I’m in Paris. I’m actually…here…right now.
This was what wealth could buy. A view, but not just any view. A view free of claustrophobic folks and noise. Nothing but the night sky over one of the most romantic cities in the world.
I moved past the cavernous space. I was careful not to touch the glass as I slowly walked along one end of the wall to the other. The city lay before me, sparkling like a jewel and full of promise.
“Here we go.” The host led me onto a private balcony. The wide space was easily twice the size of my old apartment in Harlem with bright carpet on mahogany wood and dark furniture swathed in white. Crimson pillows were scattered on vanilla love seats with candlelight along a rooftop fountain. Firefly strings of light crisscrossed above.
Drawn to the railing, I walked to it and stared off at the city. I couldn’t help but lift my face to the wind, close my eyes, and savor the moment.
“Are you relaxing?” Kazimir whispered from behind.
“Yes.”
He pulled me into him.
I leaned my head back and smiled.
He kissed me, and the sweet pressure of his soft lips made my heart skip a beat. “I didn’t hear you coming.”
“You never will.” He breathed me in. “Do you like the view?”
“God yes.”
“The chef is ready to serve, and I know you’re starving.” Kazimir took my hand, slowly turned me around, and led me back inside.
We walked through the luxurious space, hand-in-hand, and no longer did I think about all the worries I’d had on the plane. If he’d wanted me to forget it all, he’d succeeded.
Well-played, Kaz. Well-played.
The chef beamed with pleasure. “I hope you came hungry.”
“We did.” Kazimir linked his arm with mine.
We sat down.
I whispered to him, “You’re smart.”
“Am I?” He eyed me with amused suspicion. “Have you figured out what I’ve been doing?”
“Yes. You’re distracting me.”
“From what?”
“From getting in trouble with your brothers.”
“I am, but this is more than that.” He took a sip of his wine. “What else is it?”
I scanned the space, taking in not only his gorgeous face, but the soft romantic atmosphere. Candlelight flickered over roses.
“The other lesson is…” I looked around. “I don’t know.”
“My cock is as big as my wallet. That’s the lesson.”
I laughed. “No, that’s not a lesson. I already knew that.”
“Well, it’s worth noting again.” His words made me giddy with pleasure.
I couldn’t stop the corners of my mouth from pulling into a smile. “Your second lesson is that I need to take a break. Slow down.”
“Yes, mysh.” Kazimir brought my hands up to his mouth and kissed them.
“You’re the one who wanted me to play games with presidents.”
“That’s just going to be a lesson. Something I can control. Anything you do on your own is something I won’t anticipate.” He took another sip from his glass. “Plus, fucking with Smirnov is fun.”
“Would you ever overthrow him?”
He nodded as if I’d asked him if he’d taken out the garbage yesterday. “I’ve considered it. There’s another player in the game. Gukovo. He’s younger, late thirties. Lives off a modest state pension. Charismatic and fiercely patriotic.”
“You’ve been watching him?”
“I have, but I haven’t contacted him yet. I’ve allowed Misha to be the middleman. Maybe after our lessons, we’ll meet him.”
“And then what?”
“Things may get interesting in Moscow. There’s a plague of greed that has come to Russia, and the citizens are at a breaking point. With Gukovo’s and my help, we could install a new government in a peaceful way.”
O-kay. We’ll just install a new government sometime next week. Cool.
I cleared my throat. “I’m out of my league.”
“You’ll learn.”
“You said wealth is like a new jacket. What about power?”
“I cannot help you with how to deal with power, mysh. Even I don’t have full control of myself when I’m on it. Power is not a jacket. It’s cocaine. Heroine. Pussy. All mixed in one. It’s love and an orgasm. It’s money. It’s fame. It’s every fucking thing you can imagine, and then absolutely nothing at all.”
“That’s why you want me to take my time?”
“Yes. You already have had power.”
“Not really. Not on your level, Kazimir.”
“You will. You have my attention, and that is worth a lot. You’ll understand.” He frowned. “People will approach you. They’ll find a way. They’ll try to get you to bend my ear on things. You’ll be the target for things you have nothing to do with you.”
I exhaled slowly. “I’ll always stay loyal.”
“I know you will. I’m more concerned about my reaction when others bother you.”
“I doubt anyone will bother me. I’m with the lion after all.”
“Some will think that you’ve tamed me.”
I snorted. “Not happening.”
“Hmmm.”
“So, are you going to teach me how to be a lion tamer too?”
“Do you think you can tame?”
“No.”
He smiled. “Yet, you’ve tamed me.”
“Have I?”
He leaned my way and sucked in my bottom lip. The conversation ended with that. There was no reason to think of anything else.