The Deception (7 page)

I don’t stop until my orgasm barrels down on me. I shout her name, and then a curse as I come. As I collapse against her, she falls against the wall, unable to support my weight. I lean up slightly, bracing my arm against the wall instead of continuing to use her slight body as an anchor.

“So very messy for such a starchy bookseller,” she murmurs against my throat. I feel her kiss me, sweetly and gently.

Whoever the bastard is that hurt her, I will learn his name and hurt him back. “Shall we take this to the shower?” I ask.

She nods.  “Can I wash you? I still haven’t gotten you all the way nude, and that’s a crying shame.”

I grunt. “My body is nothing like yours.”

“Praise the Lord, and pass the sculpted abs for that.”

Somehow, I manage to get my shirt off and us mostly cleaned off. Every so often, Everly treats me to a kiss on my neck, my chest, my jaw, and my lips. I allow her this, even as I grow uneasy. Even as I feel like I’ve just made the biggest mistake of my life.

My phone rings shrilly. I glance at my coat. The screen of my phone lights up, and I can see the name.

Victoria. In actuality, it’s Viktor, but games must be played at all times in my line of work.

He would never call me, not unless I had to completely abandon my fake life. Something must have shown on my face, because Everly stops mid-kiss and says, “You can answer that if you need to.”

I glance back at the woman standing in front of me. Her face is pale as she looks at my coat. She can see the name.

“I do have to take this call.” I lean over and scoop up my phone.

“Please tell me you’re not married,” she says, misery in her voice.

“I’m not married. I’m single.” But not free. Never free. Then I answer the phone. “Victoria. It’s so nice to hear from you, but I’m on a date. So, unless you’ve found that one edition of DaVinci’s
Treatise on Muscular Development in the Modern Man
, I’ll need to talk to you another time.” Jesus. I’m pulling everything out of my ass tonight.

“Roman,” the digitally altered voice purrs. “You know I wouldn’t call you, unless what I had for you couldn’t wait. Time is of the essence.”

“But I have a former engagement.”

“That’s been cancelled.”

I frown.

Everly begins to walk away, but I reach out and capture a wrist, pulling her back to me. I wrap one arm around her, walking with her to the sofa in the living room and guiding her to sit on my lap. She curls against me, pulling the soft blanket hanging over the back up and over her luscious body.

“I’m all ears.”

A throaty laugh sets my teeth on edge. “You’ll have to be all eyes. I’m sending you a text right now.”

Victor hangs up, and I grip the phone so tightly that I hear a little crack. “Wow. She’s pushy,” Everly mutters.

Absently, I kiss the top of her head. “Love, run a bath for us.”

She gazes up at me, her brow wrinkling. “Instead of a shower?”

I give her my most wicked grin, slipping my free hand under the blanket and touching a bare thigh. “Trust me, love. I can be just as imaginative in the bath.”

Rising to her feet, she wraps the blanket tightly around her, as if she’s shy. “Don’t be too long.”

“Everly?”

She pauses in her walk. “Yes?”

“You have a beautiful body.”

She bites her lip. “Thank you.”

“No, thank you for sharing it with me.”

With one of her dreamy sighs, she shakes her head. “You are too much.”

My phone vibrates as she walks away. Tipping up the phone, I stare into the eyes of my next target.

Sebastian Romanov, heir to the current earl of Spenserfield.

And my half brother.

THE REQUEST

V
: You’ve been invited to attend a charity function on the 14th.

For the first time in my life, I balk. I refuse to take this contract, because the one thing I know about Sebastian is that his hands are clean. He’s innocent.

Our father has made sure of it, even going as far as trying to ruin his youngest son’s career by spreading rumors and making unfortunate videos of youthful indiscretions go viral, in order to show just how bloody special Sebastian is.

Not that I begrudge Sebastian the attention, I truly don’t. I know what a monster Vladimir is, even compared to me. But at least I have direction, a purpose—I rid the world of scum while he is self-serving.

Behind me, at the back of the house, I can hear the water running and Everly bustling around. My one night of normalcy, of pure desire and lust, of want and need, is completely ruined.

ME: I’m afraid I’ll have to pass. 

My mind races. The execution doesn’t have to be performed for three weeks, plenty of time to go to Grandfather’s and enlist his help. There’s no way he would allow this if he knew. Family is everything to him.

V: And I’m afraid you have no other choice.

ME: My schedule doesn’t permit a trip at this time.

V: Such a shame. Enjoy your evening with Everly. The nights grow short as winter approaches.

I suck in a breath, and my heart slams against my chest. Viktor, my former mentor, is threatening
my
woman. Damn your traitorous ass to hell, Viktor.

ME: On second thought, Everly and I would be honored to attend the charity function.

V: Excellent news. More information to follow.

This time, I crush the phone in my hands. The plastic and glass crunch and crack under the pressure.

Tossing the no-longer-functioning phone to the side, I consider my options. What in the hell can I say to Everly to get her to leave the country with me? Especially last minute? Despite everything, she barely knows me as Roman Smith.

What will my grandfather say when I show up on his doorstep with her at my side?

Then a flash of inspiration hits me, and I rise to my feet, moving to the front door.

THE REQUEST

E
verly

Tonight will end up being the biggest mistake of my life, or the best thing I’ve ever done. I sink deeper into the water, letting the bubbles cover my chest. I know I have the biggest, silliest, dreamiest expression on my face.

Turning the faucet off with my toes, I sigh.

I can’t believe what we did, much less what I shared. Groaning, I let my head fall into my hands. I just had to mention Jared.

Way to project confidence, Everly.

My best friend, Elle, is always after me to be more confident. She’s the one who kept pushing me not to give up on Roman. To go after him, even when he kept throwing roadblocks up. Looking back, I think the only reason I did forgive him and try again is that he would give me glimpses of the real him. A man so considerate and thoughtful that my toes curls just remembering the day I walked in and he’d ever so gruffly pointed out the chair I could sit in.

“A lady shouldn’t have to stand for hours on end.”
Then he strode away, saying nothing more, not even as I waved good-bye an hour later.

He had merely nodded before turning his attention back to a book, studying the contents with a ferocious scowl.

Then that one day, when I’d forgotten my coat and found him on the floor, bleeding and helpless... I knew right then, I’d fallen for him. I had it bad and still do.

As he lay bleeding in my lap while ordering me to check the bullet wounds for an exit hole, I wanted to cry and scream at the unfairness of it all. The thought of Roman dying, of never seeing him again, or hearing his sexy-as-hell accent, made me desperate. It made me lie to stay with him in the hospital. Abandoning him wasn’t an option.

As for tonight...
nothing
could have prepared me for what happened. For the way he stroked my body, the way he touched me, licked, kissed, and took control. I’d been helpless in his arms, a willing slave to his tongue and fingers.

And apparently, I’m a jealous witch who jumps to conclusions when I have no right. Roman does have a business to run, and though I can’t imagine rare booksellers get many emergency calls, obviously it does happen.

But... more than anything, I wanted him inside of me. I still do.

I hear the heavy thud of footsteps, and my body begins to tingle in anticipation. He’s coming, and hopefully he will make me come again.

Oh God. Please don’t let me say that out loud. I already say the dumbest things around him as it is.

The footsteps grow closer, and then fade. Lifting up my head, I lean against the back of the tub and frown. What in the world is he doing out there?

Roman appears out of thin air, and I stifle a scream. He’s dressed in black from head to toe, the shirt fitting him perfectly, while cargo pants showcase his powerful thighs.

My eyes widen. “Are you going somewhere?”

“Yes. I’m sorry, but my grandfather is very ill. My uncle called a few minutes ago, right after Victoria.”

My stomach flips, then sinks to my toes as disappointment and sympathy rise to take its place. “If you’ll give me a minute, I’ll get my robe and walk you to the door to say goodnight.”

“That’s not necessary.”

Something sharp scrapes at my heart. Had he only gone out with me so that I would stop asking? Tears prick at the backs of my eyes, but I hold them at bay. I will not cry. I won’t. Every romantic word he’s ever said to me has all but disappeared from my memory.

I adore you.

Yeah, but not enough to stay.

“Well, thanks for tonight,” I mumble, though I really want to cuss him out for making up a story about his
grandfather
of all people.

Roman sighs, pushing a hand through his short, dark hair. His glittering blue eyes take me in, and I want to hide. There’s something very disconcerting about a man who is so incredibly gorgeous and sexy that he could have anyone, staring you down. I almost want to check my teeth for food.

“Everly,” he begins, and I really want to cry now. He so rarely says my name, and now he’s leaving. More likely than not, I’ll never see him again, because there’s no way I’ll ever go back to his shop.

The asshole
. The beautiful, sexy asshole who made me come so hard that I saw stars and screamed his name like it was the second coming. Which for me, it was the first coming, since Jared sucked that bad as a lover.

Oh God, I’m totally going to hell for being blasphemous.

“I want you to come with me.”

“Huh?” There’s no way he just said what he did.

“I know this might be a bit out of the ordinary, but my uncle said Grandfather wanted to meet the woman who saved his grandson’s life before the sickness took him. It’s his last request,” Roman says. He looks away, obviously overcome with emotion. “Please Everly. I would mean a lot, but if you don’t want to, or can’t because you don’t have a passport, then I understand.”

He’s not lying. Holy crap, he’s not lying.
Then again, has Roman ever lied to me? He’s been blunt, sometimes hurtful, but more often than not, he’s been thoughtful, kind, and sweet. Yes, sweet. What other kind of man would take in a stray cat?

“I have a passport.”

His jerks his head around, blue eyes blazing. “Does this mean you’ll come with me?”

“I’d be honored to come with you.” If this is a dream, then please don’t wake me up. This sexy, sophisticated man is going to take me to... I wrinkle my nose. “Where are we going?”

He places a bag on the counter. It is the one he’d brought with him. “Russia.”

“Are you joking?” A nervous laugh bubbles up. What am I thinking? This is crazy.
I’m
crazy. Roman could be a serial killer for all I know. “I don’t think—”

“There is also a charity event I’ve been asked to attend. It’s very well known. Tons of press and celebrities,” he adds, as if reading my thoughts.

Because serial killers bring their next victims as their dates to very public and apparently famous events.
Geez, Everly, get it together.
This is a once in a lifetime opportunity.

Go. For. It.

I stand up, excited and nervous as anything. “Oh my gosh! I have so much to pack.” I grab the nearest towel and bend over to let the water out.

Roman mutters a curse, and I turn to see him staring at me with more than a little interest. Lust is obvious in his gaze, and it makes me feel so womanly and sexy that I allow myself to put on a little show for him by slowly standing.

Suddenly, he crosses the small distance between us and hauls me out of the tub, careful not to drop me. “As sexy as you look right now, we really need to get you packed.”

“Right this second? But I have to buy tickets and—”

“I don’t think you understand the urgency,” he says roughly, his big hands on my arms as he sets me on my feet.

I feel so dainty next to him. At the hospital, I had sneaked a peak at his stats: twenty-seven years old, six foot two, and two hundred pounds of lean, lickable muscles. Okay, so I added on that last part, but it’s clear he works out. A lot.

I shiver, but not in fear. I want his hands all over me again.
I want him.

“Stop looking at me with so much hunger in your eyes. We have to leave.”

A strange feeling washes over me. Something doesn’t seem quite right. Roman is too... anxious and insistent. Then again, his grandfather is sick, possibly dying. That would make anyone act a little off.

“Let me call my parents to let them know where I’m going.” I dash into my room, pulling out my suitcase, and then start to get dressed. I throw on a pair of comfy jeans and a thick sweater, after shimming into my bra and panties. Then I grab a pair of thick socks and my favorite boots. “What’s the weather like? It has to be cold; it’s Russia, Everly,” I remind myself.

Roman frowns. “Forget packing. You can call your parents on the way.”

I freeze in the middle of pulling on my boots. “Forget packing?”

“Yes, get your passport, your purse, and anything else you can’t live without. The rest I’ll purchase for you in Russia.”

I stare at him, like he’s suddenly turned into someone I don’t know. Actually, I don’t know him. Not really.

His expression softens, and he holds out his hand. “Trust me, love. I’ll take very good care of you. Come with me.”