Sergei (12 page)

"Look, it's not what you think, Bianca."

"It had better not be," I warned. "Because you look and smell like you've been hanging out a strip club!"

"Okay," he said carefully. "I was at a strip club this afternoon. But," he cut in quickly, thwarting my outraged outburst, "I wasn't there for pleasure. It was business."

"Business?"

He wavered before confessing, "A couple of dancers were beaten up at a private party. The club is partly owned by a friend of mine, and he needed some help. I took the dancers to see a doctor and then got them situated in a safe place. That's it, Bianca. That's all that happened."

I studied his handsome, sincere face. He was telling the truth, but I sensed there was way more backstory to the situation. "I believe that nothing happened with the strippers."

He seemed relieved. Sliding his hand along my nape, he peered into my eyes. "I don't want any woman but you, Bianca. Sometimes I have to go places that aren't very nice to conduct business, but I'm not interested in anything those women have to offer."

Gripping the front of his shirt again, I hauled him down with a sharp tug. "Convince me."

And he did. With a kiss so erotically sensual that my panties grew damp, Sergei staked his claim on me and proved that he wanted me and only me. His tongue fluttered against mine before dipping deeper. He sucked my lower lip and gave it a light nibble, making me rise up on my toes and clutch at his brawny arms.

Though I wanted the kiss to go on forever, he ended it gently and let his hand glide down my spine to rest on my bottom. He gave my backside a pat and grinned boyishly. "I want to show you something."

"Okay."

Holding my hand, he led me down the sidewalk that curved through the backyard and along one side of the house. Out front, I spotted his SUV pulled up against the curb. "You can park out back, if you'd like. There's plenty of space behind my car."

He smiled at me. "Is that your way of inviting me to stay the night?"

Glancing away from him, I felt suddenly shy. "Well, I mean, if you want to stay..."

He curved his arm around my shoulders. "I'm staying."

I had a sneaking suspicion he meant for much longer than one night.

When we rounded the side of the house and turned toward the front porch, I immediately spotted the new door. My lips parted with shock. "The door! You found
my
door!"

Sergei chuckled happily and brushed his fingertips along the side of my neck. "I took the picture from your inspiration board. My friend had a door that looked almost exactly like the one you wanted."

"This is one is so much better!" I hurried up the steps for a closer look. Unable to help myself, I ran my hands along the highly polished wood and traced the gorgeous panes of stained glass. "It's so beautiful, Sergei."

His warm hands settled on my shoulders. A moment later, he pressed a ticklish kiss to the side of my neck. "I'm glad you like it." Another kiss made me shiver with anticipation. "Come inside. Dinner is waiting."

I let him lead me inside the house, all the while wondering what this night held in store for me.

Chapter Seven

Later that evening, I flicked through my closet in search of the perfect outfit for the morning. The bathroom door across the bedroom was cracked just enough for me to keep tabs on Sergei's shower. I had manage to evade most of his amorous advances, including his attempts to climb into the shower with me earlier, but my defenses were quickly failing. Once he came out of that shower, I was giving in and letting myself have exactly what we both wanted.

Bumping hips as we plated a simple dinner had been the beginning of our flirtation. He had caressed my hand while we sipped wine on the couch after dinner and talked about my plans and dreams for the house. I had slipped away to take my evening shower while he moved his SUV around back and peeked at my water heater.

Craving Sergei's heat and touch like crazy, I settled on my favorite wrap dress. The top sported a bold giraffe print that complemented the deep rust-colored skirt. I liked the way it hugged my hips and nipped in my waist. But which shoes? I pulled out a pair of gold strappy heeled sandals and nude pumps.

"The gold ones," Sergei said, coming into the bedroom. "They're prettier."

Glancing at him, I fought the urge to lick my lips as I ogled his nearly naked body. He had a towel slung low around his hips, but the loosely tucked end threatened to fall free at any moment. Soon, I hoped.

Lifting the gold sandals, I said, "Prettier, yes, but not as comfortable. Mondays are always busy around the shop, especially in May."

He shrugged. "So wear the pumps."

I held the pumps up against the skirt and compared them to the sandals. They looked fine, but they didn't pop. "No, I think I'll go with pretty."

"Good choice." He came toward me and bent down to peck my cheek. "Your legs look amazing when you wear those."

My brows knitted together. "You've seen me in these shoes before?"

He nodded and strode across the room toward the gym bag he had dropped onto the ottoman earlier. "You wore them a few weeks ago when you and Vivian went to that art show for that Brazilian painter. You had on a purple dress and big hoop earrings—but your legs?" He practically growled. "They looked so fucking sexy."

I turned my gaze toward my legs. "Really?"

"Yes." He touched his ear. "You should wear those earrings again. I liked the way they looked on you."

Taken aback by his recollection of my outfit, I nevertheless smiled at him. "Okay. I will."

"You can wear them on Friday."

"What's Friday?"

"We're going out on a proper date."

"Is that so?"

"Yes." He started digging through his bag, totally oblivious to my frustration with him.

"Don't you think you should ask me first?"

He glanced at me. "Do you want to go out on Friday?"

"Yes, but—"

"So what's the problem? I want to go out. You want to go out. I made plans. It's done."

I rolled my eyes. "It's not just
done
, Sergei. I don't know how you did things with other women, but I'm not the kind of girl who likes to be told what to do."

"You seemed to like it last night." His gaze darted to the chair where he had sat last night and ordered me to strip for him.

My face flamed with embarrassment. "That was different."

"But you liked it," Sergei countered. "You were soaking wet for me by the time I got you into bed. You liked being told what to do, didn't you?"

He wasn't going to stop until I admitted that he was right. Even now, as he described how wet I had been, I could feel my nipples growing hard. "Yes, I liked it very much."

"But you don't like it when I take control outside of the bedroom?"

I fidgeted with the cuff of my silk dressing robe. "I don't know. I'm used to doing things my way. I like your way of doing things in here, but I'm not sure I'll ever be the type of woman who just nods her head whenever her man makes a decision."

Sergei studied me for a few unnerving seconds. "Okay."

I blinked. "What? Just like that? You're okay with it?"

"I'm not an ogre, Bianca, but I am a man and I like being in control."

"But?"

"But one of the things that attracted me to you is your confidence and the way you run your life," he explained. "You're perfectly capable of taking care of yourself."

"Yes, I am. I don't need a man."

"No, you don't." He stared expectantly my way, as if waiting for me to say something.

I swallowed nervously and decided to be honest with him. "I would like a man I could count on in my life. Someone who wants to take care of me, I mean."

"I want to take care of you, Bianca. I want to be the man you count on for everything and anything you need."

"I know you do," I said quietly.

"And?"

Holding his gaze, I murmured, "I know I can count on you."

"Anything you want, I'll give you."

He wasn't talking expensive trinkets either. He meant
anything
. He was offering me everything I had ever wanted but had been too afraid to seek out. All I had to do was ask.

"I know." Turning away from him, I finished picking out the accessories for my outfit while he draped running clothes across the arm of my reading chair. When I closed the closet door, I caught him retrieving the biggest freaking box of condoms I had ever seen. Unable to help myself, I busted out laughing. "Oh my God! Are you serious?"

"What?" Sergei carelessly tossed the box onto the bed. "I wanted to be prepared."

"For what? Six months?"

He snorted and started to prowl toward me. "Six months? Bianca, we'll be lucky if that lasts the week."

My jaw dropped. "You're out of your mind."

Sergei held up five fingers as he walked toward me. "Count them, Bianca. For five months, I've gone without sex." He stopped right in front of me and peered down into my eyes. "For five months, I've waited for you to let me into your bedroom." He slid an arm around my waist and dragged me tight to his hot, hard body. "I intend to make up for all that lost time."

Trembling inside, I ran my hands along his muscular arms and across his impressive chest. I fingered the gold medallion dangling from his neck. "What is this?"

"Hmm?" He nuzzled my neck and nipped at my skin. "It's Saint Sergius, my namesake. My mother gave it to me when I was younger."

"For protection?"

"I suppose."

I let the medallion drop from my fingers. "Are you religious?"

"Not particularly," he replied. "Nothing like Vivian." He traced the vein in my neck where my pulse beat wildly. "Bianca, you're stalling."

I glanced up at him from beneath fluttering eyelashes. "Am I?"

"Yes." He tugged on the belt of my robe and dragged the garment from my arms. He let it fall to the floor and shoved it aside with his bare foot. His finger followed the lacy shells adorning the bodice of my chemise. "Do you always sleep in things like this or are you choosing them for me?"

"I like sexy, pretty things, but I dug this one out of my drawer just for you."

"I appreciate the thoughtfulness." Grasping the bottom of my flimsy chemise, he pulled it up and over my head. "Do you approve of this removal method?"

Smiling at the memory of him ripping my nightgown, I patted his chest. "It's nice to know you're not a total caveman."

He chuckled against my lips. "You might want to see what I have planned for you before you sing my praises." Putting those big hands on my shoulders, he pressed gently. "Kneel."

Like last night, my entire body vibrated at his gruffly spoken word. I wasn’t sure how he wielded such power over me or even why I liked it so much, but I chose not to question it. I embraced this new, sensual awareness and slowly lowered myself to the floor.

Licking my lips, I gazed up at him, taking in his wonderfully sculpted frame. He peered down at me and caressed my cheek. Taking off his towel, he tossed it aside and gestured to his half-erect cock. "Get me hard, Bianca."

With shaky fingers, I stroked the length of him, all the while marveling at his size. I almost wanted to run across the hall to grab a tape measure from my tool kit to satisfy my curiosity. Even with both hands wrapped around his thick shaft, I still needed at least one more hand to cover all of him. My pussy pulsed at the prospect of having his huge dick buried inside me.

Lavishing his cock with my tongue, I relished the low groans he made. I sucked the blunt tip of him into my mouth and hummed with appreciation. He growled something in Russian before threading his fingers through my hair and shifting his feet wider apart. "Suck me, Bianca."

White-hot frissons of excitement quivered through me at the rough demand. Bobbing up and down on his shaft, I took him deeper with every down stroke and hoped I pleased him. Giving head had never been a sex act I enjoyed, but the way Sergei encouraged and complimented me was so exciting. Relaxing my jaw, I put my hands on his thighs and silently asked him to take my mouth by pulling him into me.

Breathing hard, Sergei slid forward only an inch or two. My lips stretched wide to accept his girth, but he didn't try to take it too far. Instead, he tapped my nose and ordered, "Look at up at me."

With his cock in my mouth, I gazed up at Sergei. The utter adoration etched into his face took me by surprise. "You're so fucking beautiful." He pulled free from my mouth and bent down to capture my lips in a passionate, rough kiss. "So. Fucking. Beautiful."

And then he swept me right up off the floor and tossed me onto the bed. Bouncing on the mattress, I squealed with shock but then giggled as Sergei crawled over me, pinning me to the bed and kissing me into submission. Closing my eyes, I reveled in the wicked sensations he evoked with his masterful hands and mouth. He nibbled and kissed and licked all the wonderfully sensitive spots on my body until I was panting and clutching at him.