Page 15 of Mercenary Princess

He wasn’t there to harm her. She would have already been dead if that were his motive. “You’re so sure I won’t talk? And you don’t think the men will immediately check all of the security feeds the second they realize they were drugged?” She wasn’t sure she was the “prim” princess at the moment. She couldn’t fathom what that princess would do in this situation. Her reactions came fast and strong with him, not planned and calm. That scared her.

He leaned in next to her ear and whispered, “They’ll see only what I wish them to see. And they won’t want to lose their jobs because of a breach when they find you unharmed. You won’t tell, so there is no risk to this meeting.” She shivered at the sensation of his warm breath tickling her hair. “Now, what were you up to?”

He was definitely playing with her, and that angered her as much as it aroused her. “You came here to blackmail me? It isn’t a crime to want a break from the spotlight.” She pushed hard against his arm, demanding freedom and distance with the action as much as her hard gaze. Taking him down to the ground was tempting, but the demure princess Sophia wouldn’t do such a thing, would she?

If he attempted to harm her, he would go down. Mischa had taught her well, but he hadn’t moved to physically threaten her.

Instead of letting her go, he moved his other hand to her hip and set about driving her insane. Her traitorous body melted. Her entire focus was on the single, simple touch and the warm energy sliding from his big hand on her side all the way to her pussy.

He growled low in his throat. “You burn for me. You tempt me too much, Princess.” His thickening accent and words only added to the sensations rocketing through her.

At least she wasn’t the only one affected. His simple touch was unlike anything she’d ever experienced in her life. It was like he’d flipped a switch inside her. Her heart hammered in her chest as anticipation surged in her blood.

His eyes scanned hers, flashing with raw need. This was a confident man who was well aware of his effect on her.

Viktor tightened his hold, not enough to hurt her, but enough to get her attention as he gritted out the answer to her earlier accusation. “I also said nothing of blackmail.”

Just when she felt herself relenting to the need, his hand left her hip, and he moved back a fraction. Too little, too late. She already felt branded by him.

Slowing her breathing was difficult, but she did it. Infusing as much strength into her voice as possible, she said, “It’s no secret how you get what you want, Mr. Popov.”

“So formal, Princess?” His tone had cooled.

“Yet you still mock me with pet names, Mr. Popov.”

For some reason, his eyes warmed a fraction at her words. “Why risk your beautiful neck, ???????, if not to see a lover?”

That was flawed male logic at work, but she wasn’t in any mood to argue the point. Why did he care if she’d gone to see a lover?

Disappointment and frustration ate at her. “You expect me to believe you came here out of curiosity? You’re resourceful enough to find a less extreme way to talk to me if you were merely curious about why I was sneaking away. No, you came here, gambling on my silence, to extort me in some way.”

She swore she saw respect flicker in his gaze. She didn’t need his respect, so why did she like it?

The bastard actually had her. He’d been right that she’d keep this secret. She would bet Jen was also right that they’d been followed by Viktor’s men. Considering he was still questioning her whereabouts, he didn’t know where they’d gone. The only silver lining was that it hadn’t been some dangerous enemy from her covert activities. Relief should have come from that knowledge, but not when she faced an apparent interrogation.

“I’m here to decide if you’re worth the trouble, little Princess, and I ask about a lover because I don’t share.”

The seductive quality of his voice did dangerous things to her body and mind. She heard enough truth in his tone, but he was a man who valued the secrets of others, so she knew his answer had only been part of his motivation. That knowledge didn’t prevent her mouth from running dry or stop her from licking her lips.

His gaze dropped and grew even more heated. “Were you with a man?”

She shook her head, answering even as she narrowed her eyes, while replaying his entire comment back. “If I’m ‘worth the trouble’?”

There was no missing the amusement in his eyes. “Are you worth the trouble of having in my bed, Princess?”

“I never said I wanted to be in your bed.” She was having difficulty making the words stony when in reality she wanted him now.

“Your eyes betray you. Your body even responds to mine no matter that you’re angry. You want me.” Not even a hint of doubt colored his words. Arrogant man.

Her pulse pounded in her ears when he leaned down… slowly. Was he giving her time to speak? To deny the attraction? His warm breath mingled with hers. She lost all rational thought when his lips slid over hers. She hesitated only a second before returning the kiss. If he was kissing her, he wasn’t interrogating her. Flimsy reasoning, but she wanted this. Just once.

The kiss was intoxicating. Tempting. A seduction. His tongue slid over hers, tangling and retreating in a rhythm that matched her erratic heartbeat. She moaned into his mouth, her fingers gripping his collar, pulling him down for more.

He growled against her lips and lifted her. Her legs wrapped around his waist, and she groaned at the sensation of his hard cock riding her clit. A lust-filled haze clouded her mind as another needy sound slipped from her.

She couldn’t force her hands to stop their exploration, and she honestly didn’t want to. The silky strands of his hair begged for her fingers, and she tugged with a desperation that would embarrass her later. It had been too long since she’d been touched by a lover, but it had never been like this. This was her fantasy, one that could never happen again, so she fully intended to enjoy it.

If she was going to be irresponsible, she was going to own it. Her fingers moved to his shirt, the buttons a frustrating obstacle between them. She needed to feel his skin on hers.

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