Page 53 of Ruins
A spark of joy lights up Vasilisa’s eyes, and once again, I find myself captivated by the woman who walks by my side. Her cheeks burn a rosy red. “Thank you,” she says softly. She bites her lip, a small smile playing at the corners of her mouth as we walk together.
Back in my office, Vasilisa drifts toward the large windows behind my desk, her fingers trailing lightly along the edge as if committing the space to memory.
“I’ve always loved this view,” she says softly, her voice touched with nostalgia.
I watch her, the sunset wrapping around her like she was made for it.
I could tell her that the view means nothing without her standing in front of it.
Instead, I just smile. “I’m happy to share it with you whenever you’d like to visit.”
She lingers by the glass, her silhouette cutting against the golden light. It’s mesmerizing…too mesmerizing.
I move behind her, hands finding her shoulders. Her body stiffens beneath my touch.
There. That moment. That flash of hesitation.
It makes me pause, waiting until I feel her slowly relax into me.
Darkness stirs within me. No. Something else. A need to eliminate the space between us.
“Thank you,” she murmurs, without turning away from the window.
“For what?” My brow furrows.
“For allowing me to be a part of this...” She waves her hand vaguely around. “It’s all the happy parts of my childhood.”
Her gratitude hits me in a way I wasn’t expecting. Her words are simple, but they land harder than they should.
I swallow the unexpected weight pressing at my chest. “I want you here.”
She turns, and as the sun dips lower, it sets her in an ethereal glow. I’ve seen beautiful things in my life. None of them compare.
There’s something about this woman, something elusive, something profoundly personal about her presence that demands to be respected and cherished and that, I realized, is the most endearing thing about Vasilisa.
I cup her cheek, thumb grazing over soft skin.
She leans into it.
That’s it.
I lower my head, close enough to feel her breath warm against my lips. Her eyes flutter shut, and for a second, recognition stirs.
She’s everything I shouldn’t want. Yet, I do.
Her scent, warm, sweet, familiar, threatens to ruin every wall I’ve ever built.
My lips inches from hers.
This goddess of a woman ismine.
The shrill chime of my phone shatters the moment.
Vasilisa’s eyes fly open, and she steps back, as if grounding herself.
I clear my throat, biting down the urge to snap the damn phone in half as I pull it from my pocket.Whoever it is better have a damn good reason for calling right now.
Nico’s name flashes across the screen.
