When I woke up this morning, I thought I was ready, but I think I chickened out, and that argument was a way of pumping the brakes.”
Relief flooded through him so quickly it took his breath away. Catching her small hand in his, he kissed the finger across his lips and then pressed his lips against her palm. Feeling her shake at his touch made him so hard he ached, and even though he knew he shouldn’t, he pulled her into his arms. She sank into him and his senses were flooded with the scent of her wet heat. His need to know the taste of her was fierce, and it shamed him that his touch was hungry instead of gentle, as he felt it should be. He cupped her heat and she gasped and moaned his name. Then she rocked her hips against him. It was all the encouragement he needed. It thrilled him, the wetness of her panties along the seam of her lips, and the pooling beneath her. Her mouth found his as his tongue swept into her mouth his fingers slipped beneath her panties and slid along the seam of her, and her body quaked against him.
Feeling her juices multiply at his touch made his head swim. His little virgin was almost ready for him. Almost, but not quite yet, he allowed only a single finger to slide inside her. She was so wet she was practically dripping for him, and it made his cock so hard he was afraid he’d lose control. Elise moaned his name and he fought for control, to remember her pleasure was w
hat he needed to focus on. Later, when he had shown her all that she would enjoy, and she became comfortable in his bed, he would reap the rewards. But if he scared her, he could damage her fragile outlook on sex and love, and the thought of doing that to her terrified him.
“You told me you touched yourself while you thought of me the other night. Have you touched yourself again, my sweet?” He pushed into her tight channel and found the evidence of her virginity still intact. Knowing the first time he entered her would bring her pain caused him to soften almost immediately.
With a blush, she nodded, kissed his neck, and then her tongue played along his skin. “Now that I know what you look like the thought of you inside me was a little scary, but I still want you so badly. Dmitri, oh—”
Whatever she was going to say was lost in a gasp as his finger found the tight bundle of nerves and toyed with it lightly. Her head went back and he loved watching the play of emotions across her face. He needed to put them both out of their misery. Caressing the sweet little nub with gradual pressure, she came apart in his arms with a high-pitched cry of his name. Pulling her tighter against him, he held her while she trembled. With a sigh, he removed his fingers from beneath her panties, but he allowed himself to taste her as he sucked his finger in deeply with enjoyment. She was sweet, so very sweet, was all he could think as his tongue tasted her.
“Dmitri, I was ashamed of how wet I get for you, but watching you do that, makes me wetter than before.”
“Do not be ashamed at your sexual desires, be they for me or anything else that arouses you. Sex is a need that is just as important as the need for food or air. There should be no shame in what we do or feel. I love how wet you are for me. It shows me in ways you don’t yet feel comfortable sharing, how much you want me. You also taste so good to me that I’m looking forward to bringing you to climax with just my tongue in your sweet pussy.”
His words once again shocked her and she pulled him down to her to kiss him silent because, dear lord, she just didn’t think she could take anymore. For the first time she was demanding. Dmitri allowed her tongue to roam within his mouth, tasting and stroking until they were both breathless.
Dmitri pulled away, rested his forehead against hers, and answered the phone she hadn’t heard ringing. “What?” He bit out the word.
She could hear Drew sounding insistent and Dmitri was tense against her. “Buy the damned stock and have the plane ready to go by nine tonight. No, Elise will remain in Chicago. Since this will be complete before I even get there, there won’t be a need. Hopper will fold easily.”
Elise stiffened at the thought of remaining behind and pushed off him. Dmitri gave her a look but allowed it, and went to the desk set up as he agreed with whatever Drew was saying. Ending the call, he tossed the phone on the table and brought up his laptop.
“Get me the notes on Hopper.” He ordered as he scanned his email.
“No.”
She had his attention now. “What did you say?”
“I said, no. Not until you tell me why I’m not going with you, and it had better be a good reason.”
He stiffened and glared, “There’s no need. Hopper’s son-in-law has given us the ‘in’ we need. Tomorrow is only to wrap it up for him.”
“Not a good reason.”
“It’s a good enough reason if I say it is.” He tensed as she shook her head and went toward her.
“No, Dmitri, you won’t kiss me into compliance. If you leave here without me, I won’t be here when you get back.” His eyes flashed, and for the first time Elise was afraid of Dmitri.
His hands went around both her arms in an unforgiving grip, and pulled her tightly against him. “Know this, you aren’t going anywhere. You belong to me. You run and there is nowhere you will be able to hide from me. Do you understand me?” He shook her once and she nodded, anything to appease him.
“You are staying in Chicago and I’ll be back by tomorrow night. Now get me the Hopper notes.” He let her go and sighed as he turned away.
She nodded and retrieved them. She was extremely quiet the rest of the night, and after picking at dinner, she gave him her cheek as he went to kiss her goodbye. He wasn’t having it and kissed her until she swayed in his arms.
Closing the door behind him, she leaned against the cool wood. She allowed herself a few deep breaths before she made her way to her room and began to pack. It didn’t take long. She was leaving behind the beautiful clothes they had fought over only hours ago, and the cell phone he had bought her. Changing into her own jeans and tee shirt, she almost immediately hated the clothes she wore. Only twenty minutes after she had closed the door on Dmitri, she left the room herself.
The bustling airport had a plane leaving in two hours, and it would get her close enough she could then take a train into Alexandria. As she waited, she told herself she was doing the right thing. But when she boarded the plane, she burst into tears at what she had done. Closing her eyes, she told herself, she could get through this. How could it hurt so badly, if it was over before it had even really begun?
Dmitri wasn’t surprised to be told that Elise had left the hotel and was on a flight to Maryland. He was angry, but not surprised. He had seriously screwed up, he should have given in to her and brought her. It was jealousy, pure and simple, that had made him leave her behind.
He had seen Wyatt Hopper eying Elise since the first meeting. The last time, the man had lingered over her hand and smiled at her. Dmitri had wanted to put his fist in the man’s gut then. The only thing stopping him had been that Elise was completely unaware. To take Elise back to Miami now, her beauty unhidden, her curves lovingly displayed, wasn’t an option. Hopper would make some sort of move and Dmitri would make the man bleed for it. He couldn’t allow that. He had to remain in control. Even now, everything in him wanted to order the car back to the airport and to go after Elise but he wouldn’t allow it. He would wrap up the Hopper acquisition and tear the company apart piece by piece, with satisfaction.
Despite what Elise might think, she wasn’t getting away from him. He would go after her and he would find her and he would make her pay for walking away. She would never walk away from him again. He would make it so wild fucking horses couldn’t drag her away from him.
Chapter Five