Chapter 202: The Past [8]

She sank her teeth between her bottom lip. "Were you waiting?"

I smiled. "It’s not like I spend my whole day at a club, right?"

She sighed, almost exhausted as she sat next to me and took my whiskey, drowning it all despite her wincing.

I grabbed her chin and tilted so that she would face me.

"Why did you come back?"

She took a while before she replied. "It’s easier being here."

"It shouldn’t," I said as my voice lowered. "You’re smart enough to know that I’m a dangerous man."

"Yes," she replied without missing a beat.

I used my thumb to wipe away the small trickle of whiskey that had slipped down her chin.

"Ana," she said.

"Short of what?"

"Anastasia."

Anastasia.

"Such a pretty name, kitten."

"Kitten?" She leaned away, a bit taken aback.

"You didn’t give much, so I had to come up with something to remember you by," I said, amused.

She rolled her eyes. "Of all the endearments, you chose that?"

In a split second, I seized her neck and yanked her closer. "It’s not an endearment, it’s a brand."

"B-Brand?"

"Don’t blame me for what happens next. After all, you came to me."

A soft gasp escaped her. "D-Did you know I was gonna come back?"

I eyed her lips. "Believe me, Anastasia. You’re full of surprises. Even this surprises me."

She kissed me, but as quickly as she did, she pulled away, shocked by what she had done.

I raised an eyebrow. "I have a feeling you have been meaning to do that."

"N-No?" she scoffed. "Why would I be desperate to kiss someone like you?"

I grinned. "Someone you’re attracted to, or am I wrong?"

She fell speechless, and when she tried to move, my hand tightened around her neck. My other arm slipped beneath her, lifting her effortlessly onto my lap, ignoring my own discomfort.

"Didn’t your parents teach you not to be attracted to dangerous men?"

She gulped. "T-Too bad I’m the black egg of the family, so I guess that doesn’t apply to me."

I laughed, the sound fading into a series of low chuckles. "Fine. You made your point, pretty kitten."

"And you?" she teased. "Isn’t your girlfriend waiting for you while you’re out here in the club with a random woman?"

There was a shifty tone in her voice when she used the word girlfriend.

"No girlfriend."

Her eyes moved to mine, and then she grasped the collar of my suit and kissed me.

Still so immature.

So I took the wheel, freeing her neck and slipped my hand to the back of her hair, and held her in place.

But she pulled away as though mulling over her life choices before she dived back again.

So indecisive.

"Ahem!"

Anastasia quickly peeled her lips away from mine, glancing at the company. It took some agonizing minutes to look at Elliot.

"What?" I asked, completely irritated by the interruption.

"E-Excuse me." Anastasia was quick to get off my lap, grabbed her purse, and scurried away.

I nudged my head at one of my men as a silent message to keep an eye on her. He pushed to his feet and followed after her.

"There better be a reason for this." I used my thumb on my lips, still tasting her.

"I did some digging, and I found out who she really is."

"I didn’t ask you to do that..." I stated.

"Yes, you didn’t. But you did task me to find out who she is. Her name’s Anastasia."

"I hate to disappoint you, but I already know her name."

"Morri."

I paused.

"She’s the Don of this quarter’s daughter."

"Ah..." I murmured. "Roman Morri’s daughter."

"So, a respectful warning, brother. If you have any intentions of using her to get the docks under your control, I suggest now is not the right time. We have Leon to deal with."

I pushed to my feet, standing an inch taller than him, and said coldly. "Who said I was using her?"

He narrowed his eyes.

"Why so surprised, brother?" I asked, amused. "Does it surprise you that I’m interested in her?"

"Yes," he replied reasonably. "She’s not the kind of rabbit hole you dive in."

True. I always had a particular woman I welcomed in my bed.

I saw Anastasia coming back.

"Anastasia... this is my brother, Elliot."

Elliot caught this when I didn’t use our last name, but he was quick to play along.

"Pleased to meet you, Anastasia."

She smiled. "L-Likewise."

I checked my Rolex. "It’s getting late."

I placed my hand at the small of Anastasia’s back and led her away. We got to the entrance, and a car drove by, and the valet stepped out.

"Yours?" I asked.

"Yes, but not my dream car, though."

"Really?" I arched my brow, amused.

She shrugged. "A girl has what she likes."

The valet handed her the key fob and left.

"Will I see you again?" she asked.

"Do you?" I countered.

"Maybe—"

I seized her chin, and the word died in her throat. "Yes or no, Anastasia."

"Y-Yes."

I smiled. "Good. Then I think this point of meetup is getting old then."

"No!" She was quick to object. "I think we should keep seeing each other... here." She bit her bottom lip, something I noticed she does a lot when she is nervous.

"You’re like my own dirty little secret."

The moment those words left her lips, she slapped her hand on her mouth like she hadn’t meant to say that out loud.

"Is that what you think of me, little kitten?"

She blushed, and I chuckled. Silly girl.

’’Then allow this dirty little secret to take you out for dinner"

"No!"

Before I could speak, she stuck her hand out. "Y-Your phone."

When I didn’t move, she added.

"Please?"

I dipped my hand into my suit pocket and took out my phone.

She took hold of it and punched her number. After handing the device back to me, she rose to her tiptoe and pressed a kiss to my cheek.

She hurried to her car, slipped inside, and turned toward me, gripping the wheel as that shy smile crept on her lips. Then she drove away.