I laughed darkly. “Sweetheart, your husband is like family to me, of course I know who he is.”
Her eyes flashed with worry at my words, the sadness I’d seen on her pretty face earlier was gone. Her body was now tense, her gaze skittish, and I frowned, preferring the earlier look of pretty bewilderment to the fear that replaced it.
“Don’t worry, I won’t tell him we’ve been talking if you don’t.”
“I should be getting back to him,” she said, her voice soft.
A smile played at the corner of my mouth. “Should yes, but let’s be reckless for a while. What’s five more minutes?” I wrapped my hand around the top of her arm again and pulled her back into the corner I’d seen her in only a few moments before. It was out of sight and away from prying eyes, which was perfect. Ivan was protective of his things, and Marisha was no doubt a thing to him, not a person, not a woman, and certainly not a wife he respected. I knew the history of her family—it was my business to know these things after all. I also now knew his reason for marrying her, even if the nuptials had put a wedge between my father and Ivan—who could turn down a flower like this? I’d wondered who had managed to tame him and now I could see exactly how.
“I can’t be seen with you,” she whimpered, pulling her arm free as I pressed her back against the low wall, “he’ll kill us both,” she gasped as I placed my hands on either side of her, invading her space.
She wasn’t wrong either.
“We’re just talking,” I replied darkly, wishing to do all manner of things to her, talking not being any of them. This woman was intoxicating, and it took all of my willpower not to press my lips to hers.
Ivan was a lucky man. I’d never been jealous of anyone in my life. Why would I be? I had everything a man could ever want; money, cars, respect, power, and the pick of any woman I desired. So why did it feel like I was on the losing side for once? The feeling was foreign and uncomfortable to me.
“He’ll punish me for even that,” she scoffed and then panic flashed across her face again, realizing she’d said too much.
The thought of Ivan punishing her irritated me and I scowled at the very idea. The idea of Ivan laying his hands on her and blemishing her perfect flesh had my own hands curling into fists. I’d known he was a chauvinist, but I’d never thought of him treating women like that, but now it seemed all too obvious.
“Well then, Marisha,” I said, removing my arms and giving her some space to breathe before I lost control, “this will just have to be our little secret then, won’t it?”
“I really need to get back inside,” she replied, making no move to go. If anything, judging by the longing in her eyes, she was exactly where she wanted to be.
“To the party? Nonsense. No one wants to be at this party. Even the people throwing it don’t want to be here.” I slipped my hands into my pockets and stared out at the city below us, not wanting to push her to stay with me. I’d never chased a woman, and I wasn’t about to start now. “This party, like all the others, is just for show. It’s for rich, old men to make deals and for pretty women to catch up on gossip.”
I realized as soon as I said it that it was a completely sexist thing to say and I glanced towards her, giving a small shrug of apology before turning back to the city before us.
From my peripheral I watched her hesitate, her gaze flicking to the rooftop exit, but then she turned to look at the view with me. The city was alight with color tonight. The sun finally set behind Brooklyn bridge and the lights of the city illuminated the sky as it came to life. I loved this city. I loved how busy it was. I loved the people. I loved the culture. I loved it all. But standing here with Marisha inexplicably gave everything a whole new meaning.
“Have you ever been out dancing?” I asked, surprising us both. I would have liked to see a woman with her figure dancing. The soft material clinging to every curve. She’d move beautifully, body almost floating over the floor. I could almost picture it.
“Dancing?” she asked, sounding confused by the sudden change in topic.
“Yes,” I glanced over at her, “you know, that thing you do with your feet and your body.”
A timid smile played on her mouth and my nostrils flared in pride at the sight. I’d wiped away her sadness momentarily and had made this fragile, delicate creature smile. I wanted to reach out and take it for my own. To feel her lips curl up into a smile beneath my fingertips. I wanted to steal that smile for my own, so I did.
Turning back to her, I reached out, pressing the pad of my thumb against her mouth, and feeling the soft, pink flesh of her lips compress against my touch. Her breath was hot against my hand and a rumble came unwound from my chest. I lowered my hand from her face.
“Yes,” she said, trying to back away from my touch, “I know what dancing is. But no, I haven’t.”
I gazed into her face, wondering what the hell was coming over me. “You should get that husband of yours to take you sometime.”
“That’s never going to happen.” She shook her head, looking flustered. She ran her hand through her hair, pulling it to one side.
I watched every movement she made. Every blink, every breath she took, every purse of her lips. Jesus, was she a witch? I couldn’t look away.
In that moment, the whole world was Marisha.
The sky. The stars. The earth. The air.
“Maybe I could convince him to let me take you?” I offered.
What was I even saying? Ivan would never let that happen. I was surprised he’d let this beguiling woman out of his sight for more than five minutes. I knew if she were mine, she would be by my side every second of every day.
“Oh, please don’t,” she begged, the panic returning to her face, “I really should be getting back. He’ll be looking for me.”
I shook my head. “He’s having an informal business meeting like every other man in there, like I should be. He’ll be busy for a while yet.” I leaned closer, until my lips were next to her ear. “Which means I get you all to myself for a little longer.”
I wasn’t sure if I imagined it, but I was certain she seemed pleased by that.
Chapter Six
Marisha
I stared at the man holding me hostage. I knew what Ivan would do if he caught us here, alone in this shadowed corner of the rooftop, with only the sparkling trellis lights as our witness.
He’d throw us to the wolves. To Eduard and his ilk, to finish what they started with my parents.
The man in front of me wanted me though—no matter how much he tried to hide it and act nonchalant—and god it felt good to be wanted in a way that wasn’t ownership, even if it was based purely on momentary lust and not lasting love.
And, heaven help me, he was gorgeous. The very definition of tall, dark, and handsome. The first time I’d seen him in the lounge, I’d nearly gotten wet just from the sight of him. And now here he was, close enough to touch, and my stomach was warm with desire that flooded down between my legs. He was as dangerous as Ivan in his own way, though. His mere existence threatened my life, and yet I couldn't walk away.
“You say my husband is like family, then you know how dangerous he is. Please stop this.” I backed away until my body pressed into the wall of ivy. Sparks of fear danced with flames of desire; it was intoxicating. “If he thinks anything happened between us, he’ll punish us both. He’ll hurt us both. Likely, he’ll kill us both. He really will. Please believe me.”