by Kira Bloom
If only she weren’t, even now, lying to me.
I hit the back of her throat and she gagged, but quickly readjusted so she could take me further without discomfort. My knees shook as my release neared. I buried both my hands in her now wild and messy hair, the blond strands spilling over my fingers.
“Can I cum in your mouth?” I sounded breathless. Almost desperate, and I surprised myself by asking for her permission rather than demanding her obedience.
She appeared surprised as well by my request, and her gaze softened as she nodded. My heart was pounding, but it wasn’t just because I was on the verge or orgasming harder than he ever had before.
As I stared down into her bright brown eyes, I realized that, somehow, this woman had dug her way into my heart without me even knowing it. Even knowing what I did about her didn’t kill my feelings. I wanted this woman for my own. I wanted her to surrender her heart and soul to me, not just her body.
But how the fuck can I keep her if I can’t trust her?
I blocked the thought from my mind. I could sort that all out later. Now, I just wanted this. This connection with her. This blissful moment when she took everything that I had to give her.
“I’m close, Winter,” I said through gritted teeth. “Fuck, you’re so good. So—”
My orgasm ripped through me with such force, my knees almost buckled. I clutched her head as I pumped into her hot mouth, and she drank me down with an enthusiasm that nearly knocked me to the floor. When I was spent, I slowly pulled my cock free of her lips. Her tongue followed me to catch the last dribbles.
Falling back against my desk, I fought to catch my breath. Winter pushed to her feet with a smirk. It was clear she was fully aware of the affect she had on me. Her hair was a mess around her head, her bun completely ruined. Her lipstick was ruined and her mascara runny, but she had never looked so triumphant. She sauntered closer as she buttoned herself back up.
“Well, I believe I’ve learned my lesson quite thoroughly, sir. Thank you.” She touched her head to feel hair and laughed. “Would you mind if I used your bathroom to clean myself up? I don’t think it’d be wise for me to go out into the hall like this.”
I nodded, my brain still too scrambled to think of any other response. She shot me a shy smile as she moved to walk past.
I wasn’t sure what possessed me to do what I did next. I acted on pure instinct, reaching out and snagging her wrist to pull her back to me.
“Sir? Wha—?”
I cut her off with a kiss, pressing my lips to hers and taking us both by surprise. It wasn’t a lust-crazed joining. I was tender with her, cupping her face with a gentle touch as I molded our mouths together. After a moment of hesitation, she sighed and leaned into me, her hands sliding up to clutch my shoulders.
When I pulled back, breaking the kiss, her eyes were hooded, and her expression was dazed.
“McAllister Holdings is holding a gala this evening at the Contemporary Art Museum. Come with me, Winter.” Again, it was more of a request than a command. I hadn’t planned on inviting her. Hadn’t planned on going anywhere in public with her until I’d uncovered the full truth about why she was here. Yet, looking at her now, feeling what I felt for her, I’d blurted the invitation without fully realizing what I was saying. I stared at her expectantly, waiting for her answer, hoping she said yes of her own free will.
Her gaze was wide and baffled as she stared back. Her lips parted, but no words came out. I worried she’d reject me. Tell me I was a good lay, but nothing more.
It was a relief, then, when her mouth turned up into a small smile.
“Yes.”
A simple answer spoken in a soft voice, but it filled me with more joy than I thought I had a right to fell.
“Very good,” I murmured.
We held each other’s gazes for several seconds more before she backed away. I could tell by her expression that she was confused, but her grin remained in place. I didn’t release her hand until the last possible moment, our fingertips grazing before she turned to hurry into the bathroom. She cast me one last, stunned look over her shoulder before closing the door behind her.
I tucked my dick back into my pants and buttoned myself back up with a shake of my head and a stupid grin on my face. What was happening to me? I’d never acted like this with a woman before. I ran a shaky hand through my hair.
“Fuck me,” I murmured. “What do I do now?”
I wanted Ms. Rivers, but I didn’t know if it was possible given her deceptions. I needed to know what was driving her. What was her endgame? There were too many loose ends at present for me to feel comfortable moving forward with her. Too many variables and outside forces at play.
I needed some assistance to clean this mess up.
With a frustrated growl, I moved around my desk to my phone and dialed Ivan’s number.
It was time to call in a fixer.
11
Winter
I stared at my reflection in my bedroom mirror, shocked at how beautiful the woman looking back was. Mr. Maslow had sent a stylist and hairdresser over to my apartment within an hour after I’d gotten off work. They’d dressed, primped, and polished me to within an inch of my life, but the results were amazing.
Half of my hair was pulled into an elaborate knot at the back of my head, and the rest flowed around my shoulders in big, soft curls. My makeup was red-carpet worthy, with cat-eyes I’d never be able to replicate. Finally, my dress was a jaw-dropping black sheath that fell to the floor and shimmered with thousands of sequins. It had straps, and a modest neckline, but the back plunged to a point just above the curve of my ass.
I’d never felt so glamorous and sexy.
I just hoped Mr. Maslow liked it.
The memory of his kiss flashed through my mind, and I touched my fingertips to my lips as my heart raced. He’d never kissed me before, and I would have never guessed he’d do so with such tenderness and care. It had almost seemed … loving. On top of that soul-searing moment, he’d also called me by my name. I wasn’t sure he realized he’d done it, but I couldn’t forget the way it had rolled off his tongue so naturally. Or how I’d shivered in pleasure at the sound of it.
What was happening between us? This afternoon had felt like more than sex. I’d felt a connection to him, somehow. Even on my knees, with his cock in my mouth, I’d never felt more wanted or cherished by a man.
Now that I wasn’t consumed by anger toward him for ignoring me, I could recognize my own feelings that had grown over the last few weeks. It wasn’t just lust that Mr. Maslow provoked in me. He fascinated me and challenged me. He fulfilled desires in me that I hadn’t even known I’d possessed. He could be tender and rough, commanding and considerate. He was intelligent and creative, and a fair boss whose employees adored him.
Somehow, without meaning to, I had fallen for him.
And the guilt over it was eating me alive.
All this time, I’d been lying to him and spying on him. I’d been feeding information about his plans for McAllister Holdings to one of his rivals because I had no other choice if I wanted to keep my head above water.
Suddenly, the woman in the mirror wasn’t quite so beautiful. She was a conniving liar, stringing along a good man who deserved so much more. I shouldn’t go to this gala with him. It was a bad idea. Yet, I didn’t think I had it in me to deny him. I was tempted to tell him the truth, but what good would that do me? He’d likely toss me on my ass into the street, taking my job and his affection from me. He could even have me arrested.
Squeezing my eyes shut, I shook my head.
No, I couldn’t tell him. I was a coward as well as a liar, but I couldn’t risk losing him. Not yet. Someday, I had no doubt everything would blow up in my face, but for tonight, I could pretend I was just a regular woman with no baggage enjoying the company of the man who was stealing her heart.
A knock on the door tugged me from my troubled thoughts, and I turned just as Khloe opened my door to poke her head
into the room.
“Jesus Christ, Winter, you’re a fucking babe.” My roommate gawked, eyeing me up and down. A mischievous little grin curled her lips, and she continued, “Just wanted to let you know there’s a very gorgeous man with just a dash of a Russian accent waiting for you in the other room.”
My heart began beating frantically. Mr. Maslow was here. In my apartment. Waiting to take me out. My cheeks heated like a teenage girl getting picked up for prom by her crush.
“Do I really look okay?” I asked in a shaky voice, touching my dress and hair uncertainly.
She nodded enthusiastically, her black curls bouncing around her beautiful face. “Dude, you’re tempting me right now, and I’m not into tits and vag at all. Your Mr. Maslow is going to either shit or cum in his pants when he sees you. Maybe both.”
I crinkled my nose. “That’s disgusting.”
Khloe shrugged. “I’m just saying he won’t be in full control of his bodily functions. Now hurry your hot ass up. He’s fun to look at but doesn’t seem much for small talk. It’s awkward as fuck out here.”
“Okay, I’m coming right out,” I assured her. I turned back to my mirror and checked my makeup before grabbing my clutch and hurrying out of the room. When I stepped into the living room, I froze at the sight of Dmitry. He was gorgeous in a black tux and bowtie, with his jet-black hair brushed back and a shadow of a beard darkening his jaw. His whole appearance and demeanor screamed wealth and sex, and my body reacted instantly. My nipples grew to hard points, and my core clenched with desire.
His eyes widened at the sight of me and his jaw went slack as he looked me up and down. His gaze darkened with hunger, and I bit my lip as I slowly approached him, wondering how in the world we’d even make it to the gala without jumping each other.
“Hello, Mr. Maslow,” I greeted softly when I stood directly in front of him.
“Ms. Rivers.” He nodded his head, his nostrils flaring as he seemed to struggle to maintain his composure. “You look incredible.”
“She does, doesn’t she?” Khloe hollered from where she was hiding in the kitchen.
I couldn’t bite back her snort of laughter. Mr. Maslow raised one dark eyebrow, but the corner of his mouth tilted into a half-grin.
“Shall we, krasavitsa?” He offered me his arm. I took it with a bashful smile, dropping my gaze from his. Why was I so nervous? After everything we’d done together already, I should be well beyond shyness with him. He tugged me into his side and bent down to brush his lips over the shell of my ear. “If this event wasn’t so important to the firm, I’d skip it and drag you back home so I could peel that dress from you and fuck you till dawn.”
I gasped, the tingling in my core growing to a throbbing that had me squeezing my thighs together. Suddenly, I wasn’t as keen to go to the gala. I didn’t think I’d be able to function, I wanted him so badly.
He smirked down at me as though he could read my mind.
“We’d be on our way, else we might never make it,” he said.
I nodded, incapable of speech.
“Have fun you two!” Khloe shouted, still hiding in the kitchen. “Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.”
That left open a plethora of possibilities.
He escorted me from the apartment and out the building to a waiting limo where the driver stood holding the door open for us. I ducked into the vehicle, sliding across the bench to make room for Dmitry as he followed me. I fisted my hands in my lap to keep from reaching out for him right away.
If I touched him now, I wouldn’t want to stop.
He kept his hands to himself as well as the limo pulled away from the curb and slid into traffic. We rode in silence to the museum, the air between us charged with unsatisfied sexual tension. I felt cramped in the spacious interior of the vehicle as his presence simply overwhelmed me. He was a big man, but he seemed larger with every moment that passed. When we reached the museum, it was a relief.
I didn’t know that I’d be able to control myself a minute longer.
The driver opened the door again, and Dmitry assisted me out. Hooking my hand back through his arm, he walked me to the museum’s front doors, and we entered to find it crowded with the well-dressed elite of Boston.
“Don’t wander away,” he whispered as he led me into the party. “I don’t want another man thinking he can steal you from me.”
His possessiveness thrilled me, and I nodded with a blush.
“Yes, sir. I’ll stay close.”
He jerked his chin in approval, then snagged two glasses of champagne from the tray of a passing waiter. Handing me one of the flutes, he clinked our glasses together and met my eyes.
“To what I hope will prove a very…fulfilling evening for the both of us.”
I didn’t miss the promise behind his words. My belly clenched with want, and I drank my champagne to give me something to do that wasn’t him and to calm my nerves. As we stood together, other guests began approaching to greet and speak with Mr. Maslow. I wandered off to the side as his attention was stolen again and again. I didn’t mind, though. I liked watching him interact with other people. He was poised and confident. Men came to shake his hand, and women batted their lashes and smiled at him with obvious desire in their eyes. He acknowledged each of them with a polite nod, but there was clearly no interest on his part.
I grinned into my glass, giddy that this man impressive man was here with me tonight. He wanted me and no one else. It was intoxicating, knowing I held his full interest even when he wasn’t standing right beside me or looking at me.
“You’re looking quite lovely tonight, Winter.”
I froze at the voice at my back, familiar and despised. Slowly, I turned to find an older man with graying hair and amber eyes smirking down at me.
“William,” I snapped, almost choking on his name. “I didn’t realize you’d be here tonight.”
Although it made sense, given his current connection to McAllister Holdings. It was the same reason Dmitry and I were present tonight, after all.
“I was going to say the same about you, my dear. You seem quite cozy with Maslow, hanging from his arm like a pretty accessory. I’m assuming that the new position is going well?”
“Get fucked, William,” I growled, hating that this bastard had the ability to make me feel cheap. “What do you want? Awfully risky talking to me in public like this, isn’t it?”
He shrugged. “I saw you enter and thought it would be rude not to stop over to say hello.”
I knew that was bullshit. He wanted to mess with Mr. Maslow, somehow, but he was jeopardizing his whole scheme by approaching me. Someone may be able to connect us. To figure out who I really was.
“You need to go,” I hissed. “If Mr. Maslow sees you talking to me, he’ll—”
“William, what a pleasant surprise.” I jumped and glanced over my shoulder to see Dmitry approaching us, his stride confident and a predatory grin lingering on his lips.
Shit. Did he hear me? How do I explain this?
He came to a stop when he stood next to me and draped his arm around my waist. It was a casual move to the undiscerning eyes, but I could tell he was staking his claim. Warning off the male he perceived to be a threat.
If only he knew how much of a threat William really was.
12
Dmitry
William-fucking-Carter.
There was no one else I hated more in the world.
This man had been a constant thorn in my side ever since I opened Maslow Architecture. I had been searching for a reason to take Carter and his business out for years because the motherfucker was as crooked as they come.
“Dmitry,” Carter sneered. “So good to see you. I was just getting to know your lovely companion here. Quite the beauty you’ve managed to find yourself.”
“Indeed, I’m very fortunate.”
Lightning crackled between us, and Winter shrank into my side, seeking shelter from the swirling storm. The rivalry between Carter and m
yself was infamous and stretched back years, ever since I had opened my firm and become the first competitor Carter couldn’t bully or buy out of business. Maslow Architecture quickly grew in reputation across the city, and clientele began abandoning Carter Architect and Design for the higher quality and fairer prices I delivered.
“I was actually hoping to see you here tonight,” I said, my tone even, but still ice cold.
“Oh?” He tilted his head, feigning curiosity. “Why is that?”
“To tell you to that it’s over.” I paused, waiting to see Carter’s reaction. The fucker appeared genuinely baffled.
That’s right, you bastard. Try to keep up.
“What the hell are you talking about, Maslow? What’s over?”
I smirked. “You are. You and your business are done. I finally have the ammunition I need to shut you the fuck up for good.”
Winter tensed next to me, and I squeezed her closer
Just trust me, krasavitsa. I’ve got this under control.
“Have you lost your senses, Dmitry?” Carter scoffed. “What could you possibly think you have that could hurt me?”
“Economic espionage, for one.”
Carter paled as Winter released a squeak of shock.
“Mr. Maslow…” she whimpered, but I patted her hip to silence her.
“Wh-what the fuck are you talking about, Maslow?” Carter stammered. His cool exterior was slipping right before my eyes, and it was so fucking satisfying.
“I know everything, Carter. I know you’ve been spying on my firm, attempting to steal my plans for the McAllister project. I must say, it took balls to think you could get away with it.”
His mouth opened and closed like a fish as he tried to come up with a response. “I … I don’t know … you can’t just …”
“You made one fatal mistake, however,” I continued, ignoring my rival’s stuttering attempts at speech. “You sent in someone I could trace back to you. Sure, my HR’s regular background checks didn’t catch it at first, but few things escape the notice of the Russian mafia.”