laugh. ‘Got it,’ Natalya offered solemnly.
‘So... Alexei?’
That came out of left field...and unexpected. Dimitri’s eyebrow lifted a little. ‘What’s with the vibe between the two of you?’
‘Your misinterpretation.’
His smile widened a little. ‘I beg to differ.’
The music increased in beat, as almost everyone joined in with the laughter, and those couples dancing on the floor took a few missteps...which didn’t appear to matter at all.
Voices rose, and Natalya gave a startled sound as Alexei appeared at her side and led her onto the dance floor before she had the opportunity to protest.
I don’t know the steps, remained unsaid.
‘It doesn’t matter. I’ll guide you.’
He did, and she soon mastered the rhythm, laughed a little when she almost missed a step, which Alexei faultlessly covered.
For the moment she simply let go, lost in the moment, the music, ambience...and the man who led her.
Until the moment the music slowed...and Alexei drew her close for timeless minutes, when it took all of her inner strength not to lean in against him, rest her cheek close to his heart, and just let the evening, the music, take her wherever it might lead.
Except there was an awareness of time and place, the haunting music, the slight pathos that seeped into her body, making her wish for more.
Did Alexei feel it too?
Who would know?
The sound of strings stirring from the bouzouki teased the air, and the chatter of conversation ceased as the pace lingered, dwelled, then began to quicken in tone and pitch. Stirring memories for most, of times past, and present for those who returned to revisit again and again in order to relive the magic merging of old and new, the history, the future.
Special, Natalya perceived, and felt the touch deep in her heart.
Coffee, thick, aromatic and strong, was served, after which the duplicate numbers handed out at the point of entry were presented in a circular glass tumbler, spun, and Calista, by tradition, extracted a ticket and read out the winning number.
There was a shout of victory, applause from the guests, the music lingered as the evening wound down, guests began making preparations to leave, with the sound of pleasurable laughter, affectionate farewells, car doors opening and closing, engines starting up as the streets slowly emptied.
It had been a memorable evening, and she said as much as she thanked Calista for the invitation, bade Xena, Cristos and Dimitri goodnight, before sliding into the limousine Alexei had summoned to return them to the hotel.
‘You enjoyed the evening?’
Her mouth curved into a generous smile. ‘It was great. The venue, the music. Uplifting to witness everyone coming together for a specific purpose. Reliving memories of times past, sharing lifelong friendships. Tradition,’ she offered quietly.
Alexei shifted slightly to take in her vivacious features alight with pleasure, and held back the desire to pull her close, take her mouth with his own, and absorb her response.
There was a heaviness in his groin...needing, wanting what she could give him, as he would gift her. Sex, as a means to define love?
It didn’t work that way. Love was a gift from the heart, inviolate, unconditional. A force of Nature shared by two people whose lives were inexplicably bound together for all time.
Hadn’t he searched for its likeness in the intervening years? Only to despair a woman’s interest was more attuned to his bank balance than his heart, his soul.
It hadn’t been enough to put a ring on any woman’s finger. Call him cynical, but he wanted more than a facsimile.
The limousine slowed and drew to a halt in the curved apex adjoining the hotel’s main entrance. It was late, but the inner city remained alive with guests returning from drinks after the theatre, parties.
A city which never slept, Natalya acknowledged, as she rode the elevator to their designated floor.
The vibrant hype of the evening began to dissipate as she preceded Alexei into their suite, and she toed off her stilettos, discarded her jacket, and bade him goodnight.
He let her go.
And silently cursed...for lost opportunities.
Need...for a woman. Not just any woman...he could have any one of many who would give whatever he wanted. A wild eroticism among tangled sheets, each aware it was merely satiation of the senses, nothing more.
To his credit, he was selective...upfront, no false hope, mutual pleasure for as long as it lasted.
Sexual satisfaction for a price.
None of which applied to Natalya. For what they’d once shared rested deep within. A memory he’d failed to expunge...no matter what method he chose to apply.
She was there, as much a part of him as every breath he took...every beat of his heart.
Steely control...he possessed it in spades. In the boardroom.
Only a door separated him from Natalya’s bedroom. He could breach it, seduce, and maybe succeed in gaining her compliance.
So why didn’t he?
Damned if he knew.
Yet he did.
Aware losing wasn’t an option.
THE FOLLOWING FEW days were business-oriented, with meetings between Alexei, Cristos and Dimitri as they explored strategies for a major takeover of a company on the brink of financial collapse.
Natalya’s recordings were lengthy, the content involved as each man added input, opinions regarding the need for further investigation, relevant sources...calling a coffee break for a short debriefing session.
A relief from the intensity of the past few hours, Natalya accorded as she placed an order for coffee.
‘Amalgamated will play ball,’ Dimitri projected as they regrouped. ‘They don’t have any option.’
‘Unless United undercut you,’ Natalya offered, immediately aware of three pairs of male eyes refocussing their attention.
‘An interesting observation,’ Cristos declared. ‘Your basis being?’
‘They tend to sideline, then jump in just as a competitive deal is due to be struck.’
Alexei’s eyes narrowed as he leaned back in his chair. ‘They’re not one of the major players.’
Dimitri leant forward. ‘You have experience of their tactics?’
She inclined her head. ‘They know how to play the game.’
‘So do we,’ Cristos answered, shooting Alexei a glance.
‘A back-up plan alternative, and play our hand close to our chest?’
Good thinking, aware just how well United had tied her father’s negotiations in knots two years ago, and left Roman red-faced, bluffing, and totally out of his league.
‘Well, there you go,’ Dimitri accorded softly. ‘PA is a misnomer.’
‘I imagine Natalya’s observation skills saved Roman Montgomery’s lack of attention in the field of negotiations.’
If her father had listened, she added silently. Unfortunately he rarely did.
Natalya indicated the carafe. ‘More coffee?’
Each man declined, and she bore Alexei’s scrutiny