I remembered Lena telling me all about her superior at the PR firm who stole her work and used it to get a job with Yuri. "I bet you have a lot of people try underhanded tricks to get on your payroll."
"Unfortunately," he agreed. "I don't often misjudge a person's character but it happens. Lately, though, I seem cursed when it comes to acquiring real talent. Take your friend, Lena, for example."
I narrowed my eyes, silently warning him to watch his step where she was concerned. "What about her?"
"I hired her old manager not long ago. He tried to work with the team I'd assembled but they don't gel. Apparently, he needs Lena at his side. She was his sounding board for coming up with brilliant, innovative ideas." He slid a little closer. "What do you think it would take for me to persuade her to come join me?"
"Yuri," I said his name carefully. "I don't think I'm the right person to ask about that, but if you want Lena so badly, you'll want to start off with an apology."
"For what?" He looked taken aback. "Did I offend her in some way?"
He seemed so genuinely distressed. I figured Lena would be upset with me, but knowing how hurt she was by the betrayal of her coworker, I decided to get in a little retribution for her.
"Yuri, don't you think it's a little strange that this PR guy you hired came to you with all these amazing ideas but hasn't been able to produce anything new since he joined your team? Did you ever wonder why he wanted you to hire Lena specifically? I mean, come on! His sounding board?"
Yuri's cheek tensed. "What are you saying, Benny?"
"You know exactly what I'm saying. You're a smart man, Yuri." Spelling it out for him, I explained, "That guy stole her ideas, the ideas she'd put together for 716 to keep them competitive with your new club, and brought them to you. He wanted to jump ship and he used Lena's hard work to get him there."
Yuri sat back and gazed at the far wall. Eventually, he said, "Have I really become that out of touch?" He swore in Russian. "No wonder she told me to go fuck myself when I offered her a job!" He cringed. "And then I really stepped in it by inviting her out for a trip on my yacht for the weekend."
I made a sympathetic face. "Yeah, she was pretty upset about that."
"Shit." He wiped a hand down his face. "You probably won't believe this but I panicked when she declined my job offer. I thought I could entice her to join the team if I showed her the perks of being in my employ." He grimaced. "Instead of treating her like the brilliant professional I know her to be, I fell back on my usual game. I tried to win her over by flashing money."
His body language spoke volumes. He seemed really disgusted with himself.
Touching his arm, I drew his attention. "Yuri, maybe you shouldn't try so hard."
His brow knitted. "What do you mean?"
"The yacht, the wining and the dining," I clarified. "That might impress a lot of women but it won't impress Lena. If anything, it's going to make her wary and suspicious. Where she comes from, men offer big, fancy gifts when they want one thing and one thing only."
"Shit."
"Look, you two come from very similar backgrounds. Why not start there?"
Yuri considered me for a moment before nodding. "But first I owe her an apology." His gaze skipped to the entrance of the VIP area where Vivian and Lena had appeared with Ivan and Erin. "And I think this is my chance. If you'll excuse me?"
I shot him an encouraging smile. "Good luck."
Sitting back, I watched Yuri greet them. He cautiously approached Lena and extended his hand. She reluctantly shook his hand but jerked back a little when he lowered his mouth to her ear. Still holding her hand, Yuri kept her from retreating. Her scowl slowly faded. When she pulled back and gazed up at him, I watched her expression soften. She nodded and Yuri gestured to a private area where they could talk.
"What in the world is that about?" Vivian wondered as she slid onto the couch next to me.
"I think Benny has been playing matchmaker," Erin said with a laugh.
"No!" I spread my hands out in front of me. "Not matchmaker in the romantic sense. There was a disagreement of the business variety between them and I helped smooth it out. That's all."
"Sure," Erin replied teasingly. She glanced over at the pair, now deep in discussion. "They wouldn't be a bad couple."
"Definitely not," I agreed.
"I don't know," Vivi said cautiously. "Yuri has a certain reputation. She's not looking for a guy like that. More importantly, Lena can be difficult. She has a lot of issues with trust."
"Can you blame her? Her mom walked out when she was a kid and never came back. That dad of hers is something else."
Vivian agreed with me. With a smile, she added, "But if Yuri is anything like Ivan or Dimitri he'll be too stubborn to let her walk away from him. You know how these guys are. They catch the scent of something they want and they never let it go."
As if on cue, Dimitri and Ivan joined us. Nikolai remained at the private bar and nursed his drink. I didn't miss the way his gaze lingered on Vivian before flicking away to survey the small crowd rubbing elbows around us. Erin stood just long enough for Ivan to slide underneath her before plopping down onto his lap.
Dimitri took the spot Yuri had occupied during our talk. He curled some of my hair around his finger and gave it a little tug. "Having fun, sweetheart?"
"Yes."
"You want to stay?"
"A little longer," I said, thoroughly enjoying myself. Though I really wanted to get home and see what kind of exquisite pleasure Dimitri had in store for me, I liked spending time with our friends. After living like a social hermit for the last few years, I realized how much I'd missed this.
When Lena finally joined us, she sat down next to me and pinched my thigh. I yelped softly and met her narrowed gaze. She wasn't mad but I sensed I would hear an earful about this in the very near future. She wagged her finger. "You are a very naughty girl."
I feigned ignorance. "Am I?"
With an arm around Nikolai and Lena's drink in his hand, Yuri made his way to the couches where we sat and chatted. I spotted the way Yuri so expertly manipulated Nikolai into sitting right next to Vivian before he perched on the arm of the couch next to Lena and handed over her drink. I wasn't sure what to make of the relationship between Nikolai and Vivian. From the looks of it, neither did they.
Sitting there, surrounded by Dimitri's friends and mine, I felt so incredibly lucky. All the laughing and the smiling and the little jokes—we were slowly becoming a cohesive unit. I wasn't sure how it was all going to play out but I felt optimistic.
Dimitri nuzzled my neck. His soft lips tickled me. "One dance and then I'm taking you home."
He clasped my hand and led me out of the VIP area. I stuck close to his broad back, relishing the heat and strength of him. A glance over my shoulder confirmed that Erin, Ivan, Vivi and Lena were close on my heels. It seemed Nikolai wasn't the dancing type and Yuri stayed behind to keep him company.
Down on the dance floor, Dimitri carved out a space for our small group. It was Lena who started dancing first. Sultry and sexy, she swung her hips and threw her hands in the air. That long, dark hair swished around her shoulders. She owned that beat and made it look so easy.
Grabbing Vivian by the waist, she dragged her close. My eyes widened slightly at the sensual display put on by the two friends. Lena rocked against Vivian, her hand still on her friend's hip. Vivi laughed and visibly relaxed. When a guy tried to grind up on Lena's ass, Vivi put one hand on his chest and shoved him back. With one move, she established the boundaries. He was smart enough to stay put.
For a big guy, Ivan moved with surprising finesse. He held Erin close and cupped the back of her head. As they swayed together, he claimed her mouth in a demanding kiss. She clutched at his arms and rose up on tiptoes to tangle her tongue with his.
The music slowed to a thumping, thudding beat. Not really comfortable on a dance floor, I glanced up at Dimitri. He smiled knowingly and spun me around so that I faced away from him.
Hands on my hips, he controlled my movements. The way he held me now reminded me of other, more intimate times we'd shared.
Closing my eyes, I relaxed under his strong, commanding hands. The low lighting and the packed dance floor afforded me enough anonymity to shed most of my inhibitions. When Dimitri's hands moved over my body, I inhaled shaky breaths. The rigid outline of his cock pressed against my back. Like him, I grew more and more aroused.
Hands skimming my curves, Dimitri nipped my earlobe. His mouth touched my ear. "I can't wait to get you home. I'm going to strip you naked and tie you up."
I gulped and tried to squeeze my thighs together to ease the pulsing heat between them but somehow Dimitri's hand had snaked under the back of my skirt. His hand prevented it. Those long, skilled fingers brushed the skimpy lace of my panties. I nearly came right there.
"Your pussy is so fucking hot already."
"Dimitri, please," I begged and silently prayed the dimmed lights wouldn't brighten. If we stepped out of the shadows, anyone would be able to see where he'd hidden his hand.
"Please what, Benny? Please take you home and strip you? Please tie you up? Please fuck your tight, wet cunt until you come so hard you pass out?"
"Yes. All of it. Please," I pleaded breathless. Turning my face, I touched my lips to his. "Take me home, Dimitri."
*
Dimitri couldn't get Benny out of that club fast enough. Familiar with the layout, he took her out a side entrance that opened to the street closest to the parking lot where he'd left his truck. She scurried along beside him, her fingers tight around his. Craving her sweet mouth, he stopped every few feet to kiss her. She whimpered against his lips and pressed her breasts to his chest. The temptation to pick her up and take her right there against the wall of the building nearly toppled him. Somehow he managed to find the strength to keep it together.
At his truck, he wasted no time unlocking the door. When he picked her up, she squealed with surprise and giggled. The high-pitched sound traveled right to his aching balls. He'd heard her make that noise before, usually when he had his tongue on her clit.
"Wait," Benny panted and pushed at his chest, stopping him from dropping her on the passenger seat and buckling her belt. "How much have you had to drink tonight?"
He frowned at her question. "Not much."
She narrowed her gaze and studied him. "I think we have different definitions of what is or isn't too much. You had vodka and beer at dinner. I saw you drinking more vodka with your boys."
He started to argue with her but realized she was right. He had imbibed more than usual. It had been so long since he'd been out with his brothers, all of them together and surrounded by their beautiful women. He'd gotten too relaxed and had accepted too many free drinks.
Benny playfully walked her fingers down his stomach and slid her small hand into his pocket. The little temptress made sure to glide her fingertips over the rigid length of his cock before removing his keys. Biting back a groan, Dimitri let Benny have her fun.
"Put me down. I'm driving. You're riding in this seat."
He didn't put her down. Showing her who made the rules, he carried her around to the driver's seat and placed her in his seat. While he adjusted the chair's position, he informed her, "I'm letting you drive."
She rolled her eyes. "Uh-huh."
Laughing, he pecked her cheek and shut the door. She started the truck as he climbed onto the passenger seat. Even tipsy, he recognized that he was incredibly lucky to have a woman confident enough to tell him no. If she'd let him drive, he probably would have made it home safely but it wasn't a risk he was willing to take.
Watching Benny drive his oversized truck made him smile. Here in Texas it wasn't uncommon to see petite beauties like her sitting behind the wheels of jacked-up trucks. She looked good there, like she belonged—and she did. In his truck, in his arms, in his bed, Benny belonged with him.
At the bakery, Benny pulled into the parking spot he preferred. The moment she killed the ignition, he flicked off his belt and reached for her. If there had been enough room in that front seat, he would have flipped up her skirt and unzipped his jeans to have her. She burned him up, left him panting and aching with need so strong it rendered him insatiable.
Somehow, they finally made it out of the truck. The horn chirped when she pressed the lock button on the key fob. He was on her in a second, pinning her between his body and the truck. She gripped the front of his shirt in both hands as he devoured her mouth, stabbing his tongue between her lips and tasting the slight hint of lemon and lime still clinging to her.
"Inside," she panted. "We have to get inside, Dimitri."
With a growl of agreement, he swept her up into his arms and dropped her over his shoulder. She giggled loudly and smacked his ass. "What are you doing?"
"Taking you inside." He slid his hand up her bare thigh and under her skirt. With a hand clamped on her bottom, he hurried to the metal staircase and took the steps two at a time to reach his apartment. Remembering Benny had his keys, he reached back and wiggled his fingers. "Keys, sweetheart."
She slapped them into his hand. He fumbled with the lock and finally got them inside. Kicking the door closed, he flipped the deadbolt and carried her to the nearest flat surface—the dining table. Mouths mating, they tore at one another's clothing. He toed off his shoes and socks and pushed her pumps out of the way so he wouldn't trip over them in the semi-darkness.
The lamp he'd left on lent a soft glow to the room. With his shirt gone and his jeans on the floor, he tugged at her dress, ripping it over her head and throwing it behind him. Her lacy panties and strapless bra soon joined the dress. Naked and trembling with desire, she reached for him. Dimitri crushed their mouths together and kissed her until she whimpered.
Cradling the back of her head, he guided her down to the table top and dropped to his knees. In only his boxers now, he knelt at the table's side and dragged Benny's ass right to the very edge. She cried out when he attacked her sweet pussy. "Dimitri!"
He groaned against her clit and lashed the swollen bundle of nerves with his tongue. Already, she dripped for him. He could spend the rest of his life just like this, with his mouth latched onto her clit and her slick honey coating his chin, and never tire of it.
She thrashed on the tabletop and smacked the wood with her flattened palms. He swirled his tongue over the tiny nub and penetrated her with a finger. She moaned with such desperation and lifted her hips. Loving the way she responded, he slid a second finger into her slippery channel and started to thrust fast and shallow. Her keening cries grew higher and higher in pitch as he drove her wild with his tongue and fingers.
When she came, he held her down, forcing her to take even more of his tongue lashing. She shrieked and rocked her hips but he didn’t let go. Tonight, he wanted her limp and breathless and hovering on the verge of passing out before he was done with her.
He sensed when she'd had enough, maybe too much, and slowed to a gentle flicking rhythm. She purred like a kitten and scratched her nails across his scalp while he lapped slowly at her tender folds. Petting her lower belly, he finally abandoned her pussy and peppered noisy kisses up her thighs and along the slope of her stomach. He captured her mouth in a long, hard kiss and pinched her nipple. Gasping, she arched into him. "Dimitri…"
Chuckling, he soothed her nipple with his tongue. "Bedroom?"
"Yes." She caressed his cheek. "I seem to remember you promising to tie me up tonight."
He spotted the glint of excitement in her dark eyes. His chest tightened with anticipation as he thought of the surprise he had in store for her. Grasping her hands, he hauled her into a sitting position and lifted her off the table. Without saying a word, he led her into his bedroom. Instead of the harsher overhead light on the ceiling fan, he chose the two lamps on either side of his bed. Their dimmer, softer bulbs kept the mood just right.
Still holding her hand, he dragged Benny over to the wide, deep closet. He knew the moment she spotted
the contraption he'd installed that afternoon. Her feet faltered and she bumped into his side. "Is that—? Did you—? A sex swing!"
He couldn’t help but laugh at her scandalized tone. Sliding his arms around her waist, he buried his face in the curve of her neck and inhaled the sweet scent of her perfume. The silky ends of her hair tickled his skin. "The first night we were together we played a little game. Do you remember?"
She nodded. "Red, green or yellow."
"Yes." He reached out and gave the kinky contraption a swat. The metal hooks and rings jingled as it swayed back and forth. "What do you say, Benny?"
She didn't even hesitate. Glancing back at him, she grinned with excitement. "Green."
Chapter Eleven
My tummy fluttered wildly as I stared at the black swing dangling in Dimitri's closet. A quiver of fear struck me but my curiosity was stronger. I'd read enough steamy romances to have an idea of how these worked. It always seemed like something that I would only be able to fantasize about, but like Dimitri's restraints our first night together, this was another fantasy about to come true for me.
He caressed my breasts and nibbled my earlobe. "What are you thinking, sweetheart?"
I loved the way he called me pet names. Smiling, I confessed, "I was thinking that you're making all these wicked fantasies I never spoke aloud to anyone come true."
"That reminds me," he said quietly. "I still need to poke through your bookshelves to see these dirty books you've been reading. I could use some inspiration."
Giggling, I melted into his warm embrace. Dimitri's hot, hard body felt so damn good pressed up against me. Lust began to overwhelm me. Before I became dizzy with need, I asked, "Is this thing safe?"
He snorted and kissed my neck. "I made sure to reinforce the spot in the ceiling where it's attached. I also tested it myself. If it will hold me while I'm bouncing up and down, it will definitely hold you."