counter. Then he removed his glasses and leaned forward, brushing his lips over hers.
She quickly got lost in the kiss. When she parted her lips, he gripped her knees and pushed her legs open to stand between them. He stroked his palms up her legs and her hips to cup her ass, lifting her slightly and pulling her against him. His erection rubbed against her clit. She gasped at the pressure. Tangling her hands in his hair, she dragged her fingers through the long, thick strands, inviting a deep male groan. He liked that. He jerked her against him again, harder this time, setting her body on fire. She tipped back her head to give him better access when he kissed her neck, but then his touch and heat disappeared.
Dazed, she opened her eyes.
“Prekrasnaya,” he said softly.
She had no idea what it meant, but it sounded tender, affectionate.
“Go to bed, Katherine.”
He lifted her left hand and kissed the ring, and then he walked away, leaving her to stare after him in confusion.
Chapter 5
Kat woke up in a strange room. It took her a second to recall the events of the previous day. Stretching, she remembered the taste of Lann’s lips, and the way his hands had felt on her body. Her insides heated at the memory.
She picked up her mobile phone and checked the time. Ten o’clock already. For once, she’d slept like a baby. Even if she was embarking on the greatest sexual adventure of her life, she had a thesis to complete. It was still her main and most important task to focus on. After coffee.
It was already hot outside. She’d switched off the air conditioner in her room, not liking to sleep with it on for how her throat ached in the morning, but now she turned it back on.
A cool shower helped to wake her up. She pulled on her blue dress with the thin straps. Like her mood this morning, the dress was light and feminine. After applying mascara and lip gloss, she went in search of Lann to ask where she could set herself up to work—maybe in one of the reading rooms that wasn’t in use.
In the hallway, she bumped into Alfonso.
“Good morning, Miss.” He surprised her with a smile. “Breakfast?”
“No, thanks. Just coffee, but I’ll go get some in the kitchen when I’m ready.”
“Just ring, and one of us will bring it to you. Sir already had his breakfast.”
“Oh. Thank you. Where is he?”
“In his office, Miss.”
When he turned, she said, “Alfonso, you can call me Kat. I’m not one for formal titles.”
“Yes, Miss,” he said with a small inclination of his head.
Shaking her head to herself, she made her way to the other side of the building. She’d put on her high heels, finding that the extra height enhanced her self-confidence.
She paused at the office door. Taking a deep breath, she knocked and pushed it open.
Lann sat behind his desk, his mobile phone pressed to his ear. He was pinching the bridge of his nose, massaging the mark left by his glasses. It looked like a serious discussion. She hesitated, but his face lit up with genuine pleasure as his lion-like eyes traveled over her.
“I’ll call you back,” he said before hanging up.
“Good morning,” she said, suddenly feeling shy despite all her resolutions and the high heels.
His smile was warm. “Close the door and come here.”
She shut the door and crossed the floor, stopping in front of his desk.
“Here.” He wheeled back his chair, and pointed at the space between his legs.
Advancing slowly, she rounded the desk and paused in front of him. He didn’t say anything. He just looked up at her while she stared down at him, holding her breath for something. Then he grabbed hold of her waist, and lifted her onto his lap so she straddled him.
With her legs dangling over his, her dress had pulled up high enough to reveal the white French-cut panties underneath.
“Do you always wear these?” Lann asked, sliding his hands under her dress without breaking their eye contact.
His touch made her shiver. “They’re comfortable.”
“They’re beautiful on you. I like the way the lace cuts up high over your ass with your cheeks peeking out beneath.”
She sucked in her breath at his directness. He slipped his hands back down her thighs, over her knees and calves, until he reached her feet. He lifted one foot by gently bending back her leg, and only then did he cut his gaze away from hers to