“A gesture of respect, I think, for the work Viktor and I are partnering with him on. I suppose he thought it would be rude not to include the two of you as well.” Levin smirks, his eyes lingering on the blonde. “One each.”
I can’t pretend that it’s not tempting. It’s been longer than usual since I’ve been with a woman, and I’ve never been the playboy type. The redhead in particular who has her eye on me is gorgeous, exactly my type, petite and small-breasted with hair cascading everywhere, thick burnished locks that any man would die to bury his hands in as he buried himself inside of her.
But I can’t bring myself to do it. It’s clear the three women don’t object to being here—they’re undressing all three of us with their eyes, obviously eager to do Vladimir’s bidding, and not because of some threat. But under the current circumstances, the idea of bedding a woman who’s been paid to do so feels even more distasteful to me than it might otherwise. Beyond that, I don’t feel any real desire for her. I’d have to be blind not to see how beautiful she is—how sexy all three of them are—but the woman I want isn’t in this room. And if it’s not Ana, I can’t summon any genuine lust.
I might be able to go through the motions, but I wouldn’t do her justice. And I’d rather spend a cold night alone in my bed than half-heartedly sleep with a woman for the sake of it. That especially has lost its appeal for me.
“I appreciate the gift,” I say with an apologetic smile. “But I’m afraid I’m going to have to decline.”
Levin eyes me. “Faithful to a woman who doesn’t even know you’re coming for her.” His gaze rests evenly on mine, appraising me. “I think I was right to believe the coin wasn’t wasted.”
“I’ll have to politely decline as well,” Max says, tilting his glass back to finish his drink. “Man of the cloth, and all of that.”
“Ooh, a priest.” The brunette flutters her eyelashes at him, arching her back just slightly so that her breasts are on even better display. “I have a thing or two I could confess, Father. When my mouth isn’t full, that is.” She winks at him, and Max’s jaw tightens. It’s all I can do not to laugh—it wouldn’t be kind, considering the predicament he’s clearly in, but it’s nothing if not amusing.
“A former priest,” Levin says with a smirk. “I thought you’d broken your vows,Father.”
“I do my best to keep to the ones I haven’t forsaken,” Max says stiffly. “I’m going to have to pass.”
“What a shame.” The blonde pouts. “We rarely get men as gorgeous as you three. And all different too—Italian, Russian,andIrish? I’d have been happy to take all three of you myself.”
Nowthat’sa picture I don’t want to imagine.“I’m sorry, ladies,” I say with a reluctant smile. “But I think the priest and I will be sitting this one out.”
“Ah well, I think I can take one for the team.” Levin tosses back the last of his vodka, setting the glass down and turning to the three women. “Ladies? I’ve got a bed upstairs with room for all four of us, not to mention the jacuzzi tub—”
“Jesus, Mary, and Joseph.” I rub my hand over my mouth, motioning for the waiter to bring both Max and me another drink. “He’s in for a night.”
“You can say that again.” Max takes the drink gratefully, sliding to the center of the booth as I take another sip of my whiskey. “I’m surprised you didn’t take the redhead up on her offer. She was interested. It’s not as if you’re bound to Ana in any way.”
I shake my head. “It wasn’t her interest that was the problem. It’s mylackof interest. And besides, I’ve got enough complications already.”
“Is that so?” Max swirls the large ice cube in his glass. “Besides trying to find a girl who was sold to a man whose name we don’t even know, let alone where he might have taken her?”
“Yeah.” I glance down at the amber liquid in my own glass. “I had to sign a betrothal contract before I left.”
“Fuck.” Max’s eyes widen. “Your meeting with Father Donahue?”
“Aye.” I take another sip. “With Father Donahue, Graham O’Sullivan, and Saoirse, his daughter. The woman I’m meant to marry when I return to Boston.”
“But that you don’t intend to.”
I tilt my glass in his direction, acknowledging the statement. “Aye.”
“That’s a hell of a thing.” Max lets out a breath, considering. “You’re right that you’ve got enough complications. I doubt this O’Sullivan fellow will take you breaking that oath lightly.”
“He won’t,” I confirm. “But it was either sign the contract or come back to a civil war.”
Max nods, considering. “And you didn’t think of sending someone else after Ana?”
“I thought of it.” I take another sip, glancing out of the bar window to the darkened city beyond us. “But I couldn’t. When Alexei was taking her away, I swore to her that I’d come for her. I made two promises, and I know I can’t keep both of them. But damnit if I’m going to break them both, either.”
“And it’s the one to Ana that you want to keep the most.”
I nod. “Aye. That’s the crux of it.” I glance at him. “And you? Are you really so attached to vows you’ve already broken that you’d turn down that opportunity?”
Max smirks. “I’ve never been short of opportunities to sleep with women. If anything, they’re all the more interested when they find out I’m a priest, fallen or otherwise. But the vow I broke wasn’t the one of celibacy, and I’ve done my best to keep to them, even if I’m no longer fully a man of the church.” He takes another sip of his drink, letting out a long breath. “Besides, if Viktor makes good on his promise to me, that may not be the case for long.”
“Ah.Yourmeeting with Father Donahue.”