KONSTANTIN
Iarrive at the party searching for Mr. Giovani. My orders were clear and I'm going to stick to them. I won't take any chances. I remind myself of how far I've come again and again until I see a woman that knocks every thought from my head.
Of course, I'd recognize her in the apocalypse, let alone here at a fancy event. The red dress she has on is made of pure sin. It's like someone stitched together every naughty thought I've had about her since I first laid eyes on her eight years ago.
It fits her so perfectly, the single strap pulling the eye from her delicate neck, over her olive skin revealing her collarbones. It holds tight to her breasts before tightening at her delicate little waist. The wine-colored silk underneath molds to her before the slit in her dress reveals her toned thigh and the rest of her long leg.
I'm dizzy after one glance and fighting myself. I'm not supposed to be a man right now, I'm a damn bodyguard for hire, but my cock hasn't gotten that memo. I adjust myself discretely just as two dogs, attached to Juliana's wrist by golden chains appear from around her dress.
They're little things, adorable. One is a deep chocolate color and the other a light brown. But they don't care about anything except the woman holding them.
Juliana Giovani has grown into her curves and her attitude. I lift my gaze from her body to her face. Her high cheekbones, the sharpness of those blue eyes that aren't softened by makeup, the way her blonde hair falls down her back in perfect ringlets. She holds her head high and ignores everyone else in the room.
In eight years she's gone from a tempting girl who likes to tease and flirt to a goddess with the body of a siren. And it's definitely not fucking wasted on me.
A throat clears and I look over with some trouble. Not looking at her feels like shortchanging myself. Mr. Giovani stands there. He glances at his daughter and nods. "Different than you remember, right Konstantin?"
I nod. A whole lot more of a challenge, finally legal – nope. Nope. That's a bad thought. Lief would be able to read it on my face and there's no way my mentor would let me get away with it. Although, I'd take two hours of conditioning training just to keep looking at Juliana for another second.
"Don't mistake her. She's just as troublesome as she was when she was sixteen, if not more. She knows how men look at her now and she abuses it. That's why I'm trusting you with her."
A bad choice really, because I'm happy to let hertryand abuse the situation. I want to see how far she'd go. Would she fuck me to get out from under my watch? Might be worth dying for.
But if I keep thinking about slowly taking her dress off and skimming my hands over her warm skin I'm going to lose this job, lose every ounce of respect from Mr. Volkov, be without a job, and appeal to absolutely no one, let alone Juliana.
"I understand the job."
"Do not let her out of your sight. You did well when she was younger. You were the only one who wasn't tempted. That's why I'm trusting you now ... on a trial basis." Mr. Giovani's eyes and tone cut through me and help calm my cock.
This is fucking serious.
I nod.
"And watch out for those horrible little dogs." His lips curl as he adjusts his gray hair slightly. "They go after more than ankles."
I glance at them. They walk dutifully by Juliana's side, not barking or making a fuss. They look so soft. Would it be terrible and unprofessional if I asked to pet them? It's definitely more professional than asking Juliana if I can steal her away and get my hands on her instead.
"Guard your ankles and guard Juliana. I don't want her making a scene or going home with anyone tonight."
She is a grown-up. She could go home with anyone she wanted with little more than a wink, but I know it's not my place to say that. "Of course, sir."
He leans closer. "Best not to tell her I'm paying you to watch her. She'll get prickly."
Prickly enough to shove me against a wall and tame me?
Nope. That would be another thought for later.
Mr. Giovani offers me his hand. "I'm putting my faith in you for tonight. I hope I haven't misplaced it."
"Don't let her cause a scene. Don't let her leave with anyone. Don't reveal you're paying me," I recite simply.
"Good man." Mr. Giovani nods to where she sits with another girl and some men. "I have some people on the payroll. Never know how she's going to behave after all. Head over before she notices us talking."
I don't need to be told twice. That's for sure. I walk to the table where my own personal temptress sits and find myself crossing my fingers behind my back. I put on the mask Lief taught me to perfect, the one that gives nothing away.
I won't be the same young kid she met when she was only sixteen. The one that she liked to play with since I blushed easily. She would tease me about how tall I am, and how lanky it made me, asking if I could do more protecting from her bedroom.
And I'd been man enough to ignore her. A twelve-year age difference will do that. But now, now that she's absolutely legal, has somehow gotten more beautiful, and definitely knows the impression she gives with that damn dress, it won't be a challenge to keep my eyes on her all night.
It'll be a challenge to keep my dick under control.
As I sit, Juliana glances at me from the corner of her eye. Her eyes hold a second longer and I might see a slight lift of her lips, but she doesn't give much away. Her dogs trot over to me and sniff my foot until she gently tsks at them. They sit and watch her.
"They're well trained."
Thank you. Service dogs have to be." Her voice has gotten a little bit deeper, but it's that same beautiful, deceptively innocent tone.
Her father is called up to make a speech and Juliana snorts before taking a long drink from her champagne flute, draining nearly half of it. She shakes her head slightly. While she works on finishing her glass before the end of the speech, I take the chance to pet her pups.
The lighter one eagerly accepts my big hand over its fluff. They're so adorable, I can't resist. I make sure to be gentle so I don't hurt them, considering one could easily sit in my hand. The darker one trots over, eyes me carefully, then accepts a gentle pat.
Juliana adjusts, her bare leg blocking me from her dogs.
I sit up and adjust, taking a long drink of water. Juliana isn't facing me, but I see her smirk. Once the speech is over, she turns and looks me over. Her fingers stroke her champagne flute in a way that's so suggestive I can't ignore it.
I take another long drink.
"You're not very sneaky."
"Apologies."
"You're supposed to ask before you touch." She leans closer. "If you're a gentleman."
"I never said I was," I answer.
Her smile widens and I feel her foot brush my ankle. "Well, you could have put your hands on something better ... if you were a gentleman that is."
"I'm so bored." One of the other women says at the table. She has short reddish-brown hair and is in a simple gold dress. "You promised fun, Juliana."
"Of course I did." She eyes me again. "Are you fun, Mr ...."
I don't bother to fill in the name. I'm enjoying the fact that she doesn't remember me and is still flirting. She leans towards me when I stay silent, giving me a wonderful view. Her full lips, her eyelashes fluttering, and her legs spread with the slit revealing her upper thigh.
"I can be fun. Depends on the definition of the word," I say.
She smiles very slightly. "Bullshit."
I arch an eyebrow.
"That's what we'll play. It's a simple card game." She pulls two decks of cards out of her purse and shuffles them. "Simple. Try to get rid of your cards quickly without anyone catching you lying. Just lay down. Patricia and I will go first."
She hands out all the cards and motions some of the others to look. "You'll need to know what you're lying about for this game." Her eyes flick back to me. "Think you can handle it?"
Oh, I'd love to handle her any way she sees fit. Instead, I keep my face calm and nod.
She lays down two aces, and her friend lays down four twos. Juliana looks over at her. "Patricia, you're not lying already are you?"
"Find out."
Juliana laughs and the sound is so real that I can't help but enjoy it. I've heard all her fake laughs, seen her fake smiles, and seen plenty of what people expect of her, but I like the real thing so much more.
"I'm not going easy on you tonight."
"You never do." Patricia sighs. "That's why I'm the only one who will play with you."
"You mean the only one who has Daddy Dearest's permission to play." Juliana scoffs, obvious frustration showing. She covers it quickly. "If you decide you don't want to play – anyone – that's fine."
After a few rounds, the other couple at the table has left, leaving two men I know her father has hired, myself, Patricia, and Juliana. Juliana sighs when I put down a card. "Your tell is hard."
"Find out if I'm lying." I challenge her.
She studies me intently, then puts a hand on my thigh, leaning towards me. She licks over her bottom lip and I follow the gesture with my eyes. I bet she tastes even better than she looks. I bet it's worth the beating I'd get.
"Tell me a secret."
"That's truth or dare, a very different game." I chuckle.
"One we might have to try later when I get you all to myself." She grins wickedly and sits back. "What do you think of that?"
"I think you'd ruin me," I say honestly.
She giggles and glances at Patricia. "Let's end this silly game. If my Daddy bought you to watch me, leave."
No one moves, but she narrows her eyes at two of the three other men at the table. Her voice sharpens along with her face. A lethal goddess with a look that would make Medusa tremble. "I said get up and leave."
They glance at Mr. Giovani and walk away. I'm sure her father is bothered, but Patricia, Julianna, one other man, and I keep playing. I have a feeling I'm being studied by both of them. So instead of worrying about my orders or my job or restraining myself from giving in to every tempting word on Juliana's lips, I focus on the game.
Until Juliana switches to wine as red as her lips and her foot brushes my ankle, slowly sliding up my calf. My eyes flick to hers.
"Juliana, play nice," Patricia says with a teasing smile.
"It's not me. Just Charlie being nosey," She says and points down at the darker dog that's also checking me out again.
"I'd like to hold him. He looks sweet," I say simply.
"Just him? Nothing else here you'd like to hold ... put your hands on ... manhandle a little?" Her voice sounds innocent, but those wicked eyes are going to undo me yet. I'm sure of it. Juliana plays to win.