“In her present condition it would be a punishment. I won’t take the risk of the other children being cruel to her. Why put her through that after everything she has had to suffer? Besides, I’m confident Yulia will talk again. She just needs some time.”
“What about outings? Do you take her to the museums and theaters?”
He frowned. “No, as I said before she hasn’t wanted to go with me. But she might go with you.”
“Of course, I will take her. Fresh air and bus rides will do wonders for her.”
His expression was implacable “No public transport. You will be taken wherever you want to go by my security staff.”
“Can I ask why you decided to get a nanny for Yulia? She has tutors for her educational needs and more than enough people to handle everything else.”
“It was her psychiatrist who recommended it. This house is too full of men and she thought a woman’s presence might help.”
“I see.” I studied Yuri as Orlov served us lemon dessert. He seemed genuinely clueless about his niece’s silence, but more important he seemed devoted to making her better. For me, that meant a great deal.
“Do you have any special plans for her?” Yuri asked.
I spooned the dessert into my mouth. It melted lusciously on my tongue. “Perhaps, but I haven’t yet worked out exactly how to tackle the invisible wall she has put up.”
Orlov refilled our goblets, and left.
Unconsciously, I sucked the spoon as I thought about Yulia, but when I looked up, I saw how he watched me and I knew instantly that he was turned on. His face showed his desire and I felt a flare of triumph. I felt the same urge. A part of me wished he would pull me from my chair and bend me over the table.
Part of me.
My cheeks heated up and I knew I was in dangerous territory. I wanted to flirt with the man I had chastised for kissing me. My dessert was unfinished, but I pushed back my chair and stood. “Thank you for a lovely evening.”
He stood. “I look forward to many such dinners with you.”
“Well, yes,” I answered hastily. Then, before I could embarrass myself, I turned away and willed myself not to run, but walk out of the room. I’d done enough for one night.
On my way to my bedroom, I stopped to look in on Yulia. She was fast asleep. Her vulnerable sleeping face tugged at my heart. From the first moment, I laid eyes on her, something about her had touched me. I made a silent promise that I would do my best to change her life. One way or another, I would get to the root of her problem.
As I readied for bed, I wondered what his bedroom looked like. I slipped between my sheets and closed my eyes. What was behind those double doors?
Chapter 10
Yuri
-There must be some kind of way out of here-
I sat back down and I watched her walk away. Her curving hips, that delicious jutted ass. An immediate jolt of arousal shot straight to my groin.
What was it about this woman that so effortlessly turned my blood to fire? I’d had so many women in my lifetime. They’d all met me on their knees. Eager to please, their mouths open, ready to swallow anything I cared to spurt.
Not this woman. Damn her.
The last thing I needed was to have her walking around my house flashing her wares while I lusted like some stray dog for her flesh.
Hell, I wanted to spread her across my desk that first morning. Even today, I had to pretend to enjoy my dinner when all I wanted to do was bury my face between her legs. Sure, she would struggle, but I would enjoy that as well. Because I’d know, it was only a pretense. She couldn’t hide the flame in her eyes, the tremble of her hands… She had it as bad as I did, perhaps even worse.
She was very near to cracking. It would be interesting to see how long she could hold it in before she came to me. I would keep my cool and wait.
But sooner or later, I would be fucking her.
With a smile, I left the dining room. The heat she had stirred inside of me gnawed at my insides. My cock hung heavy and hard. I headed out to the pool to cool off, but twenty laps later, I was still thinking of spreading her legs and my dick was still as hard as a rock.
A groan of annoyance at my inability to control myself escaped me. Damn her.
I swam to the deep end of the pool. I always swam naked. With my back against the wall of the pool, I shut my eyes and fisted my cock. Her image rose into my mind. That plump mouth stretched around my thick head, those beautiful emerald eyes staring up at me as I fucked her mouth.