Part of me was happy to see him.
The rest didn’t know if it was time to talk right now.
Still not knowing I was in the hallway, Misha knocked at my dressing room door.
I drank him in, sliding my gaze all over his body. So dangerous. How had I not seen it before? Although he was wearing a fine designer suit, power and the threat of violence dotted every inch of him.
I didn’t notice because that turned me on. And I didn’t want to admit that it did.
My desire for him clearly went beyond his handsome face and chiseled body.
How can I walk away?
Sure that he sensed my presence, or maybe he felt the aching that was radiating from me. He turned around and went still.
And the way Misha studied me. Intensely hot. Hunger and desire danced in his eyes.
My pulse leaped.
My heart now had more to say about my decision.
It screamed, “Take him!”
It yelled, “Forget all logic!”
Even now, his beauty perplexed me. Sensual and wicked. How could I stay away from him? He had me in a stuttering haze of emotions. And it was the impact of that seducing face. Those sculpted cheeks. The dark brows over those intense eyes. Those kissable lips. Already, I got a flashback of what they’d done to my body.
The sight of Misha hit me hard, reminding me of all that I could lose.
“Ava.” He strode my way. Graceful and strong, like a danseur, but he was so much more. There was no doubt in that stride. It was all confidence. He was a man on a mission. And I felt caught in his target, unable to escape.
“I wanted to see you.” Misha took my hand and lifted it to his mouth. The feel of those soft lips against my skin sent a delicious shiver up my arm and stimulated memories of that sinful mouth on other parts of my body.
Arousal shot through me. I felt stupid. Pathetic. So far I had done such a good job of being defiant about my needing time to think, and the first moment he stands in front of me, my body filled with heat.
He signaled for the guards to leave.
I checked behind me.
They headed off.
I looked back at him. “I. . .I wasn’t expecting you to be here.”
“Can we talk?”
I bit my lip. My traitorous heart warmed as he handed me the roses.
He kills three men and then gives you flowers, so everything is okay? Get it together.
My brain did its best to battle my heart.
I took the bouquet. “Thank you, but—”
“Just for a few minutes.”
My heart whispered to my brain, “It’s just a few minutes. What could that hurt?”
“Okay.” I pulled out my keys, unlocked the door, and opened it. “We can talk for a few minutes, but I still need time to think.”
“I know.” He followed me in. “But I couldn’t stay away.”
Don’t say that, Misha. It’s hard to hear it come from your lips.
Putting the roses on the vanity table, I swallowed and faced him.
We stood in the room. Just him and me. Barely three feet lay between us. It might have been my imagination, but I swore heat and desire bridged between us.
He shut the door, igniting the air with more longing and giving me no way to escape. “I tried to resist, but I couldn’t.”
I turned my attention to the floor. “I understand.”
“Do you?” Misha stepped forward. “Do you really?”
I gazed at him. Even in his gorgeousness, there was pain. Sad, beautiful pain creeping along his eyes and in the way he appeared to be restraining himself. My heart broke open into an exposed wound, more scarred flesh than beating organ.
He studied me. “You want space. I understand, but. . .I don’t know how much space I can give you. Already, I have only been near you for a few seconds and I want you in my arms.”
My heartbeats picked up.
“Ava.” My name was a soft whisper, but it commanded all my attention. My body reacted. Even my brain had gone blank.
He stepped closer. “You need time to think, but. . .I told you forever.”
Those words sent a burst of warmth through me.
I stirred. “Things have changed since you’ve said that.”
“True.” Misha took another step forward.
Now, only two feet ran between us. And I was very aware of the space closing up. My body craved his closeness. My head couldn’t get it together. Slowly, my brain slipped over to the heart’s side.
Hadn’t I been miserable all day? Hadn’t he been protecting me the whole time? Didn’t he try to protect me today, even after I turned him away?
“Ava, I cannot walk away from you.” He pierced me with an intense gaze and said nothing more. Misha’s feelings spoke in those eyes. If I ran, he would chase me. It was written all over his face like a book explaining the rules of a determined alpha. “I’ve fallen for you. I’ve killed for you.”