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“Well, she’s still not speaking to me, so not good,” I reply. “But I am hopeful that eventually she’ll remember all the times I covered for her when she snuck out of the house when we were teenagers and forgive me.”
My words are light and teasing but the truth is my sister’s silence is bothering me. So much. Xander convinces me to give him the grand tour so we walk through the hallways, with me pointing out each room. Two living rooms, a long dining hall that we typically don’t use, especially now that my sister doesn’t live here anymore. We have an extensive library, which used to be my happy place when I was much younger, a home theatre, a game room, and staff quarters towards the back of the house. And a basement, that I don’t show Xander because I’m worried there could be dried blood or something unsavory clinging to the walls. We don’t use it anymore considering we have our headquarters, but when I was a child I would sometimes hear screams coming up from there.
By the time we’re done touring the house, I’m exhausted. We arrive in the area that contains my family’s bedrooms. Xander’s gaze strays to a particular brown door that has my heart rate speeding up. I see curiosity light up in his eyes and grab his hand.
“Come on, I’ll show you my room,” I tell him, directing him away from the room at the end of the hallway. The room none of us have been able to enter for more than two decades.
I open my bedroom door with a flourish and we walk in. “This is the room I grew up in,” I say. “I’ve redecorated it a lot over the years as I grew up but it’s my safe space.”
He looks around, eyes resting on the desk cluttered with papers and books before moving towards the closet door and then coming to rest on my bed. It’s been made up, I let the help in to clean every morning. I just never let them touch my desk because I don’t want them disrupting my work. His eyes linger on my bedside table and he walks over, picking up one of the picture frames. There are three. One of me when I was a child, one of me and Sophia when we were teens and then one with our dad.
“You were adorable,” Xander says with a grin as he studies the picture of me.
“Of course I was.”
While he continues his snooping, I lie back on the bed, my gaze going up to the ceiling. I’m actually feeling really good right now. Because we’re actually doing it. Apart from that moment in the kitchen which we managed to fight against, I’d say we’re doing quite well at being friends.
“It probably wasn’t such a good idea for you to bring me in here, princess,” Xander suddenly says.
When I look at him, I find his gaze fixed on my legs. Specifically the exposed part that’s showing due to my dress riding up. The look in Xander’s eyes is hungry. They’re dark and filled with so much desire, my breath hitches.
It’s dangerous and so enticing, I feel my mouth dry. I spoke too soon about doing well at being friends.
“Why not?” I ask, sliding off my bed and moving to stand in front of him.
Bad idea, a voice whispers in my mind. I ignore it.
Xander looks at me and his expression twists in a combination of frustration and desire.
“You know why.”
I shake my head, lowering my voice. “Actually, I have no clue.”
When he takes a step towards me, I take one back. The last act of preservation I can manage. Xander’s faster though, wrapping an arm around my waist to pull me back. I gasp as I find myself pressed against his chest.
“I want to do so many things to you when we’re alone, Katerina. And us being in your bedroom isn’t helping matters. Do you want to know what I’m thinking about right now?”
I should probably so no. But I am a weak, weak woman in the face of him.
“Yes. Tell me,” I breathe.
“I’m wondering just how many nights you’ve lain awake unable to sleep. How many nights you succumbed and decided to slide your fingers between your folds. Played with your clit, brought yourself to the brink. The more possessive part of my brain is wondering who was on your mind the entire time.”
I swallow softly at the vivid imagery he’s painted. He has no idea how right he is. I’m hit with the feeling that he was right here with me. All those lonely nights.
“Maybe I wasn’t alone,” I whisper suggestively.
His jaw tightens and his expression darkens with rage.
“I really don’t want to hear that, princess.”
“Relax. I said maybe. The truth is, you’re right. I have lain awake on my bed, alone and I’ve touched myself, several times. But the truth is, every single time I’ve done it. You’ve being on my mind. Only you,” I confess.
Xander swallows, his throat flexing with the movement.
“Show me,” he says in an undertone.
“What?” I blink in confusion.
