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“I am not threatening him, yet.” He reached up to flick the R hanging from her collar. “Toney will recognize this for what it is. He might have been willing to harass and intimidate you, but he will think twice about offering me insult by trying to harm you or put you in an uncomfortable situation. He knows me and knows that I protect what is mine.”
“And you think I’m yours?” she asked vaguely as she laid back down beside him.
Again, he reached up to flick the R. “I know it for a fact, as do you.”
Not knowing how to respond, Emerson chose just to enjoy the solace he seemed to offer.
VIKTOR
Viktor didn’t like what he was hearing. He hoped she would take comfort in knowing that she and her sisters were beyond Toney’s grasp, that he would never be able to harm any of them again. Emerson wasn’t the only one who believed Toney had had a hand in their parents’ death, but like her, Viktor couldn’t prove it. As much as he wanted to tell her everything, and believed she had a right to know, telling her anything could topple the house of cards he had constructed at the behest of MI-6. They suspected Toney was involved in some pretty shady enterprises in the US, the UK, and the UAE.
As her breathing evened out and he felt her body relax, he wondered when she had become important to him. He’d never planned to do anything more than enjoy her company and her body. No one was more surprised than him that he’d placed the white and red diamond choker around her neck. But it was there now, and he planned to keep it there.
Next to him, in the drawer of the table next to the bed, he could hear a mobile phone vibrating. There were very few people who had that number, none of whom would call without a good reason. He answered the phone.
“Romanov,” said Fitzwallace on the other end. “We need to talk about you heading up a new Cerberus unit in Charleston.”
“I know you’d been talking to Damon about that…”
“Damon’s too busy being led around by his dick by that hellion he’s engaged to.”
“I very much doubt Miley leads him around by anything, much less his dick. And you should talk; you’re not much better about JJ.”
There was silence on the other end, and he wondered if he’d actually managed to insult the Scotsman.
“You’ll find, auld son, when you find the woman, it’s not necessarily a bad thing to let them think they’re actually in charge once in a while. But that’s not what I called about. Damn it, Romanov, I flew down here to talk to you personally.”
“You flew down here because JJ wanted to attend the gala.” That wasn’t the only reason, but Emerson—who was trying to look like she wasn’t listening in, but was—didn’t need to know that. “Meet me in my office in thirty minutes.”
“Good man.”
Viktor leaned down to press a kiss to Emerson’s lips. “I need to meet with Fitzwallace. I would prefer if you stayed the night with me.”
“Is that a request?” she asked, an impish grin on her face.
He nipped her shoulder. “You would do well to learn when to just say, yes Master.”
“Yes, Master,” she sighed as she leaned back in bed, not pulling the covers with her so that her beautiful breasts with their pert and stiff nipples were put on display.
He traced an outline of her areola, before tugging the tip at its center. “These really do need to be decorated. I just can’t decide if it should be temporary or permanent.”
She batted his hand away playfully. “Jerk.”
He tweaked her nipple. “Master.”
“Yes, Master,” she said with a smile.
Temporary would probably be best for now. But down the road he might have them pierced with something exquisite so that she was continually reminded of her submission to him. As he’d already collared her, there would be no collaring ceremony as part of their wedding. Wedding? When the hell had that become a part of his thinking, and why didn’t the thought of keeping her permanently concern him? He realized that what was more concerning was the thought of losing her, and that he would never allow.
Viktor pulled on a pair of undyed linen trousers and an olive-green silk knit sweater. He didn’t bother with underwear or socks, but slipped his feet into a pair of Ferragamo loafers and went downstairs to meet with Fitzwallace. As the elevator door closed, he realized how content he was knowing Emerson would be waiting for him. He chuckled to himself. She didn’t really have a choice—she had no idea how to access the elevator.
While waiting for Fitz, he poured himself a good amount of single-malt scotch and turned on the security cameras located in his apartment. He watched as Emerson got up, stretched, and reached for his discarded shirt. She made her way over to the arched, floor-to-ceiling windows and stood, framed by the sunlight, as she looked outside.
There was a knock on the door. “Come,” he called without turning around.
Fitz entered his office, saw what he was looking at and shook his head. “You really don’t trust anyone, do you?”
Viktor shrugged, keeping his back to Fitz as he watched Emerson. He trusted Emerson far more than he should, but there was no reason to tell Fitz that.
