Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 76915 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 385(@200wpm)___ 308(@250wpm)___ 256(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76915 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 385(@200wpm)___ 308(@250wpm)___ 256(@300wpm)
That skirt must be shortened, I determined, rubbing my chin. Perhaps it could simply be washed in hot water, causing the fabric to ’shrink’. I might not be at ‘war’ in business at the moment, but I could use my tactical skills to conquering this mere slip of a girl. I would not let her win. I would not let her turn me into a ‘simp’.
Washing that uniform in hot water was a very good idea, indeed.
As she came forward, she held the glass in front of her, as if she were afraid of it. Afraid it was a snake that would bite her. I smiled cooly at the trembling in her hands. I took the glass from her, letting my fingers slide over hers. Her hands were delicate, deliberate in their movements despite the tremor, with short, well-manicured nails.
Every inch of her appeared to be beautifully formed, I mused, eager to unwrap the rest of her like a present on Christmas morning.
I didn’t expect the sudden shock that went through my body at her touch. It felt like I had touched a live wire, but infinitely more pleasurable. I knew well how electric shock felt. We had long ago been given a taste of the torture we doled out. We had to know how each category of pain felt to properly dispense it, according to my father.
But this was not pain, no matter how shocking. This was pleasure, with the promise of more. With the promise of infinite pleasure in the future.
I held her hand in place a moment longer than I should have, then let her go. She stepped backwards quickly. She looked at shocked as I felt, though I knew my face gave nothing away. I was too well trained to reveal how revelatory this meal was, and it had hardly begun.
I turned away, looking down at one of the newspapers that were always waiting for me. I had to do something to hide the intense emotions swirling through me. I was moving too fast, I realized suddenly. In my attempt to protect my emotions, I was frightening the girl. It would work on some women, but my instincts said that my power might be part of the dance with little Mishka, but it would not win her to my bed, or lure her to be my concubine. Or more, if I let myself dream of forever.
Overpowering her wasn’t what I truly wanted, deep down, not just because I sensed that strategy wasn’t going to help my cause. I had promised her father to protect her, not to taunt and terrorize her. I was a man of my word.
So why was I already failing in every single way?
I gulped my vodka, then held out the glass for more without looking up. I barely glanced at what I was ‘reading’, or rather, pretending to read. I hadn’t gotten much work done all day, or the night before.
I was more than a little bit distracted by the anticipation of Mishka’s arrival.
I would have to read twice as much tonight in bed, and in the morning to catch up, I thought, forcing myself to scan the front page at the very least. I liked to keep abreast of current events. We had investments all over the world. My brothers and I all agreed that one simple event in one part of the world could have far reaching implications.
It was known as the ‘butterfly effect’, and we all had a knack for seeing potential futures, with a strong sense of which path the world was more likely to take. We also had learned how to nudge entire industries in the direction that suited us.
But the world would have to wait.
“Did you bring your violin?” I asked without looking up a few minutes later. I had done my best to ignore her. To focus on the paper in front of me. But it wasn’t working. I slanted my eyes at the long-legged beauty standing by the wall, looking utterly lost and unsure of herself.
“Yes…” she said uncertainly, then caught herself. “Yes, sir.”
I stifled a grin and continued to look down at my paper. I liked the way those words sounded on those luscious lips. Now if only it were under different circumstances… it would be delicious to have her kneeling at the foot of my bed and saying those same words.
“I would like to hear you play.”
I saw her stiffen out of the corner of my eye. I was using my peripheral vision to watch her. Even though all I wanted to do was stare at her. Inspect her. Dissect every movement of her exquisite body and expression on her beautiful face.
“Is that part of my duties, sir?”
I set down the paper and looked at her. She had been looking everywhere but at me. Until now. Her chin was lifted and her gorgeous eyes narrowed in what looked like defiance. I had to admire her spirit.