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Catching on, she glared at him. When a chuckle slipped out of him, she swatted his arm.
“You just want to kiss me because you know I taste like candy,” she said flirtatiously, shocking herself with her own boldness.
The lights dimmed then, and the curtain started to rise, calling her attention to the stage. Konstantin pulled her close and kissed her deeply, making the arm of the seat dig into her side and her toes curl in her shoes. Just as quickly, he let her go as though it had all been her imagination. She stared up at him, the rest of the theatre turning more or less invisible.
“Cherry,” he observed casually. “Now watch the show and quit being distracting.”
* * *
As they walked through the dark streets after the show, Varushka trotted beside him, clinging to his arm, excited about everything they’d seen.
“That poor woman! I can’t believe the stories made her seem evil. She was so brave and kind.”
The sound of their shoes on the sidewalk echoed against the buildings. It was surprising how only a block or two away from the busy theatre district the streets were quiet and almost deserted.
“The difference between good and evil often depends on your point of view. Most of the world isn’t one or the other.”
“That’s not true.” She shook her head at him in disapproval. Had he already forgotten so much? “The church tells us which is which.”
The corners of Konstantin’s mouth twitched upward, but the smile didn’t reach his eyes. “Yes, it does. Then we decide what to do with that information.”
It was a dangerous idea, to think for herself, but living here she was starting to question so many things she used to take for granted. She nodded at him, not wanting to say something else that made her seem stupid and backward. So many things that came out of her mouth made her sound so naive when she was around him. How long until she was as worldly and confident as he was? Would she ever be?
She hummed the tune for the song “Popular” and Konstantin wrapped his arm around her shoulder. A warm feeling spread through her. Even though they’d walked around town through the heat of the day, he still smelled sexy. She was tempted to burrow into his shirt.
“Were you popular in school?” he asked.
“I’m not bad enough to be popular. Although, when I go to retrain at the college here in the fall I’ll be a lot less good if I’m not careful. The girls I went to school with in the city went out to clubs and ran with boys. I was trying to deserve the chance you gave me.” She shook her head. “It’s so funny how I used to idolize you. I thought you were like some sort of saint to give money like you do. But you’re as bad as Sergei Sokolov.”
He grimaced at her comically. “Who?”
“Sergei Sokolov. Just a boy. He tried to kiss me when I was fifteen. I smacked him.”
Konstantin sighed. “Did you tease him with candy like you do with me?”
A laugh burbled out of her. “I was not teasing you.”
“You’re going to tell me you didn’t mean to tempt me with the way you were sucking on that lollipop?” He had the look in his eyes again that said she was on dangerous ground and might love what happened next if she wasn’t careful.
“I . . . maybe,” she admitted. “Not at first, but then I saw your face. It’s your fault for being fun to tease.”
“Mmm, so bratty. Someone needs a spanking.” He backed her against a car, and just as she was about to protest she realized it was his car. She hadn’t even noticed they’d reached it.
“I do?” Varushka felt her eyes widen and her cheeks go pink. The memory of the woman getting spanked at the club and Konstantin spanking her in the foyer merged in her head, making the heat between her legs even worse. What if he leaned her over the car and spanked her right there in the street?
Her breath came short and ragged. The way he looked at her was primal and filled with lust. She wanted to run, but she desperately wanted him to catch her.
The sound of a car door opening drew Konstantin’s attention from her. He pulled Varushka away from the car and pushed her behind him. Had they mistaken someone else’s car for his in the gloom?
She peeked out from behind Konstantin, feeling as safe as if she was hiding behind a concrete wall. A man emerged from the driver’s side, holding a case. He was tall and broad, with light-colored hair—handsome, but with an edge like Konstantin had a lot of the time. The parts of him she could see around his T-shirt were muscled and tattooed. Both of his ears were pierced. With the cocky smile, he looked like a pirate.
“Konstantin.”
“Fox.”
“Sorry, man. I had no idea what you were driving nowadays.”
Silence fell between them, but it seemed to be filled with so many unsaid words that it deafened her.
