Russian Tattoos Obsession by Kat Shehata Read Free Book Online Page B

some.”
    He slapped a stack of bills in my hand. “It’s payday. I insist.”
    I tried to give it back to him, but he wouldn’t let me. “It’s too much,” I said. “I hardly did anything. Besides if I show up to the game with a hundred dollar bill, my friends will think I’m a stripper or something.” I laughed at my stupid, alcohol-induced sense of humor.
    “Actually, dear, with a hundred dollar bill your friends will think you are hooker . Strippers carry twenties.”
    Keep your mouth shut, keep your mouth shut, keep your mouth shut…
    Boris turned to Vladimir. “I have some business to attend to, boss.”
    “Go. I will take care of Carter tonight. Do svidaniya .”
    They threw back another round and ate some bread, then Boris put on his hat and coat, snagged the gym bag, and left the house. The boss and I were alone— together.

 
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Chapter 10
     
     
    Dumped
                 
    Vladimir loosened his tie and slid off his suit jacket. I jumped when I spotted a gun tucked into the left side of his pants. Totally organized crime. Totally.
    With thumb and finger, he took it out slowly. “For protection.” He placed it in the drawer where they kept the car keys. “Better?”
    I nodded, trying my best not to look freaked out. Maybe I’d watched too many movies.
    He unbuttoned the top button on his shirt, lazed against the counter, and studied the appetizers: beans from a can and store-bought tortilla chips. He was tolerant of my lackluster domestic skills. He picked one up, examined it, and then lifted it to my mouth. “Ladies first.” His voice was soft, eyes playful.
    I giggled. “Sorry, you surprised me. No one has ever—” I sucked down the rest of my drink. God, my new boss was bad— and hot .
    He lifted the tortilla chip again. “Good. I’m first.” He winked.
    My heart fluttered. “Wait.” I picked one up, too. “At the same time.”
    “ Odin, dva, tri .”
    I opened my mouth, stepped out of bounds from my comfort zone, and let him feed me. I chewed and chewed and chewed and then popped a chip into his mouth. His lips closed around my fingers, and he nibbled on my thumb. “You’re delicious, Carter.”
    The fluttering in my heart moved lower. Much lower .
    He picked up my hand and admired my blue fingernails, each adorned with a tiny kitten motif. “How cute.”
    “Oh, you know, my little sister has a thing for cats. We match.” I wiggled my fingernails and tried to blink away my embarrassment.
    “She’s lucky to have such a sweet sister.” He patted my hand and then went to the bar.
    I inhaled the scent of cologne left in his wake. Heavenly.
    He poured himself a long straight shot of vodka. “Another drink, Carter?”
    I loved the way my name sounded when each R rolled off his tongue. I already had two drinks, and according to Boris, three made me touchy-feely. Whatever. As long as I didn’t get to four I was fine. “Hmm. One more, but cut me off after that.”
    “Because you don’t want to be tipsy for your date? Boris said you go out with a football player.”
    I pulled my hair forward and fingered-combed my waves. “Boris thinks he knows everything. I told you, no date.” I wonder how tall Vladimir is, six-foot-two or six-three?
    He poured what amounted to a double shot of Russian Standard into my glass. “Then why cut you off? It’s the weekend.” He topped off my drink with a splash of soda water, swirled the straw toward my mouth, and lifted it to my lips.
    I sipped the fruity drink and stared into his sexy blue eyes. Dad would fall into a tailspin if he found out his boss was serving me alcohol and treating me like a woman .
    Holding on to the straw, he lowered the glass, rested his chin on his fist, and waited for me to answer.
    “I’m trying to stay out of trouble.”
    “What did you do that you must stay out of trouble?”
    Underage drinking, getting escorted home in a police cruiser, sneaking out of my bedroom window at