Reign (The Syndicate_ Crime and Passion Book 2)(16)

So I watched him, breath frozen in my lungs as I tried to interpret his expression, and failed. As the seconds passed, the tension ratcheted up and I questioned myself. Maybe I had pushed him too far.

Then, he did something I never would have expected. He laughed, his previously calm expression shattered in a burst of humor. “I don’t give a fuck about your virtue, Daniela.”

“I—” I cut off quickly, not sure I’d understood what I’d heard. “You…don’t care?” I finally asked.

“Nope,” he said.

“But I…”

“You what?” he said.

I glared at him. “I know how men like you are,” I said.

He tilted his head in contemplation. “And how is that?”

I looked at him, incredulous. Sure, he seemed jovial, almost friendly, but I knew what lurked underneath. He was a stone killer. I knew that as much as I knew anything. I had grown up with men like him. Had lived with one every day.

“I know men like you will hurt people over ancient history. Over nothing. What you’d do to someone who had even looked at someone or something you consider yours,” I said.

Before I’d spoken, I hadn’t been certain how he would respond, but him lifting his hand and cupping my cheek was not it. He held my face, his hand deliciously rough against my skin, his eyes surprisingly thoughtful.

“You’re wrong, Daniela,” he said.

I barely heard him, all of my attention focused on the thumb that stroked against my cheek, the crazy riot of feelings that the point of contact stirred.

“H-how am I wrong?” I finally asked, my voice a low, needy whisper.

“You’ve never known a man like me,” he said.

Then, I watched as he lowered his head toward mine, realizing now how close his body was, accepting how much I’d been anticipating feeling those lips against mine.

He started slowly, then deepened the kiss, moving his lips over mine with expert control that left me breathless. Before I’d realized I’d moved, I was clinging to him, my hands curled around his muscled sides, my breasts against his chest. He tightened his hold on my face and brought our bodies closer together, his warmth and hardness only making me want to seek more.

Then he stepped back.

I reached for him, but only felt air where his body had once been. I lifted heavy-lidded eyes and met his.

“Have a nice morning, Daniela,” he said.

Then he turned and walked back into the house.





Seven





Sergei



Fuck. I hadn’t planned to do that.

I’d wanted to kiss her, do even more, but I’d intended to keep that desire to myself. Hadn’t been able to, though, not when she was so intent on trying to push me away with her words. I’d seen the glee in her eyes, the way she’d spoken out of anger and then found what she’d thought was a path to force me to end things.

Probably so she wouldn’t have to deal with how much she wanted me. And want me she did. She could pretend, play it off how she liked, but I could see right through her front.

I started smiling despite myself.

My sweet Daniela had thought telling me she wasn’t a virgin would anger me, but it had done anything but. My desire for her hadn’t lessened since the day before; it had only grown. While I knew I would have her eventually, I’d decided to take it slow, figuring Santo had kept her under his watchful eye and knowing none of his men would risk Santo’s anger by fucking around with his kid.

I’d been mistaken, and I was quite curious as to which had had the balls to do so, but even more, I was relieved. Now, I was free to explore the connection between us without worry as to how it would affect her. That kiss had been the first step.

Her lips against mine, her soft body touching me had been better than I’d dreamed. Her eager response had been too. I hadn’t doubted it. That brief time with her had left no doubt of her attraction, but to see it in her eyes, feel it in the way she touched me, was beyond my ability to think.

If I had been less committed to my work, I’d be back there with her now, making love to her on the soft grass, something I planned to do soon.

But for now…

I pulled onto a side street and watched as Adrian seemed to materialize from the side of a building.

“Where is he?” I asked.

“There,” he said, nodding toward the squat building a little farther down the block.

“Do you know who he’s meeting?” I asked.

Adrian shook his head. “Not yet. But I will,” he said.

I didn’t doubt it. Adrian was very, very good at what he did, and soon he’d spill Michael’s secrets.

“Good,” I said.

Then I got back into my SUV and headed to the house where Santo was hiding. Or trying to, and failing. It hadn’t been my idea to take Santo’s house. That had been all Maxim, but I saw the benefit.