Page 57 of Mercenary Princess

Chapter 20

London, England

The heavy wrought-iron gate swept wide after only a brief hesitation. All it had taken was for Jen to pull their dark sedan under the illuminated space. Viktor shouldn’t be expecting them, but now Sophia wondered if she had an open invitation to his home. No one attempted to stop them from heading through the open garage doors to the parking spot Jen had taken the other times they’d been there.

Ivan stalked through the door between the house and the massive garage, and Sophia could feel the heat in the look he shot in Jen’s direction. Her guard actually slowed her steps for a split second. That was not the kind of reaction Sophia was used to from her friend.

She wondered if the late hour was responsible for Ivan’s partial dress. It was after midnight on a night she wasn’t supposed to be there. Did that mean the imposing Ivan got days off? The tattooed guard was barefoot, wearing black slacks and the same white button-down shirt he’d worn earlier. The shirt was barely held together by a few buttons, showing a lot of ink and muscle.

The man’s eyes were not for her. They were definitely for Jen, and that made Sophia’s lips curve. In the two years Jen had been at her side, Sophia had never seen anyone shake her calm.

“He isn’t expecting you,” Ivan said in his thick accent.

“Yet here we are,” Jen pointed out.

An unwanted thought hit her. What if he wasn’t alone?

He’d agreed to exclusivity in their short liaison, but was he keeping his end of the bargain? It was unfortunately a little late to consider that.

Ivan merely grunted at Jen’s words. “Come.”

*****

Viktor’s jabs rocked the heavy bag as he bounced on his toes. The smack of fist against vinyl echoed in the room as he let his mind settle, feeling some of the aggression brought on by the evening start to burn free.

He grunted with each hit, enjoying the reverberation in his shoulders as he danced around the equipment. He barely noted the click of the door opening. A quick glance showed Ivan at the door. “What is it?”

“Your princess is here.” That stilled him, and the bag rocked against the chains securing it for his abuse.

Air sawed from his lungs when he saw her standing at Ivan’s side. It seemed his princess hadn’t waited to be announced. Nor had she waited for her guard to secure the room. The guard eyed him as she did the job anyway.

Gone was Sophia’s angelic dress. In its place were tight, calf-length pants and athletic shoes. Her soft blue shirt was loose yet so thin that he could see the tank top beneath. It was a sexy reminder of her lithe frame climbing that hotel wall weeks ago.

He stalked forward, ignoring Ivan and Sophia’s guard. She was doing her job. There were no windows to secure, but she did check out the bathroom before rounding to leave. A soft clank told him she’d left a jamming device behind, but he didn’t care. He’d wanted to see Sophia but hadn’t expected her this night.

He was vaguely aware of the door clicking shut, closing them in charged silence. His princess had started out with a glare, but she seemed to have gotten distracted, as her features had relaxed.

“Why are you here, Princess?” he murmured as he drew closer. He was far too pleased with her arrival.

“You work out in underwear?” Her voice was husky, and when her little pink tongue darted out to lick her lips, he almost pinned her against the fucking wall. His cock was on board with that idea until she forced her gaze up. She was steeling herself to continue with what she’d barged in there to do. He was tempted to distract them both, but he wanted answers as much as she seemed to.

“It’s my gym,” he responded, forcing his attention north. He didn’t add that he hadn’t been in a state to do anything but get down there after the vodka did nothing to settle him. His dress pants had been tossed in a corner.

It seemed she’d shaken out of her lust-filled stupor long enough to regain her ire. “I won’t be controlled, Viktor. I won’t have someone tell me what I will or won’t do… outside of what we do here.” There was a hard edge to her warning, and that challenging strength only made him want her more.

He stalked closer, and his sweat-coated body drew her eyes again. He liked having her eyes on him, enjoyed every single response she gave him, and he used that to his advantage as he lowered his voice. “Is that what you thought I was doing tonight? Trying to control you?”

Her eyes shot to his, temper firing those sexy chocolate depths. “Wasn’t it? I’m not a fan of lists and orders, Viktor.”

“You think I enjoyed that?” He infused his words with steel of their own.

“Didn’t you? Why demand I stay away from other men? I was honest with you about the position I’m in. I have to date.” Why did she look guilty as if baiting him for something?

The fact that she’d almost choked on that last word told him it was true. She was truly angry about being forced to date.

He tempered his tone, changing his tactic. “The list was a warning. Those men are dangerous.”

“Says a dangerous man,” she taunted with an arch of her brow.

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