Chapter 45

The sizzle of electricity in the very small space between us is suffocating me and despite not wanting this, my body starts reacting like a wanton whore at his closeness. I tighten my knees and curse myself out for having traitorous reactions to the man I really do not like. He may have the personality of a drain sewer, but physically my body is still hot for him. Gino just watches me with a smile and I feel like I’m being hemmed in my two predators on the prowl for meat. Heart rate elevating that maybe I am in over my head and should get out of this room. I can barely breathe, my lungs getting tight and my inhales are shallow.

‘‘Do you need me to go get you a girl? You’re coming across as very horny and in dire need of relief.’’ I catch his hand as it heads to my first button and shove it off gently, pulling my dress back up and buttoning it one higher so no cleavage is on show; sending him a clear message to stop, flicking a glance and a glare his way that is loaded with a warning.

I don’t know what this is but I don’t like it. He doesn’t cross this kind of line and I have no idea why he’s doing it now. He had a chance with me and he blew me off. The feeling is now mutual and I have no desire to be his next bedroom victim.

Alexi looks annoyed and tugs my legs in against him again so that my knees are pressed against his fully and my thigh is touching the full length of his upper leg warmly. I am practically sitting on his lap, in the arc of his arm and very much in his personal space. It’s suffocating. I don’t think I have been this close to him since the opera and I really have no clue why he’s behaving so erratically or so over the top possessive. He is not one of the sex-starved men he likes to mess with, so I doubt he has a serious itch that needs to be scratched.

‘‘Relax sweetheart, my brother and I are always in competition. He doesn’t like the fact I made eyes and remarks about his sexy little redhead. Alexi doesn’t share his toys, he never has, much to my disappointment. He’s sending me the signals, not you. A HUGE back the fuck off Gino!’’ Gino is amused, he stands to pour himself a drink from the table and throws me a wink and a dirty look as he makes an obvious assessment of my body and legs. Alexi doesn’t react, he just watches his brother with zero facial expression and I take a moment to calm the erratic pounding of my heart.

I really want to move away from all this male dominance shadowing me, but I physically cannot move. I stay facing forward, otherwise a turn of the head will put my face right against his.

‘‘I asked him if I could fuck you. This is his answer.’’ Gino smirks. I blanch at him and then throw a wary look at Alexi sideways. Not sure when this little question was asked but not sure how to react either. Wondering if that is what all those gestures were about and not understanding how they could translate so much silently. I know he doesn’t want me to screw around and damage his reputation, but this is his twin, and we are in his private apartment.

As for Gino? Well, he is a complete wanker, assuming I am a possession you ask to borrow and not someone who can make her own choices.

What is it with these Carrero men? It’s all about fucking ownership!

‘‘You have a girlfriend. Go home and fuck her, this one’s hands off.’’ Alexi says coldly and even though I rebuffed his fingers on me, he still has his arm around my legs like he’s protecting his kill from other savage animals. His touch is searing my skin and heating me to volcanic levels as goosebumps travel over every part of me. He’s definitely on something and I start searching the side of his face for other signs of drug use.

‘’Here … want some?’’ Gino holds out a silver box to me, almost reading my mind and this time I can see I was right to be suspicious. Cocaine in a vessel for easy snorting. Both have been up here getting high and I just give him a long look as I try to figure out what sort of answer I should give.

Drugs are not my thing at all, but I have learned in the company of men high on it, that refusal just makes them agitated and suspicious. I would rather do a small line and make them relax around me than have an argument about not wanting to. I used enough drugs on the girls I pimped out to keep them timid and pliable but I avoided product myself to keep a clear head. Maybe now is not the time to refuse.

I reach out as Gino drops the metallic container in my hand, but Alexi takes it from me almost as soon as it hits my palm and throws it back at his brother aggressively, a frown enveloping his face. His eyes almost glowing with inhumane ability. Gino catches it expertly with fast reflexes.

‘’No!’’ It’s that icy tone again and Gino looks right back with a sinister twinkle of mischief. I however, am shocked at the instant refusal, especially coming from someone who pushes and uses product like he does, yet he suddenly doesn’t want me to do it. I know Alexi uses it socially from time to time.