Page 40 of Paved in Hate

“You want to finish this first?” he asks, nodding towards my birds.

“Yes, I really do.”

“Okay. You keep painting, and I’ll make you some lunch.”

“I’m surprised you guys don’t have a cook.”

“Hey, you seemed to really like my pancakes this morning.” His thumb is still stroking my skin, and I smile at the teasing tone of his voice.

“I did. You’re one hell of a microwaver.”

“I try.” He smiles and says, “We’re thinking about getting a cook. We have someone come a couple times a week to help clean up, but we haven’t hired anyone to cook yet. We don’t like a lot of people knowing where we live.” His thumb dips lower, grazing the crook of my neck. “Have you always had a cook?”

“Yeah, and maids. My brothers would never clean up after themselves or cook.”

“I can’t say I’m surprised to hear that. Konstantin doesn’t seem like the type of guy to make a bed or crack an egg.”

“No,” I say, letting out a harsh laugh. “He is not.”

I get the feeling he wants to ask me more about my brother, but he doesn’t. Instead he gives my skin one last caress before stepping back.

“I’ll go make lunch, but when I’m done, you’re stopping to eat. You’re not skipping another meal,ptichka.”

I smile while I paint, enjoying the feeling of someone caring enough about me to fix me lunch. I’m almost done with the second bird when Vitaly comes back in to get me. I give him a quick glance and then shake my head.

“I’m almost done.”

He crosses his arms over his broad chest and leans against the doorframe. “That wasn’t the deal.”

Holding the handle of the smaller paintbrush between my lips, I use the other slightly larger one to fill in one of the wings. “Just one more sec,” I mumble around the brush.

“Katya,” he warns, pushing off from the door and stalking towards me.

My hands work faster, determined to finish this little guy, but when he grabs my wrist, I shoot him an angry look that has him smiling.

“A deal’s a deal.”

I grab the brush out of my mouth with my free hand and huff out an angry breath. “I’m almost done.”

“Lunch is done now.”

Without any warning, I bring the paintbrush up and swipe the soft bristles over the tip of his nose, painting it blue. His eyes widen in surprise, but all I can do is laugh.

“Oh, you’re going to regret that,ptichka,” he says, gripping both my wrists and hauling me back against the bare wall to our right, pinning them above my head with one of his hands. For one horrifying moment I think he’s pissed, like really pissed, and when he sees the flash of fear in my eyes, his face softens as he leans down so we’re face to face.

“You don’t ever need to fear me. I will never hurt you.”

I feel the heat of his breath against my lips, and when he tilts his head, leaning closer as he slowly drags his nose along my cheek, marking my own skin with the paint, I let out a soft moan and struggle against the grip he has on my wrists.

“You’re safe with me,” he whispers against my skin.

I let out a soft whimper when he brings his lips back to mine. The kiss is slow but demanding. He parts my lips with his tongue, sliding in like he already owns my mouth, and maybe he does, because the way my pussy clenches and soaks my panties makes it clear that my body is no longer obeying me. He’s the one in charge, and every single part of me knows it. Deepening the kiss, he presses his body against mine, pinning me to the wall as his tongue delves deeper. The scarred palm tightens around my wrists, pulling another moan from me that he quickly swallows. His other hand grips my hip like he’s never planning on letting go, and when I feel the hard length of him press against my stomach, I’m not sure if I want to run in fear or open my legs and welcome him in. My thighs part, making my decision for me right before he lets out a feral-sounding growl and pulls back, leaving us both gasping and wanting more.

“Goddamn,” he groans, running a hand over his face and spreading the paint even more.

“Interesting.”

We both turn at the sound of Lev’s voice. He’s leaning against the doorway just like Vitaly had been, a big smile on his face that accentuates the lip ring in the corner.

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