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The other part propelled me forward, desperate to hold him and kiss away the marks I’d left behind. I laid beside him, half-covering his body with my own, and pressed my cheek to the back of his shoulder, trying to ignore the M tattoo and the scar beneath it. The rage at why it was there in the first place wouldn’t simmer, though, no matter how comforting it felt to lay with Marek in my arms, knowing he was safe and loved for however long he decided to stay.
I wasn’t sure how much time passed before he cleared his throat softly. “Misha?”
Dread exploded inside my chest. “Yes?”
“The whole ‘want’ thing that you do—what is that about?”
It wasn’t the question I thought he was going to ask but I was relieved nonetheless. I kissed his tattoo and moved along the curve of his shoulder to the nape of his neck. Resting my hand on his hip, covering the mark I left, I propped my chin on his shoulder so I could at least see part of his face. “I want you to be clear about your desires so there’s no confusion. If you tell me you want something, in no uncertain terms, I’ll move Heaven and Earth to get it for you.”
“Anything?”
“Anything scientifically, medically, and realistically possible.”
He chuckled quietly. “Fair enough. Does it work outside the bedroom, too?”
“Of course. What is it you want?”
“I want…” He bit his lower lip and rolled in my arms so he was lying on his back, gazing up at me. Shaking his head suddenly, he looked away. “It’s stupid. Never mind.”
“What?” I brushed my thumb along his cheekbone, like I could sweep away the flush in his skin and rid him of the embarrassment. “Please tell me.”
He worried his lip before relenting. “I’ve been thinking… I kinda want to go on a date. But can you even…dothat? Or is that not an option?”
“You mean Sergei?” I raised my brows at him.
“Yeah. The ‘gay shit’ thing.”
Lips twitching in thought, I ran through the risk assessment quickly. “It’s a very large city. As long as we left Ukrainian Village, it shouldn’t be a problem.”
“Is that something you’d evenwantto take a chance on?”
“I’d risk everything to make you happy.”
He rolled his eyes and shook his head, turning his face away. If he was trying to hide the new blush on his cheeks, he failed. “People don’t say stuff like that.”
“I do,” I murmured, kissing the pink tinge as it flushed deeper. Sliding my arm under his neck and wrapping the other around his waist, I pulled him closer, bound and determined to make him see how amazing he was, one compliment at a time.
He smiled and laid a hand on my chest, his fingers splayed in a poor attempt at pushing me backward. “I’m trying to talk to you.”
“I’m listening,” I said, dragging my fingertips up and down his arm.
“Well, now I forgot what I was going to say.”
“I’m sure you’ll remember.” I leaned forward to kiss him properly when he pressed a finger to my lips.
“Ah! I remember now. Gay shit.”
I kissed his finger, keeping my gaze on him, waiting for him to express the remainder of his thought.
“Iwantto go on a date—a date thatIplan.Andpay for. And all the other things that go along with a real date between normal people.”
A soft smile stretched across my face, a fraction of the elation I truly felt. If he wanted to plan dates, then he wasn’t leaving. He wasn’t running away. He was staying. With me.
As much as it chagrined me to take a step back in regard to planning anything, for him I would.
“Tell me when and where,” I said.
When he smiled, my whole world aligned. Because Ididlove him. Unreservedly. And I would move Heaven and Earth to see him smile like that for the rest of his life.
