Page 24 of The Tsar's Obsession
Kirill: Hmm…you ask for a lot. I can propose an exchange.
Polina’s voice rang out in the room, but I was intently watching those three dots. My work reality faded into nothing once more.
Mia:Are you really so cruel to take your hoodie back?
This was even better than what I had planned.
Kirill: I’ll drop by to pick it up. Stay put.
Before I could think it over, before I could dissuade myself and kick the logical thoughts into gear, I was already out of my chair.
“Wha– where are you going?!” Polina’s question broke through my haze, but I was already out the door, abandoning them both in my office.
Twenty-five minutes later, my knuckles tapped on Mia’s front door three times. Three was a good number, right? Fuck. Me. I couldn’t think straight.
“Kirill?” Mia swung the door open, her angelic face finally in front of me, and I froze, suddenly realizing I had absolutely no reason to be here.
But she was wearing it—myhoodie. Her beautiful long hair was in a messy bun, and she wore the tiniest shorts I’d ever laid my fucking eyes on. They were red with white stripes, like a fucking candy cane.
I fucking looked. Her legs were long, slender, and her thighs—fuck—so soft, smooth, luscious, and begging for my touch.
I wanted to pull those candy cane shorts down, lift that hoodie up, and fucking drown in her. I wanted to touch everyinch of her skin, lick her pussy until she passed out, bury my face in between her thighs.
I took a step inside and closed the door behind me as Mia backed away with a look of both alarm and wild curiosity.
“It looks good on you,” I almost whispered, still admiring her in front of me. She shifted her weight and pulled the sleeves down. Shy smile, cheeks flushed, pupils blown wide—she was fucking into me.
Yes, like a fifteen-year-old boy, I was analyzing every single minuscule detail.
“You really came here to take it away from me?”
“Will I have to rip it off your body?” I pushed, but she didn’t back down. Instead, she lifted her eyes to mine.
“You could try,” she whispered sensually.
Fuck. A completely unrestrained groan left my chest, my dick straining against the zipper of my pants at a most inconvenient time. “Is that a dare?”
“I prefer truths instead.”
Her words hung in the air while my eyes made their slow way down her body. “Why are you doing this to me?” I shot out the question, not having the chance to think it over.
Mia blinked at me, her eyebrows coming together. “What?”
“You know exactly what you’re doing.”
Her cheeks flooded with color. “I– I’m not doing anything. Was there something wrong with the contract?”
No! Fuck, she thought this was about the condo purchase! Mia had no idea what I’d been through in the last decade, the obsession that lived inside me, and now that she was here, in front of me, I lost my way somewhere.
“Go on a date with me,” I blurted out, dangerously close to getting on my knees and begging. When did myown gameturn me into the losing party?
Mia’s eyes widened, that plump bottom lip falling open in a silent gasp. Everything stilled, but her eyes burned with fire and…fear.
Why was she scared?
“I can’t.” She shook her head and gulped, taking a small step away from me.
“Youcan’t?" I double-checked. “Why?”
