Love Beyond Boundaries

Chapter 10 An Uneasy Alliance

We walked toward the house together. Ahead, I saw the men and their young companions walking as well, dressed in the same elegant dresses as mine. They looked happy to be here, but I was not so much. I had no idea where I had ended up. How was I supposed to behave here? And how was I supposed to act around Vladimir?

We reached the house, and the man opened the door for me. I was about to step inside but stopped and looked at Vladimir.

"What?" he raised an eyebrow.

"Don't you dare touch me," I warned him.

"If I need to, I will," he replied.

I frowned and pressed my lips together.

"How dare you?" I muttered.

"Don't worry. I know how to touch so it blows your mind," he "reassured" me and, giving me a little push, stepped inside after me.

For some reason, I didn't doubt his words. He was so confident, and at the same time he had a kind of energy that made him seem masculine, strong, and magnetic. But that didn't change the fact that he was a heartless bastard.

"Relax, Liza," he whispered in my ear. "How old are you? Twenty?"

"Nineteen," I muttered, glancing around the spacious house.

"You must have had some experience with men," he continued. "You're not a little girl anymore."

"I'm the same age as your daughter," I snapped. "And I'm definitely not going to talk to you about things like that."

A smirk spread across his face. He wasn't looking at me, but I could see it.

"Principled and stubborn," Vladimir noted. "Impressive, girl."

Suddenly, he pulled me close. I felt his hand on my waist and pressed instinctively against his shoulder. I looked up and saw Lev approaching.

"Voldy, welcome," he said with a smile. Casting a predatory glance at me, he took my hand and kissed it. "Liza, how do you find it here?"

"Unfamiliar," I answered, flinching when Vladimir squeezed my waist a little harder. "I mean, it's unusual to see such a luxurious house. It's very beautiful."

I shot a sharp glance at the man, but he didn't even raise an eyebrow. He only patted my waist approvingly and politely conversed with Lev about his own matters. I stayed quiet, taking in the surroundings: tall columns, moldings, paintings on the walls, and marble floors. The bulldog had made himself comfortable.

Soon we moved further into the main area where the party was in full swing. Distinguished men were talking over drinks, and their companions moved around, fulfilling their every whim. If Vladimir expected the same from me, he was in for a surprise. I would just stand and stay silent. I wanted to get home as soon as possible. My eyes were already heavy.

We stopped by one of the tables. Vladimir talked to his friends while I examined my nails with a bored expression. I had always dreamed of having a proper manicure, but I didn't even have the money for that.

Vladimir's hand landed on my waist again, running along it with heat down to my hip and squeezing slightly, pulling my dress taut.

My cheeks flushed, my heart raced wildly. I stopped focusing on my nails, turned to him, and blinked in confusion.

"Relax your gaze," he ordered. "Play the role. Lev is already licking his lips, thinking how he can corner you somewhere."

I scanned the room and immediately noticed the bulldog. He really was staring at me, seemingly inspecting every inch of my body.

Honestly, it scared me. The man radiated danger, something heavy and oppressive. I felt a jolt of anxiety when I caught his gaze on me.

"What does he want from me?" I grumbled, moving closer to Vladimir. "There are plenty of girls here to choose from."

"When you get the sweetest cakes every day," he whispered in my ear, "eventually they get boring. You want something else. And if that something else is unavailable, it drives you crazy."

"Promise me he won't touch me," I said seriously, looking straight into his green eyes. "Promise."

Vladimir looked at Lev, then back at me, and nodded.

"I promise," he said. And somehow, I believed him.

Thinking quickly, I ran my hand over his chest, then, closing my eyes, I brushed my lips over the tense skin of his neck. His skin was warm, pleasant to touch.

Carefully, I inhaled his masculine scent, then pulled back slightly, feeling Vladimir's hand tighten a little on my waist. In that moment, I felt something new and strange. A rush of inexplicable, hot energy surged through me, tightening the lower part of my body.

I bit my lip to regain control and looked back at Lev with relief. He was no longer watching me.

"Don't overdo it," I heard Vladimir's hoarse voice near my ear. "I need him to sign the papers."

"When will you let me go home?" I asked quietly. "I've already checked in. I came here like you asked. I have a shift tomorrow."

"When I say so, you'll go," he replied. "You'll leave after lunch tomorrow."

That news calmed me a little; I'd at least get some sleep tomorrow. I could recover from this insane night.

"Voldy, come have a drink," Lev called, beckoning Vladimir over.

"Maybe we should sign everything first?" Vladimir suggested.

"We'll have time," the bulldog waved him off. I snorted when I heard Vladimir mutter a curse under his breath.

We walked over to the leather sofa near the fireplace. Vladimir sat down first, then pulled me onto his lap, and I obediently sat down. As long as I stayed away from Lev, who kept devouring me with his predatory gaze, even though two girls were currently petting and licking him at the same time.

I couldn't watch that without feeling disgusted, so I turned away and, thinking better of it, took a sip of champagne from a clear glass. When I set the glass down, I shifted slightly on Vladimir's lap, but he immediately pulled me back. I ended up pressed tightly against his broad chest and felt something hard pressing against me.

It took only a second for heat to rush through me. My breathing quickened at the realization that this man was aroused right now. Apparently, that didn't bother him at all. On the contrary, Vladimir's hands slowly explored my body, stroking my waist and stomach, brushing against my thighs. And I sat there, not knowing where to put myself. My heart felt like it was about to leap out of my chest, my cheeks burned.

Why did his touch affect me like this? Why did it send shivers over my entire body?

"You're too tense," he whispered in my ear.

"Then stop touching me," I muttered quietly, shifting on his lap with displeasure.

"Sit still," Vladimir snapped.

"I can't," I grumbled, feeling his stubble tickle the edge of my chin. "Your… your thing… is pressing against my…"

Instead of answering, I heard a low, hoarse laugh. I even felt his shoulders shake.

"So I see, you're having fun," Lev's voice carried to us. "Maybe we should have some fun together? Huh, boys?"

I tensed again. What did he mean by that?

"What are you talking about, Lev Alexandrovich?" Vladimir asked.

"Voldy, I'll give you ten percent if you share," the bulldog said, stretching into a predatory smile while looking at me.

I opened my eyes wide in horror. Was he talking about me? Was he asking Vladimir to share me?