“Sorry, I look a mess,” she said, noticing his stare but misinterpreting it. “However, I’ve gotten tons done since you left.” She ran her fingers down her long, bo-legs and turned to look at the store. “It’s really coming along.” She sighed proudly and turned back around to him. Her long ponytail danced behind her.
“You’re doing agreat job.” He moved her long mane from her shoulders affectionately.
“Thanks. It’s just that we are getting closer and closer to opening, and I’m getting so nervous.” They walked as she talked. “I want you to look over the numbers again. I don’t know how you’re doing it, but the purchase of these clothes at these prices has saved us a bundle. We are nearly twenty-five percent under budget right now.” Her eyes were bright with enthusiasm.
“Due largely to you,” Dmitry added, lightly touching her arms. He could never keep his hands to himself around her. “I’m very, very proud of you, Royal. You have exceeded all my expectations.”
“Wow, Dmitry,” Royal said,a little choked up. “Thanks. That…means a lot.”
“You’re welcome,” he sighed, remembering to pull himself from her trance. He blinked hard. “I’ve got something for you.”
He reached into his pocket but didn’t take his eyes off of her.
“What’s this?” she asked.
“Thank-you gift,” he said, leaning over her body to give her his present.
“Another one?”
“Open it now,” he urged.
Royal was never uncomfortable to be close to him. Dmitry found that odd. She was so close until he could smell her sweet perfume and the sweat of a long day’s work. But she did not back away. She stood there as if to say that this was her space and if he felt uncomfortable, he should step away. But he did not; he stood closer – as close as he could.
She looked up at him with huge, cat eyes and smiled, recognizing the teal blue box wrapped in a white ribbon. Tiffany’s.
Dmitry constantly showeredher with gifts, and she let him. However, he wasn’t sure if she allowed him to because she felt that she deserved it, which she did,or if was because she understood his growing attraction to her and felt the same. Either way, he was glad that she accepted his gifts, and he looked forward to giving her something that they both could enjoy in the very near future. He smiled devilishly at the thought.
“This is beautiful,” she said, looking at the diamond earrings. They sparkled like his eyes. She liked that most. Constant reminders of him.
“They are twocarats. You should wear them out on town, on date.” He winked at her.
“A date with who, Dmitry?” She chuckled. “My job is my life.”
There it was – a window of opportunity to pry into Royal’s life. She was a closed book to him, never referenc-ing family or friends. All that she ever did was work. When she was not working, she was…well, he did not know what she did when she was not working. He doubted that she did very much.
“You are beautiful woman, Royal. Why is it there is no one to love you?” He stood behind her as she looked in the mirror and put on the earrings. Carefully, he pulled her long black strands of hair up so that she could better see the diamonds. Her back rested against his chest, breathing synchronously with him.
The touch of his strong hands to her warm skin sent chills down her body. She caught herself gasping a little. Dmitry mouth watered. As short as she was, he could easily bend down and kiss her wet lips now. All he needed was one kiss. He had been longing for a month to see what beautiful actually tasted like.
“I don’t have time to date,” Royal said, barely looking up. Her skinned turned red as she blushed. “I don’t want to make time either.” Her eyebrows spiked at him, hinting that the conversation was over, but there was a curious part of Dmitry that died to know more.
He continued. “Don’t you ever want to go out?”
“I do. Just the other day, I caught a movie.”
“I mean with other people, with man?”
Royal sighed. Dmitry was so nosy. She folded her arms and perched her mouth. “I don’t have time to fall in love. I’m busy trying to form a life for myself here. I’m young. There will be plenty of time for all of that later.”
Dmitry laughed. His deep voiced vibrated throughout the back of the store. He leaned his long, sexy body against the counter and looked at her. Her innocence reminded him of why he desired her so much, why she constantly set him ablaze.
“What’s so funny, Dmitry?” Royal asked, giving him an evil eye.
“Youare funny.” He reached out for her arm and pulled her closer to him. “But you don’t fool me. You need man in your life. Someone to make that beautiful brown skin of yours glow. You try to be tough, but your needs are no different from any other woman’s.” He rubbed his large hand across her cheek.
“A man, huh? Oil of Olay makes your skin glow, not men. Besides, how can you talk? I haven’t seen you with a woman the entire time that I’ve been here, and I know that you’re not gay. So evidently, you don’t have time either.”
Royal marveled at his arrogant grace. He was dressed in a tailored black Armani suit, looking and smelling like a million dollars.
His hair curled in golden locks around his tanned skin. And his eyes – they were the same burning prisms ever day – torturing her with horrible thoughts. His look was full of lust and fire. It was trying to consume her now, but she fought him. She
