Page 80 of Close Protection

Longing for different circumstances.

The room is decorated the way you’d think an eight-year-old would want. The walls are coated in a sparkly pink paint and the bed is covered with Disney princess pillows. To one side of it sits a bookcase with all my favourite childhood books, and on the other side sits my Barbie collection. The last time I visited I wasn’t able to sleep in here and I slept in my father’s room while he took the sofa, but I can’t think of anything worse than spending the night in my father’s room so I make my way back downstairs.

When I walk into the living room, Milosh is on his haunches flicking through all our old DVDs with a small smile on his face.

‘Find anything you like?’

He looks up at me, holdingA Cinderella Story, Another Cinderella StoryandCloudy with a Chance of Meatballs. ‘I’m guessing all of these movies were picked by you?’

I laugh lightly as I drop to the sofa, a yawn escaping me. ‘You would think, but no.RatatouilleandCloudy with a Chancewere Daddy, and the Cinderella franchise was my mother. But everything else? Yeah, that was all me.’

The cottage is so remote, you can’t get very good wi-fi. When we used to come here we only had a DVD player, some board games and books to work with, so we amassed quite a collection.

Not wanting to talk about the sleeping arrangements, I opt for a light topic. ‘You wanna watch a film?’

‘Sure,’ Milosh responds, standing up to his full height. ‘What movie?’

‘I don’t mind, you choose.’

The fire crackles away in the background as he flicks through the options, finally settling on one. After slipping the disc into the DVD player he comes to sit next to me. Our thighs brush together, sending my own crackle of fire up my leg.

I close my eyes for a moment and bring my hand to my neck, trying to massage the knot out of it, when I hear the familiar overture ofAladdinfilling the air.

‘Good choice.’ I glance over at him, but am shocked to find his eyes already on me, or, more accurately, my neck as I try to work away the tension.

‘You want some help?’ Milosh asks, his eyes darkening.

Do I want him massaging my neck?

‘Yes, please.’

Huh. Turns out I do.

‘Turn around.’

I move so that I’m sitting sideways on the sofa and drop my hand, watching the film out of the corner of my eye.

I feel the seat dip as Milosh comes closer and I suck in a breath when he gently pulls my hair to the side. The airis charged with anticipation as tension rakes through my body.

His touch starts out gentle at first but gets firmer when he finds the knot and goes in on it. I let out an involuntary whimper as his warm hands knead my flesh and my breathing drops.Aladdinplays in the background but I can’t hear it anymore. Not over the roaring in my ears.

‘There,’ Milosh says, voice gruff. ‘Does that feel better?’

I turn around to face him, moving my hand back to my neck, testing it out.

‘Much better, thank you.’

He watches my fingers. ‘Good.’

I let my hand drag down the length of my neck, before dropping it in my lap. Milosh tracks the movement intently.

I watch him as his eyes coast back up my body, settling on my parted lips.

I know it’s not the right time to do this but he’s a welcome distraction so I lean over and kiss him.

It’s tentative and unsure at first but as I move my hand to cup his face, drawing him closer, it starts to deepen. His hand finds my waist and squeezes, causing the kiss to pick up some speed.

‘Daphne, we shouldn’t.’ He breathes heavily against my lips, pulling away so he can see me.

---