Dimitri's Forbidden Submissive(64)

“This is so fucked up.”

Tusya gave a hard laugh. “Welcome to my world.”

Fear skated down her spine and she clenched her hands together in her lap. “That Borya guy, is he…is he going to try to hurt me?”

“We do not think so, but he is curious. You disappeared with Dimitri. He wants to know who you are and why Dimitri took you. It is out of character for Dimitri to do anything without his brother and Borya has been keeping tabs on your lover.”

“He’s not my lover anymore,” she said in a tight voice.

“He never was. Dimitri does not do love, Rya.” His voice softened and he sat back in his chair, crossing his leg. “He only has whores he uses.”

“I know.” His callous words made her inexplicably defend Dimitri, but she was still angry with him. “What do you have to do with all of this? Whose side are you on?”

“I am merely trying to help you.”

That might be true, but he was obviously holding a lot more back. “Bullshit. Why would you help me? Why are you really doing this? Don’t lie to me, Tusya. We both know I can read you.”

He glared at her. “You do not trust me.”

“I don’t trust anyone.”

Her voice thickened on the last word and Tusya watched her with a considering expression. “You really like Dimitri, don’t you?”

“No.”

His smile was chiding. “Do not lie to me, Rya. You wear your heart on your sleeve. No wonder Dimitri is so worried. He actually asked for my help. Do you know how unusual that is? He will owe me a favor.”

“What?”

“Borya will not suspect me of being an ally of the Novikov family. I am Russian royalty and do not mix with the likes of the Bratva. It would sully my family name and there is no love lost between myself and Dimitri.”

She chewed on her lower lip, trying to figure out what was going on. “So I’m supposed to pretend that I’m your submissive?”

“Unfortunately, no. Dimitri has threatened to destroy me if I fuck you.” Tusya slowly shook his head. “If I did not know it was impossible I would say he cares for you.”

The words made tears gather in her eyes, but she tried to pretend they didn’t affect her. “Well, you’re wrong.”

Shaking his head again, Tusya stood and walked over to her chair before kneeling before it. “You know he cannot love you? You know every moment you are with him you will be in danger?”

“I know about the Novikov Curse,” she said through stiff lips, not liking how close he was and inching away.

He placed a hand on her leg and she smacked it away. Instead of being angry he appeared genuinely sad. “I had hoped that maybe you would be able to play with Katya and I, but Dimitri was once again right. You will not suffer my touch.”

“I’m sorry, Tusya, but I just don’t feel that way towards you. In the brief time I’ve known you I feel like we could be friends, but that spark isn’t there.”

“For you, it isn’t,” he said in a soft voice. “You are the only one to ever guess my needs.”

It took her a moment to realize he was talking about his desire to submit. “Did you talk to Angelique?”

“I did and it was very…enlightening, but unfortunately does not solve my problem.”

“Why don’t you find a Mistress to play with in private? I know tons of switches. Hell, I’m one and there’s nothing wrong with it.”

He shook his head. “That is not how it works in my world. While yes, there are submissive men, my culture is very masculine. A man is expected to be a man at all times. My family tolerates my kink because it is a powerful thing to be a Master. But if I wore the collar…no, it would not end well.”

Pulled out of her own worries for a moment she brushed his hair back from his forehead. “Maybe you could find another switch, a woman who will be your Mistress in private and your sub in public?”

Shrugging, he stood again. “Maybe. But right now we must worry about keeping you alive.”

There was an elaborate knock on the door, and when Tusya opened it, a large, intimidating man with dark hair flecked with silver at the temples, a perfect goatee that framed a nice mouth and wearing a perfectly tailored black suit entered carrying a tray of coffee. Something about him was familiar and she looked closer at his face. He had a jagged scar going down one cheek to his jaw, and as she examined his face, she saw traces of Dimitri there. Then her gaze lifted to the same gunmetal grey eyes and she knew right away this was Dimitri’s brother.

Well, it looked like being unfairly handsome ran in the family.

Tusya took the tray and set it down before closing the door. The two men conversed in Russia while Rya stared at him, but they ignored her. After a few minutes of conversation Tusya nodded and turned to Rya. “This is Alexandr Novikov. He wishes to speak with you.”