Page 74 of Cruel Russian King
“Yes.”
“What's the catch?” Jaroslav asked icily, his grey eyes darkening.
I pressed my lips together. “There is none.”
“So, we are supposed to believe that you came into this meeting and without a fight readily agreed to our terms?” Marten asked, drumming his thick fingers on the table.
“You're getting what you want? Isn't that the point of the negotiation?” I asked flatly.
“We don't trust that it could be as easy as that,” Lev stated, venom dripping from his voice. “You don't exactly have a reliable track record.”
“And if this is some sort of twisted set up,” Jaroslav said, leaning in his face blank, tone dangerous. “Iwillforget that you're my wife's brother.”
“What the fuck, Jaroslav!” Yegor exploded, slamming his fist onto the desk as he jumped to his feet. “Artyom agreed to the negotiation.”
Jaroslav sprang to his feet as well, pressing his fingers down on the table. As he leaned forward, his eyes bored into Yegor’s as he snarled, “Yes, and he also fucking agreed to the peace treaty! Came intoourfucking homes! Was aroundourfucking children! Just so we'd letourguard down so he could kidnap Ninel! So, I have every fucking right to put a bulletthrough his skull if this negotiation in any way goes fucking south!”
“Enough!” I rose to my feet, Zahkar rising with me. “Lev, Yegor and Zahkar will stay and finalize documentation. Yegor, you will get it to the lawyer. Once he's seen it let me know and I'll sign.”
I didn't wait for Yegor to respond. I walked out of the conference room and headed to the parking lot. The only thing on my mind was getting home to my wife.
Forty minutes later, I passed Ruslan who sat in a chair outside our room. The lights were dimmed, and Ninel lay asleep under the covers. I leaned down, brushing my lips against hers. Her eyes fluttered open, and a soft smile curved her lips.
“Hi…” she whispered sleepily.
“Hey,” I murmured. “I want to take you out to dinner. Do you think you’ll be up for it?”
Her eyes brightened. “I’ll always be up for a chance to get dressed up, look super cute, and have a great time.”
A chuckle rumbled in my chest.Christ, this woman.“Can you be ready in an hour? Or do you need more time to rest?”
“I can be ready in an hour,” she said, pushing herself upright.
I kissed her again, harder this time, then pulled away before I lost myself in her. “Wait here. Let me run you a bath.”
She nodded, her lips parted like she wanted to say more, but she let me go.
In the bathroom, I filled the tub, the scent of soap rising with the steam. When I came back, I took Ninel’s hand and ledher in. My fingers slid over her skin as I undressed her slowly, my gaze drinking in every line of her body.
She was slender, her waist delicate beneath my hands, her breasts full enough to curve gracefully against her frame. The dark strip between her thighs was neatly trimmed, and a growl rumbled low in my chest before I could stop it. She flushed beneath the intensity of my gaze, her nipples tightening into hard peaks.
I flicked one lightly with my finger, then caught her chin in my hand, tilting her face up to me.
“You’re beautiful,printsessa,” I murmured against her lips before crushing my lips to hers in a kiss that made her whimper when I finally pulled away.
I helped her into the water, watching her sink into its warmth.
“Tonight,” I said, huskily, “I’ll let you pick your own outfit…but…it must be short and you're not allowed to wear any underwear.”
She blushed.
“I’ll get ready in the guest room.”
I pressed one last kiss to her temple before walking away.
In the closet, I took what I needed and left the room.
“Ruslan, I'm taking Mrs. Rykov to dinner. Prepare security detail. We leave in an hour.”
