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"Do not concern yourself with that. You looked like you were struggling yesterday with something. I wanted to be there for you, even if it was just for you to sleep."
I frowned, half grateful, half confused. What kind of wife was Katja for not tracking her husband down, let alone letting him sleep somewhere else? It made no sense to me.
"What time is it?" I asked.
Kova glanced at his wrist. I had the sudden urge to go to him and sit on his lap. I wanted to burrow myself into his warmth, feel our bare chests pressed together, and go back to sleep.
"It is almost five," he said.
Reaching above his head, he stretched his arms behind him. The Olympic rings tattoo I loved so much on his ribs contracted with each pull and shift of his fit body. He watched me watch him. I didn't think I'd ever grow tired of staring at him.
"How does your back feel?"
I thought about the agony I was in yesterday and if I felt the same this morning. I offered him a small smile. "It's okay. Not nearly as bad as before."
My bladder was about to burst as I sat up. "I need to get going… I have my appointment today that I can't be late for." I yawned again. "I can't believe how long I slept. I feel like I could sleep until tomorrow."
Kova nodded and stood, the cracking of his knees echoed throughout his office. He turned around and laced his fingers together behind his head and stretched once more. I lusted after his muscular back as it flexed with power, then I dropped my gaze to the two little dimples above his butt. Konstantin Kournakova was a walking, breathing Russian god. The urge to wrap myself around him was even stronger now, but I glanced away and slipped his shirt on.
"It's freezing in here. Aren't you cold?"
"No," he said through light laughter. "You do not know cold until you have been to Russia. It is bitter there."
A tired smile formed on my face. He was probably right. "Do you miss it?"
"Miss what?"
"Russia."
Looking into my eyes, he contemplated his answer. "Yes. I have not been back in a very long time. I would love to go back sometime in the near future, just not to live."
"Why not to live?" I asked, curious.
He rolled his bottom lip between his teeth before answering me. "There is nothing there for me anymore. Everything I want is right here."
My stomach sank to the floor, a sign to get moving.
Gymnastics. Katja. Me. Possibly in that order.
I felt like this was another one of those push questions, and I wasn't up for that, just like I hadn’t been earlier. There were too many likelihoods and not enough energy left to handle them.
He must've sensed my indecision, because he continued.
"Let me rephrase. Everything I want is right here in this room."
All the air left my lungs. I blinked a few times then stood up with my duffle bag in hand. I shot a quick prayer up to God to slow down my pounding heart.
"I'll see you tomorrow. Thank you for everything," I said, and added a small smile to seal my words.
He nodded. "Hang on. Let me give you something."
My forehead furrowed in wonder as I watched Kova unlock his filing cabinet and reach all the way to the back behind all the folders.
My lips parted over what he produced.
"Read it later."
Thirteen
