Page 47 of Blood Mosaic

“By all means.” He reached out to steady her as she walked up a step, putting them eye to eye when he tugged her around to face him. “Encourage me.”

Her mouth was slightly open, and the scent of wine was on her breath. He leaned in, considering what it would taste like to kiss her.

He wasn’t sure he wanted to kiss this woman anyplace that was public.

“You don’t need” —her voice was a little breathless— “any encouragement.”

“You could always opt for showing me your teeth,” he murmured. “I like those too.”

“What are you doing to me?”

Oleg wanted to touch her so badly he felt the ache in his fingers. “I’m seducing you.”

“Without a single touch?”

“We’ll get there.” He leaned forward, her lips inches from his own, and he felt his skin heat.

“What is that cologne?” She breathed in.

“Did you just smell me?” The corner of his mouth turned up.

“Stop.” She smiled again, and it nearly snapped his control. “It smells like smoke and cedar trees.”

“Ah.” He breathed out. “I did put fragrance on before I came to your house. I’m surprised you didn’t smell it before. Do you like it?”

She blinked and pulled back. “It’s… good.”

“Good?” A burst of laughter from a group farther down the waterfront broke the spell she’d cast over him. “Good is boring.”

“Maybe I’ll buy you a cologne then.”

Oleg stepped up next to her, forcing Tatyana’s eyes up to his. “You’re going to buy a fragrance for me?”

“As a thank-you.” Her cheeks were red again. “For my boss.”

“Yes, that’s a very professional gift,” he said, nudging her arm with his own to urge her into walking again. “I approve. Nothing with roses, please. I’m allergic.”

“Fine.” The color on her cheeks died down when they passed a clutch of soldiers standing in front of a tourist restaurant that had been built to look like an old wooden ship. They were holding military rifles, passing around cigarettes, and taking pictures with their phones.

Tatyana stared at them. “My grandfather loved that restaurant. Their fried fish is good.”

Despite their uniforms and weapons, the soldiers reminded Oleg of boys on a school trip. They were watching the pretty girls strolling along the waterfront and joking among themselves.

“It’s different.” Oleg touched Tatyana’s back to urge her away from the soldiers. “It’s different than the last time I visited here.”

“Yes.” Her expression fell a little bit as they walked away from the waterfront and down an alley that would lead them back to the restaurant where his car was parked. “It’s different.”

They walked in silence for some time, turning away from the brightly lit waterfront and into the shadows where Oleg could relax.

He wasn’t a creature of the light, though he might wish to see the sun in Tatyana’s hair. Her smile had fallen away, andhe knew her mind was fixed on the boys playing soldier by the harbor.

He stopped and watched her walk up another couple of steps before she noticed he wasn’t beside her.

“What?” Tatyana turned. “What is it?”

He walked toward her. “The world will always change. Change is the only constant.”

She offered him a slight smile. “For the worse?”

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