“You need to come with me.” Wren explained this to Zoe as she looked through her closet for something suitable to wear to the show.
“You should have invited some hot dude to go with you. Let the Russian know what he could be having if he’d only move it.”
“I don’t want that. I don’t want to have to be that sneaky and involve some guy. I just want to look good tonight. Things are changing between us. If I do this right, I can tip myself into the non-employee category.” Wren shrugged. “Also, I want to look hot. I want him, damn it.”
“Then let’s get moving so you can have him. First, something tight on top. Lower cut ’cause you have great boobs.”
“I was thinking about this.” She held up a silver, metallic sheath. Backless but for a few chains to hold everything in place. “With these trousers.” She could wear a skirt, but it was cold and…well, most of the women would be and she wanted to stand out.
“Yeah, that works. You can borrow that velvet blazer I have to go over it while you’re outside. Then you can take it off and give the BOOM. I say go for the Veronica Lake hair. Red lips. Hot vintage. It works for you.” Zoe looked at Wren’s hands and shook her head. “Your nails are a mess. I have some polish to match the lipstick.”
Her nails and hands did tend to be ragged, covered in ink. “He’s got artist hands.” She frowned looking at herself.
“Sure he does. And normally it’s acceptable because it’s what you do and all. But this is a special occasion, right? They’ll go right back to looking wrecked tomorrow.”
Zoe laughed.
“You’re right.”
Wren dressed and Zoe helped with the hair and makeup because she was awesome that way. Zoe looked effortlessly fabulous in a cute mini with tights and boots.
Vanity aside, she looked herself over and gave a mental thumbs up. “He sees me so often dressed for work. The last time I went to one of these parties I left after a few minutes. I was totally out of my element and uncomfortable.”
“You said he mentioned that you left. Clearly he wanted you there and noticed your absence. And girl, he’s gonna take a look at you in that outfit and really want you around.”
“Hee!” She smoothed a hand down the front of her pants. “All right, that’s out of the way. I’ve done my breathless giggle and it’s time to be a big girl. Let’s go. By the way, you look fabulous.”
Zoe lifted a shoulder. “Obviously. I’ll even drive so you can get tipsy enough to loosen up but not drunk enough to vomit.”
“Um, thanks for those guidelines.”
The gallery wasn’t too far away from Gregori’s loft and just up the street from Fixe so Zoe grabbed street parking when she found it and they’d walk over for both events.
There was a sweet spot for arriving at an art show and Wren had been to enough to have the basics down. They weren’t right on time, or too late. There’d still be appetizers on trays and the wine would be flowing.
“You’re an equal here. Don’t forget that,” Zoe said in an undertone as they went inside.
She wasn’t so sure she felt it, but she’d fake it if necessary.
Kelsey, standing next to Gregori, caught sight of them and waved them over.
The light hit him from behind and Wren stood, stunned into stillness for long moments. He had the full Mohawk going on. Spiked. He even had a few scarlet red streaks in his perfectly manicured beard to match his hair. Leather pants and boots. His long-sleeved dress shirt worked with both. Damn and damn again.
She really wanted a taste.
But then he turned to see what Kelsey had been waving at and his gaze started at the peep toed heels and slid up her legs, up her waist, pausing at her boobs and then when he got to her face he smiled slow and sexy, pausing just a brief moment when he recognized her. But the smile remained.
“Get some,” Zoe murmured and moved away as she headed to Gregori.
She turned. “Where are you going?”
“Wine and fancy appetizers, duh. Shoo.” She made a hand motion in Wren’s direction and sauntered away.
“Wren.” Gregori took her hands and kissed each cheek. “I’m glad you could come. You look beautiful.”
“Thanks. You do, too.”
She figured he’d chitchat and then wander off to hobnob with people, but he placed a hand at the small of her back and guided her toward Kelsey.
Her cousin hugged her quickly. “I was just headed off to get Gregori a drink. I’ll bring you one, too. You look hot.” She looked up to Gregori. “Right?”
He looked her over again. “Agreed. I’m going to show her around, come find me.” He pivoted and guided Wren off in another direction.
“A personal tour? I’m impressed.”
“I’m impressive, Wren. We’ve gone over this.”
Kelsey brought them each a glass of champagne. “I can get your coat checked if you like. It’s stuffy in here.”
Before Gregori took the champagne, he helped her from her blazer, and paused at the sight of all that bare skin on her back. It was hard enough—he was hard enough—at the sleek, shiny hair and the red lips. But the nearly backless shirt, the way her breasts swayed prettily as she moved? This was the Wren he’d tried very hard not to think about.
He had to force himself not to dip and kiss her shoulder.
He handed Kelsey the blazer and took the champagne. “Thank you.” Kelsey sent him a raised brow and a look that promised painful retribution if he acted like a dick.
Wren turned and looked up, into his face, a smile on those red, glossy lips. “Show me your work.”
She clinked her glass against his and he guided her through the gallery. He tried to scramble back behind the walls he kept up. Tried to treat her like a collector, but it was too late.
Wren saw his work in ways only another person who created things could see it. The questions she asked weren’t about the long term value of his work. She didn’t make sly or witty overtures. She understood him in ways so very few people did.
“I love the way you’ve changed perspective here. The color is abrupt. A slap. I’m always impressed with the way you’re so equally insightful be it in sculpture, multi-media, metal, paint, whatever. There’s so much in the shape of things, the way you use the brush.” She’d spoken to herself really, murmuring insights about things he hadn’t consciously thought of but were true.
She turned and a rush of her scent washed over him. He swallowed.
“I think you’ve got people waiting to speak with you.” She noted the others in the room who’d been watching him greedily.
He knew. But he didn’t want to shill his work. He wanted to be with her. “You won’t leave? You’re coming to Fixe after, yes?”
Her eyelashes swept down for a moment, a blush on her cheeks. Then she opened again. “Yes. Zoe and I will stop by.”
“We’ll go over together. I want to be sure you don’t run off.” He bent to kiss her cheek but she turned and his lips brushed against her mouth. Just a breath. A shiver rolled through him.
She stepped back, smiling. “I’ll be here. Go, sell.” She tipped her chin.
He turned and put on his Ivanov face, as Kelsey called it. Temperamental, a little sullen, sexy. Every inch the artist.
But then he turned and winked before he approached a group speaking with the gallery owner and his agent. Her heart did a woozy sort of flop-thump and it was one of those delicious moments that seem to only happen in the very beginning of…something.
“Holy shit.” Kelsey and Zoe sidled up, Kelsey took Wren’s empty glass, depositing it on a tray and grabbed her a new one. “He just kissed you. He walked around the gallery with you, totally focused on everything you said. I’m actually a little sweaty and it didn’t even happen to me.”
“He meant to kiss my cheek. I turned to say something and it was an accident.”
“He did not pull back. He could have.” Zoe shrugged.
She smiled. “No, he didn’t. He said he wanted to escort us over to Fixe and ordered me not to leave in that way of his.”
Wren was pretty sure she’d breached the employee camp walls.
“He’s kicking ass tonight. He’s sold everything here and all that schmoozing he’s doing right now is guaranteed to bring him more commissioned pieces.” Kelsey’s smile was satisfied. “They want him to do another show in New York, more of a meet-and-greet thing. His agent was working out details with me earlier today.”
“He’s a rock star.” They watched him saunter around the room. “Also? That face of his? Where he’s all bored and sort of sullen? I can’t lie, makes me tingly.”
“Yeah, he’s aces at it.” Zoe grabbed a few cake-type things from a passing tray. “These are good. Did you tell Kelsey about what happened today?”
“What?”
“One of my project partners on this animation assignment, her dad is an agent and she, my classmate, told him about my graphic novel. He went to look at some of my stuff I’ve got posted at my website and called me and asked me to send some stuff in.”
“Oh, my god! And you’re only telling me now?”
“This just happened like three hours ago. I still can’t quite believe it’s real. I mean, I’m managing my expectations right now. It’s an agent, not a publisher after all. But still.” She grinned. Still.
Kelsey went into planning mode. Wren could tell by the way her features scrunched up for a moment. “This calls for celebration! You’re coming to Fixe so that takes care of the venue.”
“No! That’s for Gregori. And the agent just asked to see a proposal. We’ll save the celebration for me actually getting an agent.”
“Stop hiding your light under a bushel, Wren. Let it shine. Also, there’s never really a bad time to clink a glass for good news. It’s not like Gregori hasn’t done this after-party thing a hundred times. He’ll be happy for you.”
“I don’t want you to make a big deal of it. I forbid it.”
Kelsey’s eyes widened and then she laughed and laughed some more. “You’re totally not the boss of me. My real boss is way scarier than you are. So hush. I have to take care of a few things and I’ll be back in a while.” She flounced off, probably to scare someone.
“Trust her to do this right. She’s going to do what she wants anyway. So, let’s look at art, baby.” Zoe linked arms with her and they wandered, looking at pieces.
And all the little sold cards. Damn. She smiled, truly thrilled for his success.
“Normally I’d be snarking. But there’s just nothing here to snark. He’s really good.” Zoe cocked her head and took in a large painting near the door.
“Right? It’s absurd how talented he is. When he works it’s like art, too. I’ve yet to see him try a different type of expression and not have it be phenomenal. He’s been selling his work since he was fifteen.”
“Damn, what a success hog.”
They laughed as they kept moving. The gallery had reached a point about twenty minutes before where it was wall-to-wall people, but now was beginning to thin out.
On the other side of the room he leaned against a post, surrounded by people. Mainly of the female persuasion and a frisson of annoyance slid through her belly.
“Yeah. So there’s that.” Zoe tipped her chin in his direction. “You gonna be able to deal with all that attention he gets?”
“I think that’s a few miles down the road at this point. Hell, he hasn’t even kissed me yet. I can’t go getting jealous or worried or even have an opinion about it at this point. I know who he is.”
Zoe simply looked at her. “Who do you think you’re telling this to? A magazine editor or something? That’s right out of the enlightened modern woman handbook and while I totally agree that’s a very good way to view it, you have many, many tingles and feelings for him already.”
Wren couldn’t help it, she burst out laughing. “Thank god for you, asshole.” She patted Zoe’s arm. “Regardless of whatever feels I may be having for him, or not—this is his thing. Look at him, he’s like, I don’t know, if you looked up bad boy in leather your dad would totally hate you dating but is really forbidden and does fabulous things with his tongue in the dictionary, his picture would be above it. It’s part of his allure. But it’s also…it’s only the exterior. He’s more. So I do hope at some point to breach that and give him a raised eyebrow when women shove their lady lumps at him. But that’s not now and I am not so stupid and lovestruck that I can’t understand that very essential thing.”
Zoe sniffed and nodded. “Good. That shit would drive me nuts. I’d be knocking people out left and right.”
“He’s the one who’d need it. If he was, you know, in a relationship with me. Which he is…in my head. So, there’s that.”
He turned as if he’d heard them, his gaze snagging on hers. He pushed himself upright and with a distracted exit, headed her way. Zoe shoved her forward a little and scampered off.
“You’re still here. Good. I’m done. Come.” He held a hand out and she took it. “Keep me company. We’ll walk over together. Let’s get your jacket first.”
Kelsey hurried over with it and with one for him.
“Thank you. Wren and I are heading to Fixe now.”
Kelsey nodded at him. “Zoe and I will be over shortly. I just have one last thing to finish.” She kissed Wren’s cheek and moved away to where the gallery owner and Gregori’s agent stood.
Wren found herself nearly saying she’d catch up with him and go over with her cousin and roommate. And then she shoved aside all that stupid conditioning and remembered she liked Gregori and having him alone was actually, you know, what she wanted.
“You’re okay to leave now? There are still people here.”
He helped her into her blazer and she pulled her hair free and ended up in a bit of a tangle with him.
He grinned and her body lit up like a pinball machine.
“I did my act for them.” He shrugged. “They all saw Gregori Ivanov and now I need a drink and some actual food.” He mentioned it as if he was a ticketed event. And she supposed in a way he was.
“All right. I think I can handle that.”
“Ask her about her exciting news,” Kelsey called out as they left.
He took the outside, all gentlemanly and stuff. He bumped her to get her attention. “Good news?”
“I told her to keep quiet about it until tomorrow. I’ll tell you when I next drop packages off for you. Tonight is your night.”
He frowned. “You should tell me, of course. Good news should be shared. It’ll still be my night, so to speak. I promise. Consider it a present to me.”
They crossed at the light and moved down the block. The mist raised in shiny beads on his jacket. The night was cold, but crisp and clean and she was utterly happy right in that moment.
“If it’s a present, then I’ll truly hold off and tell you tomorrow.”
“You would truly withhold your good news from me? You are not fair, Wren.”
She laughed and he put an arm around her shoulder, which sent those butterflies in her belly into surprised flight. “So tell me.”
Well he did ask and she was truly excited to share it with him. “This afternoon—”
“Hi, Gregori.”
Standing at the door of Fixe was none other than Prentiss Ivanov wearing a skirt so short that if she took a deep breath the entire street would know her as well as her gynecologist.
“What are you doing here?” His voice had gone flat, all the rich, flirty tones he’d just been using on Wren had gone.
Wren tried to skirt past them. Go inside, anywhere away from this scene, but Gregori kept an arm around her shoulders to hold her in place.
“I wanted to congratulate you, of course.”
He moved past Prentiss. “Thank you.” And tried to keep walking until Prentiss placed herself in their path.
“Can you excuse us, honey?” Prentiss fluttered her lashes at Wren.
“No, she can’t. We’re going inside. Good night.”
“This is what you’re digging up now? Come on, Gregori.” She turned her attention to Wren. “You know you’re temporary, right? He’ll replace you in a week or two.”
Wren just looked her over and a twinge of pity bloomed. Just a small one and not big enough for her to resist when Gregori kept her at his side.
“Move aside, Prentiss. We’re done. You know it. You wanted it, you got it and you were right.”
“At least let’s have a drink to celebrate your night.”
“I’m about to do that.” He continued on inside, pausing at the inner door to speak to the doorman. “Be sure no one gets in if they’re not on the list.”
Wren blew out a breath but continued on with him to where a bunch of people she had seen around Gregori’s place milled around. And felt out of place and a little nervous.
“Let’s put our coats away.” He pulled her aside and around a corner. When they were alone in a back hallway he got very close. So close she could smell his skin. “I apologize for her. Her assumption was incorrect and vulgar.”
Wren licked her lips. “I’m sorry, too. This should be a happy night for you. I’m sorry she tries to hurt you.” She cupped his cheek, smiling and trying to pretend she just had friendly feelings for him. “You deserve more.”
He closed his eyes, leaning into her palm. “You’ve got a good heart.”
“I’m only after your cookies.”
He smiled, his eyes still closed. “You, little bird, are welcome to any and all of my cookies. I’d even share my cake with you.”
He touched his forehead to hers and shocked her into stillness when he slid his arms around her waist, his palms splayed on her back. Skin to skin. Warmth radiated out from where he held her and she arched into him.
His eyes opened slowly, a little blurred and she lost her breath as he dipped down to take her mouth in a kiss.
Not a sweet touch like he’d done at the gallery. He brushed his lips over hers, settling in. Tasting. She opened up on a sigh and he growled in his throat as his tongue traced the curve of her bottom lip.
His beard scratched against her chin, sending shivers through her. He swallowed her sounds of delight and tickled her tongue with his. His grip on her tightened when she sucked his tongue, the ridge of his cock hard against her belly.
He tasted like…well like everything she’d imagined he’d taste like. The spice of the Turkish tobacco in the French cigarettes he smoked. A little bit of vodka. Some cinnamon, probably from the gum he’d been chewing. And something else she couldn’t define but was all his anyway.
Heat raced through her veins. She nipped his bottom lip and he groaned again. She laved the sting with her tongue and tasted the kiss, the need between them and it was her turn to groan.
He muttered something in Russian at the sound of his name being called back in the main room.
“Clearly I’m going to have to get a Russian/English dictionary.”
He opened his eyes again, kissing her one last time. “I probably shouldn’t have done that.”
“Whyever not? Did I repulse you?”
He laughed. “No. I’ve wanted to do that for some time now.” He helped her out of her blazer and handed the coats over to the coat check and turned back her way.
“So? Are you with someone? Is it that?”
“I’m not with anyone. It’s not what I do. You work for me. It’s best not to cross those lines.”
“I’m not your employee. I deliver packages for a company your assistant uses. And I’m not even doing that forever, as you well know. Anyway, you crossed the line. You can’t go back now.”
She sent him a raised brow as they headed back out to the table where his friends waited.