Page 128 of Toxic Temptation
I pull my hands away. Vesper stirs, frowning, making a small sound of complaint.
“Is Luka asleep?” I ask him softly.
He nods. “Yeah.”
“Then there’s no reason for you to stay, is there?”
Waylen raises an eyebrow. “I can take her upstairs.”
I should let him. It would prove to both of us that this means nothing. That she’s just a means to an end.
But the thought of handing her over to anyone else—even her own brother—makes something violent rear up in my chest.
“No.” I stand, lifting her into my arms. “I’ve got it. You can see yourself out.”
I don’t wait for his response. By the time I reach the upstairs landing, I hear the front door close.
It would be so easy to take her to my room, my bed. She’d never know, and I could have her close to me all night.
But she asked for her own space when we stay here. And my self-control is already hanging by a thread.
I carry her to the guest room instead. Setting her down on the bed, I try not to think about how right she looks here, in my house, under my protection.
I tell myself I’m being practical as I undress her. Tell myself it’s for her comfort as I peel away her scrubs and drink in the floral panties, the black bra with little bows on the straps. I’m not staring at the way her body curves, the way her skin looks like silk in the moonlight—I’m simply getting her ready for bed, that’s all.
My hands shake as I slip one of my t-shirts over her head. White cotton, soft and worn. I want so fucking badly to see her in my clothes, to mark her as mine in this small way.
When she rolls sleepily onto her side, leg hooking over a pillow, the shirt rides up and I get a glimpse of perfect skin. My body responds immediately, violently.
I back out of the room before I do something we’ll both regret.
Pavel is waiting for me in the hallway, back from doing some follow-up on the tire-slashing incident. We walk to my office in silence, then out to the moonlit patio, where I light two cigars.
“Cops took my statement,” he begins. “They think it was teenagers pulling a prank.”
I nod in satisfaction. “Good. The sooner they think they solved it, the sooner they’ll get out of our way and let me get started on the real work.”
“How’s Vesper?”
“Shaken.” My jaw tightens. “She’s not built for this life, Pavel. I wonder if I made the right choice.”
Pavel makes a sound of disagreement. “That’s harsh, don’t you think? She’s tougher than you give her credit for. She’s a doctor—she handles pressure every day.”
“Being a doctor is nothing compared to being involved with the Bratva.”
“Is this really about Vesper?” he asks. “Or are you deflecting?”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“That you have feelings for her and you’ll do anything but admit it.”
I take a long drag of my cigar. “I’m a man and she’s beautiful. What’s your point?”
“It’s more than attraction and you know it. You care about her.”
“Pavel—”
“Just admit it, man. Enough with the bravado.”
