormed inside. It was time I put her in her place. Her tiptoes across the wooden floor told me she fled to her room. That wouldn’t save her. I slammed open her door and it banged against the wall. She jumped, spinning toward me like a cornered animal.

10

NATALIA

Ihated him.

He made me feel like nothing like I was only desirable to myself. I’d had guys want to be with me, but there was something always holding me back.

“Why did you throw yourself at me? Do you not remember why you’re here?” he snarled, scaring the crap out of me. I was in my room now, but I’d just come from his bedroom where I had been staring out the window and overheard his conversation with the Russian on the other end of the line who told him to kill me. I hadn’t even heard him come back into the house.

“I never did. I just…”

“What?” he barked as he drew closer to the bed. His footsteps were heavy as if he wanted me to be scared. But I was the complete opposite; I was turned on by him.

This was the missing piece of the puzzle. I never realized this was what I craved until now. Not some horny teen boy who wanted to get off, but a guy who desired me so badly he couldn’t breathe.

“I want to be made to feel like a woman. Not some little girl,” I whispered, too embarrassed to say it out loud. I don’t know what was wrong with me. This man was supposed to bemy enemy. One who had kidnapped me based on someone else’s orders, and who now had the command to kill me. I should be screaming. I should be running and fighting for my life. Instead, I felt a magnet deep inside me, drawing me to him. It didn’t make any sense. Yet I couldn’t ignore it anymore.

“Say it louder.”

This time he was on the bed beside me. I could feel the mattress move gently up and down and he breathed. The heat that we were making between us held back the chill of the night. And it grew hotter as he drew closer.

He was shirtless, and as I turned to face him, with the moonlight reflected in the room, I could see the beauty of every curve of his body as I had done earlier today.

I chuckled as the tension in the room had completely changed until he put his hand against my throat and then my head tilted back. This situation was so fucked-up, because instead of being scared, it just turned me on.

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