Page 108

Fuck, I’m jealous of a pillow.

She stirs lightly, her fingers gripping my biceps as she buries her face in the crook of my neck, snuggling closer one last time before she opens her eyes, looking at me, a red tint marring her cheeks as she recalls last night happenings.

“Are you sore?” I ask her, my own voice hoarse.

“Good morning to you too.” She replies, getting up from the bed. Her fingers clutching tightly on the lapels of my jacket as if too shy to be naked around me.

It was too dark to see anything last night, and before I knew it, I was covering her with my clothes, not wanting her to catch a cold.

But now, I want to see her naked.

“I fucked this body senseless and you’re still hiding it from me?” I argue, my head resting on my arm as I unabashedly and unapologetically devour her with my eyes. “Remove it.” I demand but she’s already shaking her head.

“I should go.” She says instead. “I’ll make myself scarce.” What the fuck is she on about?

“Elara.” I rush towards her and grab her hand before she can walk away. “We fucked and we’re gonna keep fucking until you get it into your pretty little head that I’m never letting you go.”

If I see regret in her eyes one more time, I’m going to poke myself with burning hot iron in the eyes.

She opens her mouth and closes it, and again and again, words seem to fail her.

“Don’t reduce it to a mistake, malyshka.” My voice is pleading, my words holding all the meaning in every sense.

I didn’t fucking die every night for the past three years just to let her go.

“I know.” Her voice barely reaches me. “But I can’t possibly stay.” She explains in a low voice like I’m a fucking dimwit.

Silence crashes down between us. I set her with a firm glare. She’s eyeing me warily and almost yelps when I lift her feet off the ground and throw her body on the bed, then she finally shrieks.

“Sergei.” And the sound directly reaches my dick.

“Louder, baby. It’s making me hard.” I growl, burying my face in her neck as I tower over her frame. Her hands frantically clutching the jacket close to her body.

“The c-curtains.” She tells me, nodding towards them. “Close them.”

I squint my eyes trying to get a read on her. Does she—

“Do you hate your body?” The way she berates herself, the way she always tells me to turn the lights off, why is she not letting me see all of her?

“What? No.” She scoffs. “Stop asking stupid questions, Sergei. It’s just sex, no need to pry into my life.” She trails off, her eyes darting towards the window.

I want to tell her it’s not. It’s not just sex.

But I don’t want to scare her off, she’s not ready for all of me. Not yet.

I nod once, reaching forward to grab the remote controller that soon shrouds the room in darkness, little to no light peeking through the now closed curtains.

When I turn my face to look at her, she’s covered her body with the comforter and I simply raise a questioning brow.

When she doesn’t speak, I get up, walk past the bathroom, not turning my back to her as I go and tug a black T-shirt over my shoulder.

Two can play this game. If she’s hiding herself from me, well, I’m nothing if not petty. Actually, scratch that.

I’m the pettiest bastard to ever exist. If pettiness were an Olympic sport, I’d have enough gold medals to bankrupt the committee.

She scoffs when I stand before her, a slight smile tipping at the corner of her lips. Probably mocking my pettiness, but ask me if I give a fuck.

I actually do.