Page 59 of Mercenary Princess

“What about the other men on that list?” She hadn’t lied about the Frenchman being on the list. At least that was something.

He eyed her closely. “All dangerous.” He wasn’t so forthcoming with his knowledge now. “If you want those details, it will cost you.”

Her mouth went dry. Had he been leading her into this trap the whole time?

“I’ve shared enough for you to trust that they’re not good men, ones you should stay clear of. If you want more secrets, I think it’s time you share some of yours.”

They were in dangerous territory, so she attempted an evasion. “Escaping to see the city is as exciting as my life gets.” The lie soured in her throat, but she hoped it hadn’t been in her eyes.

He leaned down so his face was in hers. “One day, you’re going to realize you can trust me with everything.”

“We barely know each other.”

His head moved to her ear. “Is that how this seems to you, Sophia?”

His piercing eyes bored into hers, and she couldn’t speak. She didn’t know what his words meant. Did he feel like something more was happening between them?

What else did he think he knew? Only that she was hiding things…

“Don’t.” She didn’t want to end this sooner than she had to.

Retreat was the wisest path, so she moved back to what they did best. “I trust you with my body.” More than was probably sane, but that was a problem for whatever therapist lay in her future.

The air between them charged as her words pulled him closer. Their level of chemistry couldn’t be normal. It had to burn out soon enough. Nothing could flare this hot forever. She only hoped she got the opportunity to have it just a little longer.

His body heat washed over her skin, and she slid into the familiar burn of lust he ignited. His eyes changed as he allowed the questioning to end. His warm breath met her ear. “Trusting me with your body is enough. For now.” Then he nipped the soft lobe, and tingles ran through her from the spot he’d started nibbling on her neck. She moaned as the warning or promise he’d made faded in the background of her building need.

The salty, clean scent of his sweat did things she’d never experienced. How could it be sexy? The man seemed to make everything sexy.

“We don’t have much time.” She hated that they only had a few moments, but she couldn’t keep Jen up all night again.

“Stay,” he growled against her throat, and the vibrations made her pant.

“I can’t.”

His head came up, and frustration scrunched his brow, tempting her to smooth it. “You’re safe with me. Protected. Your guard can sleep here.”

The stilted smile she gave him made her regret plain. “No.”

He issued a frustrated noise. “You don’t make this easy, Sophia.”

She was well aware of that. “I never said it would be.” His words about whether she was worth the trouble tickled her memory and made her smile into his neck as he lifted her. He seemed to believe she was worth it.

She kissed him there and loved how his body tensed when she sank her teeth into that spot. He rocked his cock into her, and her legs tightened around his hips.

“Fuck,” he snapped before she found herself swaying on her feet again. Dazed, she watched as he stalked to a discarded heap of material. He fished for something and was back to her before she realized what she was seeing.

She saw the condom and was about to say something when he ripped the packaging with his teeth. He speared her with a look that said he was in no state to be gentle, and that only made her wetter.

Her Russian was about to fuck her against the wall of his gym, and she couldn’t wait.