Love Thy Enemy (Red Stone Security #13)(35)
So he planned to be with her as much as he could. At least then he could protect her. Past that, however, he was in completely new territory. Sex before had always been detached, unemotional. Now…he wanted something different with Dominique. He wanted to make sure she was completely satisfied. Unfortunately he wasn’t sure how fast he should move. The more primal part of him said he was moving way too f*cking slow. That they should be in bed right now. She should be flat on her back while his face was buried between her legs.
He scrubbed a hand over his face. “You said you wanted to tell me something before?”
She set her fork down even though half of the dessert was still unfinished. “It’s not a big deal.” But something about her body language said otherwise.
He instantly went on alert, that familiar cynicism building inside him. He hated that he kept expecting something to go wrong, that he was expecting her to stab him in the back.
“It sort of ties in with what I was telling you about my family stuff… I just don’t have a lot of experience with dating.” Her cheeks flushed that sexy shade again as she watched him.
He felt like she was leaving something out, that he was missing something as she stared at him with those big eyes. “I don’t either.”
She huffed out a little laugh. “Somehow I think you have more experience than me.” This time her cheeks went crimson and he wanted to know exactly what she was thinking.
“I’ve never had a relationship.” The words were out before he could stop himself. If she was running some scam on him and did want to hurt him, she’d have already done her homework on him. She’d already know what he was telling her. Still, saying the words out loud made him feel too exposed. He knew he was probably going to regret telling her this, but f*ck it. She’d been open with him—even if it was part of some con game she was running. “The first woman I ever thought I loved turned out to be a paid escort. Paid by my father to keep tabs on me.”
Dominique let out a horrified gasp, her eyes widening. “What?”
His lips pulled into a thin line as he shoved the anger and shame back down. He’d moved past that part of his life. “He was a bastard through and through. Thought I wanted to take over his organization.”
Viktor snorted at the thought. Nothing could have been further from the truth. Back then he’d been working on a way to escape, to get out and start his own legal businesses. He’d wanted nothing to do with his father.
“In my twenties I used to fight in his illegal rings.” Partially for the money he’d made betting on himself, and partially so others in his father’s organization would never forget that he could easily kill them. He’d always known he’d one day break off on his own and all those men would remember how he’d beaten men bloody. The visceral reminder was better than anything he could ever say. He cleared his throat. “She was at one of them—by chance, I thought.”
She’d been so damn sweet—though it had all turned out to be a lie. Everything about her had been a lie.
The humiliation he’d felt when he’d discovered the truth was something he’d never forget. “Since then I’ve only used escorts. You’re the first woman I’ve ever wanted to take out like this, on a real date.” More than date. But he left that part out. It didn’t matter now anyway. Now that she knew the truth about him she’d get up and walk out of here and never look back. Which was what he knew he deserved. He might be a bastard but he wanted her to know everything about him so she could just leave. He didn’t deserve a woman like her. Better to cut this off now before he fell even deeper.
“Oh, Viktor.” She reached across the table and slid her fingers through his, holding his hand tight.
Her reaction made him still, even as a tiny spark of…hope flared inside him. She didn’t seem disgusted by him and he’d given her an easy out. An easy way to tell him to f*ck off and never call her again. “You understand what I’m saying, that I’ve only ever f*cked escorts.” His words came out harsh.
She flinched when he said ‘f*cked’ but she nodded. “Yeah, I totally got that. I’m so sorry that your father…that you got hurt like that.”
He pulled his hand back. “I wasn’t hurt,” he snapped. He’d been stupid and na?ve, and it had taught him a valuable lesson. But something told him that if Dominique ever hurt him that same way, he might never recover. She f*cking terrified him in so many ways.
The look in her eyes was something a lot like sympathy as she picked up her wine glass. “I’m still sorry.”
He started to respond just as a burst of staccato gunfire erupted from just outside the restaurant—in the lobby of the hotel.
Chapter 12
Dominique jumped as pops sounded nearby. It took a moment for it to register that it was freaking gunfire! Before she could even think about moving, Viktor had a weapon out and grabbed her around the waist, dragging her to the kitchen.
Panic slammed through her as she ran next to him, her heels making it difficult, but Viktor didn’t slow. He had a hold on her and wasn’t letting go. She was vaguely aware of other men moving out of the woodwork like shadows, guns in their hands as Viktor barked out orders.
It was complete chaos and she wanted to cover her ears, to block out the shooting. This was nothing like the movies. Her ears rang and her heart pounded wildly in her chest as they breached the swinging kitchen door.