understanding, huh? Is that what they’re calling it these days?”
“Shut up. I haven’t touched her, and don’t intend to.”
“Are you shitting me? You’re sleeping next to her every night and don’t plan to hit that? She’s fucking hot, Diego. I mean … really fucking hot.”
“I know that,” I growl. “Doesn’t mean I want to …”
My words trail off as Elena and Marcella appear. They walk down the stairs together, talking like old friends. I don’t have the mental capacity to disapprove of Elena becoming close with my sister. All I can think about is how right Jovan is.
Elena looks so sexy it almost hurts to look at her.
“Fuck me,” I whisper, my eyes lingering on long, bare legs and flared hips leading up to her waist in a skintight dress. She’s wearing fuck-me heels and her perfectly-styled hair makes me want to yank and mess it up. Her makeup isn’t too heavy, perfectly enhancing what she’s been naturally blessed with. A little white purse on a gold chain hangs over one shoulder, resting at her hip.
Jovan’s jabs me in the ribs with his elbow. “I thought the idea was for you to fuck her.”
“Shut your goddamn mouth,” I hiss, before going toward the stairs.
Elena reaches the bottom first, her eyes widening when I offer her a hand. She might think I’m a complete monster, but certain behaviors were ingrained in me from a young age. Mother would have slapped the shit out of me for not acting like a gentleman.
I help her off the bottom step, and Jovan does the same for Marcella. They start arguing about Marcella’s dress being too revealing, but I can’t bring myself to get between them. Elena has my full attention. White was the perfect color for her to wear this evening. It makes her look almost innocent, while the deep neckline and open back gives her just the right amount of sex appeal.
“You look … nice,” I stammer, like a dumbstruck little boy.
“Glad I meet your approval,” Elena replies, her voice flat and dry.
She does more than that. She drives home just how right Jovan was. I want to fuck Elena—fuck her hard and fast, then slow and gentle. In my bed. In the shower. On the floor. Against the wall. I want to tear that dress off with my teeth and show her what it’s like to have someone take complete control.
My cock throbs at the thought of her on her hands and knees, taking every inch of me and screaming for more.
This idea of mine might have been genius, but it’s going to test my resolve. I need to keep my head in the game, and that means putting on a show good enough to fool Oleg. The man is too observant for me to do this in half-measures.
“Let’s go,” I say, tucking Elena’s arm into mine and leading the way outside.
A line of cars waits behind mine, filled with the men who will accompany me to this dinner. I send Marcella to one of them, needing to be alone with Elena so we can talk. Jovan closes the privacy screen before leading the procession, taking us off my property and toward the bridge gatehouse.
I look at Elena beside me, the ambient lighting of the car making her dress glow in contrast to her tawny skin.
Snatching my gaze from her long, sinful legs, I clear my throat. “There are some things we need to discuss before we arrive. First … did Marcella go over the protocols with you?”
She nods, glancing into her purse. “Yeah. Russian men are flirtatious, but I shouldn’t encourage them beyond simple friendlessness. It might be misinterpreted.”
“Good. What else?”
“Oleg is old-fashioned and so are his men. I’m to do my best to be ladylike and not speak to the men unless directly addressed. Also, they take great pride in the appearance of their women. To meet their approval, I must make sure to keep up my appearance—touch up my lipstick after dinner, fix my hair, all that noise. I have everything I need for that.”
“Yes, that’s right. Also, the women are possessive of their men. They’ll get jealous if they notice anyone admiring you. Don’t pay them any mind. Your goal tonight is to charm Oleg and make him think we’re a couple.”
Elena swivels her head toward me and scowls. “Are you serious?”
“I couldn’t be more serious about this, Elena. It’s very important for us to be successful tonight. Oleg has to believe I’m in love, so he’ll stop