Chapter 6: Saturday: Glitz event

After linking my arms through Ash and Romi’s, we entered the building, and I took the opportunity to shuffle my body a bit closer to Romi’s. It felt wonderful getting my hands on the man of my dreams.

As we headed through Glitz’s stunning entrance, I couldn’t help noticing the feel of Romi’s hard muscles as I clutched onto him. I could smell his musky scent, and it was intoxicating. Oh my! I had an overwhelming urge to bury my face in his neck and inhale him, but luckily, I managed to control myself. Maybe one day soon, I could do just that, but not yet, and certainly not with Ash present.

Tingling sensations shot up my arm the minute Romi’s hand touched mine, and I swear to god, I nearly swooned. I certainly stumbled but thankfully quickly righted myself before either he or Ash noticed. He was touching me! The little voice inside me danced with pure joy at the realisation. Romi was touching me by his own volition. My eyes widened, and I sucked my bottom lip as I held my overwhelming urge to shout it to the heavens.

When we entered, my brother Miki was already in the main hall, talking with his best friend Luca. Luca Orlov oversaw the management of all of our clubs, including this one. Luca was also Bratva, and his father had been a good friend of our grandfather, so we had known him forever. I gave them a wave, and Ash and Romi both nodded in their direction.

Ash was in charge of the overall security tonight, so he headed off to meet with his friend Anton and the rest of the security team. Anton Dupont had been Ash’s best friend since school. He had gone into the military afterwards but now ran his own security firm, Dupont Security.

We had some of our own men here, but Anton was providing several of his, too, due to the recent threats on the less-than-legitimate side of our business. We didn’t want any of that spilling over into our legitimate stuff and definitely didn’t want anything spoiling our opening night, which was a ticket-only event for important people from the business world and some minor local celebrities.

Nobody else had arrived yet, just us and the staff. I was glad to be left alone with the man I yearned for. I found myself staring at him while he looked around, no doubt checking security out, too. He was in charge of my safety tonight and would be sticking close. Yeh! I was so going to make the most of this evening.

As he glanced around the room, I glanced at him in appreciation. Romi’s dark brown hair was almost black and glinted under the lighting, giving him an ethereal look. He reminded me yet again of a Greek god come to life.

His hair was styled in his usual way, and his facial hair was neatly trimmed. His black suit fitted his form well, showing off his muscular frame to perfection. My fingers itched to feel the silkiness of his black shirt. My mouth watered. He was gorgeous.

He caught me looking, raised an eyebrow, and grinned. My breath hitched, and I just managed to stop myself from reaching out and tracing his lips with my fingers. He had great lips, and I so wanted to kiss them. Instead, I just stared at him as he stared at me, something that was becoming a habit between us.

Finally, I noticed that Romi’s sexy amber eyes were complimented by a bronze tie. A bronze tie the same colour as my dress! Oh my god, we matched. I smiled, seeing it as another reason for me to believe we were meant for each other. His grin hitched a little higher in response to my own smile.

Say something! I screamed at myself. I knew that I should take this opportunity to say something flirtatious and seductive, but I was suddenly at a loss for words. Instead, I blinked rapidly. The man literally took my breath away and stole all rational thought.

Luckily, I was saved from the embarrassment of being unable to form a coherent sentence when a group of guests arrived, and one called out to Romi. Romi gave him a nod of recognition, and the man came over with his friends to greet us. We spent the next half an hour or so chatting with them. I continued to sneak a peek at Romi whenever I could. I didn’t miss the fact that he was doing the same, and every atom of my body buzzed with excitement at being in his company.

After a while, Miki joined us, and then a few more guests arrived. Romi excused himself and headed to the toilet. I watched him go and suppressed a sigh. It was obvious, even to an inexperienced person like me, that Romi was as interested in me as I was in him, yet he hadn’t yet said anything about it. I longed for him to acknowledge whatever this was between us. Of course, it might just be that he was unsure he was reading me right. Or was I misreading him? God forbid I was mistaken in his interest.

No, I refused to believe that. The sexual chemistry between us was too potent for that. In fact, it was so potent that I wondered how nobody else had noticed it. I pouted my lips and tried to feign interest in the conversation surrounding me. It was obvious that I was going to have to make my interest even more clear. That meant I would need to flirt more blatantly with Romi. For that, I would need some additional courage.

As the group around me dispersed, leaving only Miki and me, I reached out to take a glass of champagne from a waitress who had just stopped beside me. Just as I lifted a glass from her tray, I noticed Ash approaching. His head was bent over as he read something on his phone, and he bumped into the waitress. She then bumped into me, knocking my glass and making the alcohol spill over my hand.

“I’m so sorry. Let me get you something to dry off with,” she said. She quickly set her tray of drinks down and handed me a napkin.

“Don’t worry, it’s fine,” I said, smiling in reassurance when I saw the concern on her face.

“It wasn’t your fault; in fact, it was my brother’s,” I told her, looking pointedly at the man in question.

“Sorry, malen’koye nebo,” he apologised in Russian, using my family’s nickname for me. It meant little sky, and they said it fitted me because my light blue eyes reminded them of the summer sky.

I stared thoughtfully at Ash. He was still distracted by whatever he was reading and obviously bothered by it. I could tell because he hadn’t apologised to the waitress. I was about to remind him when she said, “Excuse me,” and hurried off, looking embarrassed. I had noticed her checking him out just before that, and when he finally looked up after hearing her voice, I watched him checking out her retreating ass. I would have called him out on it if he wasn’t frowning down at his phone again. Instead, I sniggered to myself but remained quiet.

“Miki, we’ve had another situation, and we need to talk with Glowacki as soon as possible,” Ash said, showing Miki his phone.

While the two were occupied, I downed the remainder of my drink, then grabbed another off the tray the waitress had left behind and, before anyone noticed, downed that one, too. I needed to relax before Romi returned so I could get my flirt on.

“I’ll go arrange it. You wait here until Romi gets back, then get Marko and come meet me in the office,” Miki stated before stalking off, I assumed in search of Janusz Glowacki.

“Where is Romi?” Ash asked.

“Toilet,” I replied.

“I’m here,” Romi answered, coming up behind us, making the hairs on the back of my neck stand up as a shiver of lust ran through my body at the sound of his voice.

My man was back, and it was time to get this show on the road. Look out, Romi—here I come!

I could feel the champagne going to my head already, and it gave me the Dutch courage I needed.

“Let’s dance!” I said, grabbing Romi’s hand. My eyes fluttered at the spark that went through me at his touch as I dragged him onto the dance floor.

Despacito was playing, and I just loved to dance, especially to Latino music. I adored salsa, so it was a great excuse to get up close and personal with my dream guy. Besides, I knew he liked to dance, too. He was a really good dancer. I grinned at him as I realised it was yet another thing we had in common.

When I considered it, we actually had a lot in common, more than just our family and upbringing. We both loved to create and build things, we were both foodies, and we both loved Latino music and dancing. The more I thought about us, the more I realised just how right we were for each other. I saw that; now I had to convince Romi to see that, and then our family.

Romi was definitely in his element as he led me around the dancefloor, twirling me under his arm, behind his back, pulling me close, and then pushing me a little further away. We moved in sync as if we were made to dance together, and I was in total bliss. Dancing with Romi felt so easy and so bloody sexy. I couldn’t miss the heat in his gaze, and I knew he couldn’t miss the heat in mine.

Every time I saw his sexy smile, it made my heart skip a beat, and I fell for him a little more each time. Something so special was happening between us. I knew it, and so did he. How far he would let it go, however, was yet to be determined. I wanted to believe that he would decide he wanted me for himself from now on, but my head told me things wouldn’t be that simple. I chewed on my lip as he passed me under his arm again.

I shook off my worries. I was getting ahead of myself. I needed to slow down. One step at a time! I reminded myself. Tonight, I would be happy to simply let him know of my interest, sparking his own and simply starting to lay the foundations of our future together. That was enough for today. I would enjoy this evening and not let anything get in the way of that. Everything else would fall into place when it needed to.

So, I smiled brightly and laughed lightly as he twirled me around. Each time he pulled me close, I leaned in and secretly sniffed him. I couldn’t help it. Up close and personal allowed me to inhale his scent properly, and he smelt divine—all musky, spicy, and male. Yum! I could smell him forever.

We danced for some time before stopping for a quick drink and a cool-down. I was so overheated. Dancing was hot work, especially when dancing with such a sexy partner. We gulped our drinks down, and then Romi, smiling widely, grabbed me and led me back onto the crowded dancefloor.

This was a slower song, and we clung together tightly as we swayed in harmony. I doubt either of us would have been so reckless if it hadn’t been so crowded, but since it was, we were taking full advantage. With the lengths of our bodies pressed so closely, I couldn’t help noticing just how well we fit together. Nor could I help but notice how one particular part of his body reacted to our close proximity. I giggled. Oh, my man was packing!

My body naturally responded in kind, my core clenching as I felt a rush of wetness between my legs. I loved it. I was completely lost in a world of just the two of us until a shrill voice burst my bubble. Damn it!

“You idiot! Look what you have done!” a woman screamed.

I looked towards the sound and saw a plump woman in a red dress covered with bits of cream and shouting at the pretty waitress from earlier.

“You need to watch where you are going, young lady!” she huffed.

Derrick Reid, the assistant to the owner of the events company who was coordinating the opening, ran over with a cloth, “Ma’am, I am very sorry for this unfortunate incident. Let me help you get cleaned up,” he said, dabbing at the front of her dress.

“My dress is ruined, and this insolent girl doesn’t seem to care! What are you going to do about it?” the woman shouted loudly as the waitress protested her innocence. That poor girl. She had obviously been knocked into again, and another accident had occurred, and she was being blamed.

“Why, you insolent little madam!” the woman huffed angrily, making a scene as the older male beside her spoke quietly to her.

Ash was heading her way, and Romi frowned before walking towards the group. I followed reluctantly, mad as hell at the interruption to our wonderful evening.

“I want to know what they are going to do about my dress!” she said, shaking off her partner’s hand in frustration. She was obviously not listening to what he was saying.

“Mrs Peacock, let me be of assistance?” my brother said, turning on the charm.

“Why don’t you let my cousin Romi here escort you and Mr Peacock home, and then you can send me a bill for the cleaning of your beautiful dress? Then, on Monday evening, if you are free, you and Mr Peacock can enjoy a meal at Tribeca as my guests, of course?”

What? That was all I heard before a wave of devastation hit me. Romi was being sent away, and our night was being cut short to placate this horrible woman. I looked at Romi, and I was sure I saw the same level of disappointment I felt reflected in his eyes. I huffed out a frustrated breath. It was so unfair.

Finally, I tuned in to the conversation again.

“We will look forward to it immensely,” the horrid woman simpered, batting her eyes at him. I recognised her then as Mitzie Peacock. Her husband, John, was a big, round, jovial, and unassuming man—the complete opposite of his wife.

John seemed totally oblivious to his wife’s overly flirtatious behaviour as he spoke with Ash, and I cringed in embarrassment for him when I noticed her clinging onto Ash’s arm like a limpid and rubbing herself suggestively against his side. Ugh!

I watched in horror as Ash deliberately moved her hand off his arm and onto Romi’s. Romi and I both glared at him, and frankly, I would have gladly killed my brother at that moment. I really would have.

“Romi will take you both home. He will collect you again at 7:45 p.m. on Monday for our dinner date,” Ash told her.

Romi glared at him before reluctantly heading off with the stupid woman who was now clinging to his arm and chattering away in his ear. He looked over his shoulder and sent me an apologetic smile as they exited the club.

I glared at Ash. I was so annoyed at him.

Ash noticed, “What?” he asked, feigning innocence.

“Just wait until Monday night; you will have a whole evening of dear Mitzie and her simpering and gushing to deal with!” I sniggered when I saw Ash pale at the thought.

Good. I hoped the woman was really difficult to handle. I hoped she fawned all over him in as sickly a fashion as possible. That was what he deserved for palming her off on my man! Yip, after tonight and the way we felt dancing together in each other’s arms, I was damn sure Romi was going to be my man. Soon!

“Thank you for sorting out that situation, Mr Rominov,” Derrick said then, breaking me out of my thoughts.

“Never mind. It’s fine. Forget about it, but it would be better to keep your waitress away from the main hall for the rest of the night. I would rather not have any more dry-cleaning bills or need to take any more annoying women to dinner,” Ash replied.

It came across as a bit mean. I narrowed my eyes at Ash as I stood off to the side, watching the exchange. He wasn’t the most sociable person these days, that was true, but he was rarely ever rude to a female. That he was to the waitress told me he was feeling uncomfortable somehow. I pursed my lips as I looked closely at his face. I caught the flash of nervousness in his eyes as he gulped. Ah ha! That was the same tell for all of my brothers. Ash liked the waitress!

“I will, yes,” Derrick agreed.

“Seriously! I’m still being blamed for something that was an accident?” the pretty waitress glares at Ash. Good, she was feisty as well as very pretty. She would be good for him. He needed someone who could stand up to him when necessary.

“If you were being blamed, you would be going home immediately instead of just being kept out of the main hall,” he growled. Then, he gave her a quick look up and down before turning and heading off through the main staff exit. I quietly chuckled. Oh, he was definitely into her!

“Well, Gracie, hon, looks like you made an impression on the sexy Russian, though I am not sure it was a good one!” Derrick said ironically before they both headed off into the kitchen.

I smirked to myself as I followed Ash.

He might have spoiled my night with Romi, but he hadn’t spoiled my fun, and I was going to have some at his expense. I chuckled more loudly as I hurried to catch up with him.

“Aw, is my big brother in lurve?” I asked in a silly, babyish voice as I ran up behind him.

“Don’t be ridiculous! I’m just distracted, that’s all. We have another situation I am trying to deal with, and I have a lot on my mind!” he said, not very convincingly.

“Oh, sure, that’s why your tongue was hanging out as you were ogling the pretty waitress!” I laughed.

“It was not!” he said, sounding shocked.

Yeah right!

“Ha, maybe not in reality, but it definitely was metaphorically speaking.”

“Oh, shut up!” he said, trying hard not to smile. I laughed again as we walked towards the office.

Miki was already there, and for once, he let me hear about the information received from our men on the street. The rumour was that the Somali gang known as the Malia Boys and the Broxley Estate Lads had formed an alliance and were planning on going up against us.

It was strange because they were sworn enemies, constantly fighting over their small areas in the northeast and northwest of London. Neither was big enough to take us on by themselves, although if they had truly been able to put aside their mutual dislike, I guessed they would have been in a better position to try. So, I supposed it made sense, although I found it hard to believe their alliance would last long.

From what I gathered, their plan seemed simply to team up, attack us and blame the Poles and Albanians. In doing so, they likely hoped we would revoke the alliance with Glowacki, which they obviously believed was on shaky ground anyway, and start an all-out war. I assumed they believed the attacks, the break-up of our alliance, and then a war between us all would distract and weaken us enough for them to muscle in on our territories.

It wasn’t such a bad plan, really, but it was reliant on splitting up our alliance, and that was way more difficult than they realised. Glowacki hated the Albanians as much as we did. He would never work with them on anything, and we would never believe he would. The alliance between us was strong, and he had won our trust over the last few years. Miki pointed out that, nevertheless, it would be best to make it even stronger if possible, and I had to agree.

We had kept the strength of our alliance a secret, not wanting our enemies to know just how strong we were together. Perhaps that was a mistake because there was no way these two groups would risk going up against us if they knew.

It didn’t matter anyway. The Malia boys and Broxys had teamed up, and their attacks on our men were a declaration of war. It was time we taught both the Malia Boys and the Broxy’s not to mess with us. I didn’t like violence, but if these guys were out to hurt our families and start a war, then they deserved a whole load of hurt!

Miki said he would take me home as Ash needed to stay and close up with Luca. Romi would come back and fetch him after he dropped off the Peacocks.

I really wanted to stay and drive back with him. Unfortunately, I couldn’t think of a good enough reason to hang around without causing suspicion. Damn! I was still a bit pissed at Ash for cutting my night with Romi short. I smirked to myself, thinking that a wee bit of punishment was in order. Definitely need to let Miki know our boy has a crush! I heard my inner voice cackle wickedly.

“Night, Romeo, and by the way, that waitress will probably still be in the kitchen if you are looking for her,” I chuckled as I stood up to go.

“Waitress?” Miki questioned, raising his eyebrows and smirking.

Ash shot me a warning look, which I totally ignored.

“Yeah, Ash here has the hots for a pretty waitress,” I smiled evilly at him.

“Really?” Miki asked him, smirking.

“No, ignore her; she doesn’t know what she is talking about,” Ash said.

“Sure, if you say so!” Miki laughed.

I turned at the door with a final parting shot, “Bye, Romeo!”

“Little madam!” he laughed.

I giggled at that and blew him a kiss. I really hoped he found the waitress and got her number. It would do him good to get laid, and perhaps it would lighten up his usual dour demeanour.

Besides, if he fell for someone, he was more likely to be sympathetic when Romi and I got together. And we would! After our connection tonight, I knew it was just a matter of time.

“So, tell me more about this waitress,” Miki said as we walked to the car.

Ash was in for some powerful teasing in the days to come. I grinned evilly.

As we headed back to the Estate, I pretended to doze in my seat, but really, I was replaying my wonderful night with the man of my dreams.

Despite our time together being cut off earlier than I’d hoped, it had been even better than I could have imagined. I thoroughly enjoyed flirting and dancing with Romi. It was the perfect way for us to interact, as our family loved to dance. Romi and I had always danced together well, so it wasn’t unusual to see us strutting our stuff together.

That was Nonna’s influence. She was a great lover of dancing, and she’d taught us all. I had never been so glad of that. If she had never followed us out to the UK and hadn’t taught us to dance, I couldn’t help feeling it would have been a great travesty.

Smiling behind my hand as I pretended to nap, I was also glad that Romi’s family had followed us out here all those years ago. Romi’s stepdad, my Uncle Petior, was my dad’s younger brother, and he came out to be his Enforcer when dad was sent by his older brother, our Uncle Maxim, to head up the Russian mafia in the UK.

When Uncle Piotr died of a heart attack when Romi was twenty, Romi remained here while his mum and younger brothers returned to Russia. I was so very grateful for that, too. If he had left, I wouldn’t have had the chance to fall in love with him, and again, that would have been a travesty.

Romi and I were obviously meant to not only dance together but be together. Everything about our lives pointed to that fact for me.

Dancing with Romi had always been fun, but tonight, it was better than ever. I guessed it was the newly awakened sexual tension between us. I could feel his desire for me pressing against my belly whenever we were up close and personal, and my own body had responded, delighting in his nearness. My nipples had been tight, and my pussy throbbing. I sighed contentedly as I snuggled against the door. I couldn’t wait to see what would happen between us next.

“We’re home,” Miki said, rousing me from my dreamy musings.

I practically walked on air as I said goodnight to Miki and headed to my room. Operation Seduce Romi was well and truly underway, and I was pleased with my progress so far.