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“What are you doing?” I demanded, leaning away from him. I was still getting used to his presence, and that was much harder to do when he sat so close to me.
“If you’ve never dated anyone before, you’ll have to learn a few things.”
“I don’t need to learn anything, thank you,” I spat.
Alek grabbed my arm and pulled lightly, returning me to my upright position. His arm brushed against mine as we sat there.
“If you act uncomfortable around me, he’ll know. He’s looking for any excuse to call me out on my bullshit. Please, Lyra.”
His hand still lingered on my arm. “Fine,” I whispered. “What do you need me to do?”
“Well, first,” he said, “I need you to relax.” He grabbed my shoulders from behind and rubbed them lightly. I fought the urge to shudder each time his thumb moved across the bite wound. “Are you always so tense?”
“I’m not tense,” I argued.
“See? Right there. That’s you being tense. And stubborn.”
I opened my mouth to argue, but Alek’s thumbs found the perfect spot on my shoulders, digging lightly and massaging out the tension. “Much better,” he said after I shut my mouth. “Now lean back.”
I did what he ordered and leaned back, resting my head on the back of my couch. Alek adjusted his body to relax right next to me, resting his head parallel to mine.
“We’re making great progress,” he said.
“Really?” I teased. “You call this progress?”
He laughed quietly. “Step one is relaxing, just like you would if I weren’t here. We have to be comfortable around each other. You look like you’re hiding something when you’re so anxious.”
If only he knew.
“Fine,” I said. “I’ll try to relax in front of your father. What else?”
Alek lifted his left arm and rested it on the couch behind my head. I tried not to flinch at his movement but failed miserably. Alek took a long breath and leaned forward again, putting some much-needed space between us.
“I’m sorry,” I muttered. “You just caught me off-guard.”
His eyes snapped to mine. “Don’t apologize, Lyra. Don’t ever apologize for that.”
I swallowed but held his gaze. The longer I stared into his eyes, the more nerves I felt flooding my stomach.
Alek turned his body toward me and leaned forward just an inch. “You can trust me. I know I’m just the psycho demon you met at the bar who forced you into this deal, but I won’t hurt you. I’ll never hurt you.”
My heart pounded hard in my chest. “Okay,” I breathed.
“Do you believe me?” he asked.
I nodded.Yes. I so desperately wanted to believe him.
“I’m going to put my arm around you now,” he whispered.
I nodded again, letting him know I was ready this time.
Relax, Lyra,I told myself.It’s just Alek. It’s not like he’s seeing you naked or anything.
He’s touched you before.
Shit.That memory wasn’t helping me relax.
Alek’s arm found his way around my shoulders. He rested it there, letting me get used to the weight.
