CHAPTER 40- MORE THAN AN APOLOGY

                                    

                                          

              Her breath caught in her throat as her eyes locked with the Man's body. His body was a landscape of honed strength, carve in muscle and shadows, each line defined and unforgiving. 
                 His chest was a broad plane over a body that looked like it had been forced for battle. Well actually, it was. Rigidly built, everything about him was screaming hard masculinity. She should stop moping like a dummy but no, there she stood, frozen in place.
                
"If you were going to stare...." His voice brought her back from her lost state. "....all you had to do was ask, nicely." He'd caught her. Fully aware of her slip of composure.
Mockery.
She deserved it afterall. "No—I'm sorry—I didn't—Diane stretched the fabric out to him, spreading it open with both her hands, looking away so she couldn't see him anymore. "Here, you can have it. I'm...sorry." 
                Shit! Why was she shaking so much. He moved to her and she could feel his hand closing on both her hands. He wasn't taking the robe? This day couldn't get any worse.
"I deserve an apology, wouldn't you agree?"
Damn it! Just take the damn thing already. "I'm sorry." She whimpered. Embarrassment crumbling her nerves one by one. 
"Do the honors." He said.
"What?" She turned to meet his eyes or rather his arms spread open. He couldn't be serious. But there was nothing unserious about the look in his eyes.
                With a frustrated grunt, she flipped the robe over his shoulders as he pulled his arms into them. She covered his torso with the fabric, reaching down his knees and then pulling the sash over his waist and tightening it around them. Done!
             Who was she kidding? She thought as she stared down at his now covered, torso. The image of every inch of him burned into her memory like a searing brand. Her cheeks flushed as she tried to look away, but a strong pull on her arm brought her tumbling hard into his chest. He was just as hard as he looked. Down to earth, Diane.
             She kept staring into his chest, refusing to meet his eyes, dying of embarrassment was very possible at this moment. Lifting her chin with his finger, he brought her face to his. 
             She was so full of colour, he was laughing inside. From the way, she was fidgeting, he could tell she just had the shock of her life and holding her this close must be suffocating.
"That's not all the apologizing you'll be doing today, tiger."
"What? I didn't—
Her voice trailed off, lost in those dark unyielding eyes staying locked in here with the faintest curve at his lips. 
                   Russo reached down, brushing her lower lip with his big thumb just like he had did earlier that morning. Only this time, he wasn't wiping away drool. No, he was preparing those lips for something else. The feel of his hand on her lips, suddenly felt harsh. She felt the burn of it deep? Sending a shiver down her spine.
                She gulped down the nervousness down her throat as he slowly brought his lips closer to hers. He wasn't in any rush, as if giving her the time to reconsider and he was but she was held spellbound like she never thought she would and the moment, her lips gave the slightest part, His hand slid to the back of her neck as he pulled her closer to him, smashing his lips against hers.
Oh fuck!
                     
                 His kiss lingered, long and hard and demanding. Like a man deprived and enraged. Well, if he had been deprived, then he was just realizing, all thanks to her. She was not taking him very well. Russo noticed. Almost as if she was struggling to keep with his pace and she kept slipping in rhythm. First kiss?
   
                 She could hear him chuckle lightly against her lips. Did he find out? What was she even doing? Engaging so intimately with this Man that she hated so much. This same Man that saw to her father's death. This Man that sacrificed his life for hers at the underground bunker. This Man that took her out of prison? 
                Her heart warmed oddly as she recalled how good he had also been to her.  This same Man that had pulled her back into the army when she left. This same Man that had a stature of her father currently under construction in the heart of the city just so he could prove how sorry he was. 
             Maybe giving Russo Fedorcenko her first kiss wasn't the worse decision she had ever made but what would this mean for them? It didn't look like either of them were willing to take anything farther than it never was. What would be their status in and out of the military. What would the others says? 
             He pulled away and disappointment flashed through her eyes. He noticed. He wasn't any different. He could never get enough even if he tried and the fact that she felt the same made him want to throw her over his shoulders, cast her in gold dust and keep her sitting in the middle of his living room as a trophy. 
           The thought brought a small smirk to his lips as he realized that there was no way this fierce little tigress was ever gonna stay put. She might be acting a little shaken up now but he could bet his estate that all she needed was a few more minutes to get back in character.
"You've got somewhere to be?" Russo asked. His voice low but still deep enough to reverberate into her ears, settling down in her chest.
"W-what?" Diane asked, blinking rapidly as she backed away.
"I'm leaving in a few minutes. If you've got somewhere to be, let me know. I'll drop you off."
"Hmm...." She smacked her lips, the feeling of a few minutes ago, refusing to die down. Act natural. "....yes. I don't...I mean yes, I do." She awkwardly reached for the door, pulling the handle in a hurry, she felt the heat of his gaze pouring on her back as she scurried out of the room. 
               Diane let out a sigh of relief immediately she was out but she was too loud, he could hear her from inside. Making him realize that every single thing she did, never ceased to amuse him.  In a few minutes, Russo had changed out of the robe into the clothes he had been wearing the night before. 
             He walked outside and waited for what seemed like an eternity in his car. He was starting to wonder if she would even come out of the house. He bet she was inside, cringing her eyes shut and saying silent words of affirmation as she braced herself up to meet with his face.
 Why were women like this?
               Whatever! He didn't mind her in any state. Bold and composed or shy and clumsy. Although, he had been used to the first two, seeing the last two would be a treat. 
            The sound of the front door opening, brought him out of his thoughts. She walked up to the car, in a casual brown dress that stopped just on her knees. She was holding a basket full of bright red apples that made him stop at a conclusion that she might just turn out to be some sort of fairy in disguise and the next thing in her other hand was a small, equally brown purse. She opened the door and got in.
"I'm sorry, I took awhile. Couldn't find my earrings."
"Turned out to be worth it."
Diane flashed him a scowl. He ignored but smiled internally. She was back in character and honestly, he didn't know which side of her he preferred the most.
Tigeress or cub?