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Sighing, I stepped over him and picked up the bottle, setting it on the coffee table. I righted the end table and picked up the lamp and other items that had fallen off the top. Before I could shove the couch back into position, Marek woke up and walked over to the coffee table on his knees, snatching the empty bottle. Frowning, he shook it before lobbing it across the living room at the loveseat, not even acknowledging that I was there.
“Rough morning?” I asked.
He sprawled out on his back, covering his face with one hand. I thought he was ignoring me, like usual, or trying to avoid Nadia as she sniffed at him when he began to tremble and sucked in a sharp breath.
Kneeling next to him, I pulled his hand from his face, my gaze sweeping over his body, trying to locate the source of his pain. “What happened?”
Tears streaked across his face as he threw himself forward into a sitting position. I thought he was going to shove me away or run out of the room but he pivoted and buried his face against my shoulder.
I blinked, swallowing my surprise. Stroking the back of his head gently, I lowered my mouth closer to his ear. “Whatever it is, it’ll be ok.”
“No, it won’t.”
“Tell me what happened.”
He lifted his head, his dark, glassy eyes meeting mine, framed with damp lashes. “Crystal came with the cops and took the kids.”
“Oh.”Fuck!
He looked so heartbroken. All I wanted to do was take his pain away as quickly as possible, but how could I? Short of murdering his mother, the only other option was a lengthy legal battle. Except lawyers cost money and after what happened with Axel, I doubted he’d be open to any more assistance from me. Nor would he be receptive to a bundle of money on the welcome mat or a lawyer pitching up, claiming they’d do the work pro bono. No, he was too smart for that sort of thing. I’d have to find another way, but I had no idea where to even start for a situation like this.
“I’ll help you in any way I can,” I said, since there wasn’t anything bettertosay.
“Thank you,” he whispered. His gaze dropped to my mouth and stayed there for far too long.
“Marek…”
He didn’t heed the warning in my voice. Leaning forward, he pressed his mouth to mine softly. The vodka lingering on his lips served as a further testament to his inebriation.
And yet, I didn’t push him away.
Part of me told myself rejecting him would only cause more hurt, do more harm to his already fragile sense of self-worth. But the larger part simply didn’t want to. Iwantedto kiss him. I’d wanted to kiss him from the moment I laid eyes on him. I wanted to see how long I could hold on to his searing intensity before I burned up completely.
But I also offered my help without strings attached. I’d told him time and again, none of what I did was so I could turn around and demand sexual favors. I meant it. Truly.
So as much as Ididn’twant to, I pulled my lips away from his, caressing his face to soften the declination. “Marek…”
It didn’t slow him down. Shifting closer, he nuzzled into the side of my neck. He pressed kisses there and along my throat, only pausing when he got to my shirt collar. Pulling it to the side, he carried on, brushing his lips over my clavicle and shoulder.
Sighing, I tipped my head back, my self-control crumbling with each kiss. “Marek… please.”
“I like the way you say my name,” he breathed against my chest. I hadn’t even noticed he’d been unbuttoning my shirt the whole time. His other hand, meanwhile, tugged the hem upward, freeing it from being tucked in and allowing him to slip his hand inside.
“I’m saying it so you’ll stop,” I said, trying to ignore the feeling of his hands moving over my skin, leaving fiery trails everywhere they went.
“Why? You don’t want me?” He lifted his head, cocking it as he studied my face, his dark eyes dull. “If you really don’t want me, then why am I here?”
I ran my hand along the side of his head, gripping the base of his skull gently. “Idowant you, but not like this. And not right after I offer help.”
“But this is the only way I can repay you. I told you. I don’t have anything.”
“You don’t have to sell yourself to me,” I said, as gently as I could. We’d danced around the subject for too long as it was. And as much as I appreciated his offer, I didn’t want it if it came from a sense of obligation.
He jerked backward, his face twisting in a grimace as if I’d cleaved him in two. I didn’t know the reason for his reaction—if it was because I turned him down or because I finally acknowledged, out loud, that I knew about the prostitution.
While I fumbled for the right words to soothe the situation, racking my brain for something that he couldn’t warp with disparagement, panic flashed through his eyes. They darted to and fro, looking for an escape. Touching his forehead, he pushed himself to a standing position. He wobbled as he turned, practically tripping over his own feet as he headed toward the door.
I stood quickly and chased after him. Hooking my fingers around his elbow, I pulled him back toward me. “Marek, wait. Stay. Please?”
