Page 39 of Bought By Sin

Having the Volkov family here kept it busy enough that I went unnoticed.

At least, I went unnoticed by the rest of them. Lev, however, failed to mask how often he watched me. Each time I glanced up and registered his gaze on me, I lowered my head and tried to preoccupy myself with something on the table.

Eventually, they all left. Lev remained, though, and I felt like I’d snap under the pressure of his stare on me.

“Say something, Mila.”

I swallowed hard, unsure about letting him have that piece of me, to be allowed into my thoughts. “I’m not a guest.”

He raised his brows. “Who said you were?”

Ouch. Really fucking ouch. But I couldn’t hate him for saying it. I needed that reality check.

“What do you expect of me, having me eat with them?”

He shrugged, beckoning his finger for me to get up and come to him. Once I stood next to him, he slid his plate aside and moved me to stand in front of him, my ass against the edge of the table. “It felt natural for you to be here. To celebrate my birthday.” A sexy, roguish smile changed his face as he stood. Without any explanation, he lifted me and set me on the edge of the table.

“Happy birthday,” I stated.

He smirked, leaning into my space. His hands rested at either side of my ass and his face was inches from mine.

“Thanks.”

“I wasn’t aware that I should’ve been prepared for it.”

He straightened, setting his hands on my thighs and urging them apart so he could stand between them.

Oh, fuck.

What’s going on?

What are you doing?

I couldn’t ask. He’d hear the desperation in my voice.

“If you had known it was my birthday, would you have wanted to give me a gift?”

I didn’t flinch despite my heart racing. His scent filled my nose. His body heat radiated toward me. I itched to touch him, but I wouldn’t dare. “I don’t have anything to give you.”

“I beg to differ.” He stroked his hands over my thighs, caressing the bare skin that wasn’t covered by my shorts. “Last night, your submission was a gift.” He cupped my chin and kissed me.

I hated to sink into him. I dreaded closing my eyes and drowning under the tender possession of his lips against mine.

“The idea that you can open up to me is a gift I’ve been wanting since I first saw you.”

I frowned. “Open up to you?”

Does he mean opening my legs for him, or something else?

He nodded, lowering his left hand until he could cup my ass with it. Holding me and stepping forward, he made it so we were practically flush together.

“You won’t tell me anything about you. You won’t share about your past.”

I swallowed hard, confused why he’d care. How he could try to pretend that he cared who I was. I was a person he ‘bought’. He had a contract for my service.

“I’m… hesitant,” I explained.

He tipped my chin up to kiss me. “Why?”