Chapter Twelve

As the young man disappeared from the club, Viviana heard Anton’s heavy sigh from down below.

“I know you’re up there, Viviana.”

Shit.

She couldn’t even have tried to move fast enough if she wanted to. Anton was suddenly at the bottom of the metal stairs with that gun case tight in his grasp.

“I’m—”

“What, baby, sorry for eavesdropping? You know better, Vine.”

A dreadful feeling settled in her stomach as he climbed the stairs with a painstaking slowness. It almost looked predatory as one hand slid over the metal banister and a grim line drew his lips tight into a frown. Her fingers tightened around the remote. Viviana hadn’t meant to walk in on his business, but he was correct when he said she knew better.

“I know. I shouldn’t have—”

“You’re goddamn right,” he interrupted, words coming out like a dark growl. “Where is Jen?”

“Um …”

Words failed to form as he finally came to stand toe to toe with her at the top of the staircase. Viviana practically felt three inches tall under his angry gaze. There was no way to excuse what she had done by continuing to listen in on his conversation after she knew what was happening.

“Jen?” Anton called out loudly.

The woman in question poked her head out of the office doorway, a dress stuck halfway inside a garment bag. “Yeah?”

“I’ll get the rest. Finish up that order and begin getting the bar set up for later, please.”

“You sure? I thought you said Richard—”

“Right the fuck now, Jen,” he snapped sharply.

The tone in his voice seemed to do the trick. Jen quickly dropped the bag inside the room before pushing between Anton and Viviana to get down the stairs.

“You didn’t need to kick her out, Anton.”

“In my office, Viviana.”

“But—”

Her wrist was suddenly in his grasp as he led her down the short hallway to the opened doorway. She was damned lucky she didn’t stumble or fall in those four inch heels. When the door was slammed shut, Viviana turned in his grasp, ready to give him a verbal lashing for the rough handling, but the piercing gaze that met her own stopped the words up short.

“Tell me what you should have done.”

“Pardon me?”

“When you walk in on something like that—what should you do, Viviana?”

That godforsaken lump in her throat had returned. Suddenly, she was hyperaware of that anal plug in her ass again, the jostle of his body pressing closer to hers sending sparks of pleasure licking through her ass as arousal dampened the white lace thong she’d changed into.

“And I like this dress. It was a good choice,” he added, a finger skimming over the V-neck to move the fabric off to the side. At the sight of the lingerie underneath, he hummed appreciatively. The slight bite of fear that had nipped at her heels from the thought of him being angry was all but gone. “Come on, tell me.”

Viviana forced herself to swallow. “I’m sorry.”

“I don’t doubt that, but it’s not what I asked.”

“You’re giving me whiplash.”

“You scared the fuck out of me,” Anton bit back, blue eyes darkening. “Thought you were going to walk in on that.”

“I wouldn’t—”

“I know. Still, you shouldn’t have stayed there and listened, either.”

Viviana breathed a shuddering breath, handling the silky fabric of his shirt where he’d rolled the sleeves up to his elbows. Anton’s stance softened at her motions, but she knew she still had a hell of a lot of explaining to do.

“Jen figured all your guests were gone, so I wanted to see what you thought of my dress.”

“It was a last minute call and he was already outside when I received it. I couldn’t very well send him away.”

“I didn’t mean to come in on it like that, and I should have turned around as soon as I knew what was happening.”

“And what was happening?”

A beat of silence passed before she answered with a solid, “Nothing.”

The gun case dropped to the floor, Anton’s foot kicking out to move it aside. “You sure, baby?”

“Yeah, nothing. It was dark, so I didn’t see very much.”

“Good to know.”

Viviana couldn’t help but enjoy the change in his demeanor. In fact, it had shifted like a switch going off when they left the safe house. It might have been his birthday and his party, but it was clearly just another work day for Anton. Very rarely did she get to see him acting like the mob boss he really was, and it hadn’t been something that turned her on like it was now.

“It won’t happen again,” she promised quietly, looking up to meet his gaze again.

“Actually, I’m sure it will, and the next time, I can expect you to turn around and ignore what you’re seeing, yes?”

She wet her lips with her tongue, letting her fingers dance along the black licks of his vine tattoo that barely peaked out from under his rolled up shirt. The defined, rock hard muscles of his forearm twitched under her touch.

“Yes …”

Anton raised a brow. “Are you playing coy with me right now? This isn’t a joke, Vine.”

“I know—”

“No, I don’t believe you do. This is Brighton Beach, Viviana. The men that walk in and out of here aren’t going to be like Ivan digging through our fridge or Erik drinking us out of vodka. They are not my spies, they are my soldiers. This is my territory. I run these fucking streets and more so here than anywhere else, my last name draws attention. Here, I’m not Anton, a friend, or anything like that. I am just Boss.”

“Okay.”

“I need to know you understand me. That you’re hearing this.”

Fuck, it would be so much better if she weren’t so goddamn turned on just by the dominant sound his voice had taken on, not to mention the tantalizing toy in her rear that was keeping her body awake and ready with every slight movement. No, there was no forgetting that, either. Maybe his birthday hadn’t been the best time for the toy, considering everything. Even so, Viviana couldn’t deny the lust that raged through her veins like an inferno intent on destroying what little control she had left.

“I’m … I hear you. I do,” she insisted when he grunted a disbelieving noise above her. “You know how much I hate to use the term behave, but this is one of those situations, right? I mean, you can’t come in here and be just Anton, so why should I expect to come in here acting like I’m just Vine. It’s not … we can’t. I understand that.”

The slightest tilt of her head under his urging had his lips meeting hers softly. She could taste the remnants of bourbon so thick on his tongue when it probed gently inside her mouth. She let her fingers twist into his shirt, wanting him just a little bit closer.

“Thank you.” Without another word, the remote that had been tucked into her hand was back in his, a wicked gleam playing in his eyes. “Had to send it up, but I think I’ll take it back for a little while now. Couldn’t chance it, you know?”

Viviana swallowed, letting her forehead rest on his cheek. “You have pockets in your pants.”

“It might get turned on accidentally. I am being discreet, Vine, or trying to be …” For that, she was grateful. “For now.”

Oh, God. “You wouldn’t.”

“I might, if I catch my future wife spying on me again. Seriously, it’s not so much that it pisses me off as it’s terribly unsafe for you to be in positions like that.” Again, he lifted her face, his thumbs rolling over her jaw tenderly. “And what would I do if something happened to you, huh? Locked up in my office while you’re aware there are people here is a different story. They don’t know you’re here and I prefer it that way. Some of these men … you don’t even know, baby.”

“You’re one of those men, Anton.”

Instantaneously, his spine turned ramrod straight, but she didn’t even have the chance to apologize. Catching her off guard, a hand slipped under that short dress of hers, the heat of his palm cupping her sex as his fingers slid against the crack of her ass. The toy jerked to life inside her rear on the second speed, nearly sending Viviana to her knees from the shock, pleasure, and vague hum of pain that burst through every nerve ending she had.

“Oh—”

His voice was a dark sound in her ear, growled through clenched teeth and enough to make her shake. “So, I can go on assuming you’re so fucking wet because of that young man who just left, instead of believing it might have been because the sight of me with a gun on my shoulder got you so damned hot you couldn’t think straight, right?”

Jesus, Viviana couldn’t even speak. His fingers moved her thong aside with a skilful movement, finding where the vibrating plug was driving her absolutely insane inside her ass and pushing the toy a little further in.

Once more, he thrust the toy inside her ass a little harder, giving her the best burn and the sweetest pleasure at the same time. The harsh rhythm of his fingers and the plug fucking her ass had her legs trembling and an orgasm ready to crash onto her like a tidal wave. The heady cry was muffled into his neck as Anton drove her close enough into his hips that she could feel the growing erection pressed to her middle.

“It’s … it-it’s …”

She wanted to say too much, to tell him he needed to slow it down, but Viviana realized it wasn’t true. In fact, her ass backed into his hand, wanting it harder still. The sound of her voice turned high as she begged him for more, only getting low chuckles in response.

“Tell me, Viviana … is that what got you so hot, baby? I quite like that young man, but it wouldn’t be too much of a drop in my bucket if he needed to go.” When his teeth bit her neck, he muttered, “I’m a jealous motherfucker when it comes to what’s mine, or haven’t I told you that yet?”

“No-no … not him,” she stuttered, so fucking close to falling off that peak he held her on.

“The gun, then?”

“No, yes … Oh, fuck, Anton, please.”

“No, or yes. Which one is it?”

“Both,” she somehow managed to breathe.

Before she could speak again, he impaled her with the toy even deeper, opening the clenching ring of muscles that held the toy tight. Immediately, it sent her spinning into an orgasm so intense tears slipped through her clamped-shut eyes, spilling against his neck. As her knees gave out, every muscle in her body relaxed at the rush of relief and euphoria that soaked her like a bucket of ice water.

Slowly, her panting breaths decreased as Viviana whined brokenly from the aftershocks.

Never had something hit her so strongly.

“There, hmm?” he hummed darkly, kissing along the raging pulse in her neck. “I think you needed that. Bend over my desk.”

That sobered her instantly. “What?”

“I believe it can come out, given how well you opened for me just then. If you can handle that, well…” He trailed off with another one of those throaty hums of his that sent her sex clenching. “I know you brought the kit for it, so pack it away in that purse of yours and we’ll keep it under my desk until we leave tonight. Clean it at home, whatever. Besides, I think you need to show me what else you bought when we get back. Sound good?”

Her throat was so tight that she could only nod in response. On shaky legs, she moved from his embrace, letting his hand find the small of her back. Anton grabbed her purse off the back of the chair, quickly finding the plastic box inside for the toy. With her palms lying flat on the edge of his desk, she sighed a heavy breath as he bunched the dress around her waist before laying a kiss to the rounded cheek of her ass. Her thong was hooked to his thumb and moved to the side.

“So, both. Care to indulge me here?”

Embarrassment slipped through her emotions like a slow moving killer. “I didn’t—”

“It turns you on, doesn’t it? Admit it. Guns scare you. Me and a gun is a different story, however. Gets you hot and bothered like nothing else. I think I like that more than I should. Come on, Viviana, is that it?”

“Yes.”

Once more, a tender kiss touched down before his teeth nipped painfully sharp to the same spot, sending a jolt of need through every inch of her aching body. At the same time, his fingers slipped inside to wrap along the flattened end of the plug before it slipped out of her rear.

With the toy packed safely away and her dress fixed, Viviana found herself rotated beneath his hands, the small of her back pressing into the edge of Anton’s desk as he leaned over her form. Their kiss was slow and lazy, the heat of his mouth overtaking hers as his fingers curled around the small of her waist. Pulling away, her nose skimmed the strong line of his jaw and she watched his eyes close at the motion.

Closed doors gave her him, she knew. No matter where they were. Anton flipped his switch like nothing, but she always got the very best ones when they turned on her.

“Both,” she murmured, nipping tenderly at his bottom lip. Blue eyes opened at her voice, the striking gaze he leveled on her making Viviana’s heart speed up. The very sight made her feel weak and overcome all over again, so she lowered her head. “You were right, it’s both. But, it won’t happen again …”

“Good.”

“Boss.”

At the harsh intake of air, Viviana chanced a look up at him once more, only to see the hard swallow in his throat and hooded eyes. His fingers tightened almost painfully on her waist, but she didn’t mind a bit.

“Oh, baby. You’re playing with fire, now.”

Viviana pretended like he hadn’t said a thing. “So the dress is good then?”

“We’re back to coy, huh?”

“Anton …” she said, reaching up to tap his chin with one finger, “the dress?”

“I love this goddamn dress.”

That was good enough for her.

• • •

“Mr.—”

“Anton,” he corrected automatically as the intercom turned on. Viviana’s legs on his lap was keeping his attention semi-diverted from his work. “Just Anton.”

His earlier moment when he’d snapped at his favorite employee had clearly given her a frightening shock if she was reverting back to using his last name.

“Right … um, Richard is here,” Jen said quietly over the intercom.

Viviana’s finger poked his ribs. “Richard?”

“Great. Send him up.”

The office had been cleaned—all of the clothing, shoes, and accessories removed from the space in little to no time at all. At his order, one of Viviana’s bulls had taken what she wouldn’t be using for the night back to the safe house. And damn, he could barely keep his eyes off her sexy curves as she moved around his office with a comfortable ease in those heels and dress. Jen needed another raise for getting her to wear it; that was all he had to say about it.

That and he probably owed her an apology for acting like an ass earlier. The apology wouldn’t come, because Jen knew better than anyone to turn her cheek at his moods and odd visitors, but the bonus on her pay check always said more than he could, anyway.

Anton wasn’t expecting any other visitors besides his personal jeweler, so he spent most of the afternoon hidden in his office with Viviana by his side. Spreadsheets were a hell he tried to avoid at all costs. Having businesses that were on the legal side of things meant he had to do crap like this more often than he wanted to.

The loud knock on his office door had Viviana’s questioning gaze turning on him again. “Who’s Richard?”

The confusion in her voice was almost cute, considering he hadn’t given her any indication she would be a part of his dealings for the day. In all honestly, Anton just wanted to surprise her again, because the thunderstruck look it created on her face was quickly turning into something he lived for.

“A very good friend of mine,” Anton told her quietly, bringing up her left hand to kiss the suspiciously bare ring finger. “Come on in, Richard.”

The man who entered his office was sporting a smile, eyebrows lifting with a suggestive lift as Viviana attempted to move her legs from Anton’s lap without her dress rising up. In his late sixties, Richard was a gentleman through and through, averting his eyes until she cleared her throat. He’d been around the Bratva organization long enough to know he could expect just about any kind of scene when he opened a closed door.

With the two silver security briefcases placed safely to the floor, Richard crossed the room and leaned down to place a kiss on Anton’s cheek as the younger man patted the back of his neck in response. It was a common sign of respect, one he knew Viviana would have seen before with her father, but not one she had gotten to witness properly played out with him.

Richard cocked a brow, meeting Anton’s gaze as the paperwork was tossed aside. “Are you slacking again, boy?” The thickness in his accent hung off every syllable. More often than not, he’d use Russian to speak to Anton, but because of Viviana’s presence, he chose to use a language she would understand, too. “Nicoli would be in a terrible fit seeing his little prince slumming it in the office with his fiancée instead of doing actual work.”

“I am working …”

“Sure.”

“On more important things,” Anton finished with a smirk.

“Ah, well, at least your priorities are getting straightened out. I can assume that’s because of this pretty little thing, here? It’s Viviana, yes?”

“That’s me.”

Richard’s steel-grey eyes turned on the woman who had crossed her legs and kept quiet while the Bratva boss was greeted. For a single moment, Anton knew what the older man was doing. Searching those eyes and features like he had done so many times before, looking for the clue that gave away who she really was behind the Italian name and mob boss father. Being the friend that Richard had been to Nicoli for all those years, he knew his step-grandfather wouldn’t have held back that secret from him.

The quiet exhale of Richard’s breath as he straightened was enough for Anton. The lump in his throat disappeared. “Very pleased to meet you, sweetheart. You’ve had this lazy prince here making me run for three weeks.”

Viviana glanced at Anton out of the corner of her eye as he brushed her wavy hair off her shoulder. “Three weeks?”

“This …” he said, waving at Richard with a smug grin, “is my jeweler, Viviana. And I do believe he has only the best for you, right, Richard?”

“Absolutely.”

The slight drop in her jaw had him chuckling. “You didn’t.”

“I did, baby. I thought I was clear when I said I had things planned for you today.”

“It’s your birthday,” she said pointedly.

Anton hummed, shrugging as he lifted himself off the couch. “Yeah, but making you smile is my greatest gift. Come, it’s time to pick out a ring for me to put on that finger of yours.”

One of the silver briefcases was propped up on the oak desk and opened with a set of keys. Viviana’s soft gasp whispered in Anton’s ears. He didn’t blame her a bit. The engagement rings Richard had brought along certainly outdid just about any he could have personally picked. There hadn’t been many requests from Anton regarding the rings, and he’d left the rest up to the older man to decide. And decide he had. Ranging from simplistic designs to some of the most intricately laid pieces he’d ever seen, Anton was quite literally struck quiet, too.

Twenty rings sat resting in black velvet, the shimmer of light reflecting off the carefully cut diamonds and gems. Between the rows, a particular piece caught Anton’s eye. In the middle of a white gold band sat a blue sapphire, five carat princess cut gem, encased with a solid crown of clear diamonds. He hadn’t asked for color, but there was something about that ring that drew his attention above the others.

“Very nice,” he appraised quietly. “I quite like these.”

Richard’s hand hit the spot between Anton’s shoulder blades and the older man laughed. “I hoped you would.”

“Never failed me before,” Anton replied. Viviana made a sound under her breath, almost turning into a skittish deer at the sight of so many jewels. “See anything you like?”

“Um …”

“Pardon me, Vine?”

“Yes. Oh, they’re beautiful.”

That awed look had replaced her initial shock as her fingers hesitantly danced over the sides of the case, but never once coming near any of the rings.

“You can touch them, sweetheart,” Richard said gently. “They are meant for you to wear, or at least one of them, anyway. All sized specifically for you, so you needn’t worry about that. Take your time if you need to.”

Once more, Viviana looked back at Anton, and he could see the battle warring there. It was quite a selection, and if he had to guess, she was probably wondering which ring he wanted to see on her finger.

“I really wanted you to choose without my input,” Anton murmured, hoping she’d understand. “Sometimes it might seem like you have so little control on everyday things, and you have to wear this ring, not me. If you want something small, go with that. If you want something that looks fit to be on a queen, go ahead. It’s all on you, Vine.”

When her trembling fingers ghosted over the case once more, Anton sighed, moving to her side. An arm wrapped around her waist, pulling her close as his lips met her temple and he added, “We’ll leave you to go at it.”

“What? No, you can’t let me choose alone, Anton.”

“I’ve already chosen the bands. They’ll arrive next week. Just … do this for me, okay? It’ll make me incredibly happy, and that way, I know the ring you’ll wear is one you truly love.”

Viviana didn’t say a word, simply shook her head and glanced down with an audible swallow. The second, unopened case was passed into Anton’s grasp before the men left the office. When the door was shut, Richard laughed a low sound when another one of those quiet, disbelieving noises came from inside the office.

“You’ll spoil that girl if you keep up with all this sweet nonsense,” he said with a joking spirit. “Doesn’t she have the slightest clue of the kind of man you are beneath the charm, Anton?”

“She does, not that it matters. Couldn’t hurt her if I tried.”

“Ah, I see. Knowing Nicoli like I did, well … That makes me a very happy old man.”

“The sapphire band, you chose that one for its likeness to this, hmm?” Anton asked, lifting the silver case in his hand. What lay inside was a gift that had been held in the jeweler’s trust for many years, under instructions Anton hadn’t been privy to other than the basics of when he was to give it to Viviana, and why. The older man didn’t deny his claim about the similarity statement. “And you placed it just so, I think, hoping it would catch my eye first.”

“Not just yours,” Richard said, smiling slyly. “If I know women like I think I do, she will pick that band because it was where your gaze traveled first. She will pick it because when her hand touches your face, the piece will compliment your eyes. And, it is more than appropriate enough in style, size, and design to be worn on the hand of your wife, Anton.”

“A ring that by extension compliments me. I hadn’t even considered that.”

Richard nodded, expression darkening with pensiveness before his words turned to Russian. “But her eyes, my boy, they’re all his.”

His suddenly shaking fists hid inside his pockets. “I know.”