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She linked her arm through mine and pulled me toward a line of market stalls.
“I love fairs,” she said with a forlorn expression. “My mom used to take me all the time before I got sick.” Her eyes brightened when we got to a shooting range.
She gave me a challenging look. “You do know winning a stuffed bear for the woman you’re with at a fair is like a rite of passage, right?”
She always had these outrageous claims which were based on nothing. I didn’t point that out though. She was enjoying this, and so was I. It didn’t occur often that we were out on the town, just the two of us. We probably shouldn’t be here today, either. A ton of work waited for me at home, yet nothing was as alluring as this woman on my arm. Which was all the more reason I should stay away from her, but after these last few tense weeks, I was glad we were back on somewhat normal terms again.
“I’m a traditionalist.” I pulled out a wad of cash. The guy behind the stall immediately pushed a gun into my hand.
Katya patted my shoulder and smiled sweetly. “Now, don’t get discouraged if you fail the first round. I’ve heard it isn’t like shooting with a real gun.”
Her tone dripped with condescension.
“I bet I can win you a bear in one round.”
Another pat on the shoulder. “Sure you can.”
“What will you give me if I—” I stopped mid-sentence. Damn, fuck, the wrong way to go about it. I knew what I really wanted from her.
Judging by her blush, she knew as well. How could she not? When I closed my eyes at night, lying alone in my bed, I still tasted her on my tongue. Even during the day, sometimes in the middle of a meeting, I pictured her naked and lying on her bed. Her legs spread, showing me her pretty pussy, ready for me to pound.
Blyat, I was going there again. To that dark, hot place, the danger zone that could ruin everything.
I aimed, shot, and her jaw dropped.
Katya blinked. “What, were you a born hitman or something?”
She looked disappointed. Both she and the man at the booth who handed her a pink stuffed bear.
“Your mom wasn’t the only mother who took her kid out to fairs.”
She hugged her bear. “I bet this is the first time you won a stuffed bear for a woman.”
“Actually, it’s the second time.”
“Oh?” Her eyes softened. “Was it for your mom?”
The thought made me scoff. “My mother was a better shot than I was back then. If anyone could win a prize at a fair, it would’ve been her, not me.”
She linked her arm through mine and started for the food stalls. “Then who?”
“Oksana.” I hadn’t thought about her in ages. The kind-eyed girl who had a smile for everyone. She had been the only warm spot in icy Siberia.
“Who’s that?”
There was a hint of ire in her voice. I liked it, even though I had no right to want her to be possessive of me. Not when I had no intention of claiming her. Not while every day she was with me, I was digging her grave.
“A girl in Russia.”
“Was she your girlfriend?”
“She was a girl. And a friend.” And my first crush.
Katya sighed in exasperation. “I can’t believe you’re making me drag this out of you.”
I got her something from a food vendor, hoping she’d let go of the matter. If I stuffed her mouth with fries, she wouldn’t have time for more questions.
“Well?” she asked, while putting ketchup on her fries. “You know I’m not going to let this go.”
