Page 66 of Wrapped in Perfection

"Fear you would never be able to love me." It's something I've never admitted to anyone before. I didn't plan on confessing it, but lying to her seems unfair after she gave me her trust last night.

She pauses for a moment. "I promised you I'd trust you fully. You said you gave me yours in return. Does trust not include my ability to handle whatever it is?"

"It isn't about your ability. Some things are so dark, they threaten to destroy everything."

I'm not sure how I expect her to react. She leans into my lips. Before she kisses me, she says, "Then I won't ask you any more questions about this tonight."

13

Anna

Several weeks ago,I would have never believed this is my life. The project I'm working on, side by side with Dmitri, shows me what I'm capable of. He believes in me and keeps telling me how talented I am. And I realize how much Mitch's belittlement of my business was another way he held me back and in his control.

If I had known what it was like to be with a real man, one who not only accepted me for who I am but also was attracted to all of me, I wouldn't have stayed with Mitch. I can see how low my self-esteem dropped from the years I spent with him and how he played a role in making me think I wasn't worthy of anything else.

Everything Dmitri does makes me feel good about who I am and what I have to offer the world. I haven't known him for long, and everything is moving fast. I'm sure the smart thing would be to slow down, get to know him better, and then give him my trust. But I don't know how. Dmitri's an all-or-nothing person. He's patient with me, but he requires the same things Mitch did. But it doesn't resemble anything Mitch and I had.

Both men demanded my loyalty, respect, and trust. Unlike Mitch, Dmitri returns every bit of what I give him but tenfold.

Maybe I should run and not let another man control any aspect of my life. Perhaps the intensity of what is going on between Dmitri and me can't last, and I'm fooling myself, setting myself up for the biggest letdown yet. But I can't fathom how to let go of him or not give myself freely to him.

And I know he's dangerous. I don't know how, but I've felt it since I met him in the bar. He claims if I know, I'll never be able to love him, but what could be so dark it would reverse every feeling I have for him?

I could push him to tell me his secrets, but I kiss him, wanting him to feel worthy of my love, like how he's made me feel these last few days. Before I met him, I assumed I was unlovable, and no man could want me with my body or career.

Dmitri's changed all of it. He's not a man who should experience anything less than the burning desire I have for him. I'm not sure if his longing for me to be his is less or more than my need for him to be mine. And I want him to feel, in the depths of his core, my insatiable desire for him and only him.

My lower body throbs. I can't help it and circle my sex on his growing erection. We have clothes on, but my panties are wet. I reach for his belt, and the car stops.

He grabs my hand. "If you want to watch the fight, we don't have time."

"Okay," I murmur and continue kissing him.

He dips his hand in my pants, sliding into my sex.

I whimper. "I thought we didn't have time?"

"I don't need a lot of time to give you what you need, kotik." He rubs his fingers on my clit.

"I...oh... I... Dmitri...oh God!" I cry out, as adrenaline shoots through my body.

He murmurs, "That's my girl. Have another." He repeats his actions, sending me soaring again. His lips muffle my cries. "Are you sure you want to go inside?"

I smile against his lips and pant, "No. Yes. No."

He chuckles and kisses my hand. "We can leave whenever you want."

I take a deep breath. "Should I be nervous about meeting your brothers?"

"No."

"Even though I'm not Russian?"

His lips twitch. "They've had time to get over it. Besides, it's only about helping our people survive. It isn't personal. But all my brothers date women of all ethnicities, including American."

"They do?"

"Yes. We're American, too."

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