Chapter 19

Anton

Irubbed my chin, settled into the extra wide cream leather seat. We were waiting for takeoff, but I knew it would not take long. And I didn't mind waiting, however. Not with the delicious view I had.

Mishka was seated nearby. She had scurried away before I could show her to the seat opposite me. I didn't blame her. She must know that I was ready to devour her at any moment.

I had stopped trying to hide my feelings. Stopped fighting it, other than my actual approach. It was challenging, but I knew I had to go slow.

My Mishka was too precious to handle with anything but the utmost care.

I knew that, but it was very hard to keep the beast inside me at bay. The beast that only wanted one thing.

Her.

I was having trouble restraining my baser desires around her. I felt like a wild animal, trapped in a cage near its prey. A lion watching a gazelle, unable to pounce. Forced to bide his time.

It was only my respect and admiration for Mishka and her father that kept me from doing something rash. I was known for my will power and my cool head. But my once famous control was fraying.

At this point, it barely existed.

"Come sit here, Mishka," I said. "I want to talk to you."

She stiffened slightly but did as I asked. I watched every move she made. The beautiful way her muscles worked to lift her body from the seat. The graceful way her hands unbuckled the seat belt. Her legs as she walked towards me, lowering herself into the seat across from me.

It was surprising to me that she was not a classically trained ballet dancer, truth be told.

"Yes, sir?"

I steepled my fingertips together, considering her. She was being a bit naughty. Standing there with her chin lifted. I could sense that she was closing herself off from me. She had been ever since the kiss. Every time I made an inroad, as I had at her apartment, she pulled back again.

Eventually, something would have to give. I was past my breaking point. I expected she was, too.

It was impossible to forget how she had melted into me. How incredible she had felt in my arms. Soft, pliant, and oh-so-feminine.

"You'll need some other clothes. I expect you to accompany me to meals and some events."

"I only brought my uniform."

She looked worried. She opened her mouth to say something, then shut it abruptly. She stared at her knees. They were very pretty knees, but I wanted her attention on me, damnit.

"Is something wrong with your uniform, Mishka?"

"They are all feeling very snug. I think they must have shrank in the wash?" She sounded worried. "I may have put on a little weight…"

I hid a smile. We were feeding her well but that wasn't what had caused her uniforms to ‘shrink'. I had had her uniforms altered. They were getting closer and closer to a sexy costume caricature of what a maid would look like.

"You won't be wearing them most of the time," I said, trying not to think about her out of her uniform too closely. I crossed my legs as blood rushed to my shaft. I prayed she didn't notice. She might be too innocent to realize what was happening anyway, I reasoned. "We'll go shopping."

"Shopping?"

"Yes, Mishka."

"I thought this was a business trip."

"I have time to take my charming companion shopping."

She chewed her lip, looking uncertain.

"I don't spend a lot of money on clothes."

I stifled the urge to laugh. I had no doubt about that. She had looked like a delightfully gamine street urchin when I met her. I had seen her tremendous beauty despite her apparel and lack of makeup or feminine wiles. Somehow, she didn't need it. But I was very curious to see her wearing expensive, well-made clothing. I had a feeling she was going to surprise the hell out of me.

I wasn't quite sure I could take it.

"This is part of your duties. I need a suitable companion by my side. I will provide the clothing, of course."

"Duties?"

"I will need someone to dine with, to accompany me to meetings, to make sure I have everything I need."

"Can't I just wear my uniform for that?" She looked and sounded mulish. The woman was stubborn as hell. For some absurd reason, I found it enchanting.

My Mishka was a challenge. I wished she wasn't but part of me had to admit that I was glad she was. I would have treasured her even if she had fallen into my arms that first week, but I might not have respected her as much as I did.

As frustrating as this prolonged chase was, I was loving every second of it.

"No, Mishka. I do not want to dine with my maid."

"But I am your maid."

"You are whatever I need you to be," I countered in a tone that brooked no argument.

I saw her eyes widen and her gorgeous lips open to argue with me. I cut her off before she could speak.

"If you like, we can call you my ‘assistant' on this trip."

She looked suspicious, but even she could not argue with that. I smiled at her. I had won, and I knew it. I did my best not to gloat.

"You do work for me, if you recall."

"How could I forget?" She said, her eyes narrowed. I decided not to answer that. Sparring with her was surprisingly stimulating. Bracing, Alexei might say.

"We will go shopping once we arrive."

"Aren't we arriving in the middle of the night?" She challenged.

"We arrive at four. We will go to the hotel, check in, and then hit the stores."

"At five AM?"

"Yes, Mishka."

"But the stores are not open."

"They will open for me," I said, knowing that they would. In fact, knowing Linski, it had already been arranged, along with a sumptuous breakfast and sight-seeing. All once my sweet Mishka was in her new clothing, of course.

"You may sleep if you get tired."

"I just woke up," she said. I laughed. She was right of course. It was still morning. We were still on the ground. "The flight is only ten hours," she added, trying to do the math. It made me want to scoop her up and squeeze her, she was so cute.

"Yes, I know. I meant this evening. And the time difference will make you quite tired when we arrive if you don't rest. For now, I would like your help organizing some documents. After takeoff, of course."

She nodded, still looking confused. That was good. I wanted her wondering what would come next. I wanted her to trust me. Rely on me. Want me.

I wanted her to climb into my lap like a pretty little kitty cat.

Perhaps she would on the next leg of our journey, I thought with a smirk. Or the way home to Moscow. I planned on winning her over on this trip, one way or the other.

If I did not succeed in seducing her, I wasn't sure what exactly I was going to do.