Page 55 of The Arrangement

“And what was happening?”

A beat of silence passed before she answered with a solid, “Nothing.”

The gun case dropped to the floor, Anton’s foot kicking out to move it aside. “You sure, baby?”

“Yeah, nothing. It was dark, so I didn’t see very much.”

“Good to know.”

Viviana couldn’t help but enjoy the change in his demeanor. In fact, it had shifted like a switch going off when they left the safe house. It might have been his birthday and his party, but it was clearly just another work day for Anton. Very rarely did she get to see him acting like the mob boss he really was, and it hadn’t been something that turned her on like it was now.

“It won’t happen again,” she promised quietly, looking up to meet his gaze again.

“Actually, I’m sure it will, and the next time, I can expect you to turn around and ignore what you’re seeing, yes?”

She wet her lips with her tongue, letting her fingers dance along the black licks of his vine tattoo that barely peaked out from under his rolled up shirt. The defined, rock hard muscles of his forearm twitched under her touch.

“Yes …”

Anton raised a brow. “Are you playing coy with me right now? This isn’t a joke, Vine.”

“I know—”

“No, I don’t believe you do. This is Brighton Beach, Viviana. The men that walk in and out of here aren’t going to be like Ivan digging through our fridge or Erik drinking us out of vodka. They are not my spies, they are my soldiers. This is my territory. I run these fucking streets and more so here than anywhere else, my last name draws attention. Here, I’m not Anton, a friend, or anything like that. I am just Boss.”

“Okay.”

“I need to know you understand me. That you’re hearing this.”

Fuck, it would be so much better if she weren’t so goddamn turned on just by the dominant sound his voice had taken on, not to mention the tantalizing toy in her rear that was keeping her body awake and ready with every slight movement. No, there was no forgetting that, either. Maybe his birthday hadn’t been the best time for the toy, considering everything. Even so, Viviana couldn’t deny the lust that raged through her veins like an inferno intent on destroying what little control she had left.

“I’m … I hear you. I do,” she insisted when he grunted a disbelieving noise above her. “You know how much I hate to use the term behave, but this is one of those situations, right? I mean, you can’t come in here and be just Anton, so why should I expect to come in here acting like I’m just Vine. It’s not … we can’t. I understand that.”

The slightest tilt of her head under his urging had his lips meeting hers softly. She could taste the remnants of bourbon so thick on his tongue when it probed gently inside her mouth. She let her fingers twist into his shirt, wanting him just a little bit closer.

“Thank you.” Without another word, the remote that had been tucked into her hand was back in his, a wicked gleam playing in his eyes. “Had to send it up, but I think I’ll take it back for a little while now. Couldn’t chance it, you know?”

Viviana swallowed, letting her forehead rest on his cheek. “You have pockets in your pants.”

“It might get turned on accidentally. I am being discreet, Vine, or trying to be …” For that, she was grateful. “For now.”

Oh, God. “You wouldn’t.”

“I might, if I catch my future wife spying on me again. Seriously, it’s not so much that it pisses me off as it’s terribly unsafe for you to be in positions like that.” Again, he lifted her face, his thumbs rolling over her jaw tenderly. “And what would I do if something happened to you, huh? Locked up in my office while you’re aware there are people here is a different story. They don’t know you’re here and I prefer it that way. Some of these men … you don’t even know, baby.”

“You’re one of those men, Anton.”

Instantaneously, his spine turned ramrod straight, but she didn’t even have the chance to apologize. Catching her off guard, a hand slipped under that short dress of hers, the heat of his palm cupping her sex as his fingers slid against the crack of her ass. The toy jerked to life inside her rear on the second speed, nearly sending Viviana to her knees from the shock, pleasure, and vague hum of pain that burst through every nerve ending she had.

“Oh—”

His voice was a dark sound in her ear, growled through clenched teeth and enough to make her shake. “So, I can go on assuming you’re so fucking wet because of that young man who just left, instead of believing it might have been because the sight of me with a gun on my shoulder got you so damned hot you couldn’t think straight, right?”

Jesus, Viviana couldn’t even speak. His fingers moved her thong aside with a skilful movement, finding where the vibrating plug was driving her absolutely insane inside her ass and pushing the toy a little further in.

Once more, he thrust the toy inside her ass a little harder, giving her the best burn and the sweetest pleasure at the same time. The harsh rhythm of his fingers and the plug fucking her ass had her legs trembling and an orgasm ready to crash onto her like a tidal wave. The heady cry was muffled into his neck as Anton drove her close enough into his hips that she could feel the growing erection pressed to her middle.

“It’s … it-it’s …”