Nothing could get in the way of him finding out what he needed to know, and more importantly, she wouldn’t be able to run home and hide.
‘The guest list is large and very influential,’ she said as they left the press behind for the peace of the hotel lobby. ‘I will be able to make good connections for you this evening.’
Her voice pulled him out of his thoughts and back to the party, but his response was silenced as she let her wrap slide from her shoulders. Her strapless dress drew his attention and all he could think of was pressing his lips against the paleness of her shoulders.
‘Nothing more than I would have expected from you.’ Finally he managed to string a sentence together.
‘I will take that as a compliment.’ She smiled up at him. A real smile. One that made those beautiful lips appear even more kissable. Her eyes sparkled with genuine amusement and something happened as his pulse seemed to race. In that moment all he wanted to do was make her smile, to see the woman who lurked unexpectedly close to the surface of that tough exterior she literally painted on.
‘Not only are you very talented, but you look even more beautiful this evening.’
She blushed and looked away from him. A sense of satisfaction filled him as he realised that whatever it was between them, it was enabling him to see a far softer side to her than he suspected she wanted him to see.
She turned and walked away, taking a glass of champagne as she entered the party, giving him no option but to follow.
* * *
As Liev placed his hand in the small of her back, Bianca pinned a smile on her face, ever the professional role player. The light touch made her skin sizzle and for a moment she couldn’t look at him, knowing the heat of awareness to his every move had suffused her cheeks.
Just as at previous evenings, she felt all eyes on them and could imagine what the whispered conversations would be about. It showcased everything about society she disliked and everything Liev was determined to acquaint himself with. She had to hang on to why she was doing this, that the reason for flaunting herself so blatantly with him among them was her grandfather.
‘We have already gained their attention,’ Liev whispered close to her ear, too close, and she couldn’t help the shiver of pleasure as his breath caressed her skin.
She swallowed hard, determined to keep her smile in place. ‘Going away may not be necessary after tonight.’
He reached out and pushed her hair back from her face, his fingers skimming her bare shoulder as he did so. ‘Don’t you want to be alone with me?’ His voice was low and a hint of something very seductive lingered in it.
‘I do have other clients,’ she retorted quickly, a little too quickly if the quirk of his brow was anything to go by.
‘But only one fiancé.’
Before she had time to say anything, his fingers had taken her chin, lifting it up, and she knew he was going to kiss her. Every buzzing nerve in her body anticipated it. He pressed his lips against hers and instantly she responded, despite her resolve to merely role-play.
‘Very good, Bianca,’ he murmured against them, sending sparks of heat firing through her.
She drew in a deep breath and stepped back, away from the warmth of his body, realising nothing had made her stay there except his gentle hold on her chin—and the burning need to experience his kiss again.
‘Role play.’ She flashed him a smile and turned to greet their hostess, who was making her way over to them. ‘Margaret, how lovely to see you. This is my fiancé, Liev Dragunov. Liev, this is Margaret O’Neil. Our families go back a long way.’
‘Enchanted.’ Liev’s charm worked wonders on Margaret, known for her intolerance of self-made newcomers. If she was convinced, then the rest of New York society would soon follow. Her job was almost over. Tomorrow’s interview would clinch that. So why did that fill her with a strange sense of loss?
* * *
Liev could sense the underlying bristle of the older lady and turned his charm up, but he didn’t miss the small frown which furrowed Bianca’s face so briefly. He bowed his head in recognition of her obvious high place in society, adhering to all the protocol he had no wish to be governed by once he had what he wanted.
‘I am having a summer ball next month. You must come along and bring this delightful fiancé of yours, Bianca. I absolutely insist.’
‘We would be honoured to attend.’ He gave her the full force of his smile, knowing exactly the effect it had on women, and then turned it on Bianca, satisfied by her lost-for-words look.
Other guests caught Margaret’s attention and she excused herself, leaving him and Bianca once more alone in a room full of people he had no real intention of befriending.
‘It seems we will be mixing in high circles next month.’ He took two fresh flutes of champagne from a passing waiter and handed one to Bianca. She took it with a glimmer of suspicion in her eyes. ‘To success.’
‘Success?’ She glanced at him from beneath her lashes, the coy look doing untold things to his already frustrated libido. Since when did he go in for such games as that? Never. If he wanted something, including women, he got it. Bianca had not been on his wanted list, but somehow she was now there, right at the top and clashing with his almost lifelong desire to avenge his family and expose ICE.
‘Do you not want success, Bianca? Do you not want the bracelet you so obviously covet?’
She moved against him, catlike in the way her body seemed to curl against his, pushing his wayward thoughts further over the edge. If she wasn’t careful she’d find herself being marched from the room to somewhere private where they could finish what she was so very intentionally starting.
‘In some ways we are very similar,’ she said softly, and he watched as she paused to sip the champagne. ‘You will stop at nothing to get what you want—but remember, Liev, neither will I.’
He caught hold of her chin, more firmly than he’d done before, and watched as her eyes darkened to that sexy deep blue. He brushed his lips over hers, enjoying the exhilarating challenge she offered. ‘I will remember that.’
BIANCA COULDN’T HELP but feel pleased as the party drew to a close in the small hours. She and Liev had been in demand much of the evening. Her job was almost done, which would mean very soon their engagement could be dropped. She’d get the bracelet and he would have the acceptance he required. She wouldn’t have to spend such evenings with the man who’d turned her into the kind of woman she’d never imagined she could be.
She enjoyed sparring with him, and the thought of not seeing much more of Liev saddened her. He’d infiltrated her life, become a part of it, filling her mind when he wasn’t around and infusing her body with a kind of awareness she was beginning to accept came from being with a man she was genuinely attracted to. Although there could be no future in such notions, not after the way he’d used her, and that was something she had to keep in her mind to prevent those fairy-tale ideas of love getting a hold.
She didn’t try to persuade Liev that he didn’t need to walk her to her door
