Modern Romance Collection: January 2018 Books 1 -4. Dani Collins

Чтение книги онлайн.

СКАЧАТЬ scions of industry, known for his slight pomposity.

      It was light fun, momentary, although at one point she had to stifle her laughter...which earned Dimitri a searing glance from Alexei.

      The afternoon wound up, with paperwork dispensed into briefcases, with Dimitri heading out as Alexei accompanied Cristos from the apartment.

      ‘Natalya is a highly valued PA.’

      Alexei directed his brother a non-committal glance. ‘I agree.’

      ‘She is also Roman Montgomery’s daughter,’ Cristos commented. ‘And the young woman you were involved with during your Sydney sojourn.’

      ‘Apropos of...?’ Alexei queried. ‘Besides being none of your business.’

      ‘You chose not to elaborate why you returned to New York following your sojourn in Australia.’

      ‘Missing home, family, was a logical reason.’

      ‘More than that, unless I’m mistaken.’ He waited a beat, then added, ‘Dimitri flirted with her. You didn’t like it.’

      ‘Natalya is my PA.’

      ‘Dimitri likes to play. We both know it’s harmless. Yet you considered Dimitri’s attention inappropriate.’

      ‘Out of place during a business meeting.’

      ‘Dimitri was bent on getting a reaction.’ Cristos sent Alexei a musing look. ‘That he succeeded proved...interesting.’

      Alexei’s dark glare was accompanied by a terse, ‘Back off.’

      Cristos lifted both hands in a gesture of silent compliance, offered a commiserative smile that required no words, then turned and headed towards the bank of elevators.

      Natalya focussed on what she did best...encapsulating key points during the day’s board meeting. Ensuring lunch reservations were in place, and displaying smooth efficiency as she dealt with unforeseen interruptions, while remaining cool, calm and collected.

      Everything her position entailed and required.

      By day’s end, all she wanted to do was change, shower, slip into comfortable clothes...and chill.

      Good luck with that, a tiny voice taunted, as a call came through stating the power brokers affiliated with the financially ruined company were ready to deal.

      Chilling was out as she accompanied Alexei to the bank of elevators, one of which would deposit them to the floor housing several boardrooms where a take no prisoners negotiation took place, which the Delandros brothers won. A deal reluctantly struck, legalities approved, paperwork signed.

      A coup to add to the Delandros portfolio.

      Any form of celebration would be delayed until the legal formalities were complete.

      Natalya glanced at the wall clock, made an attempt to shake off the weariness creeping through her body as she followed the men from the boardroom.

      She was tired, it was late, she required time to de-stress, and importantly gain a few hours’ sleep before rising soon after dawn to begin dealing with the follow-on from the evening’s meeting. Right at that moment she silently acceded she earned every cent of her generous salary.

      ‘Congratulations,’ she offered as Alexei closed the door after they entered their suite, watching as he shrugged off his jacket and loosened his tie.

      He spared her an intent glance, noted the shadows beneath her eyes, the tense edges of her mouth, the faint droop of her shoulders...and felt a degree of empathy for the long day, the even longer night.

      Without a word he tossed his jacket onto a nearby chair, followed it with his tie, then he crossed to stand within touching distance, laid a hand on each shoulder, and began massaging the tight muscles, easing out the kinks, the tightness.

      Natalya didn’t move, couldn’t...it felt so good, as he worked his magic easing the pain, and gradually the stress began to ebb...to be replaced by something...more, as he removed the clips from her hair and trailed light fingers over her scalp, soothing, taking her to a place where it would be so easy to succumb.

      The touch of his lips to her forehead, lingering at her temple, the gentle whisper-like touch as he reached the edge of her mouth, savoured a little, then brushed the soft seam with a wicked promise of seduction.

      A slow savouring persuasion, which left Natalya spellbound, uncaring where it might lead...only to baulk as reality began to descend.

      She’d been down this road before, become pregnant and suffered a miscarriage. Hadn’t the obstetrician advised in future certain steps should be taken prior to falling pregnant in order to avoid another miscarriage?

      Birth control...she wasn’t on any. Her mind spiralled...what if Alexei wasn’t prepared? And even more alarming...what if she fell pregnant?

      She closed her eyes, then slowly opened them again as a voice in her head silently screamed no.

      ‘I don’t do casual sex,’ she managed carefully.

      ‘I want you in my life,’ Alexei said quietly.

      She took care to meet his eyes, unsure what to say...or whether to say anything at all.

      He lifted a finger and traced a gentle path over her lips. ‘Is it too much to ask we share what we once had?’

      She was willing to swear her heart took a downward flip. Lover? Mistress?

      She closed her eyes, then slowly opened them again.

      ‘I don’t do the mistress thing,’ she said carefully.

      At that precise moment she hated herself for letting her guard down. Tempted, just once, to have him take her mouth with his own, to feel sensually alive. To accept whatever he offered, and to hell with the consequences.

      She almost succumbed, knowing how easy it would be to lose herself...and that made her angry beyond measure.

      Without thinking, she wrenched herself out of his arms, grabbed her jacket, the suite’s swipe card and walked out of the door, uncaring of anything other than the need to get away from him, the hotel suite...to be anywhere but here.

      Instead of summoning a lift, she chose the stairwell to the next floor down, made it to an elevator about to close, and took it down to street level.

      The air was crisp, and she pulled the edges of her coat together as she exited the foyer.

      The area was well lit, traffic moved quickly, and right at this moment she was too angry to consider the wisdom of walking alone late at night in a city not her own.

      One block, crossing on to the second, becoming increasingly aware she should turn back.

      Fool, she silently berated. What would this achieve?

      Nothing. Other than reveal her lack of common sense.

      One more block, then she’d turn and retrace СКАЧАТЬ