Page 19 of Lord of Vice
“Um. Sylvester Morelli. Well, his asshole brother was there too but he did the dirty work.”
Huffing, he glanced out onto the patio. “It’s best you were fired. Fucking bastards.”
“Why?”
“You’ll need to trust me on that. I will take care of you.”
“You’ll take care of me? Like by keeping me as your concubine or something? Who are you, Kraven?”
His eyes twinkled. “I’m a well-respected businessman.”
“Uh-huh. Not good enough.” I took a sip, almost choking from the number of bubbles. The taste was extraordinary, flavor bursting in my mouth.
He seemed surprised I was defying him in any manner. “How about this, pretty Penny? I’m a dangerous man who should be feared.” He walked closer, his swagger far too appealing. I stoodmy ground, refusing to back down to him. Once he was within a foot, I was instantly intoxicated by his musky aftershave. Why hadn’t I noticed the enticing fragrance before, the combination of leather and whiskey, spices and citrus, the dash of a Cuban cigar undeniably refreshing.
And very masculine.
“Does that mean you’re going to hurt me?”
“No, pretty Penny. How could I hurt something so precious?” He almost whispered the words as he brushed some of my long hair behind my shoulders. The good girl inside of me told me to back away, but the naughty side, the one who hadn’t visited the world since my ex had manhandled me was simmering from the increasing heat. Soon, a raging fire would be ignited. I feared there would be no way of putting it out.
“Stop using my name.”
“Why, certainly,malyshka.”
“And I’m not your baby girl. If you’re not going to hurt me then what? You bring me here against my will. You tell me I belong to you.”
He curled his fingers, brushing them ever so gently against my cheek, adding to the delirious set of vibrations coursing through me. “First things first before I explain the rules. I’m not going to hurt you. However, I am going to punish you for your earlier infraction. When someone misbehaves, they deserve punishment, no matter if there’s a good outcome.”
“Meaning what?”
“Meaning I’m giving you what all bad girls deserve when they ignore the laws, including those of common sense. I’m giving you a hard spanking.”
CHAPTER 7
Kraven
Malyshka.
The taste of her sweet pussy lingered on my tongue, which in turn kept my cock far too preoccupied. Even the images floating in my mind were filthier than normal. I was a bad boy given all the dirty little things I wanted to do to my special… guest.
Very few people ever surprised me.
In the world I’d been brought into, I’d been nurtured to navigate my way through liars and thieves with ease, anticipating danger at every turn. That had kept me alive in a dark and dangerous world where violence and spilling blood was all in a day’s work. Fortunately, those events were few and far between.
Except when someone tried to end my life out of the blue. That meant I’d be forced to leave no stone unturned, no bad deed unpunished. That included with the beautiful, bloodstained woman standing in front of me with uncertainty in her eyes and potentially treachery in her mind. I couldn’t rule out she’dbeen used as a ringer, a lure to a man like me, finding out if I was inside the restaurant then tipping off the would-be killer. However, I found it impossible to believe she’d then turn around and save my life.
And the fact she had a dog with her inside a piece of crap car made my theory less believable.
One thing was certain. I fucking hated complications in my life and she’d stormed into my world at the worst possible time. I had more money than God, women waiting at my disposal, but I’d laid claim to a woman ten years younger and feistier than a cat in heat.
I was sensitive to the fact she’d saved my life; hell, even grateful. However, she’d seen something she shouldn’t have and that made this as complicated as possible. No matter how far I’d brought the Bratva since my father’s death, erasing complications was necessary every so often. By all rights, I should have her life snuffed out. But I couldn’t. Fuck. I wanted her, craving more than a mere taste.
Although Konstantin had warned me twice not to trust her, I found myself far too attracted, longing to get to learn more about her. Penny Valentine. The name meant nothing but it suited her perfectly. Her copper hair was like spun gold mixed with bronze, her eyes lighting up any space she walked into.
Yet vile thoughts of exactly what I was going to do to her entered my mind, unfurling like a very special Christmas present.
“What did you say to me?” Penny asked, her look of defiance turning to one of shock.