“I can camp out here all night.”
I look at Juliana. Two can manage that feat.
6
JULIANA
Istare at the door. Gio needs to leave. Now. I’m having fun, for the first time in a week and he’s spoiling it. And I know he’ll make it worse if he comes in. I have to play this smart. I adjust on Konstantin, reach into my back pocket, and grab my phone.
I send my dad a quick text telling him I’m tired and just want to be left alone, begging him to call Gio off. I wait all of two minutes until I hear Gio sigh. “Tomorrow, Juliana. We’re talking.”
His footsteps recede, but I know him. He’s still at the door, Konstantin watches the door carefully, his eyes narrow, but I feel him dragging me closer against him, almost possessively. Possessive is hot on him.
Hot AF. Reallyfuckinghot. I lick over my bottom lip. If sixteen-year-old me could see me now, she’d be squealing nonstop. Calling the crush I had on Konstantin massive would be an understatement.
I couldn’t pay attention to any guy my age when I got to stare at him all the time at home, flirt with him, and tease him constantly. He came back around just before I turned eighteen and I couldn’t wait. I was sure that thedayI turned eighteen, I could make him my first. I was sure that he had feelings too and that’s why Mom and Dad had him removed.
But he’d barely looked at me. When he did, it seemed like it caused him pain.
And now he has his huge hands wrapped around my thighs, holding me against his hard body while glaring at the door with a look that could murder. So damn hot.
I lean towards him and kiss his neck softly. “You’re such a scary man. Like a tiger in the shape of a human.”
“Juliana,” He whispers. “Don’t tease. Not right now.”
“When?” I ask against his skin before licking the same spot. “I know what I want, Kon.”
The door is banged on one more time, making me jump. Konstantin pulls me impossibly closer, but now my breasts are right in his face. I pull his chin up and study his eyes. What to dohere, with him?
Well, I can think of about two dozen things I’d be happy to do with him on this couch, starting with a kiss and ending with us tangled up in post-come bliss, but right now. If I fuck him and Dad finds out, he’ll do worse than kill Konstantin. He’ll blacklist him. It’s death to the ego, death to the reputation, and so damn legal he won’t have to hide it.
I run my thumb over Konstantin’s bottom lip. A kiss would do. Maybe that would be enough to remind me why I stopped doing more than teasing the bodyguards with false promises.
“You’ll regret this in the morning,” Konstantin whispers gently.
“I don’t think I will,” I murmur. “I think I’ll regret getting off you right now.”
“Don’ttease me,” He warns, something extra dangerous in his eyes.
But danger might as well be catnip to me. I feel a shiver anyway and my thighs tighten. He lets out a soft groan and then I see the blush. I stroke his bottom lip again, then lift his chin. I feel his breath on my face, can feel his heart pounding in his chest, and can feelexactlyhow proportional he is.
I roll my hips against his hardness and he lets out a hiss before grabbing my waist and holding me off him. “Juliana.”
“What could we get away with, Kon? What consequence am I willing to pay for just a taste of you?”
He shakes his head slowly. “Restraint is important. He’s gone. You can-”
“And I will.” I let my lips brush his, but don’t actually kiss him. “Unless you tell me no. Unless you tell me that you can only see me as a job.”
He opens his mouth and I feel a buzzing on my lips. Need pools low in my belly. I’m aching for him. Even just a taste will hold me over. His hand slides up my back slowly. I swallow. “Don’t lie to me.”
“I know how easily you call that out.” He presses against me.
One of my hands strokes up the back of his neck and into his short hair while the other flows down to his chest. “So tell me the truth, if you can handle that.”
“You’re notjusta job. But I don’t want to get fired on my second night.”
Of course. I’m being selfish again. I release his shirt and his hair, then sit back, only staring at his chest. Maybe Dad’s right. Maybe I am just spoiled and entitled. I can be both ridiculous and intelligent. I guess there’s nothing saying I can’t be ambitious and ... terrible.