16
I SWALLOWED A BREATH. “You have to go to class to graduate.”
Luka rolled his eyes. “I understand how it works, but we’re not there as far as trust goes. That should be your primary focus right now.” He collected the plates from lunch. “Stay here, I’ll be right back.”
He left, and I plunked down on the couch, fuming. Despite how he’d worked me up, I was still cold. I aggressively yanked the blanket over myself, feeling powerless and frustrated.
Luka returned with my applications and my laptop. He set it on the desk, plugged it in, and hit the power button. Then, he handed me the application essay. “Read it out loud to me.”
It seemed to be so he could multi-task. He went over to the fireplace and turned on the gas, then lit the ceramic pile of faux logs. The blue-orange flames licked over the realistic looking wood in a mesmerizing pattern.
Reading it out to him was weird, but helpful as well. I could hear the awkward phrasing I’d used in the opening paragraph. “Cut that last sentence,” he said. “It’s repetitive.”
He was right.
I made the changes to the document on my laptop while he watched, and then he set up the printer and printed out copies to attach. When I was done addressing the envelopes he’d given me, he stuffed them with the applications, sealed them, and dropped them into the briefcase resting beside the desk.
When he shut my laptop, my gaze casually wandered to his screen and—
“You’re looking at porn?” I asked, shocked. There was a black and white picture on screen of a topless woman, whose head was turned down and her hands tucked behind her back, or perhaps they were tied.
“That’s research.” He was quick to click the window closed, though.
“Is that what the kids are calling it these days?” I said, my voice flat. “Research?”
His hand dipped under my arm and he yanked me to my feet, bringing us face to face. “It’s research about your training, Addison.” His eyes flooded with something raw and sexual. “I’ve spent the whole day working on our plan.”
Well, that was terrifying. So why did a thrill shiver down my spine? And . . . our plan? I tucked a lock of hair behind my ear and forced out a confident voice. “Okay. You need to get a hobby.”
Luka’s evil smile made my blood run cold and got me hot in the same instance. “I have one.” He slipped a hand beneath the hem of my sweater and ran his warm fingers over my belly, causing me to flinch. They skated upward, tracing the cup of my bra. “It’s this,” he whispered.
He loomed overhead and didn’t tip his head down, choosing instead to look over his long lashes at me. I was sure he noted every hurried breath I took, and saw my pupils dilate, a perfect response to his touch. My skin tingled beneath his fingertips and I studied his mouth. It said dirty, sometimes awful things, but it was beautiful, too. His sexy, cruel mouth was addictive.
The fireplace burned quietly. There was only a faint hiss of gas as it flickered in the now-dark room. Luka lowered his mouth almost to mine, but didn’t claim it. He breathed over my lips and dipped down further into the crook of my neck. There, the tip of his nose brushed over my sensitive skin. He moved from one side to the other, teasing his kiss but not delivering it. I licked my lips instinctively, craving what he denied.
It wound me tighter each second as his hot breath streamed over me, and the faintest brush of his lips grazed my neck. I was itchy and agitated. No, those weren’t the right words. Eager was a better fit. Perhaps even desperate.
“Luka,” I said, verging on a plea. I was weak. How could I want him? I’d been tainted, like he’d poisoned me. Sinking down to his level was the only way to alleviate the symptoms.
“What do you need?” he asked. He was a vicious cat, sadistically playing with the mouse he’d caught. He’d toy with his prey before devouring it. “Ask me.”
I sighed while he continued his torment. Was it possible to die from anticipation? How the hell was I supposed to ask him to kiss me, and why? Luka was a taker. He’d get whatever he wanted, use me up, and discard me when he was done. He wasn’t bothered with right or wrong, and certainly didn’t care what I thought.
“Are you shaking because you’re cold?” His tone was rhetorical. We both knew I wasn’t. The fire had warmed the room, and there was plenty of heat between us.
It felt a little like dying, or at least sacrificing a limb to save the body. I was surrendering more control, and soon I’d have nothing left. I stared into his intense eyes, and my voice was a whisper. “Kiss me.”
“Louder.”
My chest expanded as I pulled in an enormous breath. “Kiss me.”
He obliterated everything. His mouth moved urgently against mine, and then his tongue got involved. Powerful, sure arms swept me up and dropped me down with a thump on the end of the desk. He didn’t even stop kissing me as I heard the sharp snap of his fingers. There was no hesitation this time as I pried my knees apart and welcomed him to step between them. I curled my hands beneath the cotton of his t-shirt, finding his skin burning hot.
We were wild, thrashing against each other.
His kiss turned up to a new level of aggression, and I moaned with a hint of pain as he bit down on my bottom lip. I scored my nails down his chest, but it only caused him to escalate. A heartbeat later, his hand was wrapped tightly around my throat.
“Was this the plan?” I asked. “Making me ask you to kiss me?”
“No.” His wet tongue traced the edge of my ear. “I just wanted it, and now I can’t seem to stop kissing you.”
He felt out of control? Yeah, Luka. I know exactly how that feels.
I was panting when he abruptly stepped back and pulled me to my unsteady feet. “It’s a thousand degrees in this office.”
I fell into his arms, letting him support me. “Is that you telling me to take off my clothes?” It was a half-joke, half-truth.
His gaze flitted downward and his eyes went hazy with lust, but he blinked it back. “No. We have other shit to do. Come on.”
Dinner was served in the kitchen, thankfully not in the dining room. I shuddered when we walked past the long table where Luka had spanked my bare bottom in front of everyone. I had a purple-yellow bruise from it—I’d seen it in the mirror after my shower this morning.
He poured us each a glass of red wine to go along with our filet mignon.
“Your parents will be calling you soon,” he said, “so we need to discuss the rules.”
I’d been turning the base of the wine glass, but paused. “They’ll be calling? How do you know that?”
His expression stayed flat, giving nothing away. “You’ll put the call on speaker, so I can hear everything said.” The table groaned as he leaned his elbows on it. “You can tell them you’ve met someone, but you don’t give them my name. If you try to ask for help, or get them involved in any way, I’ll revoke your privileges. That means you go back to naked and chained to the bed.”
It reminded me how tired I was from last night, both physically and mentally. I leaned forward on my elbows as well. “I’m not going to try to escape, for my safety and theirs.” The words burned as fire in my throat. “You and your father made it perfectly clear what the consequences are if I disobey.”
He winced. Luka actually winced at how I’d lumped him together with his father. “I didn’t want that to happen.”
“Which part? Where you humiliated me, or where my life was threatened?”
He scowled. “All of it.”
“Why? You don’t give a damn about—”
He slammed his fist loudly against the tabletop and the place settings jumped. Wine sloshed in my glass, and I clamped a hand over my lips to mute my sound of surprise.
“I don’t, huh?” he demanded. “You have no idea what I fucking gave up for you.”
What the hell was he talking about? “Oh? Okay, then tell me.”
“No.”
I closed my eyes and pinched the bridge of my nose. “You get how trust works, right? That it’s a two-way street?”
He exhaled loudly and his eyes turned stormy. “I don’t want the life my father lives. I worked hard and earned my degree, and then I did it all over again for my master’s.” Luka glanced away and grumbled under his breath. “Not that my father doesn’t work hard. He has to, to stay ahead of the Russians.”
Part of me wanted to dig into his statement, but I was smart enough not to ask. It was doubtful he’d tell me what kind of business his family was really in, and it was probably better if I just assumed the worst. I didn’t need the dirty details, so instead I evaluated his words critically. Was he saying he didn’t want to be a part of the organized crime his father was involved in?
“I’ve been upfront with him,” he continued. “Vasilije’s like my father, and he’s fucking eager to help out with that side of the Markovic business.” Luka’s voice dripped with disdain.
There was a long pause, prompting me. “So you’re trying to protect Vasilije?”
Luka gave a short, ironic laugh. “No, if he wants to get into that shit, he will. My brother’s an asshole. Just like my father, remember?” He took a quick sip of his wine. “When Vasilije got busted, it was for weed. It mellows Vasilije out and, seriously, that’s a good thing. Most of the time he’s a psychotic. He’s a perfect fit to step up.”
I failed to understand. “Then, what’s the issue?”
“All that money needs to be kept track of. Why have an outsider cook the books when I can keep all our dirty secrets within the family?”
The realization washed through me and a sharp pang stabbed inward as I thought about Luka’s situation. “You got your degree to try to escape, and instead it made you more valuable to your father.”
He shook his head. “To my uncle. He’s the one my father answers to. I’ve been working legit for them up until now.”
My heart hurried along with concern. “Until now? What changed?”
“My father has leverage.”
I gripped the edge of the table, knowing the truth already, but I needed to hear him confirm it. “I’m the leverage.”
His dark eyes were empty, and for the first time, I noticed the faint lines at the corners. He was hiding the emotion locked inside him. He spoke softly, almost as if defending himself. “I had to make a deal.”
Which had been to save my life, I was sure of it. He was trapped just as much as I was. “Why’d you do it?”
His lips turned down into a scowl, and he glared my direction. “He was going to have you killed.”
“I understand, but I’m asking why you made the deal. He wasn’t threatening your life.”
There was no label to put to the emotion on his face, but it made my heart ache. While I tried to figure it out, the expression faded and returned to his emotionless mask. “I agreed to it because of what I did to you. I was the one who made the mistake. You shouldn’t have to pay for it with your life.”
He’d punched the air clean from my lungs. His admission was stunning, and it was an apology, not in words, but in actions.
“Christ,” he groaned, smoothing a hand back over his hair. “I’m not any good at this shit, Addison. I don’t think you understand how badly I wanted you. I’ve had you, and I still want you.” His words made me feel weightless. “Every time I touch you, I just want more.”
I blinked in disbelief, at a total loss.
“Say something,” he demanded. His chest rose and fell with his hurried breathing.
My voice was uneven. “What do you want me to say?”
“Tell me you feel it, too.”
My guts twisted inside, and I banded my arms tight around myself. He’d forced himself on me. He was holding me here against my will. And yet, I felt it. “I . . .” He’d said no lies, and I was already in over my head. I was sick. The last, tiny hold on my control slipped from my grasp. “I feel it.”
He was capable of expressing relief. His face softened as my words fell on him, and the smile spread across his lips like wildfire. God, he could be so beautiful when he wanted to. Like any event you waited for with excited anticipation, the smile was over much too quickly.
I wasn’t sure exactly how it happened. He didn’t give me a command, at least not verbally, but I sensed what he wanted. I’d admitted it, so it was too late for me to save myself. I stood from my chair, stalked around the edge of the table, and stepped into his waiting arms. I was pulled down into his lap.
As we were kissing, I was aware I was the dumbest girl in the world to let it happen. I’d already allowed him in my mind and my body—how long would it be before I allowed him in my heart?
His lips roved over mine and his tongue slipped into my mouth. I gripped his face, holding on against his dominating, yet needy kiss. I was spinning, drunk off of him.
“I’m gonna fuck you on this kitchen table.”
I closed my eyes and imagined it. I’d be sprawled out beside our half-eaten dinners with him thrusting powerfully between my legs. I grew damp, and my pulse kicked. “Okay.”
Aggression flickered in his eyes as he stood, dumping me on my feet. “I wasn’t asking permission.”
He put a hand on my shoulder and shoved me to sit on the tabletop, causing it to groan in protest. I expected him to have me flat on my back, or order me to take off my clothes, but he grabbed his glass of wine and drank while he stood casually between my legs. His gaze didn’t deviate from mine, though. His free hand found my knee and rested there, his palm warm.
“You feel that?” he asked as his hand squeezed. “My goddamn hand is aching for more. It wants to be on your tits. Touching your pussy. Inside you.”
Maybe my wine was drugged. There wasn’t any other reason why I suddenly felt so brave, despite the tremble in my core. I put my hands flat against the tabletop, leaned back, and spread my legs wider. I was signifying he had full access and could do whatever he wanted. There were warning alarms screaming in my head, but I willingly ignored them.
My gesture of submission had quite the impact on Luka. His hand tensed on my leg and he seemed to stop breathing. It was nice to catch him off guard and know I had such an effect on him, but I didn’t get to enjoy it for long. His wine glass was set down with a quiet thud. One hand slid around my back while the other cupped the side of my neck, and his lips captured mine.
His kiss was mean and delicious. I sighed softly and tried to scoot my body closer—
My cellphone rang, interrupting us. I froze. He’d been carrying my cell all day? Luka dug my phone out of his back pocket and handed it to me. Sure enough, the screen announced it was my mother. My heart was pounding, and it was impossible to switch gears so rapidly. To come down off of the high of him.
He stared at me expectantly, and I dry swallowed.
“Hey, Mom,” I said after answering it. “Hold on, I need to put you on speaker.” I tapped the screen.
“—father’s on the line, too.” Her voice blared from the phone. “Addie, are you there?”
“I’m here,” I said. “What’s going on?”
Luka took the phone from me, placed it on the table, and his hands trapped my hips, sliding me to the edge. It fitted me against him and his arousal pressed against mine, both of us held back by clothes.
My mother’s voice was bursting with energy. “We got some exciting news today!”
“Well, really, Jonathon did,” my dad interrupted.
Since they couldn’t see me, I made a face. All of our conversations lately seemed to revolve around my brother.
Faint amusement flashed through Luka, but it was overpowered quickly with lust. He ground himself against the seam of my legs, and his hands burrowed under my sweater. My mouth dropped open. It felt good, but I didn’t want my parents to hear what he was doing, and my voice tightened with nerves. “Yeah? Did he get another scholarship?”
My mom giggled. “No, he won a car!”
Suspicion corded my muscles into knots, making me stay perfectly still as Luka’s fingers followed the curve of my breast above the edge of my bra. My body wanted to focus on his touch, but my mind was pulled elsewhere. “What?”
“I know,” she said, “it’s crazy! Jonathon just left to go over to his girlfriend’s house and show it off.”
“It’s not like it’s an expensive sports car,” my father added. “It’s a Ford Fusion. But it’s brand new, drives great, and looks good. He’s very excited.”
“And it’s so much safer than the Buick. That car’s almost as old as he is.”
Luka worked his fingers inside my bra, and my nipple snapped into a sharp point on contact. I stared at him, silently asking him to wait, but my reluctance only seemed to appeal to him more.
“How?” My word was clipped.
My parents spoke over each other, until my father relented and my mother spoke. “A drawing. He doesn’t even remember when he entered it, and your father was worried it was a scam.”
Luka’s hips moved, gently thrusting against me and forced a reaction. I let out a stuttering breath and put my hands on his chest, mouthing the word, “Wait.” He didn’t. He gripped my wrists and eased me down onto my back, pinning me to the table.
“It wasn’t a scam,” my father said. “We drove down to the Markovic dealership this afternoon and picked the car up.”
I bucked against Luka, but his hands had me cuffed tightly to the wood, and his heated body smothered mine. He’d given my brother a car? Why? I was filled with dread. The opulent house Luka held me captive in suggested the Markovics weren’t overly charitable, so this had to be a calculated move.
My mom babbled on about the car, telling me the color and its features, but I couldn’t comprehend. I stared up at Luka and tried to understand what his play was. His expression wasn’t any help. He seemed to be staring back at me with the same curiosity, as if wondering how I was going to react.
He let go of my wrist and tapped my phone’s screen, muting it. “It’s an insurance policy in case you try to run,” he said. “The GPS tells us where he is.”
“I already told you, I’m not going to run.” Wait a minute. He’d said us.
“It’s not my insurance policy.” Luka’s voice was soft. “As long as you do what I say, your brother will be fine. Better than fine, he gets a new car out of the arrangement.”
There was no more discussion to be had because he turned off the mute, silencing me. I pressed my lips together to hold back my words. I was scared enough for myself. I didn’t want to add worry for Jonathon on top of it.
My mother’s voice was still bubbly and excited. “Anyway, enough about all that. How are you? How’s school?”
I tensed, hating the lie. “It’s fine.”
“Is Avery around?” she asked casually, probably fishing to see if she could speak freely.
“No,” I said.
“Oh. Is she still driving you crazy?”
The wooden surface wasn’t comfortable, and it grew even more so when Luka’s fingers fumbled at the snap of my jeans. The word came out forceful and meant for him. “No.”
Like it mattered. I squirmed and shoved his hands away, but he shot me a dark, serious look. It turned my body to stone.
“No?” She sounded perplexed. “That’s good. What did you do this weekend?”
He leaned over me, one hand on the table beside my head and the other tugged down my zipper. I was trapped under his heavy, powerful gaze. “I, uh . . . went to a party with Avery.”
My parents spoke at the same time. “You did?”
Luka’s hand was inside my pants, touching me through my underwear, and his mouth lifted in the slight, pleased smile when he discovered how turned on I was. I quivered, and my hands splayed on the tabletop, trying to grip the flat surface.
“Did you have fun?” my mom asked.
Fun? I couldn’t process a response and then I couldn’t breathe as Luka began to peel the jeans and panties down my legs. I shook my head and gazed up at him with wide eyes, but he smirked and kept going.
I had to say something. My mom had asked me a question. “It was loud. And . . . kind of crowded.”
When Luka pulled my jeans off my hips, my lower body thudded on the table and made the plate closest to the phone bang.
“You okay?” My dad sounded concerned.
“Fine,” I said, hurried. “I dropped something.”
Cool air wafted over my exposed skin. Since he’d gotten the clothes past my knees, it was easy for him to take them the rest of the way off, even as I twisted and tried to make it difficult. He tossed the jeans and underwear across the room where the microphone was less likely to pick up on it. Then, his gaze started at my ankles and slithered upward, lingering at my knees I’d pinched tight together. There was no doubt what he was thinking about. Oh, shit . . .
I was shaky with trepidation, and maybe a miniscule amount of excitement. Luka was bad, and the worst part of me hoped he was going to make me be bad along with him. Naughty, slutty, and wrong. I teetered at the edge, wanting him to push me over.
“Were there any boys at this party?” my mom teased, probing.
My heart was beating in my throat as Luka’s hand appeared in front of my face and his middle finger pressed against his thumb, only to move abruptly and produce a soft snap. I dragged air in through my nose, taking a deep breath as I parted my trembling legs. His face was evil and triumphant.
“Yes,” I said on a low voice. I wasn’t sure who I was speaking to.
“Yeah?” My mom couldn’t keep her interest even from the one word. “Tell us about him. What’s his major?”
Warm palms smoothed up my thighs, all the way to my center, and Luka’s thumb grazed my clit. It was a jolt so powerful I bit my tongue and choked back my moan.
“He’s, uh, older.” Could they hear my frantic energy? “He graduated last year.”
I placed my hands on my forehead as he bent at the waist and licked all the way from my entrance to my clit. Holding in the sigh of pleasure was nearly impossible and I was sure I was going to burst. My legs shook desperately. He repeated the action, and this time he stayed at the end, fluttering his sinful tongue which made heat dance along my body like fireworks.
“He’s older?” There was surely a frown on my dad’s face to go along with his question.
Luka’s mouth was insane and swirled bliss all through me.
“Yes,” I moaned, then tried to steel my voice. Did they have a clue what their good little girl was doing right at this very moment? “I know him,” I said, trying to soothe away the concern. “He was . . . the TA of my calculus class my sophomore year.”
My mom sounded happy for me. “Oh, you mean Luka?”