Time Stood Still (Volkov Bratva #3.5)(15)

“Sure,” Lauren said. “What time?”

“Around eight, over at the Grille. You remember the place, don’t you?”

“Yea, we’ll see you there.”

***

Back when Lauren was in high school, the Grille was a wildly popular restaurant that was considered one step above Applebee’s, and though there was a bit of wear and tear to the interior, it was still a pretty upscale place. It had a rather dark interior, the bar taking up nearly the entire middle of the room. Dim lights were on tracks along the ceiling, the staff wearing all black, all dressed considerably better than what was normally seen at a restaurant.

“I like this dress on you,” Mishca said as they walked towards the back. “New?”

Trying not to smile, she shrugged. “Maybe.”

Lauren could tell upon walking in that the party already seated at the lengthy table in the back of the restaurant had been waiting for a while, and therefore, had made her and Mishca the topic of conversation.

Voices quieted as they approached. But Lauren didn’t let that bother her. It wouldn’t be the first time she agreed to dinner with people that she didn’t want to be around.

Amanda got to her feet, smoothing the sides of her skirt. “We’re so glad you could make it.”

She went around the table, introducing everyone one by one to Mishca—though Lauren could have done it since she remembered most of their names—and by the time the waiter came back around to get their drink orders, Lauren was more than ready to go.

It wasn’t all so bad, not when Jeremy threw in a couple of stories that weren’t entirely embarrassing. Maybe it was just Lauren, but she didn’t realize just how much she had been noticed in high school. She thought she had been invisible, everyone always pitying her for what happened, but it was clear that what she thought back then wasn’t necessarily the case.

Dinner went by relatively quickly, and before long, Lauren had let her guard down, finally allowing herself to be happy that she had agreed to show up…at least for a while.

“Does he know?” Miranda, a girl that Lauren remembered from the dance team, leaned over to whisper after Mishca had excused himself. She was acting as though what she was saying was some big conspiracy that needed to be kept quiet.

Playing along, Lauren widened her eyes. “Know what?”

“About your dad…”

And it was all going so well. “Yes, he knows all about it.” A lot more than anyone else, but she didn’t say that aloud. “If you’ll excuse me.”

She really wasn’t in the mood to sit there and continue this conversation. Heading in the direction of the restrooms, more than happy to linger there until Mishca exited. She really didn’t understand the need for the constant reminder of what happened in the past. Realistically, she didn’t know anyone that cared enough to continue talking about it.

Mishca came out, his brows drawing together as he looked her over. “What’s wrong?”

“Are you ready to go?”

His expression was unreadable, but he did grab hold of her hand, drawing her into the restroom at his back, flipping the lock as he followed.

“Talk to me.”

“It wasn’t so bad, it’s just…”

She trailed off when he lifted her, setting her on the edge of the sink, his hands slowly slipping beneath the hem of her dress, pulling her panties down her legs, stuffing them into his pocket.

“Keep talking.”

“I think they were more interested in you than…”

Trailing off again, she didn’t have to ask where this was heading, not when he nudged her legs apart, his hand slipping between them. “Tell me, that boy, Benjamin, why was he watching you all night.”

The moment he’d put her up on that sink, she’d felt the heat pooling deep in her belly, and from the way he hissed something in Russian as he drew slow circles along her thigh, repeating the same motion in a spot where she wanted him more, he knew she was ready for him.

When he did this, she reached for his belt, pulling it free as she went for the button of his pants next, then unzipping them. He moved her hands away, shaking his head to prevent her from repeating the gesture. Clearly, he wanted to be in control.

“Answer me, Lauren.”

“I had a thing for him once,” she whispered, her voice catching at the end as he slowly, but steadily, pressed a single finger inside of her, pushing it in and out before adding another.

He legs were trembling on either side of his hips, but he didn’t seem to notice as he slowly took her higher, his eyes watching her expression the entire time. Despite his silent demand, she reached for his pants again, slipping her hand inside to wrap around him, pulling him free. Normally he made her beg, and she didn’t mind this—she rather enjoyed it—but he seemed to want this as badly as she did, so he didn’t protest.

“Once?” He asked, clearly not ready to let it go.

She forgot how much she enjoyed his jealous side. “I married you.”

He had the skirt of her dress shoved up in the next minute, her legs around his waist as he pressed closer, slowly sliding between her folds, wetting himself liberally before entering her in one solid thrust. As a moan slipped past her lips, he kissed her hard, easing out of her before thrusting home, the arm he had around her waist tightening reflexively.