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Charlie presses another kiss to my lips, then he says, “Two o'clock is fine.” And he hangs up, shoving his phone away.
“Why are you talking about Maksim?” I pull away from him but I don't get far because his arm is still around my waist.
I grip his shoulders, wishing he'd put me down.
“I'm paying the Albanians a visit.” He doesn't teeter about telling me, which surprises me.
“The Albanians?” That girl who got fucked at the Prince's party springs to mind.
“Yeah,” Charlie says. Using his free hand, he tucks my hair back over my shoulder, really looking at me through heavy blue eyes. “Maksim is having a few issues with them, so I agreed to sort it.”
“Maksim is having problems... and he...he went toyou!instead of me?” I'm affronted. I cannot believe this!
I push against Charlie's chest, forcing him to drop me on my feet, and craning my neck all the way back, I look up at him.
“Why has he come to you and not me?”
“They're a little outa your league.” Pressing one hand against the wall beside my face, he cages me in, towering over me.
“Out of my league?” I ask, glowering, my body getting hot because he's doing this weird primal proximity thing. “What does that mean?”
Glancing between my eyes, he smiles at me. It's such a gorgeous smile that I can't stop my heart from going a little faster.
“They're quite dangerous-” he wipes across my upper lip with his thumb, as if he doesn't give a shit about what we're talking about, then he kisses me once more. He seems solely focused on me. “-Too dangerous for one small girl.”
I laugh sarcastically, folding my arms over my chest.“You actually believe that you best me with ease, don't you, Charlie?”
He doesn't answer me, but he thinks just that. It’s in his meditated stare; in his cunning, lax smile.
“Well, understand this: I put up a little bit of a fight in moments because my heart is in warfare with my head,” I put a finger to my temple, “not because I'm weaker than you. So when you have your way with me, know it's because I let you under Maksim's wishes. Nothing more.”
“Is that right?”
“You bet it is,” I speak through clenched teeth. “I do whatever Maksim says—I'm only here because he wants me to be here.”
Charlie hunches down, putting us face to face. “And if Maksim told you to come home right now?”
I point at the space between us, feeling like myself again. “I'd kick your ass if you didn't let me go, then I'd leave.”
“You really do think you could beat me in a fight, don't you?”
“Oh, I don't think. I know.”
He chuckles, standing back and crossing his arms. “Maybe one day-” he cocks his head, “-we'll get in the ring and battle it out.”
“Name the time and the place.” I'm so sure I'll beat him that I want him to say, 'right here, right now'. He doesn't, of course. He's just looking at me like he's gently taking off my clothes. My cheeks get hot, so I stare down at the floor. “I'll come with you to meet with the Albanians if you don't mind. You might find me useful.”
He scoffs, insulted. “Maksim might have no shame in having a tiny girl on his security detail, but I do.”
“Shame?” Glaring up at him, I cross my arms again, mimicking his pose. “I took you on—and almost vanquished you, might I add.”
He flashes the filthiest smirk, reaches out and gently pinches my chin. “Almost.”
I pull my chin out of his grasp. He starts chuckling again, his cheekbones clearly defined with that large smile.
“I'm not surprised Maksim sees you as his trophy. That lucky motherfucker has had you for far too long.”
“Charlie,” I say softly, thinking about Maksim, “I want to avoid any intimate conversations with you, if you don't mind.”
