Obsidian Liquor (Lion Security #1)(33)
Author: Scarlett Dawn

I chuckled. It definitely would have been. Until my eyes widened. “Oh, shit!”

The fire was getting out of hand, spilling and flicking over onto a sheet of paper.

Ugly Duckling raced across the room, dowsing the ever-growing blaze with his bottle of water he had been sipping on. He gave us both glowering glances, and plucked the cigarette from Least Ugly’s mouth and dropped it into the charred cup; it sunk into the standing black water. He stared down his nose at us, coughed once, and then walked stiffly back to the wall he had been standing against, next to the other guard.

Then Daniil’s bedroom door banged open and down the hallway stormed a breathless Daniil, sniffing the air heavily. It was bedtime, so he only wore only a pair of black, Calvin Klein lounge pajama bottoms that were loose on the leg and long, hanging halfway over the tops of his bare feet. I noticed that he had a better pedicure than I did. He sucked in air; his large bare pecs rising with the motion and abs constricting, his gaze darted all around the room; each guard suddenly frozen. And, oddly or maybe not for him, the first thing he zeroed in on was the cigarette butt in the blackened cup. His gaze flew to me, hardening, and he took two steps, grabbing my chin and smelling at my mouth.

“I didn’t smoke,” I explained calmly, since he looked ready to tear someone’s head off.

He sniffed in Least Ugly’s general direction, where he stood next to me. Least Ugly ground his teeth together when Daniil’s hands immediately went to his pockets, stealing his cigarettes—all without taking his eyes off me. He crushed the box in his hands, and turned his attention on him for a second, stating, “Smoking’s bad for you, and others.”

His mouth flapped until he sputtered, “So I’ve been told.”

Daniil had already turned away, his muscles tight as he chucked the broken box of cigarettes into a trashcan. He glanced down at the charred mess on the coffee table. “Who did this?”

I yawned. “I did.” I was getting sleepy.

Zoning in immediately on the glass, the obvious origination point of the fire, he reached out, and with two fingers, he pulled the memory card and tape out. He stared at them for all of a heartbeat before flicking their curled blackened husks on the coffee table, making a little splash in the water. “What was on there?”

“A story; one that I didn’t want to be tempted with.”

His black brows rose, instantly curious. “What was it?”

“I’m not telling.” And I would not.

He assessed me for a long moment before he asked, “How did you obtain the story?”

My lips twitched.

He glowered, turning his sharp regard on Least Ugly. “She snuck away from you again?”

I instantly moved forward, running my hands up his chest. “It wasn’t his fault.” I shrugged. “I’m just good at sneaking away when I want to.”

Daniil growled, glaring a moment longer at Least Ugly, before glancing down at me. His brows puckered adorably. “I don’t like it when you do that. He’s there for your protection. I have many enemies, Beth.”

Yes, he did…and his children weren’t exactly thrilled since Daniil had told them about us last night during a private dinner. “I won’t do it again.” Not for a little while. “Why don’t we go to bed? We have a long flight tomorrow.” We were headed back to New York City. He was not going back to Russia any time soon, not with his kids’ lives a mess like they were. I was learning he was one hell of a loving father, even if he showed it in ways than what I was accustomed to.

He instantly wrapped his arms around my waist. “The bedroom sounds nice.”

I could not help the grin that spread across my face. “Nothing will be happening tonight, mister.” I stood on tiptoe, whispering against his ear, “I’m on my period.”

He blinked. Stared…grunted.

I chuckled quietly. “You can quit paying off the staff here and at every restaurant we go to.” When his expression turned innocent, I laughed louder. “Did you really think I wouldn’t catch on about the alcohol?” My amused gaze lit on his fierce one. “I’m not pregnant. Quit worrying.”

His chest heaved against my hands. “I’d wondered how long it would take you to figure that out.” He bent, kissing the tip of my nose, whispering, “I do want you in bed now. I sleep much better with you next to me.”

I warmed inside. “You are a hard man to resist.”

His brows quirked, teasing, “Does that mean you’re ready to tell your parents?”

My lips curved, kissing him softly. “You’re not that hard to resist.”

My parents were never going to find out. I liked Daniil that damn much.

He chuckled quietly. “Thank God.”