Page 62 of Cruel Paradise

The thought ofanyonewatching Emma and I together makes my blood boil. I would soundly beat to death any person who so much aslookedat her naked body while I still hold a claim to it.

This couple in the observation room? They don’t give a shit.

Must be nice.

* * *

RUSLAN:I need you to check in on Sergey more often. Make sure he has everything he needs.

VADIM:Your wish. My command.

That reply is a little too flippant to be sincere, but I decide to let it go. If throwing some snark my way is how he soothes his wounded ego, I’m willing to be generous.

Onlybecause he’s my uncle.

Onlybecause he held my father together after the accident.

I glance at Kirill, who’s busy running a red light. “Did you pick up my schedule for the next week like I asked?”

“Of course. It’s in the back with the rest of your files. I believe Ms. Carson color-coded everything for your convenience.”

I don’t like the suggestive lift in his tone when he says her name, but I let that go, too, still high from my eleventh-hour victory over Adrik. I shouldn’t be counting chickens just yet, but I have a good feeling about Sergey’s revised formula.

“By the way,” Kirill adds, “you have the Olsen-Ferber charity gala coming up next week. I’ll need to arrange a special security detail for that. Did you pick a date yet?”

My jaw twitches uncomfortably as an unwelcome image pops into my head. Me, at the gala, with Emma on my arm, decked out in a red gown to match her lipstick.

Fuck no.That isnothappening.

I’m already making stupid decisions when it comes to her. Case in point: the lack of condoms last time we fucked. Just when I’d resolved to wear them, the woman attacked me before I’d barely set foot in the door. By the time I got my head on straight, I’d already filled her.

Feeling that sweet pussy tighten around me was absolutely worth it, though…

I grind my teeth. I need to get a grip and stop thinking with my penis. “I’ll take Jessica. You can halve the security detail on my entourage for the gala. She always brings her own men—and even if she didn’t, no one wants to kill me bad enough to get within a mile of her.”

I don’t miss the way Kirill’s face scrunches in disgust.

We’re turning onto 48thwhen I make a last-minute decision. “One more thing: add Emma to the entourage for the gala.”

Kirill brings the SUV to a grinding halt. “Emma?”

I shrug, feigning apathy. “Just in case I need her.”

Yeah. Sure.That’swhy she’s coming.

25

EMMA

“For God’s sake, Ben, I’mworking!”

“You wouldn’t answer my fuckin’ texts,” he growls over the phone. “What was I supposed to do?”

“Oh, I don’t know—wait,maybe? At least until I came back home!” I glance nervously at Ruslan’s door. If he comes out here and sees me on yet another personal call, I’m a dead woman. He’ll rake my ass over the coals for the sheer thrill of it.

I wince at the mere thought of my rear end. Every time I sit down, I’m reminded of the punishment I received at Ruslan’s hand last night. The whole day, I’ve oscillated between feeling sore and aroused.

I guess, when you’re sleeping with the boss, that’s just an occupational hazard.

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