Page 8 of Ace of Swords

Across the way, sitting up on her lawn chair, Tatiana had slid her glasses up the crown of her scalp. She was watching me with curious eyes. Shame made the acid in my empty stomach bubble. “The same goes for me, Sir.”

“Good. Then I’ll see you later tonight. Party starts at five, wear something well-ironed and expensive.” He strolled back into the mansion, leaving me alone on the grass. But not for long. Like she was waiting for the chance, Tatiana hopped off her chair and came my way.

She glowed in the sunlight. A beautiful vision from a dream. It was too bad that she brought so much danger with her. As she got close, I narrowed my eyes, wondering if I could excuse myself in a way that wouldn’t cause too much drama.

Her long legs crossed at the ankle when she stopped walking. Her grace was obvious even when she held still. “You’re mad at me,” she said.

“Of course I’m mad.” Or I wanted to be. It was a struggle to sound it with her standing so damn close. “You didn’t tell me you were Sergio’s daughter.”

“If I had, would you have said no to the BJ?” she teased.

I squared off with her with my shoulders hunched. “Keep your voice down.”

Tatiana’s smile widened. “You’re worried my father will learn what we did. Relax, that was weeks ago. I haven’t told anyone, and I don’t plan to. I’m good at keeping secrets,” she said softly. Her body leaned my way; I smelled her intoxicating perfume. “In case you want me to keep some more.”

My cock flexed in my boxers. “What happened between us can never happen again.”

The disappointment in her face mirrored my own. I was quicker to hide my feelings than she was, though. Or maybe she wanted me to see how let down she was to know I had no intention of being alone with her again. “Was I that bad?” she whispered.

My mouth fell open. “What?”

“That was my first time doing that.” Her eyes were downcast. “If that’s why—”

“Jesus,” I said, ruffling my hair in exasperation.She really is a virgin.The reality of that had my dick getting hard. “Tatiana, it’s not that.”

“Then it was good?”

I wanted to tell her it was fucking amazing, but I bit my tongue. “I’m not stupid enough to think that your father wouldn’t kill me if he learned about what we did. It’s not happening again, ever. Is that clear?”

“You’re so strict. I love it.” She placed her nails on the crook of my arm, sending hot electricity through my shirt, into my skin, and down to my lower belly. Tatiana was no taller than my chin but she exuded a confidence that said she expected me to crumble.

Gripping her wrist, I forced her hand down between us. The book that was wedged between her elbow and ribs plummeted to the ground, landing with a thud. Intrigue turned her rich eyes into pure inky black. “I’m not playing,” I snapped.

She tugged at me—I let her go. “Yes, you are.” Her smile was gone. Her confidence was not. “Everyone is playing games in my father’s world. You’re no different, no matter what you think.”

“Fighting to keep your father’s respect so I don’t lose my jobor worseisn’t the same as what you’re trying to make me do.”

“And what am I trying to make you do?” she purred.

The way she rolled her tongue reminded me of how well she’d licked my cock. Ignoring the agonizing rush of desire, I crouched and picked up her book. “What’s this?” I asked, glancing at the elegantly engraved leather cover.

Tatiana hesitated before answering. “Have you ever had a tarot reading?”

I barked a quick laugh, burying my hands in my jacket pockets. “I’d never bother.”

“Why?” she asked, her eyes challenging me.

“Because it’s pointless fluff. Meaningless.”

“You don’t believe in it.”

“Not at all.”

“Then whatdoyou believe in?” she asked.

I lifted my shoulders to my ears. “Facts. Math. Good, intelligent decision making.”

She arched her eyebrows. “Mmhm. You definitely believe in smart decisions, Mr. Got-a-secret-BJ-from-his-boss’s-daughter.”

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