They stopped kissing, but still Roman held her. Anya could feel that his body was broader, more primed, and she ached ⦠simplyachedfor himâfor the years he had denied her his touch, his body.
She should tell him to go. Now was her chance to do just that.
Roman knew, too, that he should leave instead of resurrecting them.
Once, their eyes said. Just this once.
Their bodies could kiss the other goodbye.
Without a word he went and turned the key in the door.
He was back.
For their closing night.
Irresistible Russian Tycoons
Sexy, scandalous and impossible to resist!
Daniil, Roman, Sev and Nikolai have come a long way from the Russian orphanage they grew up in. These days the four sexy tycoons dominate the worldâs stageâand they are just as famed for their prowess between the sheets!
Untamed and untouched by emotion, can these ruthless men find women to redeem them?
You wonât want to miss these sizzling Russians in this sensational quartet from
USA TODAY bestselling author Carol Marinelli
Available only from Mills & Boon Modern Romance!
Find out where it all started in
The Price of His Redemption December 2015
The Cost of the Forbidden January 2016
Billionaire Without a Past May 2016
CHAPTER ONE
EVERY TIME SHE danced it was for him.
It was the closing night in London of the spectacular ballet Firebird.
The last time she had been here, Anya had gone from being one of the princesses and an understudy to dancing the leading role.
Now, due to popular demand, the stunning ballet was back.
It was Tatania, Anyaâs stage persona, the gathering audience had come to see.
The theatre was packed and Anya had been told that there was a duchess in the audience tonight; yet Anya would dance only for him.
For Roman Zverev.
Her first and only love.
Apart from ballet.
The hours of practice and absolute self-control, the rigorous preparations and the endless reach for perfection Anya did for herself.
Yet, when she danced, it was always for him.
Now she had her own dressing-room. Like most performers, Anya was swathed in superstition and her dressing table was prepared like an altar. It was filled with tiny trinkets she had gathered over the years and specific make-up and brushes that were all neatly arranged.
She had warmed up. Her feet were bandaged and her pointe shoes had been broken inâthere were other pairs ready if needed. She had already scraped her straight brown hair into a tight high bun and whitened her face. Carefully, and with great precision, she applied the black and gold make-up that enhanced her pale green eyes.
Everything was done to order.
Now, as she was given the half-hour call, she took a drink of coconut water and slowly ate half a banana. The other half of the banana she carefully wrapped and would eat during the interval, along with a small chocolate treat.
Anya loved chocolate.
It reminded her of Roman.
After she had eaten, Anya dabbed her mouth and then she put on her headpiece of red and gold feathers. She carefully secured it, checking it over and over. Happy that it was firmly in place, she painted her lips crimson and then called for the costume manager.
She slipped off her silk robe and stepped into her costume. The tight-fitting bodice was a deep red with orange and gold appliqué and the ten-layered tutu was adorned with silk feathers.
Anya raised her arms as the concealed zipper was closed. The costume fitted perfectly and showed the long slender lines of her arms and legs.
Out in the real world, her tiny frame drew stares and whispers because Anya was so very thin, and yet that tiny body was a powerhouse of lean muscle and she was incredibly fit.
Oh, every single day, she worked for it. Hours of training and rehearsal and rigorous self-control meant that her body could perform feats most others could only dream of. Yet, despite her command on the stage, right now she shivered with nerves as the ten-minute call came and the costume manager did a final check.
Now she was Tatania, her stage persona.
âMerde!â the costume manager saidâthe dance equivalent of âBreak a legââand Tatania nodded but did not respond because her teeth were chattering too much.
She wrapped a heavy silk shawl, one that she had bought for her mother, around her bare arms and shoulders.
Her mother, Katya, had been a single mum and a cook in a Russian orphanage. She had died recently but had lived to see her daughter reach these heights and for that Anya was grateful. Katya had had a vision for her daughter long before Anya had.