Page 58 of Dmitri

If it’s a choice between being honest with a near stranger who made me have the best orgasm of my life or staying silent for the safety of Addie’s life and mine, there is no question which I’ll choose. Dmitri may be a very bad man, or an extremely good one, but none of that matters as far as my deal with Kaleb goes. I have to remember what I’m doing here and why.

Except every time I let myself slip and fall into Dmitri’s silvery stare, my resolve melts a little more. He didn’t have to tell me that his mom hurt him. In fact, it could be a bald-faced lie just to get me to open up to him. But it doesn’t feel that way. He looks genuine as he backs up to give me some breathing room. All night long, he’s been focused on me, my well-being, my pleasure, my safety.

Bad guys don’t care about those things.

Kaleb never did. Even when it seemed that way in the moment, I eventually learned it was a trick. Dmitri hasn’t shifted his machinations in his favor at all.

Yet.

This might be a good way to find out more information about him, I remind myself.Pry. Play along.I should do whatever I have to so I can get this over with.Think of Addie.

She’s why I freaked earlier about my phone. I hadn’t expected to have to give up my cell earlier, but it makes sense for a place like this. However, asking for it back and being denied caused me to panic. I’d only calmed myself down after mentally rehashing that my anxiety is high because I’m out of my depth with a stranger and far from my safe space at home. If I can even call it that, considering Kaleb owns the house I rent.

Wanting to check on Addie is out of habit. I’ve turned into a helicopter with her, constantly hovering, and we’ve been in several fights about it lately. She wants me to ease up, which I’ve tried, but my paranoia always ends up winning and I track her down, call, text, or even show up where she is just to make sure she’s doing okay.

It’s my inner child needing to be saved, I think. What I would have given to have someone care that much for me when I was a kid living with two parents who didn’t want me. Who didn’t take care of me. Who gave me up—one for drugs, the other for convenience. When Kaleb came into my life, he always popped up to check on me.

Oh my god, am I turning into a Kaleb?

My stomach plummets.

Wait. No. I do it from a place of love. He does shit from a place of control. We are not the same. And…

Addie is fine. She’s safe. She’s away from all the bad things.

I need to focus on Dmitri now. He’s my priority. He’s myway out.

“I have a type,” I say, hating how my voice quivers. “My type is dangerous.”

Dmitri keeps his mouth shut as he gives me his undivided attention, which is something else he’s done from the very beginning.

“I was neglected a lot as a child, and it got bad enough that a teacher made a call to CPS. My parents gave me up without a fight when I was seven. My mom’s a junkie. My dad moved on and didn’t want me. So, into the foster system, I went.”

Dmitri’s shoulders slump a little, but he stays silent and gives me time to share without being pushy. I’m not used to that. Kaleb always talked, talked, talked, pushing me for things until I caved or was so tangled in his interrogations that I’d inadvertently spill the beans on something.

Every word, to Kaleb, becomes a weapon he uses against me.

Every word, to Dmitri it seems, becomes the armor he uses to help protect me.

“Any way, I didn’t have it as bad as some kids did in foster care. I was beaten if I didn’t obey or keep my room spotless, but following their rules wasn’t hard. I just had to keep my mouth shut and be good.”

He swallows while his jaw muscles flex.

“I’ve always been into guys who are dangerous. The ones who don’t care about authority or getting in trouble. Theyarethe trouble.” Really, it’s only Kaleb, but he’s taken up most of my existence, so here I am. “I seem to always be drawn to the bigger, badder monster.”

Dmitri’s eyebrows twitch.

“I think that’s why I’m confused with you,” I admit. “You’re my type.”

“A big, bad monster.”

Well, when he says it, it sounds less threatening.

Dmitri calmly approaches me again. My heart kicks at my chest when he wraps his arms around me in an embrace that cocoons me in his body heat. He cradles the back of my head with one hand while the other splays out over my lower back. The top of my head rests perfectly under his chin and I feel so secure here with him. “Thank you, Daelyn.”

Why on earth is he thanking me?

“You just gave me a very precious gift,” he says, as if reading my mind. “Thank you for trusting me enough to open up like that.”

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