Total pages in book: 79
Estimated words: 75209 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 376(@200wpm)___ 301(@250wpm)___ 251(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75209 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 376(@200wpm)___ 301(@250wpm)___ 251(@300wpm)
“I’ll douse you with water. Wear a top.”
I frown at myself in the mirror while I brush my teeth. I’m not exactly sure how far I’m going to push this whole thing. I am not the type to allow a man to dictate how I dress, but. . . that whole spanking thing last night was hot.
I don’t know if I’ll ever really know how much I like in terms of dominance and submission if I don’t give it a go.
“I’m not wearing a top!” I yell, just to see what he’ll say. There’s no response.
My heart thumps.
When I open the door to the bathroom, I’m not sure what to expect. Markov stands, one of my running tanks in hand.
“I chose the smallest one. I’ll carry an extra bottle of water if you overheat and pour it on you. But you are not running on this campus—on my watch—without a top, at least not until I’ve had a chance to truly survey who’s here and who we have to watch.” He leans forward and tips a finger under my chin. “My job is to keep you safe, Vera. Don’t make my job harder for me, please.”
There he goes again. For some reason, his request, combined with that finger under my chin, does a lot more to sway me than his bluster and threats.
I sigh. “Fine, I’ll wear the top.” I tug it on. “Happy?”
Markov regards me with his arms crossed on his chest. Wearing a sleeveless workout top and shorts, his muscles are on full display.
Lord.
“I’m happy that I managed to cajole you into being smart about things,” he mutters, gesturing to the door. “And that attitude still needs to go, wife.” I half expect him to swat my ass when I walk past him, but luckily, he’s too busy procuring bottles of water.
“Where were you?” I ask as I open the door.
“Just outside the door. I was taking a call from the captain and didn’t want to wake you.”
“Oh?” I take the bottle of water from him and we begin walking at a good clip, warming up. “Anything important?”
“Oh, yes,” he says as we begin to pick up the pace in unison. “You and I have somewhere to be tomorrow evening.” He grits his teeth beside me.
“Why?” What the hell?
Markov scowls as he keeps pace beside me. “Your father’s arrived in Moscow.”
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Nikko
It’s been a long, uneventful few weeks at the clinic. Her father has barely been in touch.
Vera and her team start their day at seven in the morning, scarcely taking breaks for meals. I swear Vera would survive solely on coffee and Diet Coke if I didn’t occasionally force some real food into her diet. I can usually persuade her if the food involves grilled cheese, her favorite comfort food.
We’ve fallen into a comfortable rhythm, almost like a married couple. We start with an early morning run together at dawn, followed by coffee and breakfast. This has become my favorite part of the day. She comes alive during these moments, speaking animatedly with her hands as she shares her passions, hopes, and dreams, with a fervor that is utterly contagious. She tries to get me to talk too, but I prefer to listen.
She lives for this. It’s like watching a master artist at work. I stay on the periphery, unless the American douchebag is nearby. I’ll have to have another talk with him soon.
Tonight, we have dinner with her father. He’s kept to himself. At first, I thought maybe he wouldn’t want to see us, and I’d have to pull some strings. I’ve relied heavily on surveillance and convinced myself it was more important to earn her trust for now.
I briefly considered my options. It’s a perfect opportunity to do what I came for, but it’s too soon. I wouldn’t be able to pull it off without making it obvious who the perpetrator was.
No. Ivanov will live another day.
His arrival complicates things, though. The chances of me being exposed as an imposter increase with every interaction with Ivanov. But I’ve been assured that the only person who knows me is Ivanov’s mistress, and I’m equally assured there’s no way he would bring his mistress around Vera.
Still, I tread on a razor-thin line. I remind myself of why I’m here. What my ultimate purpose will be. This is only one more step closer to what has to happen.
“Markov, I don’t want to see my father tonight.” Vera frowns down at the turkey sandwich in her hand. I’ve forced her away from today’s biological threat simulation to get some food. She’s already been working for ten hours straight.
“I know. I don’t either. But we have to play the game, Vera.”
And I absolutely have to be in the presence of her father. Combined with video surveillance from my brothers, my personal observations will be telling.