Chapter 29

29

NIKOLAI

I stand at the base of the grand staircase, dim lighting casting shadows that stretch like dark tendrils across the marble floor. My hands are shoved in my pockets, fingers tapping rhythmically against my thigh as I wait for her. The anticipation is a slow burn in my veins, simmering into something darker, something primal.

Tonight is not just a date—it's a battlefield, and I plan on winning. When Gwen descends those stairs, she walks right into my trap. I see how she pushes my buttons, testing the limits of my patience. But tonight, I remind her exactly who she belongs to. By the end of this night, she'll be begging for me, her every defense shattered. She will be putty in my hands, an obedient little sub on her knees for me.

The sound of Gwen's heels clicking against the marble stairs pulls my attention. My breath catches in my throat as I take in her appearance, and I curse myself for ever buying her that dress .

She glides down the stairs with the grace of a queen walking to her throne, each step a promise of the night ahead. I can't help but mutter, "Чёрт возьми, она чертовски великолепна" under my breath, the Russian curse spilling from my lips as I take in the sight of her.

She is a vision—a dangerous one. The inky black gown drapes and clings to her every curve like a second skin, as if it were tailor-made by the devil himself. A daring slit slices up to her hip, teasing with just enough skin to leave one's imagination running wild. My imagination is running wild; it almost looks like she isn't wearing anything underneath. The idea of that alone makes my blood heat.

Her lips are painted a deep, sinful red, drawing attention to their fullness and inviting the gaze of all who see her. The smoky darkness of her eyes only adds to the mystery and allure of her presence. Her curls are styled with precision, each strand falling perfectly into place to frame her face in wild, soft tendrils. She exudes an air of power and confidence, like the queen of death—here to drag me to my grave, and I'd willingly go.

I'm so caught up in taking her in that I almost miss the sly smile curving on her lips. "Pick your jaw up off the ground, Nik," she says, her tone laced with a teasing edge.

I shake my head, trying to regain my composure. "You're killing me, you know that?" I reply, my voice smooth but laced with a hunger I can't hide. "You look so beautiful, I don't even want to take you outside. No one should see how good you look but me."

I can't help but curse again, this time louder and more fervently. "Господи, котик, это чертовски безумно," I mutter, the curse heavy with my desire. As she slides her hand into my open palm, my thoughts teeter between getting her out of that dress right now and remembering we have reservations.

Her grin widens as she twirls effortlessly, giving me a full view of the dress—if you can even call it that. A dress with a slit that high should not also be backless. It is fucking criminal, revealing so much skin I feel my control slipping. "Что ты со мной делаешь," I mutter, this time louder and more fervently, the curse heavy with my desire.

Her eyes sparkle with mischief as she leans in even closer. "What does that mean, Nik?" she asks, her breath warm against my ear.

Her giggle is like a sweet poison, intoxicating and maddening all at once. What I said roughly translates to ‘What are you doing to me, Kotik,' but instead of telling her the exact translation, I lean in closer, placing both of my hands on her hips and whispering against her lips.

"It means," I murmur, my voice a low growl, "that you're driving me out of my mind. You look so fucking irresistible I can barely keep my hands off you."

Her lips curl into a sultry smile. "Well, that's exactly the effect I was going for." She trails a teasing finger down my chest, her touch electric.

A growl emanates from my chest, but she ignores it and laces her fingers with mine, pulling me toward the elevator.

"Let's get this date started before you end it," she says with a smirk, but there's a glint in her eyes that tells me she knows exactly what she's doing.

She guides me into the elevator, pressing the button for the lobby as the doors slide shut. But before they close completely, she leans in, her voice a sultry whisper. "You were right."

I arch a brow, intrigued. "Right about what?"

She meets my gaze with a slow, seductive smile. "I saw it in your eyes when I was walking down the stairs. You don't think I'm wearing any underwear right now."

"And?" I snarl, keeping my eyes trained on the elevator doors slowly closing in front of us.

"And you would be right, Niky." She leans up, her breath fluttering over my cheek and her breast grazing my arm as she playfully whispers. "I am totally commando."

The doors close, and I'm hit with a wave of heat so intense it takes every ounce of willpower not to pin her against the wall and ruin her perfect lipstick. My fingers twitch at my sides, itching to tear that gown off her and claim what's mine.

But tonight is about control—hers and mine. And I've never been more determined to show her who really runs this game.

"Gwen," I murmur, looking down at her with the most casual gaze I can muster, the tension between us thickening with each breath. "You're playing a dangerous game."

Her eyes glitter with challenge as she leans back against the elevator wall. "Good. I love danger."

Driving with Gwen beside me is an excruciating test of my self-control. Her movements are subtle yet deliberate—crossing her legs, shifting in her seat, every slight adjustment of her body only heightens my desire. Each time she shifts, her dress reveals just a hint more of her smooth skin, making it harder not to drag her home and hoard all of her beauty for myself. Fuck buying this dress.

I white-knuckle the steering wheel as I drive. It's all I can do not to pull over and claim her right there in the passenger seat of my Ferrari, but then we would have to have dinner with her looking freshly fucked, and I don't know which is worse: her looking this good with or without my cum dripping down her thighs.

Tonight is about control. My control, and I can control myself around her, even if it's sparingly.

As we enter the elegant lobby of Le Bernardin , I place my hand against the small of Gwen's exposed back. My lips twitch in satisfaction at the way she shivers at my touch. I guide her through the restaurant, where the opulent décor and dim lighting set the perfect mood.

The hostess's smile widens as soon as she spots us. "Mr. Petrov," she greets, her voice softening as she flutters her lashes. "Your table is ready. Right this way."

I barely nod in acknowledgment, but I catch the way Gwen tenses beside me, her posture stiffening and her tongue running across her inner cheek. My Kotik, jealous? The idea sends a ripple of satisfaction through me. "Jealous, are we?" I whisper into her ear.

She scowls, burning holes in the back of the hostess's head as she leads us through the dimly lit restaurant. Gwen's gaze darts to the side, her jealous ebbing into discomfort, wary of the lingering stares we attract.

"Are people staring at me?" she asks, rubbing her forearm nervously .

I look around the restaurant, feeling my eyes become as black holes as I focus on one guy who is staring at Gwen so hard that his date hits him and walks away. He is lucky she got his attention before I did because I would have killed him for the heavy gaze he has on my girl. "Do you want me to make them stop? I'll give you their irises as a gift."

"You're jealous." She snorts, throwing my words back at me as blush rushes to the apples of her cheeks. "It's okay if they look, as long as they don't touch."

My body bristles at the thought. "It is not okay that they look, but trust me, I'd be dead long before anyone got close enough to breathe the same air as you, let alone touch you."

I slide my hand down her exposed back, leaving a trail of goosebumps in my wake, and draw small circles along her spine, my lips gently leaning in to kiss her temple. She whimpers quietly, and a warmth bursts in my chest.

When we reach our secluded table, draped in crisp white linen and surrounded by the glow of candlelight, I pull out Gwen's chair for her. "Relax, kotik," I murmur, my fingertips running back up her spine as she sits. I lean in close, whispering in her ear, "You are mine, and I will always protect you."

Her eyes meet mine, softened by a hint of vulnerability that she quickly masks with a small, playful smirk.

Gwen gracefully lowers herself into her chair, the slit of her dress parting just enough to tease. My gaze lingers on her, the urge to take her right here almost overwhelming, but instead, I unbutton my jacket and slide into the seat across from her.

With the combination of the male gazes I feel trained on the body that belongs to me and the fact that Gwen's dress has my imagination running fucking wild, I immediately regret not buying out the entire place. Here I thought we could have a normal date that doesn't end in me giving her another finger for her collection.

I keep my eyes on Gwen as I speak. "We'll start with a bottle of F. Raveneau Les Clos 2015 Chablis, and for appetizers, we'll have the Montauk shrimp and the oyster-uni."

Gwen raises an eyebrow, looking between the hostess and me as she whispers her protests, "Nik, I haven't even looked at the menu yet."

I give her a roguish wink, my confidence unwavering. "I like you too much and know you too well to let you order for yourself."

A soft blush creeps up her cheeks, and she quickly looks away, her fingers fidgeting with the edge of her napkin.

"Right away," she says with a polite nod, taking note of our order before leaving us in the dimly lit, elegantly decorated dining room.

I lean back, crossing my arms as I regard her with a smirk. "I think you're enjoying teasing me tonight. You've been playing this game all evening, and it's not lost on me."

Gwen's lips part in a playful grin. "Nik, I would never."

Her tone is light, almost innocent, but the glint in her eyes betrays her mischief. She tilts her head slightly, her voice dripping with faux sincerity. "I'm just here to enjoy the evening, and if I happen to catch your attention, well, that's just a bonus."

I lean in closer, my gaze locking onto hers with an intense, challenging look. "Oh, really? Because it seems to me like you've been deliberately pushing all my buttons tonight. "

Gwen's smile widens, and she places a hand over her heart in mock offense. "Well, how could I not push your buttons when you look so cute when you're annoyed?"

Her nose scrunches in that cute way that makes me want to make her do it again, just because I know that fake look of annoyance belongs solely to me.

I give her my deadest glare and she smiles poking my left cheek with the tip of her pointer finger. I playfully nip at her wrist, but before she can fully retract her arm, I grab her wrist and curl the edges of my mouth into a smile. "Moya lyubov," I whisper against her soft flesh. "No one calls me cute."

Her pulse beats faster against my lips, only making me smile more. Her breath comes out as a combination of snark and lust, all breathless and needy. "Maybe more people should. You are-"

"Handsome," I correct before she can say cute again. "Sexy. Fine. All acceptable adjectives."

"I was going to say you are full of yourself; let's add more adjectives for your minions to inflate your ego with, shall we?" She yanks her wrist out of my hand, her eyes trained on me. "Cute. Annoyed. Cocky. Asshole. I like the sound of those."

"Kotik, you can call me whatever you want as long as you are mine." I give her my best cocky grin, leaning back in my chair as I spread my lips into a winning smile.

Gwen rolls her eyes, covering her face with her opened menu. "You know just because you cum in someone doesn't make them yours."

"It does when I cum in you," I counter, and she growls, peeking at me from over the top of the menu .

"Nik," she scolds, keeping her eyes trained on the menu.

A waiter returns, expertly pouring two glasses of white wine before nestling the bottle into a sleek silver cooler beside our table. As he steps away, I shift closer, unable to take my eyes off Gwen as she lifts her glass to me. "A toast." She smirks.

"To what, Kotik?" I tease and she purses her lips with a knowing smile.

"To you learning the difference between possession and affection," she purrs, raising her glass to her lips with a cheshire grin.

I laugh deep in my chest as I raise my glass to hers. "Good luck with that, Kotik. You see, I prefer the kind of affection that leaves its mark."

"Of course, you do," she rolls her eyes as she whispers her words under her breath, and I pull my glass back slightly.

"Kotik, don't make me teach you proper manners in this restaurant," I growl, and her eyes narrow on me as her back arches into the table. She fidgets slightly in her seat, and I lean forward with my glass almost touching hers. "Now do you want to try to say your toast again?"

She gives me a tight smile as she speaks. "To stubborn men and the women too smart to fall for them."

A scoff-like laugh leaves my lips as I tilt my glass to hers. Never break eye contact even as both take a sip. "Let me make an addendum."

"You can't change the toast after we've drank," she teases, and I shrug.

"It's just you and me we can bypass that," I whisper in a low, husky voice. "Now I think we should toast to stubborn women who secretly love being chased."

"I don't like being chased." She scowls as I lift my glass lazily in my hand and point it at her. She keeps her glass in her hand, but just out of reach of my glass.

"Kotik. You might fight me, and argue, and try to outrun me, but you know you can never really outrun me." I drop my voice again and lean in. "And deep down you like that you can't outrun me."

I wink and watch as she tries to take a deep breath without me noticing. She looks away from me and her lips touch the rim, delicately, but a small droplet escapes, trailing down the corner of her mouth.

Without a second thought, I reach out, catching the droplet with the pad of my thumb. Her eyes widen slightly as I bring my thumb to my lips, tasting the wine that clings to my skin. The sweetness lingers, both from the wine and the subtle essence of her. I can't help but smirk as her cheeks flush, a mixture of surprise and something else swirling in her gaze.

"Do you have to do that?" she asks, a hint of playful annoyance in her tone, though her eyes betray her curiosity.

"Do what?" I drawl, clicking my head to the side as I stare at her.

Gwen's lips thin as heat rushes her cheeks. "Do really sexy things like I don't know, sucking the wine from the corner of my mouth off your thumb."

A laugh boils in my throat as I lean in even closer, my voice dropping to a hushed whisper as I hold her gaze. "You, my dear, are like ambrosia. I can't let even a drop go to waste." The words roll off my tongue slowly, deliberately, and her eyes follow the slow flick of my tongue.

Gently, I reach across the table, lacing my fingers through hers. Her hand is warm, fitting perfectly in mine. "You taste like heaven," I murmur, brushing my thumb across her knuckles. "And I'm the lucky one who gets to indulge."

"Well fuck." She huffs, shifting in her seat.

The waiter returns with our appetizers, setting down both plates before leaning over and pointing to the shrimp first. "Sorry for the interruption. On our right here, we have the Montauk shrimp and to the left, we have our oyster-uni. The chef said that he is excited to have you in attendance, Mr. Petrov, and would like to make you a special entree."

I look over at Gwen as I say, "Sounds delicious."

"I will let him know you agree." He gives a courteous nod before stepping back.

She delicately spears one of the shrimp and takes a bite. The moment the flavor hits her tongue, a soft moan escapes her lips. Her eyes flutter shut for a brief second, savoring every note of the dish. I grip the edge of the table, trying to hold back a groan as I lean closer, the words leaving my lips in a low, restrained growl.

"Careful, kotik," I warn, the roughness in my voice unmistakable. "You can't make sounds like that here."

Her eyes snap open, and she meets my gaze, feigning innocence. "Like what?" she asks, playing coy as she tilts her head slightly, her lips quirking into a teasing smile.

"Like you're already begging for dessert," I reply, my voice laced with a mixture of amusement and desire .

"Well, dessert is the best part of dinner," she coos, picking up another shrimp with a naughty smile.

But I reel in the tension quickly, straightening in my seat as I take a sip of my wine. "As much as I enjoy watching you enjoy yourself, there's more to tonight than just this game of ours," I say, allowing a pause before adding, "I organized this date for a reason."

Gwen's brow furrows slightly as she dabs at the corner of her lips with a napkin. "A reason? And here I thought you took me out to wine and dine me."

I set down my glass and lean in, enjoying how the candlelight illuminates her features as I speak. "I brought you here to spark a deal. I know how much my little lawyer loves negotiation."

Her eyes light up as she studies me, a faint smile on her lips. "What kind of deal are we talking about?" she asks, shifting in her seat with excitement.

"I do not want to keep running in circles anymore. I know you are mine, Gwen, and I think you should admit that," I say.

She sighs, humorlessly. "And how are you going to make me declare that, Nik? You already have me locked up in your penthouse like some New York damsel. What else could you want?"

You. I want Gwen to want me. To stay with me willingly. I don't want to have to track her to the ends of the earth. I don't want to have to keep dragging her back to me kicking and screaming, but I would. I would keep searching for her until my last breath. I don't want her to resent me, but with Gwen, being honest about how I feel hasn't worked, and like any good businessman, I know now it's time to pivot .

"If I make you cum in the middle of this restaurant, by the end of tonight, you have to admit that you are mine and give us an actual shot," I murmur, looking at her over the flame.

Excitement, desire and something sinister sparks in Gwen's eyes as she negotiates with me. "Now what do I get out of this if you can't make me cum?"

"I'll let you go back to living with your frat boy," I growl, not wanting to show all of my cards but hating that one in particular.

"Oooh temporary freedom," she mocks. "What about something real? Like ten grand."

"Kotik, if you want ten grand, I'll just give you ten grand," I say nonchalantly, picking up my wine glass with a flourish. "Or do you want to skip the game and just admit that you are mine now?"

"See, bargaining my freedom is pointless. You will find a way to drag me back to your lair," she says, and I hide my smirk behind my wine glass. My girl is as smart as she is gorgeous. She could run circles around most people, but not me.

"Why do you need ten grand?" I ask pointedly, staring at how she nibbles the corner of her glossed lip for a second.

"For a money shower." Her voice squeaks slightly, and I know she is lying.

"Kotik," I warn, and she looks down at the appetizers for a second, contemplating her next move.

"If I win," she whispers, "I'll tell you."

She looks up at me with demure eyes, and I can see something dark, maybe even fearful cross over her hazel eyes. I lean forward, searching her gaze. "Gwen, are you in trouble? "

She looks away from me immediately, sharply biting the middle of her bottom lip before looking back at me. "Lose if you want to know," she whispers, and I lean back in my chair with narrowed eyes.

If I win, I'll have her, but she will still be at this distance. She will always be a flight risk, because I might never know what makes her run. If I lose, I'll have her secrets, but from the way she avoids my gaze, I can feel in my bones that I won't have her anymore.

This is a lose-lose situation, but lucky for her, my odds still give me a piece of her, even if they are crumbs. I'll collect every drop she will give me willingly. Reaching my hand across the table, I give her a dazzling smile. "Deal."

She places her small hand in mine, giving me a firm shake, the word coming out of her mouth so quietly I almost miss it. "Deal."