Fixed 01 - Fantasy Fix (13 page)

Gregory completely misunderstood. He thought she could even remember his existence.

“No, wait. Let me finish.” The blond man reached across the table and caught her hand in one of his and gave it a gentle squeeze. “Reggie, I need you…”

I need you more,
dushka, Dmitri whispered.
I need you to come now. Come for me,
milka.
I want to see you
.

Yes! Ah, Misha!
Reggie bowed her head, bit her cheek until it ached and fought to hold herself completely still while her body tensed with the force of her climax. She forced her face to stay down, because there was no way she would be able to control her blush or the look in her eyes. The experience aroused her beyond anything she’d ever experienced. Anyone who looked at her face would know what was happening to her.

Hush,
milaya.
I will allow no one to see your pleasure. This is a sight reserved for my eyes alone. Do not worry. I will care for you always.

She gained control of her breathing just in time to hear Gregory’s last few words.

“…to give me my grandmother’s ring back.”

Her eyes snapped open. “What?”

She couldn’t possibly have heard correctly. Too much sex had clearly fried her brain, but if she could focus on being furious at Gregory, she might not do something rash to Dmitri. Like diabolically plot and execute his murder.

“My grandmother’s ring,” Greg repeated, sounding impatient. “It’s an heirloom. She meant for me to give it to my wife. I never should have given it to you after her funeral.”

Reggie recoiled from him like he’d suddenly developed running sores all over his body. If only fate would be so kind. “And now you want it back? What the hell is that about?” Of all the ways to ruin a post coital glow, this had to be among the sleaziest. “Who the hell do you think you are?”

Greg looked at her like she was short a few screws. “Reg, it was Granny’s ring. She wanted to pass it down to her kids and grandkids. Obviously, I’m not going to be having those with you. I think it’s only right that you give it back to me.”

He sounded almost like he was trying to be logical about the whole thing. Logical! If he wasn’t careful, she would make it impossible for him to ever sire children. With anyone. She was just sick and tired of the whole male species. It made her more determined to watch them die.

“I’ll give you something, all right, Greg Martin,” she hissed through her clenched teeth. She jumped down from her stool, ignoring the unseen hands that tugged her hem back down into legal parameters, and planted her hands on her hips. “I’ll give you
hell
for being the insensitive, immature jerk you are. I know what this is really about! It’s that secretary, isn’t it? Or it’s some other vapid young thing who’s buying your sweet talk and your lies just like I used to do. But you’re so shallow that you don’t even realize how tacky this is! You’re such an asshole—“

“Why, because I’ve moved on?” His expression went from vulnerable and conciliatory to snarky in less time than it took her to grit her teeth. “That’s why you’re really being such a raving bitch about this, Reg. You’re jealous because I’ve moved on and found a new relationship, and you can’t even get a man when you’re dressed like a two-bit street whore.”

By this point people were starting to notice their argument—not that any of them had noticed her getting eaten out by a figment of her imagination a few minutes ago— but Reggie was too pissed off to care. Not to mention Greg wasn’t diffusing her anger by trying to make her look like the pathetic one. Admittedly, at least half her anger should be directed at Dmitri, but he remained scarce and Greg stood there looking all too handy.

“You ought to know about whores, seeing how many of them you’ve screwed!” she snarled, taking a step forward until she had to tilt her head up to look at him. “I’ll have you know half the men in this bar would kill to go home with me tonight, so don’t tell me I can’t get a man, Gregory Ansel Martin!”

“Especially not when your man might find such a comment insulting.”

Chapter Nine

Dmitri slid his arm around Regina in a replay of the previous night at the Goth club and glared at the arrogant little man who stood in front of them. He could feel the heat of his woman’s anger while she stood stiff and distant under his embrace, but first things first.

“I have heard much about you, Mr. Martin. None of it has been good.” He had read of this insect of a man from Regina’s mind. Her memories tempted him to lash out with something violent and permanent to teach the man a lesson, but he didn’t want to waste the time. “In the future, I suggest you refrain from insulting Regina. In fact, I suggest you stay very far away from her indeed. Is that clear?”

He tapped just far enough into the blonde’s mind to find his character as loathsome as he had anticipated. He also saw the fool consider standing up to him, an idea Dmitri ruthlessly squashed. Eyes narrowing, he reached a little deeper into Martin’s mind and squeezed, creating pressure like a hand closing over the human’s throat. From where Reggie stood, he knew he appeared still and controlled, but his message sank slowly into Martin’s consciousness. The human eyed Dmitri with growing fear and horror.

“I asked if you understood me, Mr. Martin.”

He rumbled out the question in a tone that sounded like a purr but felt like a threat. From the corner of his eye, he saw Regina shiver. Greg trembled too, but for an entirely different reason.

“Yeah. Sure. Whatever you say, man. I gotta go.”

And with that eloquent parting riposte, the degenerate Gregory Martin turned tail and ran. Very far away, indeed.

Reggie watched his flight with a smile that spoke less of humor and more of bloodshed. Really gory bloodshed. Dmitri barely had time to brace himself before she turned that smile on him.

It looked more like a snarl.

“I have never been so furious in all my life,” she hissed, stepping toward him until they stood toe to toe. She had to crane her head to look up at him, but she didn’t even seem to notice. “What the
fuck
did you think you were doing? How dare you do that to me in a public place!”

Dmitri’s eyes narrowed to mirror hers while he fought down his own fury.

He’d known of her plans the instant he woke, but once the initial flare of rage had passed, he’d laughed at her vengeful streak. Trust his Regina to take an opportunity any other woman would have forged into a reconciliation and use it to twist an unsuspecting man into a knot for her revenge.

What he didn’t like was thinking she would deny the pleasure he had given her and the knot she’d tied him into earlier that evening with her little show in front of her bedroom mirror.

He’d been barely awake, savoring the first glimmering return of consciousness when her image hit him. He’d known she found his note, had seen her in her bedroom thinking about the dress he’d told her to wear and about her date with Martin. His initial anger had barely faded when he teased her with silly comments and empty threats. He had never suspected what she would do to him.

He left when she ordered it and had drifted content in the dream-like world between sleeping and waking when she tugged at the path between their minds. He remembered his pleasure at knowing she had sought him out. The feeling had lasted only until she stripped of her clothes and proceeded to drive him out of his mind.

Even now, hours later, his body still throbbed at the memory. His cock had been hard since his rising, and she had the nerve to chastise him for arousing her by fulfilling yet another of her secret fantasies?

“I would not cast stones if I were you, Regina,” he growled, his eyes sparking at her, his jaw set. “You should be grateful I allowed you to come. Or perhaps you would have preferred I left you hungry and aching for
four hours
while I arranged rendezvous with other women.”

He grabbed her hand in his and forced her palm hard against his groin. His erection throbbed against the tight denim that covered him. “Would you have liked that, Regina?” he growled. “Would you?”

She looked into his eyes, and she must have seen something there that frightened her, because some of the fury leeched from her expression, and she softened. Her hand gentled and molded to his cock, cupping his thick length through the fabric.

“No, I don’t suppose I would have,” she admitted, her voice gentling just a bit. Before he could take her admission for surrender, she tightened her grip until her hand on his cock became as much a threat as a promise. “But I still don’t think that’s an excuse for what you did to me.” Her gaze locked with his, and the serious tone of her voice matched her expression. “I’m not into public sex, Misha. I’d prefer it if what we share could remain private from now on. Understand?”

Dmitri nodded gravely. His Regina had strength and courage. It made him admire her all the more. “I understand,
dushka
.”

“Good.” Her lips softened into a smile, and her eyes glinted with humor. “Now I can tell you how cool it was to watch whatever you did to Greg. I haven’t been that entertained in forever.”

Dmitri chuckled. He seemed to recall several moments last night when she had appeared to be very entertained indeed.

Reggie looked up at him, and her eyes narrowed. “Don’t look at me like that, buster,” she warned. “Just because we got one issue straightened out doesn’t mean we haven’t got some other serious things to talk about. I hope you’re wide awake and planning to stay that way until I’m finished ripping you a new one.”

“Calm yourself,
dushka
,” he murmured, her angry and empty threats amusing him. His little kitten could be so fierce. “We will talk as much as you wish, but I’m sure you would prefer to do so in privacy. Am I wrong?”

Reggie growled.

“I thought not. Come.” He wrapped his arm around her and turned her toward the door, but they didn’t get any farther.

“Well, well, what have we here?”

The interruption came from Ava, a figure he’d seen much of when he sifted through his Regina’s thoughts. She stood before them, blocking their path to the door.

“Reggie, darling, aren’t you going to introduce me to your new friend?” Ava’s voice, low and melodic, and her expression, a sweet, warm smile, gave Reggie the creeps. Dmitri could read his lover’s unease in her mind and her body.

“Um, sure,” she muttered. Dmitri followed her glare to her friends from the club last night and the cell phone that sat on the bar table between them.

Stool pigeons
, he heard Reggie think.

“Ava, this is Dmitri Vidâme. Dmitri, this is my friend Ava Markham.”

“A pleasure,” Dmitri murmured, taking Ava’s hand in his and bowing slightly over it. The dark-haired woman’s eyes narrowed at the gesture.

“I’m sure it is,” she said, her tone dismissive. “It appears you’ve made quite an impression on our friend, considering you met her for the first time last night.”

Dmitri’s mouth quirked. Even without reading her mind, he could sense the protectiveness that radiated off Ava’s slim frame. Reggie’s friend had cool, faintly exotic dark looks that radiated confidence, sex and money. She stood close to five-ten in her Italian heels, and he knew her black sheath dress would bear an exclusive designer label. Ava was the sort of woman Dmitri would have been attracted to in the past, strong and aggressive and passionate, but Dmitri had recently discovered a decided preference for soft, cuddly redheads with submissive streaks.

“I am the one who was impressed, Ms. Markham. I am sure you realize your friend is a remarkable woman.”

Reggie stepped forward as if to remind them of her presence.

“And she has a brain cell or two to rub together, not to mention a tongue in her head,” she snapped, glaring at the two of them. “What is wrong with you people?”

“Nothing’s wrong, Reggie,” Ava said, pursing her lips and raising her chin. “I was simply curious to meet the man you met at the club last night. It’s not like you to pick up strangers. You usually have better sense.”

Dmitri stifled a chuckle. “I’ve found Regina has perfect sense. As well as many other…intriguing qualities.”

Unable to resist, he settled his hand low and far back on Reggie’s hip and squeezed, just for the entertainment value of Ava’s reaction. She didn’t disappoint him.

“She used to have perfect sense,” Ava bit out, her dark eyes frosting over while she glared at Dmitri’s hand. “But I’m seeing precious little of it at the moment.”

Dmitri felt Regina stiffen under his hand.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Regina demanded, crossing her arms over her chest and glaring at her friend.

“It means there is something seriously wrong with you, Reg.” Ava matched her glare for glare.

Dmitri could read the concern beneath the angry attack, but he didn’t think Regina cared about the motivation.

“There is nothing wrong with me, Ava. And even if there were, it would be none of your business. I’m a grown woman. I can take care of myself.”

“Then prove it by not letting some cretin paw you in public like you’re a piece of meat!”

Dmitri hadn’t planned to come between the two women—he hadn’t lived this long by doing something so stupid—but neither would he stand by and watch Ava insult his Regina. He stiffened at her words and touched her mind, looking for an entrance.

“Dmitri is not pawing me, but even if he were, what business is that of yours?” Regina countered. “Maybe I like being pawed! Maybe I don’t care what you think about me or the men I date!”

Man
, Dmitri corrected, sending the thought firmly into Reggie’s mind, briefly dividing his attention between the two women.
You date only one man, Regina. Me
.

He saw Regina roll her eyes, and he bit back a grin, turning his attention once more to Ava. She had a surprisingly strong mind with some impressive natural shielding. He probed quickly for a weak spot, but it didn’t take long for him to realize he couldn’t just slip quietly into her mind in the middle of a public place. She required more force than that, which meant their best strategy might be to retreat.

Dmitri turned away from Ava and squeezed Regina’s hip gently. “Perhaps we should leave,
dushka
,” he murmured. “I do not believe your friend appreciates our company.”