This time her mouth popped open for an entirely different reason. “You wouldn’t.”

He raised that imperious eyebrow that was both sexy and infuriating. “You might like it.”

Given the tightening low in her belly and the way her thighs were clenched together, she was guessing she probably would. But then, he could probably recite the alphabet and give her an orgasm if he put his mind to it.

The email program on her laptop chimed the arrival of a new message, and the notification bar flashed a subject line entitled Who’s Using Who?

Odd.

And while the notification slid away before she could study the sender’s name completely, it didn’t look like one she recognized.

She pulled the laptop off of Kir’s lap and flipped to her email. At the top of her unread messages, the mysteriously titled email sat with the sender [email protected]. The text in the preview window below was limited.

Such a cozy couple. I wonder—is Kir using you to do his dirty work? Or are you using him for yours?

Be careful. You know what happened to Stephen Alfonsi.

Beneath the words was a picture of Cassie with Kir. A blurry one that had definitely been taken in a rush, but unquestionably while they’d been walking out of André’s the night before. She tried to zoom in for a better look, but before she could finish the motion, Kir pulled the computer from her lap.

“Who is this?” he demanded, scrolling from the top of the message to the image beneath.

“I have no idea. I’ve never received anything from anyone with that email address.”

He scrolled back to the top, studied the words written for all of another ten seconds, then snapped the laptop shut and stood. “Get dressed.”

“What? Why?” It was curiosity more than any desire that made her follow him to her bedroom. “Do you know them?”

He snagged his phone, punched a few options, then cradled the device between his ear and shoulder and started getting dressed. Whoever he was calling answered in less than two rings, but they couldn’t be enjoying the call because the clipped string of Russian words flying out of his mouth didn’t sound friendly at all. Pants, shirt and belt already on, he snatched his socks and shoes off the floor and sat on the edge of the bed. She couldn’t tell what the party on the other end was saying, but Kir’s gaze cut to her and he responded to them with a guttural Nyet.

Okay, so something was a very firm no. And from the determination etched on his face, she had a funny feeling her morning wasn’t going to be as lazy and enjoyable as she’d expected it to be fifteen minutes ago.

Eyes still on her, he finished putting on his last shoe, nodded and muttered a final sentence in Russian. He ended the call and stood. “You will pack. Now.”

She heard the words.

Comprehended them at the most basic level.