Page 28 of Mercenary Princess

“You said we could not meet again, yet you wanted to. We both want this. Have wanted this for some time.” His eyes trailed down to her nipples, and she had no doubt they were threatening to expand past the confines of her lined dress.

“What did you think would happen when I arrived?”

“You can choose to leave, or stay and take what we both want.”

She forced herself to breathe. “If I leave, you’ll lose my guard’s phone number and never mention this night or what happened in Paris?” Had his shoulders tightened a fraction?

He hadn’t touched her, and all threads of his anger had dissipated as he studied her face. “Your secrets are safe.”

“What assurance do I have that the past stays there?”

She held her ground with difficulty. He was close enough that his heat was wrecking her, and that sexy masculine scent of cigar, soap, and mint was already in her lungs, inside her.

“There are no assurances, Princess. But what would I gain from using the information again? Would you return if I used it?”

“No.”

“Had you planned to give me anything to stay quiet about what I know?”

“No.”

“Good.” He sounded far too approving, which wasn’t what she’d expected from a blackmailer.

She shook her head, her mouth gaping slightly. “This was really just to get me here?”

When he nodded, she asked, “Now that I’m here, how would you get me into your bed?” Were her words that husky? She simply wanted to know what he had planned if she chose to believe he wasn’t extorting her.

“You wish to be in my bed, Princess. I can see it in the soft flush of your cheeks and the way your beautiful eyes dilate. Tell me you wish to stay.” His voice had gone low and seductive, and the sound made gooseflesh rise over her skin.

His eyes flashed with heat when he trailed them over her bare shoulders. She was mesmerized by the look on his face as he slid a knuckle over the goose bumps. When she trembled, she heard a groan from him. “You burn for me. I’ve thought of nothing but how hot you’d run if I took my time.”

She swallowed, and his gaze slid to her throat. The way he looked at her made her skin tingle with memories of his mouth on her sensitive flesh, how the scruff of his stubble had abraded her skin. The way he’d sucked and nipped his way down to her breasts. Her breathing grew more erratic with every thought. She wasn’t sure she’d survive if he wanted to “take his time.”

“Stay.” His gruff demand only fueled her arousal. He was lethal to her sanity, yet she couldn’t help but crave more.

“We live in two different worlds, Viktor. It couldn’t be more than this.” The words were more of a warning to herself than to him. He was a man, so he’d have no trouble with a one-night stand.

“Is that your answer?”

Her fingers itched with the desire to reach for him, but her mind was still deciding if this was a bad idea. One wild bout of sex, an exchange of pleasure between two consenting adults who knew that was all it would be. Hadn’t she always wanted him? If she didn’t have him just once, she’d probably regret it.

The bastard had manipulated her into coming to him, though.

Still…

The communication blocker kept her safe. This conversation, anything they did in this room, would remain between them. She searched his heated gaze. He’d forced her there, and it had been a devious ploy, but he wasn’t forcing her to stay. Or was that another trick?

It was hard to think while he seduced her with the soft touch of his knuckle on her bare arm, sending shivers straight to her core. He hadn’t done more. He hadn’t needed to. Her body responded to the innocent caress as if he were stroking between her thighs. She licked her bottom lip and made her choice.

His wide shoulders tensed as his gaze snagged on her lips for the second time that night.

“Okay.”

That was what he’d been waiting for. He set his glass aside and pulled her into his arms, one hand fisting in her hair as his mouth descended. He devoured her lips until she fell into that beautiful lust-filled haze he’d ignited in the hotel. Her lips had a mind of their own as she kissed him back with all the pent-up need she’d felt for years. Her fingers threaded through his hair before moving to yank on his shirt collar. He pulled her hips in so that her stomach was riding the hard ridge of his cock.

She moaned in protest when he broke off the kiss.

“I want the whole night.” His tone was demanding.

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