“What was that about?” she asked casually.
“Nothing that concerns you.”
“You haven’t found my sister?”
“Nope.” He gave her a careless, charming smile. Lying to her. Lying to her face! “You’ve almost got the clutch down. Ready for more?”
She didn’t move. “I studied Russian in school,” she ground out. “For six years.”
His expression changed.
“You found Bree,” she whispered, hands clenching at her sides. “She was on Oahu. And you didn’t want me to know.”
Kasimir stared at her, then resentfully gave a single nod.
Closing her eyes, Josie took a deep breath as grief filled her heart. “She was on Oahu. All the time we were there, we could have just driven across the island at any time and picked her up?”
“If we’d gone the moment you arrived at my penthouse—yes.” Her eyes flew open. His cold blue gaze met hers. “We weren’t married then. You could have walked away. I had no reason to tell you.”
With a little cry, Josie leapt towards him. She pounded on his chest. “You bastard!”
He didn’t move, or try to protect himself. “I don’t blame you for being angry,” he said softly.
“So that’s why you brought me here?” Wide-eyed, she staggered back. “Damn you,” she whispered. “How selfish can you be?”
He looked at her. “You already know the answer to that, or else you’re a fool.”
But she was. She was a fool, because she’d believed in his compliments and lies! Turning on her heel, she started to walk away.
He grabbed her wrist, turning her to face him. “Where do you think you’re going?”
“To St. Petersburg,” she flashed. “To save her, since you won’t!”
“And just how do you intend to do that?” He sounded almost amused. “With no money and nothing to barter?”
She tossed her head. “Perhaps your brother is interested in trading for his old family homestead!”
She heard his ragged intake of breath. “You couldn’t do that.”
“Why not? It’s mine now. Thanks for marrying me.”
His hand tightened on her wrist. “That land belongs to me—”
“I signed a prenup, remember? It protected all your possessions and fortune you brought into our marriage. But it also protected mine!”
His blue eyes were like fire. “You—you, the last honest woman—would try to steal my land? And give it to my brother?”
“Why not? You stole my first kiss!” she cried, trembling all over. She looked away, blinking fast. “It should have been something special, something I shared with someone I loved, or might love someday. And you ruined it!” She turned on him fiercely. “You lied to my face from the moment I came back to Honolulu. You won’t go save Bree until you legally get my land? You say you can’t trust me? Fine!” She tossed her head. “Maybe I won’t trust you, either!”
His expression was dark, even murderous. “Yes. I lied to you about your sister’s whereabouts. And yes, kissing you was a mistake.” His grip on her wrist tightened as he looked down at her. “But don’t act like a traumatized victim,” he ground out. “You enjoyed our kiss. Admit it.”
“What?” She tried to pull away. “Are you crazy?”
He wrapped her in his arms, bringing her tight against his hard body. “Claim what you want. I know what I felt when you were in my arms,” he growled. “I felt your body tremble. You looked at me with those big eyes, holding your breath. Parting your mouth, licking your lips. Did you not realize you were giving me an invitation?” Cupping her face, he glared at her. “It is the same thing you are doing now.”
She swallowed, yanking her chin away as she closed her mouth with a snap. She blinked fast.
“Maybe I did want you to kiss me. Then,” she whispered. Wistfully, she looked towards the wrought-iron gate, towards the road to the Marrakech airport. “But I don’t anymore. All I want now is for you to let me go.”