Page 54 of Mercenary Princess

Jen stepped through first before allowing Sophia out. Guests lingered here and there with their cigarettes and cigars identifying them more than the soft outdoor lanterns that spanned the elms and gardens of the sprawling estate.

Sophia followed Jen to a marginally private section of the patio that contained stone steps, and sucked in a deep, fortifying breath. They didn’t speak. It wasn’t wise in a place where eyes and ears could be everywhere.

Sophia nodded to an acquaintance she’d already greeted earlier in the evening. She was afraid that if she stayed outside too long, she’d get trapped in a conversation. Better to brave the indoors. She could sit in the dark dining space and pretend to eat.

Jen led her through a different doorway and down a wide corridor beside the library.

She noticed the hall wasn’t completely empty as a guard exited the library. When she saw the tattoos beneath the collar of his jacket, Sophia stilled and shot a look at Jen. Her guard only stiffened. Ivan slipped a jamming device from his pocket and handed it to Jen. The woman glared at him before checking that the light was on. If Sophia wasn’t mistaken, it was the same model they had. She noted another familiar-looking guard blocking the other side.

“It’s important,” the Russian murmured for their ears only before heading in the direction she and Jen had just come from.

“What do you want to do?” Jen quietly asked.

She wanted to commit murder, but that wasn’t exactly an option. With Jen at her side, Sophia stepped into the library and the space Ivan had vacated. She was furious and knew the man who’d ignited that fury was in the dark room that smelled of old paper and leather. The lights were off, so video wouldn’t have a good view even if the jammer hadn’t been on. Her blood sang, and her nerves felt on a knife’s point. Being in this room wasn’t wise, but the whole situation was bad, and she wasn’t sure it could get worse. She felt his warmth, had time to suck in his sexy masculine scent, one completely devoid of the cologne that seemed to permeate the mansion, and she hated that, even mad, she still wanted him.

She found herself pulled into strong arms, a warm breath teasing her ear. His voice was low, almost guttural. “There are no audio or video feeds in here.”

Her traitorous body melted as lips slid to her ear. She pulled away and hissed, “What are you doing here? And why would you corner me like this? I have no doubt there are other cameras in all the corridors. The jamming equipment isn’t going to work on them all. And I’m sure security has already detected the distortion in here.”

“We have time for this,” he gritted out quietly.

She couldn’t see him clearly, but she could feel him. He didn’t care that Jen was there, witnessing it all.

“I’m leaving.” His tone said he wasn’t happy about something.

Her heart stilled. “The event? Or London?”

She hadn’t realized she’d been holding her breath until he pulled her back into his arms after handing Jen what looked like a piece of paper. “The party,” he practically growled. Why was he angry? “I want you to do something. I’ve given your guard a list of men you do not talk to. Do not accept dates from them, and if you have, cancel.”

Her mouth dropped open as she tried to decipher his hard features in the dark room. “Excuse me?”

He practically growled in her ear, “They are men who may or may not be on your mother’s list. If they are on my list, you do not speak to them. You do not date them. They are not men for you.” She could feel his big body vibrating before his mouth came down on hers. He took advantage of her shock and swept his tongue inside her mouth to ravage hers. His hands slid to cup her ass, pressing her against his building erection. She couldn’t help the soft moan that slipped from her before she broke it off.

When he released her, he didn’t speak, and she was too dizzy and shocked to utter a word.

He was gone before her mind had caught up with his demands.

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