Modern Romance Collection: January 2018 Books 1 -4. Dani Collins
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home this evening.’
Alexei’s seemingly normal statement following breakfast the next morning caused Natalya’s breath to momentarily catch in her throat.
We?
Her fingers momentarily paused from keying words into her laptop.
Surely she’d misheard?
‘I’m sure you’ll enjoy spending time with her,’ she offered with genuine sincerety as she set her fingers tapping on the keys.
There was a need to transcribe recorded notes from the previous day’s meeting, prior to lunch and a mid-afternoon consult...when casual attire would be exchanged for suit, heels to present a more professional image.
Vastly different from his current casual attire of black fitted jeans and black tee shirt which emphasised the breadth of his shoulders, powerful flex of toned forearm musculature...the taut stomach, narrow waist and six-pack abs. The fact he worked out was evident in every move he made.
It made her want to explore. To track every muscle, the hard flex and tone with her hands. Purr with pleasure at the thought of dragging the tee shirt from his body, to tease and caress his bare skin...with the familiar touch of a lover.
Exult in his response, the faint catch in his breath when she unbuckled the belt at his waist, slid the studded button free, then slowly freed the zip of his jeans in a slow sensuous play that could only have one end...almost crying out as he mimicked each movement she made, slowly, with exquisite care. The almost reverent touch as he cupped each breast, lowered his head to taste one nipple, and drove her wild as he used his mouth to draw it deep and suckle, before slowly withdrawing to shift focus to its twin.
The way she trailed a hand over his stomach to trace the extended length of him, feel, rather than sense his indrawn breath, the shift in his body as he lifted his head and claimed her mouth in erotic possession...until extended foreplay wasn’t enough. Nor the whispered words inciting the sensual promise of sexual pleasure.
Stop right there, a silent voice echoed in Natalya’s mind. Mentally reliving an erotic memory of what they’d once shared served no purpose.
Almost as if Alexei knew, his dark eyes lifted and held her own for what seemed to be a long minute, when it could only have been a few seconds.
She couldn’t move, nor did she have the power to utter a word.
A lost moment in time, brief...but it took an age before she managed to gather herself together and gain a sense of focus on the prosaic...laptop, transcribing notes.
Yet her mind lingered... Five years on there was a maturity evident, an innate knowledge of the man he had become. A certain ruthlessness apparent that almost alluded to an element of danger should anyone be sufficiently foolish to attempt to thwart him...on any level.
He possessed charm, respect, loyalty, and employed each characteristic facet with ease. Yet he possessed the ability to freeze an opponent with a mere glance; the power to walk away from a prospective deal without so much as a second’s hesitation.
Was that how he treated his women?
Don’t go there.
‘The invitation includes you.’
Natalya’s fingers inadvertently touched a wrong key, and a silent epithet echoed inside her head as she turned towards him.
Professional, she could manage. Sharing dinner with Alexei’s mother was in a different category entirely.
‘Will I be required to take notes this evening?’ The query held polite civility, and one as his PA she was entitled to ask.
Alexei’s expression remained unchanged. ‘Possibly, given my two brothers and I form part of a European-based business partnership. Although primarily the evening will be a family gathering.’
Her stomach executed a slow roll of discomfort. She didn’t do family...specifically not an ex-lover’s family.
A slightly hysterical laugh rose and died in her throat. Like she’d had more than one lover?
A couple of close encounters that hadn’t ended well, when there had been the expectation of more than she was prepared to indulge.
‘Given the evening is family-oriented, and any business matters are unlikely to be discussed on a level requiring my presence,’ she inclined, ‘I’ll—’
‘Pass?’ Alexei lifted one eyebrow. ‘My mother is expecting you. My sister-in-law will be delighted to have you there to tone down what she refers to as excessive male testosterone.’ A faint smile curved the edges of his mouth. ‘Despite qualifying affection for her two brothers-in-law.’
‘I don’t think it’s appropriate.’
‘What are you afraid of, Natalya?’ His eyes held a glimmer of dark humour. ‘We might be issued an invitation to stay overnight?’
In the same bedroom? How much of her former relationship with Alexei was his family aware of?
Almost as if he knew the passage of her thoughts, he offered quietly, ‘Any fears you might have are completely groundless.’
Were they? So why this feeling of heightened awareness? She didn’t want or need a reminder of what they’d once shared. She’d dealt with the past, moved on, created a pleasant life for herself.
Who do you think you’re fooling?
‘I agree,’ she managed firmly. ‘For each of us.’
Alexei moved in close before she had time to draw breath and laid his mouth over her own in what began as an explorative kiss that soon changed and became something else.
She wanted to protest, and lifted both hands to create a distance between them, only to have them falter as the years melted away as she was transported back to a place and time where everything was right between them.
She had no recollection of the passage of time...only the assault on her senses as he brought her emotions alive in a manner that tripped her heart into rapid beat.
Heaven, and then some, as she began to respond, uncaring at that moment where it might lead...and if it did, would she gain the emotional strength to step away?
Then he released her, and the room came into focus...together with reality.
There was a need to breathe in a conscious effort to still each throbbing pulse in her body...acutely sensitive to the once familiar touch personally geared to send her totally undone. As it had in the past.
‘An experiment, Alexei?’ She even managed to inject a shred of disdain into her voice, caught the dark glitter in his gaze before it was masked, and she valiantly ignored the sudden lump that rose in her throat.
There was only the heavy thud of her heartbeat as she sought to bring wildly swirling emotions under control. The words I hate you remained unsaid...just.
Or was it herself she hated? For momentarily succumbing to the special magic they’d once shared. And its vivid reminder.
‘An answer.’
Which didn’t sit well with her at all. ‘You think?’
With forced calm she crossed to the mirror, extracted her lipstick, repaired the damage, then she caught up her satchel, included her laptop, recording device, added sundry necessities...and moved towards the front door of their hotel apartment, all too aware of his close proximity as they rode the elevator down to lobby level. Prepared, in essence, to become the quintessential PA as business meetings were due to unfold for the day ahead.
CALISTA DELANDROS RESIDED in an elite part of Georgetown.
A slender elegantly attired woman who welcomed her son with a warm hug, before extending a hand in greeting