Page 64 of Forced & Obsessed By the Bratva King
My eyes widen. “Like an assistant position, sort of?”
He nods.
“You said it’s an offer. So I get to decline or accept?”
“You do,” he says, suppressing a smirk. “You have the power to say no to this, Elena. I’m not going to force you to do anything you don’t want to.”
His words sound genuine, almost too good to be true. I frown. “What’s the catch?”
Leonid pauses, just for a second, then runs his fingers through his hair and shrugs. “We’ll get to spend more time together.”
I nearly choke on air. “That’s it?” I squeak, because obviously he can’t be serious. He’s teasing again, pulling my leg. “You’re proposing this job so we’ll get to spend more time together?”
“You said you wanted to understand me better. I’m willing to make that process easier, and that comes with being in the same space more often. I’d have to bring you in. Is that not a good thing, or are you changing your mind?”
“No...” I rush out, almost tripping on my own words. “No, I’m not changing my mind.”
“So that’s a yes, then?”
I nod and then summon enough confidence to use my words instead. “Yes.”
“Good.”
“Great.”
Awkward silence.
He stares at me, and I stare right back.
“So I’m your assistant now?”
The somber mood seems to have fizzled out. He’s back to the relaxed version of himself who picked up broken glass from the kitchen floor.
A smile plays on his lips as he takes another huge bite from the apple. “Effective tomorrow. You’ll wrap up your duties at the marina and do a proper handover, then head right back to the house to join me in the study.”
“Noted.”
He extends the apple to me again, his hot gaze scorching my face when he says, “Bite.”
And I obey, holding his gaze as I sink my teeth into the same spot where he left a mark.
“I haven’t done your type of work before. I’m nervous. I hope I don’t mess up,” I say after chewing and swallowing.
“You won’t,” he says confidently. “I’ll teach you everything you need to know, from the men on surveillance rotation to the contents of every document and ledgers of our shipping activities. We’ll work closely together, so there’s no need to be scared. I’ll be right there to catch you if you fall.”
A blush spreads across my cheeks, and if he notices, he doesn’t say a word.
Instead, he rises to his feet and throws the apple core far into the night. I don’t see where it lands, but I definitely see Leonid stretching out his big arms.
“It’s getting chilly. I don’t mind staying out here longer with you, but your clothes aren’t exactly protective, and we don’t want you to catch a cold. We should get inside.”
My brain turns to mush at this caring display, and my words are too poorly coordinated to voice a protest. All I find the strength to muster is a nod.
He slips his arms across my back and under my crooked knees, then effortlessly lifts me from the hammock, bringing me flush against his hard chest. I start to reach for the bowl, but he shakes his head.
“Leave it. I’ll have one of the men bring it in.”
If my arms aren’t hugging the bowl, that leaves them with one option.
