He decided to take a cold shower to relieve the fire burning in his body. When he finished he felt calmer and got dressed. I need to avoid this type of situation again. I might need to send the little girl to LingLing's apartment. Sleeping in the same room with the girl I want is breaking down my willpower. I need to deal with Alexi when we return and make sure she is safe before I can tell the little angel I want to be with her...I want to marry her. If Alexi doesn't agree then I need to hide my feelings and find a way to protect her secretly until I can figure out a solution.
When Merri woke up Nikolai was on the balcony talking to Sammy. He was slightly suprised, the men that he helped get their sister safely home after she was kidnapped fulfilled their promise. The accountant brought Sammy a flash drive containing damning information about Rimbaldi Enterprises. Additionally, the other two brothers sorted out the wiring problems.
Nikolai told him to put the flash drive in a safe place he would deal with them when he returned. In a good mood after talking to Sammy, Nikolai had a smile on his face as he entered the hotel suite.
Merri was stunned by how amazing he looked dressed in casual clothes. Standing in the sunlight filtering through the door he looked incredibly sexy. He was wearing a black cashmere sweater and a pair of tight jeans that accentuated his long straight legs. Nikolai's satisfied smile significantly softened his usually cold face.
He saw Merri sitting up in bed, "Awake?"
She nervously smoothed her hair, "Hmm."
Nikolai looked at his watch, "LingLing will be here soon to spend the day with you." He handed Merri a black card, " She will take you to have breakfast and go shopping. I have to take care of some business."
Merri pushed the card back to him,"Miss Sun doesn't need to entertain me. I can go sightseeing on my own."
"Take the card. We are attending an event at LingLing's art gallery and you will need a dress." Only the little angel would refuse a black card with unlimited shopping potential.
"I have money."
"Since you are accompanying me, please allow me to buy the dress and jewelry. It is formal event and you need to dress appropriately. Feel free to get anything else you need."
Merri blushed as she accepted the card. "Well, I will pay you back."
His eyes had a mischievous gleam,"We will just extend the time you work at my apartment."
"Oh..okay!"
When LingLing's driver called to say they arrived, Nikolai walked with Merri to the entrance of the hotel. When they stepped outside he reminded Merri to stay close to LingLing.
He watched as LingLing's bodyguard opened the back door of the luxurious Rolls Royce. Merri ducked her head and entered the car sitting next to LingLing. He waited until the car pulled away to walk down the sidewalk where a man was leaning against a brick wall smoking a cigarette.
In the car, LingLing noticed Merri's anxious appearance, she was nervously clutching her hands together on her lap. She smiled, "Are you hungry?"
Merri lied, "No. I ate breakfast."
"Then let's go shopping."
Merri looked out the window at the beautiful scenery. The street they drove down was lined with shops and the sidewalk was crowded with people. When they reached the end of the street the driver parked in front of a Boutique with a large window. On display were a variety of elegant dresses and Merri gulped down her saliva, this store looks very expensive.
Once they entered her intuition proved correct as she was stunned looking at the price tags. LingLing laughed at her expression and picked several dresses she thought would suit Merri. "Try these."
Merri was overwhelmed by LingLing's imposing aura and like an obedient child followed the saleswoman into the dressing area.
LingLing sat on a couch and flipped through a magazine waiting for Merri. She picked out dresses she thought would catch Luc Zaranski's eye.
Merri walked out of the dressing room wearing the first dress. LingLing glanced up from the magazine and frowned, then shook her head, "No."
After LingLing had the same reaction to several gorgeous dresses Merri felt like screaming. How picky is this woman! I'm not her date! Why does she care!
She was tired and hungry,...very hungry and she was barely able to control her temper. "Miss Sun...ahh..I like this dress."
LingLing knew Merri liked Nikolai so she responded, "I know Nikolai's taste and well...none of the dresses so far would please him."
She motioned to the saleswoman and the woman brought Merri a breathtakingly beautiful peach colored off the shoulder dress. The dress had tiny crystals sewn on the bodice and scattered on the diaphanous layered chiffon skirt. Merri's eyes lit up, hmmph, whether she likes this one or not, if it fits I'm buying it!
Merri hurried into the dressing room and slipped on the dress. She excitedly walked out of the dressing room and the saleswoman dropped the pair of shoes in her hand. That dress was made for the girl! LingLing was on the phone talking to Sydney when she was disturbed by the sound of the shoes hitting the marble floor.
LingLing told Merri to turn around, then with an emotionless tone said, "That will do." Perfect! Every man at the art gallery will be drooling! That will whet Luc's appetite and make him determined to possess the girl.
Merri spent the rest of the day with LingLing. Without stopping for lunch they went to a spa and then to a stylist who did Merri's makeup and hair. By the time Merri returned to the hotel room it was dinnertime, she was exhausted and really hungry.
She tossed the bags on the couch.y..oh my God! Shopping should be fun not torture! I couldn't even enjoy the spa because of that woman! She ordered me around like she was my boss all day!
She patted her empty stomach that was grumbling and scrunched up her nose. Should I order some food or wait?
Merri walked over to the bar and picked up a bag of peanuts and ripped it open. She popped a few in her mouth and as she was chewing she opened the mini bar and took out a beer.
She was on her third bag of peanuts and second beer when Nikolai entered the hotel suite. Merri looked guilty as she threw the crumpled bag into the wastebasket.
Seeing her flustered appearance he chuckled, "Sorry I'm late, you must be hungry."
"Well... I haven't eaten all day."
Nikolai narrowed his eyes, "LingLing didn't take you to breakfast or lunch?"
"We didn't have time, there was a lot to do. Anyway, are you hungry?"
"Yes. We can eat on the way to the gallery."
"I took a bath at the spa, so if you need to shower go ahead."
Nikolai took a suit from the closet then went into the bathroom. There was a large changing room attached so he set his clothes on a chair. He cursed because he was distracted by Merri's cute appearance and grabbed the wrong shirt. Fuck!
Merri assumed he would be in there for a while so she slipped off her clothes to change into the apricot colored dress.
Nikolai came out of the bathroom to get the right shirt and stopped in his tracks. Merri was standing by the bed wearing a nude lace bra and matching thong bending over looking in a bag on the bed.
He stood motionless and his Adam's apple rolled gazing at Merri's seductive body. Her waist was so thin he thought he could wrap one hand around it. From the angle he was standing he could see the side view of her breasts that were barely covered by the lace bra. As his eyes wandered down and he stiffened, her tiny thong didn't leave much to the imagination. He recalled bathing her when she was drugged by Ivan but at the time he tried his best not to look at her naked body. He was in no mood at the time to notice her beautiful supple body.
Merri was deep in thought and didn't see him standing there with his ink black eyes full of dark desire. He looked like a panther staring at his prey as his hungry gaze swept over her petite body, wondering what her luscious snow white skin would taste like.
Nikolai didn't utter a sound and he silently returned to the bathroom then leaned against the cool tiled wall. His face was flushed bright red from the intense rush of heat coursing through his body. His breathing was erratic thinking about her almost bare alluring body. Her silky blonde hair was curled in soft waves cascading down her slender back to her tiny waist. The thong exposed her perfectly shaped ass.
He had the urge to use his large palms to squeeze her cheeks to see if they were as soft as they looked. He sucked in his breath and his eyes flickered with a lustful gleam. If I spend any more time with the little angel in this hotel suite, I don't know if I will be able to control my impulses.
He quickly undressed and stepped into the shower letting cold water spray on his face he glanced down at his huge erection. Dammit!