Page 32 of Rurik
Charlotte didn’tprotest as Rurik took her into the lobby of the Grand Hotel Europe. She had to trust that he wouldn’t hurt her after everything they’d beenthrough.
He wouldn’t, wouldhe?
He took her straight to the front desk and spoke to the hotel steward in rapid Russian, then slid the man a black credit card. The steward’s eyes widened as he took the card, then hastily prepared a set of keycards, handing them toRurik.
“Come,” Rurik growled, his grip on her wrist still tight as they headed to theelevators.
“Rurik, please…” she begged as the elevator doors closed, sealing them in. “If you would justlisten—”
“Notnow.”
How different this was from the other night. Then she had been safe, the secret she kept still a secret. Now he was taking her up to a hotel room to interrogateher.
They stopped on the third floor. He led her down the hall, where he used his keycard to open the door. He shoved her through and closed the door behind him, then raised a hand to point at thebed.
“Take off your coat and sit down.Now.”
Something about the way Rurik spoke to her in that dominating and dark way made her rush to obey. She was afraid. The Rurik she was falling in love with wouldn’t hurt her, but this Rurik, the one who feared the Brotherhood? He might be capable of killing her to protect his brothers and theirmates.
Breathe, Charlotte, just breathe. You have to stay calm so you can think thisthrough.
She turned away from him, taking in the splendor of the room as she shrugged out of her coat. Her hands shook as she set it down over the back of a chair. The dark green brocade walls made the room feel warm, like she was stepping into a summer forest. The table and bed were carved from antique cherrywood. Everything about the suite murmured of money in the best way. The large sitting room had two wide windows with white curtains that allowed sunlight to softly filter into the room. A gilded chandelier hung above the table, where an old ivory chess set sat. There was even a bar with a trio of full decanters and glasses. It was a beautiful room to face an angry dragon in, and it had to cost a fortune to stay in. A massive king-size bed with a green satin coverlet embroidered with gold thread was in the adjoiningroom.
A pang of regret hit her. This could have been a wonderful room to lose herself in Rurik’s arms, to give herself to him entirely, but now that would neverhappen.
Charlotte set her purse down on a table, her legs trembling. Rurik flipped the lock on the door, set the keycard down, and walked over to the curtains, tugging them closed. He removed his jacket and laid it over the back of the nearest chair. Charlotte watched his muscles flex beneath the black sweater he wore as he faced her, his armscrossed.
“What am I going to do with you?” he growled. There was a strange mixture of cool distrust and a simmering heat behind hiswords.
“Please don’t hurt me,” Charlotte begged as she retreated into the adjoining bedroom. They’d been so connected before. Every time they’d kissed she’d seen a part of his soul through his memories. The man she’d seen didn’t seem like someone who would kill a woman, but she was the enemy. What reason did he have to trust her? She didn’t want to die here, so far away from the only family she hadleft.
Rurik walked up to her. She tensed as he cupped her chin, forcing her head back as he stared down ather.
“Hurt you? I wouldneverhurt you,” he growled. “But I do not trust you either. How do you know what Iam?”
“I’ve studied you,” she admitted. “We havefiles…”
“So youarea hunter!” His tone deepened, and his eyes began to swirl that beautiful shade ofgold.
“No! I’m a biochemist!” Her temper flared, temporarily dispelling herfear.
“Hmmm.” He made a noise of disgruntled disbelief. For some reason that pissed her off. She hadn’t lied, not about that. She smacked his hand away from her chin and pushed him hard in the chest. He didn’t budge, the damn muscled bastard, but his nostrilsflared.
“If I was a hunter, do you think I would have ended up in this position?” She waved a hand betweenthem.
Rurik arched a brow, coolly meeting her glare. “What do youmean?”
She blushed as she realized what she’d said. “Nothing.” She turned away from him and stalkedaway.
“Oh, you mean how you can’t resist me?” He stepped up close behind her, his hands settling on her waist. Charlotte jerked free of hishold.
“I can resist you just fine,” she muttered, but the words were alie.
“You are not the first woman the Brotherhood has sent to try to seduce me, you know,” Rurik said. “Theyallwanted to end up alone with me. But I could smell their intentions a mileoff.”
“What Imeanis that I wouldn’t have admitted my connection with them to your face. And I certainly wouldn’t have ended up here, defenseless in a hotel room with you. If I was a hunter, I would have probably had a backup plan to incapacitate you so I couldescape.”
Rurik crossed his arms over his chest, a smile curving his lips. “Finally, you’re telling thetruth.”
