In the Beginning (Volkov Bratva #1)(23)

Now the last, she knew she would like it with just a glance. It was a soft lilac, with a fitted bodice and an A-line skirt. Small sections were cut out along the sides, replaced with patterned, black lace.

“Oh, this one is perfect,” she said holding it up in front of her as she looked in the mirror.

“Where are you going?”

“I have no idea, only that we’re going out for dinner. He said he’d be here around seven.”

Amber glanced down at her watch. “Well, I’ll leave you to it.”

By the time Lauren was showered and dressed, her hair thrown into a high bun, Mishca was knocking at the door.

Amber jumped up, racing past Lauren in a blur of curly hair to yank the door open. “Oh, I want one.”

Mishca smiled sheepishly, the boyish grin charming. “Mishca Volkov.”

“Priyatno vstretit’sya s vami, Mishca.”

Mishca looked impressed as he started speaking to her in Russian, laughing between words when he noticed she didn’t have a clue what he was saying.

Once he returned the sentiment, Amber smiled and shook his hand. “I only ever went there once and, ‘nice to meet you’ was the only thing I remember how to say. I’m Amber.”

“The artist, yes? Lauren told me a lot about you.”

Clasping her hands together, Amber blew Lauren a kiss, stepping to the side to let Mishca in. “She’s secretly in love with me.”

Lauren didn’t think Mishca had any notion of what it meant to dress down—except the few occasions she saw him at the cafe. He was in a three piece suit that was tailored for him, a blue button-down that matched his eyes, and a navy tie. His hair was in some semblance of order, the wavy strands pushed back out of his face with some kind of gel.

As she was looking him over, he was doing the same to her, starting at her feet and working his way up to her face. As he looked her over, there was something predatory in his gaze that made her feel naked under his heated stare. It was like he was caressing her without the physical contact.

Lauren broke eye contact first, feeling her face heat up as she looked over at Amber who was watching them curiously, fanning her face. Grabbing her bag, Lauren was heading out the door when Amber pulled her to the side.

“Remember what I said. Just because he’s hot and he does that thing when he speaks Russian, doesn’t mean he gets the goods. No means no and if you need to, mace his ass.”

Mishca coughed from the doorway, the girls looking up to his amused smile.

Amber smiled back. “No offense. Anyway, have fun you two.”

She closed the door behind them. Walking down the stairs, Mishca looked back at her and asked, “What is this thing I do?”

“You know…the whole sexy, ‘listen to the way I drawl words and roll Rs,’” she said trying to mimic his accent.

Both of his eyebrows rose to his hairline as he laughed. “Is that what I sound like?”

Mishca’s Mercedes was idling at the curb, smoke billowing out from the exhaust pipe, snaking up into the night air.

“You just left your car running?” Lauren asked looking around They weren’t necessarily in a bad neighborhood, but still…

“Extra set of keys,” he said showing her a remote, hitting the locks, and opening the passenger door for her.

The interior of the car was just as smooth as the outside, all black leather, the surrounding lights and dashboard shining red lights instead of white. It still had the new car smell.

Mishca slid easily into the driver’s seat, closing them in together. When he was this close, she could just smell the cologne he wore, part musk and something warmer. They didn’t pull off right away and as she grew conscious of this fact, she looked over at him.

He had a slight smile that made her duck her head self-consciously, tucking a stray piece of hair behind her ear.

“What’s wrong?”

A corner of his mouth tipped up further before he leaned across the console, pressing a lingering kiss just beneath her ear. It could not have lasted more than a few seconds, but it was enough to make her heart race and the nearly irresistible need to return it.

He knew the reaction he caused in her. She could feel him smiling against her skin. “Ya dumaya, vy seksual’nyy,” he whispered, the deep timbre of his voice making a chill run down her spine.

“Is this the thing you meant?” He asked pulling on his seatbelt.

Like he really had to ask.

***

There were so many great restaurants in the city that Lauren couldn’t particularly choose one that she wanted to go to more than another. During the ride, their hands had rested side by side between them, at least until they both seemed to get the same idea. As their hands came together, she thought of how easy it felt, how her initial fear of being awkward around people seemed to vanish.

They found a space across the street from the park, walking the short distance to the restaurant. It was undeniably a spot for couples since it had that romantic air about it. Lantern lights strung around the wrought iron fence that surrounded the property, each of the ten tables outside were occupied with couples enjoying a private dinner.

When Mishca gave the concierge his name, it was almost comical watching the man snap to attention as he waved two men over to follow them.

“Is it always like this for you?” Lauren asked, peeking over at the other waiters that were watching them past.