Page 42 of Savage Little Lies

A smile stretches across my face, but my mind quickly focuses back on Dmitri. Hopefully, he’s in a decent mood today despite my delays.

I open the double doors and step inside.

“There you are,” Dmitri says, something sharp and eager in his tone.

I walk up to his desk and set the takeout bag and the envelope down in front of him. “I’m sorry about being late for lunch. Gabe was concerned about a possible security threat, and that slowed me down.”

Dmitri watches me as I pull a few to-go boxes out of the paper bag. “What was the security threat?”

“It was just some random guy that Gabe thought was watching me,” I say with an unbothered shrug. I motion to the clasp envelope. “Jacobson signed the paperwork, so we’re good to go there. He should be getting in touch soon for a meeting with you.”

Dmitri’s eyes narrow a degree. “A guy was watching you?”

I pause and look up at him, not expecting him to latch on to that part out of all that I said. “It’s not a big deal. I think he was just…admiring me.”

Dmitri hums under his breath as he leans back in his chair, his hand briefly rubbing his jaw. “I guess I can’t blame him. Not when you’re wearing a skirt like that.”

Heat spreads across my cheeks as I glance down at the black pencil skirt that I have on. It’s a tad short, and it hugs my curves perfectly.

“I apologize if you don’t think it’s appropriate, sir,” I reply as I fidget with the ends of it, making a sorry attempt to pull the fabric farther down my thighs.

“I can barely think with you standing there like that,” Dmitri replies as he stares at my exposed legs the skirt doesn’t cover.

My eyes widen. He’s never spoken to me like this before.

“I can go home and change,” I offer. He’ll never ask me to do that, though. He’s entranced, and I can’t help but enjoy it.

Dmitri shakes his head. “Don’t change,” he says, voice low. “Not a thing, milaya.”

My heart pounds hard and fast as I stare at him, unsure of what to do or say. I thought I would have to push him some more to reach this point, but it looks like he got there himself. Something snapped in him.

“Yes, sir,” I say as I join my hands behind me, not obstructing the view of my outfit.

Dmitri stares like he’s drinking in the sight of me. No man has ever looked at me this way before. I enjoy his attention way too much.

Nervousness flutters low in my stomach as I stand there on display. He’s been driving me crazy lately, always so dark and brooding in his perfectly tailored suits or with his sleeves rolled up to reveal forearm porn.

I can’t afford distractions.

“Are you hungry?” I manage to say.

“Always,” Dmitri replies, his eyes not leaving mine.

Something tells me that he isn’t talking about food. Regardless, I grab his food containers and chopsticks, then lean across his desk to place them in front of him.

Dmitri tilts his head a little. “You’ll stay here for the rest of the day. Where I can keep an eye on you.”

“Worried about me?” I ask as I straighten back up, lunch becoming the last thing on my mind. He’s eating me up with his eyes, and I’m not going to stop him.

I encourage it. For the plan and, admittedly, for myself.

I’m only human, and he’s attractive. But that’s all there is between us.

“Worried? Yes, always,” Dmitri replies, not touching his food just yet. “But mostly I just want you where I can see you, no one else.”

A smile teases my lips. “Then, I’ll happily stay here and work.”

A satisfied expression settles on his face before he opens the box with his seaweed salad inside. He starts eating, and the silence, free from his flirting and teasing, allows me to actually take a deep breath and gather myself.