“You’re wearing my shirt.”
She pressed kisses to his throat and then gave him a look that told him she wasn’t happy he’d interrupted their kisses with something so mundane.
“It isn’t like I have any clothes here, Mitya. I thought about sneaking out and going to the house to get some, but I knew you wouldn’t like it. And Sevastyan said if I did it again, he’d insist you punish me.” She tossed her head, sending her hair flying, her eyes flashing fire, body posture stating “just try it.”
Mitya couldn’t help but laugh. Sevastyan might think he could intimidate Ania, but he didn’t think anyone could—with the exception of him, and that wasn’t going to last long.
“You’re so right, I wouldn’t have liked you sneaking off. Your skills are extraordinary, but the guards are all leopard.”
“So were my grandparents and parents as well as Annalise,” she said, smugness evident. “I had to learn to be even better at sneaking out than other children. It became sort of a game. They knew I was going to try, and they did what they could to prevent me going out on my own, mostly, by the way, to race cars. I love street racing. I could be anonymous. No one knew who I was. I loved it.”
He tugged her hair. “I won’t like it if you sneak out and try street racing. You’re done with that.”
She shrugged. “I did promise you, and I keep my word. But I am going to keep up my skills. That’s important to me.”
He began to undo the buttons on the shirt, unwrapping her like a gift. “Later, we’ll get your clothes. I have plans for this morning.” He looked at the sky, already becoming light with the dawn. “Dymka has them as well.”14DYMKA was giving him hell. Every step Mitya took hurt like a son of a bitch. He couldn’t stop thinking about sex. He couldn’t stop the hot blood coursing through his veins. Ania was being driven just as hard, so that even though she was trying to get her things together, she rubbed her body along the bed seductively. Unknowingly. But Mitya saw every single detail and inhaled the pheromones she was throwing off with every breath he took.
Mitya stayed close to Ania as she moved around her bedroom, pulling clothes from her drawers and closet. She folded them meticulously, placing each item in the suitcase. She wandered around the room several times and then would go back to choosing various pieces of clothing to take. He knew the trip would be emotional and would take a toll on her. It didn’t help that the leopard’s heat was riding her so hard.
With every other article of clothing she chose, she would lift her arms and smooth back her hair, shake the long, thick mass out and then go back to folding her clothes. Each time she did it, his body felt like she was taking a flaming whip and lashing him, sending streaks of fire straight to his cock.
She wore only his shirt and nothing else. He liked it on her. She’d chosen one of his dress shirts, a light blue with long sleeves. She had them rolled up and the hem fell almost to her knees. The shirt was longer in the back and front, showing her thighs and sometimes, when she walked or picked something up, the creamy curve of her hips. He knew he shouldn’t be thinking inappropriate thoughts when she was emotional. It was difficult to watch her as she chose each item, and he couldn’t help but let his mind wander to other things, especially when her body language was blatantly seductive.
“Ania, we’ve got movers coming to pack everything. You only need a few clothes, just enough to get through the next couple of days.” His voice was gruffer than he intended.
She looked up, frowning at him. “It’s difficult to know what I’m going to need.”
He didn’t want to point out to her that she was wearing his shirt and as far as he was concerned, that was all she would ever need. He knew the moment he said something she would change immediately, so he kept his mouth shut.
When they’d woken, he’d made love to her slowly. Gently. He wanted her to feel what he was feeling when he looked at her or touched her. The leopards had taken over almost the moment they were finished, leaping out of the house, exploring the acreage and stopping every fifteen or twenty minutes to mate. Jewel’s heat was driving them, and because they’d had so many interruptions, the heat seemed more intense. Mitya felt driven every time he saw or scented Ania. He could barely keep his hands to himself, and he knew she was suffering as well.
The constant burning had to be difficult to cope with, but Ania tried. He suggested they get some clothes for her and search her family home for anything that might point them in the direction of where her grandfather had stashed the package he’d kept. She complied without a protest, even though she only had his shirt to wear and the material rubbed on her nipples, making the burn even hotter.