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I bite back a groan as she wiggles, her breasts bouncing as she struggles to pull it over her body. It falls to mid-thigh, and the hard peaks of her nipples poke through the material.
“Do you want to tell me what’s going on?” I push myself into a seated position.
The sheet barely covers my naked body and does little to hide my very prominent erection, but Bianca keeps her eyes on the floor.
I hate when she doesn’t look at me, when she tries to shield her emotions as if she’s worried about what I might say.
If only she realized that all I care about is making her happy.
“I overheard you speaking with Dimitri the other night.” She plays with the buttons on my shirt.
I frown at her, trying to think what conversation she’s talking about. But then it dawns on me. “You were listening to our conversation?”
Her eyes flick to mine, flashing. “I was on my way to the lounge to talk to Mikhail about my phone, and I heard my name. If you want privacy, maybe close the door next time.”
“I would’ve thought it was a given not to listen in on other people’s private conversations.”
“And I thought it was a given to be straight with your wife. But then again, this isn’t exactly a marriage of norms.”
“You’re right, it isn’t.”
She’s silent for a moment, her cheeks flushed as she regards me.
I sigh. “I’m sorry you heard what you heard.”
“I don’t want some fake ass apology, Alexei. I shouldn’t have been surprised by what you said.”
“I keep thinking that if I can convince myself this is only business, then you can’t be used against me.”
“Is that all it is?”
“You don’t know what these men are willing to do to get what they want, Bianca. If they hurt you?—”
“I grew up in this world, Alexei, which is why your words mean jack shit to me.” She takes a breath, running her hands through her hair.
I can tell she’s trying hard not to cry, and my chest tightens at the thought of her being upset.
She shakes her head. “I hate that I let myself get caught up in this.”
“Trust me, I never thought for a moment that I would cross the line with you, but I can’t seem to fight it. Whatever this is.” I gesture between us.
“Me neither.”
“I lied to Dimitri.” Fuck it all. I never want to be the reason Bianca cries again. “I wanted to get him off my back. You and I both know this marriage is no longer purely about business. At least, it isn’t for me. Hasn’t been for a long time.”
She looks up at me under dark lashes as she takes her lower lip between her teeth.
“It isn’t for me, either.”
I shift over to the edge of the bed, not caring to cover myself with the sheet. I just want her close, to feel her skin beneath my fingertips.
I reach for her, and she stalks toward me, moving to stand in between my thighs, her arms resting around my neck
“I care about you, Bianca.” I run my hands up and down the backs of her thighs. “This is just all new to me. I mean, you’re the first woman who I’ve actually spent the night with.”
She blinks. “Really?”
“Really. I’m terrified of getting close to someone and then having them ripped away from me. I’ve felt that pain before and I don’t know if I could survive it again.”
