Читать книгу The Platinum Collection: A Convenient Proposal: His Diamond of Convenience / The Highest Price to Pay / His Ring Is Not Enough - Maisey Yates - Страница 13

CHAPTER SIX

DMITRI HAD SPENT the entire rest of the night lying awake, fighting a hard-on that wouldn’t quit.

It was an interesting experience going to bed unsatisfied. And not only unsatisfied, but with a deep feeling of shame and failure that wrapped itself around the arousal, making it feel more potent, making it feel both worse and better at the same time.

Dmitri was very rarely rejected, if ever. When he wanted sex he was able to get it. Moreover, when he did not want sex he was able to resist it.

Somehow, neither of those things had happened last night.

He hadn’t wanted to touch her, and yet he had. Then he had wanted her, and he had not got her.

He didn’t know which was worse.

Today saw the harsh New Orleans sun shining brightly in the sky, and he had immediately decided to go for a run in the obstacle-ridden streets before going back to the suite to face both the day and his accomplice from last night. She had been sleeping when he left, but he knew she would be awake now. It was after nine, and Victoria seemed very much like the kind of person who was up with the birds. Especially when there was a project to be done, and today definitely had a list of projects to tackle.

He stepped into the living area that he and Victoria shared just as Victoria was emerging from her bedroom. She froze like a startled cat when she saw him, her hands drawn up against her chest as though she were looking for pearls to clutch.

She was not wearing pearls; a polka-dot dress fell down past her knees, a wide patent leather belt highlighting her narrow waist. The neckline was high, demure almost, as all of her clothing seemed to be. And like the rest of her clothing he found it unbearably sexy.

“Good morning,” she said, her tone crisp.

“Yes, good morning.”

She appraised his appearance, and clearly found him wanting. Or at least, he was certain that was what she wanted him to think. But he didn’t miss the blush that stained her cheeks as she took in the sight of him. “You are not ready to go to the venue.”

“Why? Will there be anyone there?”

“You are sweaty.” She said it as though it was the most distasteful thing she could even imagine.

“It’s New Orleans. A quick jaunt outside and everyone is sweaty.”

“It looks like you’ve had more than a quick jaunt.”

“I had some energy to burn off.”

Tension crackled between them as he let the meaning hit her fully. He shouldn’t push her, because when he did they ended up where they had ended up last night. And he knew that he couldn’t allow it to happen again. This did not control him. There were so many paths he could take. All roads did not lead to her.

“Did you?” she asked, her tone starchy. “I slept very well.”

He let silence stretch between them. “Yes, I imagine you did.”

Her cheeks darkened a shade, and he could tell she was thinking of last night. “I refuse to feel guilty about it.”

“What about? That you managed to...get sleep when I didn’t?”

“Yes.” She elevated her chin and sauntered past him at a brisk pace, snatching her purse off the end table by the couch. “Shall we go?”

“The venue is here in the hotel, is it not?”

“Yes, it is.”

“I am sweaty, as you said. Would you like to wait for me to rinse off?”

“I feel like we’ve played this game before. I would rather not be present every time you shower. We are just going downstairs, so your running clothes should be fine, and I will bear your sweat with as much grace and poise as I can.”

“You are a consummate lady.” He followed her out of the suite and into the hall.

“I do try to be.”

She was so stiff and prim, but he knew better. And he would not allow her to pretend he didn’t. “I especially admire the way you keep your composure as you come.”

She whipped around to face him, her eyes wide with shock, her cheeks red now, not from embarrassment, but rage. “I cannot believe you mentioned that.”

“I’m sorry. Were you dedicated to the idea of speaking about it in euphemism for the rest of our time together?”

“I had rather hoped we wouldn’t speak of it at all.”

“You were the one rather flagrantly flaunting your good night’s sleep. And I’m the one who administered nature’s sleeping pill—therefore, I think I have room to comment.”

He shouldn’t be discussing it, as he had just purposed that he would not press this issue with her. Because there was nowhere it could go.

But perhaps this was what he needed. Perhaps it was what they both needed. To allow a slight release on their control so that in all major areas that control could be retained.

It made sense. It was what he had done back when he was fighting MMA professionally. It had given him a chance to get release without ever descending back into the dark place he had been in. A chance to burn off steam while retaining the most essential elements of his control.

“That’s crass.” She pressed the button for the lift and proceeded to stare at the metal doors determinedly.

“Perhaps. But you did not seem to find it so distasteful last night.”

“Until I could think again.”

“I take that as a high compliment. The ability to make a woman like you mindless is not a small one.”

She tilted her head to the side, her eyes narrowed, glittering with barely suppressed rage. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Do not sound so offended, Victoria. It’s a compliment.” He examined the elegant line of her neck, a rush of desire coursing through his veins. “You are very present. Brilliant. Nothing gets past you. To force you to stop thinking for a moment shall be remembered as one of the greatest achievements of my life.”

“Well, it shall go down in history as one of my biggest failures. Congratulations.”

“Most women don’t consider an orgasm of that quality a failure.”

She made a frustrated sound and pressed the button for the lift again. “Honestly, it seems like this is taking forever.”

“You’re just saying that.”

“So what is it you want, Dmitri?” she asked, the color high in her cheeks. “You just want to... What? Have sex?” Her prim and proper accent curving around that oh-so-evocative word wrenched his arousal up to a higher level. And he saw his paths narrowing. Saw his choices diminish. He should be angry, but his blood was burning with a different kind of fire altogether. “We both know it won’t go anywhere. And we both know it might distract us from what we have come together to do.”

He reached out and took her left hand in his, sliding his thumb over the ring that rested on her fourth finger. “I fail to see how sex could do anything but enhance what it is we are trying to do.”

Why was he pushing this? Why was he letting this pull to her, this situation he did not choose, dictate his wants, his needs, his actions?

Because you want to give in... This time at least, you want to have the choice taken...

“Oh, is that so?” Her voice sounded thin now, breathy. Different.

Dammit all to hell. He wanted this. Wanted to pull the trigger.

“We are supposed to be lovers, after all.” He looked up, his eyes clashing with hers. “Sex would add authenticity.”