The Professional Read Free Page B

Husker’s advanced degree? What would he care?
    Surprisingly, he said, “Your schooling is important to you. We understand this. But your father wants you in Russia now. Not next month or next week. You leave tonight.”
    “Does he always get what he wants?”
    “Without fail.” Sevastyan checked his expensive-looking watch. “Our flight leaves in an hour. I’ll explain more on the way to the airport.”
    Airport? Flight? I’d never been on a plane. Yet I could be in Russia in less than a day. Don’t think of the postcards, don’t think . . .
    Even Jess had never been to Russia!
    Then I straightened. “Again, what’s the rush? And news flash—I don’t have a passport! How am I going to get into Moscow without one?”
    “I’ll work that out. It’s not a problem.” Sevastyan shut off the lamp beside my bed, dimming the room.
    “How can that not be a problem?” I glanced at the tattoos on his scarred fingers and had a sinking suspicion, but tried to ignore it. Nope, not possible . . .
    “I understand that all of this is a lot to take in. But things are different for you now, Natalie. Some rules . . . no longer apply.”
    I squared my shoulders. “Not good en—”
    “Let me make this simple for you,” he interrupted. “I’m walking out of this house in five minutes. You can either walk out with me, packed and dressed, or leave in that little robe”—his piercing eyes swept over me, over my nipples pressing against the silk—“thrown over my shoulder. Your choice.”
    His tone and bearing left no doubt that he was dead serious about kidnapping me. This ruble-billionaire’s bodyguard was going to finish his job—period. Still, I dared another question. “Why haven’t you said anything about my mother?”
    When his eyes narrowed, I again got the impression that not many people challenged this man.
    “ Four minutes.”
    I folded my arms over my chest. “I can’t just sign on for this, Sevastyan. Not without more answers.”
    “Which I promise you will get when we are under way.”
    Worst case scenario: if I didn’t like what he had to say, I could run from him at the airport, straight into the arms of security guards.
    Sevastyan crossed to stand in front of me. The soft light caressed his hard features. They were almost too masculine. His rugged jaw was wide, the bridge of his aquiline nose slightly askew, giving him a roguish look. But on the whole, he was devastatingly attractive, with that dangerous aura about him.
    “You must trust me, pet,” he said as he reached forward to gently grasp my chin.
    At his touch, that dizzying heat filled me once more. It was just the liquor at work, I assured myself, or exhaustion catching up with me. Or my unsuccessful bath time.
    “You know my intent isn’t to harm you,” he murmured. “Otherwise, I could have led you from that bar earlier, taking you somewhere for us to be alone.” My breaths went shallow at that. “Would you not have left with me?”
    In—a—heartbeat.
    He leaned down to say at my ear, “That’s right, Natalya . You would have followed where I led.”
    “Um . . . uh . . .” I was still recovering from the sound of myname in his raspy accent when I felt his warm breaths. Oh, God, had his lips ghosted over my ear? If his scent and heat had affected me, this grazing contact made my legs weak.
    He drew back, expression inscrutable. “So why don’t you stop acting like you haven’t already made up your mind to come with me.”
    “P-pardon?”
    “You were decided as soon as you heard the words Russia , father , and go .” His firm lips thinned, making that razor-slice scar whiten.
    “That’s not necessarily true—”
    “Time’s up, pet.” He bent down to loop an arm around my ass, hoisting me over his shoulder.

CHAPTER 3

    “P UT ME DOWN!” I screeched, wriggling over the Neanderthal’s shoulder as he strode out the front door. Cold air swept up my robe, chilling me in unfamiliar places. “You