“Fyodor was asking why I would come here as if I was lost or had wandered here by mistake. When he asked me that, I realized he didn’t know that I had asked for him. Which means you didn’t tell him. Why?”

My mind falters and my lower lip trembles. Why didn’t I tell Fyodor that?

Why?

“I—”

Zasha lifts one brow, and a light smirk dances across his lips. A light, floral scent fills my nose as I breathe him in, and this close I can make out the subtle heart shape of his lips.

“I don’t know,” I answer. “All I heard was ‘Fio’ and I didn’t make the connection because only Dariya calls him that. Plus, I’d just hit you and everything was so hectic, I guess it slipped my mind.” Guilt swarms my chest, so I straighten up from the wall and lift my chin, mildly distracted by how good he smells. “Why, is it important?”

Zasha studies my face for a moment. “You tell me, you’re the memory expert.”

We’re so close, one wrong move and his lips could end up on mine. Does he think the same?

“I think…I think if you remember that, it’s a good sign. Maybe you said his name because you knew where you were.” Keeping my mind focused on that is a struggle with Zasha still so close. “Maybe try and work out why you would come to a man you hate. If we find out what prompted that, maybe we can find out the truth.”

The effects of Zasha being so close linger with me for the rest of the day, not fading even when I persuade Daniil to take me shopping. I need a few new clothes, and with spring well on its way, treating Dariya is at the top of my list.

The only problem is, Zasha turned me on.

Everything about how he pressed me against the wall, pinned me there with his body and his gaze, and even how he spoke to me was oddly intimate and I can’t get it out of my mind. The more I replay it as we travel from shop to shop, the more my core aches and my body heats up. With no outlet, there’s only irritation at how long I have to wait to get home to satisfy myself while suffering under the annoyance of being so affected by him in the first place.

“Alright,” Daniil says eventually as we stride back to the car. “Out with it.”

“With what?” I snap without thinking, not even glancing back at him. It’s not until he doesn’t respond that I finally pause and turn to see that Daniil stopped a few feet away, back where I snapped at him. Despite the sun glinting off his sunglasses, I can tell from his stance that he didn’t appreciate that. He stands there, arms crossed and head tilted to the side, not moving.

The signal is clear.

Sighing, I slowly walk back toward him. Stopping a foot away, my heart picks up a little when his head slowly moves to tilt in the other direction.

“Right. Let’s try that again. What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.”

“Don’t lie to me.” His tone is sharp and alarm bolts down my spine, followed by the tell-tale prickle of sweat. “You’ve been brisk all afternoon and that’s not like you. You don’t tend to snap at people either so something’s wrong. And if you’re going to lie to me again, I’d prefer you didn’t say anything at all.”

He’s scolding me? I’d be so completely taken aback if it wasn’t turning me on further. Something about the power in his voice and the tilt of his head has me wanting to hear him talk like that more. It’s also probably the longest set of sentences I’ve ever heard him say.

“Well?”

Heat jumps down my arms and I tighten my grips on my bags. Defaulting to it’s really nothing won’t work here.

“You really want to know?”

“I wouldn’t be asking if I didn’t.”

“I’m horny.” Warmth flashes across my cheeks at the confession, but I admit it mostly hoping to shock Daniil so we can go home.

“Do you need help?”

“Huh?” Not the reaction I was expecting.

“Do you need help,” he repeats, his tone still firm. “Because if all you need is a good working over, then I’ll be more than happy to help you.”

“Because of my bad attitude, right?”

“No, because I’ve been dreaming about your cunt ever since I first tasted it. So.” Daniil straightens up, and my legs tremble. “Do you need help?”