the other side of the room, a sofa and coffee table faced the bed. It was a piss-poor excuse for a room, but it was only for one night. The pair had secured better accommodations for the remaining four days of their trip.
“You’re going to wear a hole in the carpet, and the people in the room below will be able to hear everything.”
Stefano didn’t bother to hide his amusement. It wasn’t often that either of them was bothered by a case of nerves. He continued fishing equipment from his luggage as he chuckled at Alexei.
“I don’t give a fuck who hears us, Stef. Sabrina left the wedding more than twenty minutes ago.” She had been blushing a million shades of pink as her new husband whispered things into her ear. Alexei had a good idea the kind of things he whispered.
She looked happy. Marriage suited her, but it wasn’t something he or Stef wanted. They liked their lifestyle too much to mess with the formula. With lots of traveling and their pick of women, life was perfect.
Stef headed toward the bathroom. “She’s a bridesmaid. She has duties, things to do. Plus, that place was packed with relatives and friends. You saw how popular she was. It seemed everybody there had a hug for her, something to show her, or some big news to share.”
She hadn’t seemed to hurt for company after he and Stef left her alone. Alexei snorted, more anxious than anything else. “I gave her fifteen minutes. She’s late.”
Stefano’s voice floated from the bathroom. “She’ll show. We hooked her good, Lex. She wants more.”
Alexei spread a towel on the coffee table. “I’m going to spank her ass. One for every minute she’s late.”
Stef strode from the bathroom. He stopped, parking his hands on his hips. “She’s not into that, Lex.”
“My ass,” Alexei said. He saw too much in her eyes to believe she wouldn’t respond to a good spanking. She had liked being restrained by Stef too much.
“Regardless, until she tells us that’s what she wants, our hands are tied.”
Alexei would have preferred to tie her hands, but Stef was right. He grunted.
Tapping sounded on the door. Alexei schooled his features until he was sure his anxiousness didn’t show on his face. She wasn’t using the keycard they’d given her. The knock had been firm, but light, meaning she had no plans to press her point. Lex hoped she wasn’t there to give her regrets. Somehow, he knew Samantha would be the kind of woman to tell a man she didn’t want to see him again instead of avoiding his calls and blowing him off in general.
He glanced to Stefano, and he knew Stef was thinking similar thoughts. Alexei moved to the door, but he didn’t open it until Stef nodded that he was ready. Of the two of them, Stefano was the one who wore his emotions more openly.
Her head turned as the door opened, a friendly smile already on her lips. She had been watching something down the hall while she waited, but now all of her attention was focused on Alexei.
She stood tall. Her bare shoulders were thrown back and her entire demeanor exuded confidence and sensuality.
“Hi, Alexei,” she said. “How are you?”
She wasn’t supposed to speak first, but he was glad she had. This was the second time she’d correctly identified him, and there was nothing hesitant in her manner. She knew exactly who he was. His heart beat a little faster. After years spent telling himself it didn’t matter if a woman knew the difference between him and Stefano, he finally admitted it was a lie. It did matter.
She held out the keycard. “Using this didn’t feel right. I hope you’re not upset, but it’s just not who I am.”
He opened the door wider, suddenly unable to utter a sound. This was a sign of submission. He couldn’t punish her for achieving the desired result without training.
Her smile grew. She brushed against him as she entered the room, her shoulder bumping lightly against his chest. She didn’t acknowledge the contact. He wondered if it
Christiane Shoenhair, Liam McEvilly