Page 11 of Crave

Is she mad? I think she is.

Pausing the show, I look at her. “What do you want me to do?”

She narrows her eyes and stares at me for a long time. “You might have to try spending an evening in your own house.”

“Oh. Is that all? Why didn’t you just say that?” My palm lands on her knee. “You don’t have to be subtle. I don’t understand that well.”

Her breath hitches as she looks at the back of my hand. “Okay.”

“See? Easy.” Threading my fingers behind my head, I kick back into the heavy cushions to continue watching the show.

CHAPTER 5

LARA

Slammingthe door shut behind me, I storm through the hallway and toss my bag across the floor.

That motherfucker.

I can’t believe he said I was the slowest eater he’s ever met? He has no idea how much I had to hype myself up just to go on the damn date,in a restaurant.

Bile rises in my throat. After he made that comment, despite rapidly losing my appetite, I ate most of the plate of grease. I feel disgusting.

I thought I had a better handle on myself until Nikolai took off running after Mila around Russia. It was hard not to panic constantly worrying that he and Alexei wouldn’t come home. Memories flood back of that night five years ago.

Nikolai’s anguished yelling. Mikhail was injured, but trying to hurry us away.

Alexei never left my side, even though I was terrified.

Our whole lives were crashing around us.

We’ve all had to rebuild in our own ways, away from our evil father. The man who made me starve to stay in shape so he could marry me off for an alliance one day.

Gripping onto the kitchen counter, I take a few deep breaths, before grabbing a glass of cold water.

Maybe, if I don’t eat tomorrow I won’t gain any weight.

Sliding out my phone, my finger hovers above Alexei’s number. With all of his crazy, he brings me calm. When he crashes into my life daily, I get so lost in his unpredictability and his deranged humor, I can forget about the anxious gnawing which always seems to exist in my belly.

After that disastrous date, he is the one I need more than anything,

Just as I hit dial, he answers before it even rings.

“Pchelka. Are you okay?” His gravely voice mellows the frustration of earlier.

I smile at the screen. “Yes, sladkiy. I’m fine.”

There’s a raspy sound, I bet he’s scratching at his stubble.

“Hmm. Why don’t I believe you?” He pauses. “Open the front door.”

I frown, looking at the time. It’s nearly midnight. Following his orders, I open it and find him leaning against the porch rail, one leg over the other, hand in pocket and his cell up to his ear.

His broad grin reveals his silver tooth shining in the security lights.

I might be happy to see him, but I don’t want him to know it. “What are you doing here?”

With a shrug, he stands up in front of me. “I was passing by, thought I’d check in on my favorite Volkov.” He chews his bottom lip. “And to see if you’d filled up that candy jar.”

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