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7
Ihave to hand it to Aslanov. He sure knows how to clear a room.
After Cain and Abe leave, the silence stretches between me and Aslanov like elastic pulled taut and ready to snap at any minute.
I turn to face him and watch as his eyes rove up my bare legs, taking in his dress shirt before moving up to my face with unconcealed lust.
“Care to explain?”
“Explain what?” He’ll have to be more specific. A lot has happened in the few hours since I last saw him.
He steps closer, invading my personal space, but he doesn’t touch me.
“The fact that you are all practically fucking naked,” he all but snarls.
This man is a walking contradiction because he isn’t acting the way he should. He isn’t trying to hide his lust from me, and he isn’t trying to be discreet about it.
Edward Young went out of his way to hide the kind of predator he was, but Aslanov wears it on his sleeve for all to see. Part of me is grateful for it. I hate wading through lies, so I can appreciate an honest man even if he’s the villain.
The other part of me is nervous. I’m not a big fan of going off-script. Too many things can be left to interpretation, and when it comes to innocent or guilty, I like my sides to be marked clearly black or white. Gray areas are dangerous. Once I start to relate or empathize with a person, they become more than just my target.
“One of your lovely students poured hot soup all over me in the cafeteria. I’m surprised you haven’t heard about it yet. I figured not much gets past you.”
“I heard reports of a woman walking around naked, and somehow I suspected it was you.” He sighs, rubbing his hand over his face as if he’s tired.
“I wasn’t naked. I was wearing more than I would at the beach. And just saying, this happened in the middle of a crowded cafeteria and not a single faculty member stepped in to do anything.”
“Most are too worried about getting sued by rich parents for whatever infringements their precious child can come up with.”
“But not you?”
“Do I look like I give a fuck what people think?”
I shake my head. “Looks can be deceiving. I sure as hell wouldn’t have pegged you as a headmaster.”
“Honestly, it’s not where I thought I’d end up either. But despite what you may think, I care about these kids. Even the shithead ones. I know what it’s like to be part of a supposed family and yet you’re utterly isolated and alone. I’m not naïve, Miss Sinclair. I know I can’t save them all, especially from themselves, but I can save a few. And for right now, it’s enough. It has to be,” he adds quietly.
I don’t know him well enough to know how good his acting skills are, but that little speech seemed heartfelt to me. Maybe there is more to Dmitri Aslanov than I thought.
“A noble cause, even if you do seem to have a slightly odd method of attaining those results.”
He grins and, holy Jesus, my legs wobble.
My womb spasms, and I’m pretty sure if I listen hard enough, I can hear my ovaries singing “Here Comes the Bride.” Or maybe it’s “I Wanna Sex You Up.” One thing is clear: I need to get away from this man and his sex fog messing up my head. I have a job to do here, and that’s all that matters.
“So, I’m sleeping out here?”
His eyes turn heated once more. I have to force myself to stay still and not squeeze my legs together.
“Each of the four rooms has a sofa bed. You can use one of those, but I figured you’d be more comfortable out here until we can figure something else out. It’s only temporary. The fire marshal deemed the building you should have been staying in safe, so work can be done to clear it before renovations start.”
Okay, I guess I can roll with that except…
“You don’t think that’s going to be awkward when someone brings a girl home?” I ask, pretending I’m referring to the twins. But I’d be lying if I wasn’t thinking about him too.
God, I’m ridiculous. I need to get laid. Except I have gotten laid, but it meant nothing since—nope. Not going there right now.
“This house is off-limits to anyone who doesn’t live here unless they come to me for permission. There are no overnight stays, so you don’t have to worry about that.”
I shrug because what else can I say?
“Alright. Is there somewhere I can keep my things?”
“There is spare closet space in my room. You are welcome to use it. Most of the guys lock their rooms when they are not here, but I tend to leave mine open. You won’t have to worry about access.”
I nod, but he must take my silence as worry.
“I can have one of the sofa beds brought to one of the downstairs rooms if that will make you more comfortable.”
I wave him off, knowing that being closer to them will make it ten times easier to get the job done. In and out, Dulce. You’ve got this.
“It’s fine. I’m really not bothered where I sleep.”
“Good. I’ll arrange for bedding and essentials to be brought up. Is there anything else you need?”
“My luggage mostly. It’s still with security, hence the borrowed shirt.”
“I’ll give them a call and hurry them along. Now, you can’t go to the cafeteria looking like that, so I’ll order food. Any preferences?”
“Ah, no. I’m easy.”
His lip twitches before he walks to his room, calling over his shoulder. “Ask the boys if they want anything.”
“Right,” I mutter, heading toward bedroom one and knocking.
After a moment, a grumpy voice calls out, “What?”
“Aslanov is ordering food. Do you want something?”
He doesn’t reply and I realize after a few minutes he’s fucking ignoring me. Asshole.
I stomp to the other room and knock. Before I can open my mouth to speak, the door is yanked open, and I’m pulled inside.
“What the—”
I’m unceremoniously pushed onto the bed before I’m joined by a large body beside me.
