Page 73 of Fractured Ties

A beat of betrayal, really.

He had to be able to feel her heartbeat, touching her like he was. So he would know just by that alone how much his presence affected her. Maya wasn’t sure if she liked that or not. This whole fucking thing between them—whatever it was—was one big conundrum for her.

She felt his fingertips press into her pulse point, and then just as quickly, released the pressure without a word. Yet, his hand remained right where it was, and Maya didn’t really mind all that much.

“I’m a … a mudak,” he said gruffly.

Maya tipped her head back and stared up at him, although she found he was staring straight out over the balcony of the veranda. “An asshole, I know.”

Kolya’s lips twitched at the corners like he was considering smiling. How much effort did it take, she wondered, to keep one’s self from smiling when a person felt the need? And how sad was it that she noticed he did that very thing all too often for her liking?

“I don’t mean to be an asshole.” Kolya’s lip curled back in a half-sneer and he glanced down at her to add, “At least, not to you, dushka.”

“Again with that,” she said shaking her head.

Kolya did smile that time—slow, and sly. “And yet, you still are.”

“Hmm?”

“My dushka. I’m sorry for earlier.”

Maya nodded.

What else could she do?

“Anton called—Sumerki will be back in a half hour or so.”

Maya smiled. “He’s okay, then?”

“Maybe I overreacted about him.”

“Maybe?”

“You’re not getting more than that.”

She laughed and patted his hand on her neck. “It’s okay to be scared, Kolya.”

“It isn’t, actually. Not in my business or family. I don’t expect you to understand, Maya, and I hope you don’t have to learn, either.”

He turned to head back inside through the sliding doors, but Maya grabbed tightly to Kolya’s hand still grazing her neck before he could stop touching her entirely. His next step hesitated, and he looked back at her. Maya was already staring up at him.

“Kolya?”

“Yes, dushka?”

He wasn’t going to let that go.

She didn’t mind so much.

“Spasibo,” she whispered.

“What are you thanking me for?”

Maya squeezed her smaller fingers around his much larger hand. “For letting me come to you, Kolya.”

He quirked one brow high.

She shrugged.