The Russian Billionaire: A Romantic Suspense Novel by Georgia Carre (readict .TXT) 📕

like your friend. They are under no illusions. They take their pleasure and they leave.” He leans back. “Whenever I make the mistake of picking women like you, it is always messy.”

Shit! Why is it every avenue I go down takes me to a dead end? I look deep into his eyes, and whisper, “Perhaps tonight I want to be a woman who is under no illusions.”

His eyes narrow with speculation. “Why?”

After a few false starts, I suddenly see the light at the end of the tunnel. If I play my cards right I can end up in his house as another one-night stand, then pretend to change my mind because of strongly held principles once I’ve switched the painting. It doesn’t feel good, but it would hardly be the end of the world for him. A guy like him must have a black book full of names.

I shrug gently and smile seductively. “Because everything about you is wrong for me, and that surely must make you the perfect kind of guy to have a one-night stand with.”

Konstantin

Now I know for sure something is up. I play along partly because I’m curious as to where this is going, and partly because I can’t help myself. The longer I spend with her, the more I want to fuck her. I watch as she cuts a tiny piece of salmon and slips it into her irresistible mouth.

“How did you come to be part of the auction?”

She looks down at her plate and swallows hard, as if it’s not the smallest piece of salmon one could possible imagine putting into one’s mouth, but a whole fucking frog.

Then she looks up and smiles. “I was bartending at a party and a woman from the agency that was supplying the dates asked if I wanted to be one of the dates.”

“Hmm… you did it for charity, of course. No payment.”

Her face becomes bright red, but she doesn’t look away, and oddly manages to sound sincere. “Charity, obviously.”

Then she changes the subject quickly, which makes me think charity, obviously is a half-truth.

“I saw when I researched you that you are very interested in horses,” she murmurs, batting her eyelashes.

I try to keep my amusement from showing. Clearly, she doesn’t flirt much. “Yes, I keep a stable in England.”

“I used to ride a horse a long time ago. It’s the best feeling in the world when you are galloping on a powerful horse.”

“Yes, it is.”

“Do you go to England often?”

“I’m going there tomorrow… want to come? We can go riding together.”

Her eyes widen with shock, then she blinks, and stammers, “I… I… have to work tomorrow. Er... thank you for the offer… it… is very kind of you.”

I smile pleasantly. “I wasn’t being kind. I wanted to take you away for a… how do you Americans say? A dirty weekend.”

“Oh!” She puts her knife and fork down. Somehow, I think she’s finished eating. Not that she ate much.

“I… I have to work, otherwise I would come,” she says with a frown.

“Relax,” I drawl. “You’re not the first woman who’s turned me down.”

She looks surprised. “Really? Do women ever turn you down?”

“Plenty, when I was younger… and a nerd.”

“I can’t believe it. You were a nerd?”

“Yup, I was glued to my computer screen day and night. Couldn’t even look a girl in the eye.”

She smiles, her beautiful sapphire eyes filling with relief that the conversation has moved away from her. “God, I can’t imagine you being shy.”

“I was not shy. I wasn’t interested. I was so completely and utterly consumed with the thing I was creating I barely slept.”

She leans forward, her face inquisitive, the creamy swell of her breasts tantalizing. “What were you creating that so consumed you?”

I stare at her warily. Her beauty is distracting and I’m itching to feel her skin, but is she from the enemy? I can’t tell, but I won’t take any chances. “Just a computer program. Would you like some dessert or coffee?”

She hesitates. “Do you want dessert?”

I shake my head. “I believe the chocolate tart is very good.”

“Very tempting, but I’m not sure I can eat anymore.”

I catch the eye of one of the passing waiters and make a writing motion with my hand, then turn back to her. “It’s been a lovely evening. Thank you.”

“I… uh… I wonder if perhaps I can have a drink at your place?”

I lift an eyebrow. “Drink?”

Hot color rushes into her face. Either she is an excellent actress or she has never done this before.

She takes a deep breath. “You know, one for the road.”

“I have a party to go to tonight.” There is a pause, then I hear myself say, “Would you like to come?”

She looks confused. “A party?”

“I have to say a quick hello to someone important to me.”

For a second I think she is going to refuse, and perhaps it would have been best if she does. Then she smiles that sexy, sinful, smile and says, “Sure. Let’s go to this party of yours.”

And a very, very strange thing happens inside my body.

Raine

A midnight blue Rolls Royce waits for us. The doormen rush to help us into the back. I have never been inside a Rolls before and I swear it is like sitting on a bed. It is so comfortable. The plush leather is smooth under my palm and the car is scented with some delicate perfume.

“Wow, this is nice,” I murmur.

His phone must have vibrated in his pocket, because he takes it out and looks at it. “Please excuse me. I have to take this call.”

“Go right ahead,” I say quickly.

He launches into Russian. I turn to look out of the car. I can hardly believe the reflection in the window is me. I have never done anything like this before in my life. To be honest I haven’t done much in life except work. There hasn’t been much time for partying. I never let myself acknowledge it, but life has been hard. I listen to