Page 43 of Your Coffin or Mine
“God help us all. Vlad Tepesh sleeps and goes on picnics.” He gives me a last look, one that’s serious. “Just be careful what happened to Frank doesn’t happen to you.”
“I will spend a week in the company of a fascinating woman and then she will return home. It’s a temporary thing.”Temporary.The thought of her leaving makes my mood sour instantly, and the expression on his face says he knows it as well as I do.
He scoffs. “Mmhm.”
Aubrey
“Okay, now move to the left,”I say.
My winter boots crunch in the snow as I try to get the right angle, and I’m thankful my new scarf is helping to keep me warm, but I should have grabbed some gloves.
Vlad looks entirely disgruntled by the whole thing but obeys, and the smile that’s been plastered on my face all morning stretches some more. I snap a picture, squealing on the inside at how great this is going to look on my Insta. Vlad is sex personified, and the snowy landscape behind him sets off the whole vibe.
His black pea coat is dusted with snowflakes, his hair ruffling with the wind, and he looks like something out of a men’s magazine in winter. After last night he seems . . . calmer now somehow. I guess good sex after going without for a while will do that.
“Good. Now smile!” I tell him, grinning like a loon.
His lip curls in disgust and he looks at me like I asked him to fight off a wave of spiders. “No.”
“One teensy little smile?” He bares his teeth and I giggle. I lower my phone and eye him for a moment. “Yesterday you acted like you’d rather do anything but this. What made you change your mind?”
“Normally, I would rather face a firing squad than to do something as frivolous as take photos.”
“Then why are you?”
His brown eyes flash in the sunlight. “Because you asked, and as much as I abhor smiling into the camera like a buffoon, who am I to object to a lady’s request? If you want photos of your time here, I am obliged to fulfill your every desire.”
His dark eyebrows lift and bounce dramatically. I laugh, the twinkle in his eyes telling me he knows exactly how he wants to fulfill me.
“Uh uh. None of that, mister.” That’s all I need—to fall back in his bed. With my luck, I’ll come out of it even more dickmatized.
“What?” His expression is full of mischief and it’s clear he knows how cute he is, what he does to me. “It’s only because there are several other interesting things we could be doing.” He winks, and I laugh. “But I notice you take this sort of thing seriously.”
He holds out his hand to me and I take it, warmth spreading in my stomach at the contact.I bite my lip, wondering if this is a good time to explain how I just got out of a relationship and have no idea what I am doing.
How is this the same grumpy man from two days ago? The more I get to know him, the harder he is to resist—not that I can truly see anyone who finds men remotely attractive saying noto him, but he can be so sweet and affectionate. It’s making me want things I shouldn’t.
I shake my head at him, then we resume our walk across the gardens near the moat, and I tilt my head back, enjoying the crisp scent of winter on the wind. The hedgerows are covered with snow, and a pretty stone bench overlooking the water sits waiting for spring. God, it would be so beautiful to see in springtime.
“You know, the air here even smells different,” I point out, changing the subject.
“Hmm, I suppose it would. Every country I’ve visited has different smells.”
“Have you been to many countries?” I ask, shoving my other hand into my coat pocket to keep it warm.
He arches that brow and a tingle spreads through my body. “Why do you want to know?” he asks quietly.
Shaking myself inwardly, embarrassment floods. What has he got to be thinking? Probably not about a relationship so soon, and honestly, neither should I.Get a grip, Aubrey.It is becoming ridiculous how often I’m now arguing with myself. Maybe I should clear the air?
“Well, to get to know you, obviously. I know nothing about you other than you have an issue with nipples and like to cook weird stuff.”
The shame is immediate and swift. I might as well add coward to my resumé at this point. My only excuse is the man is beautiful and fucks my vagina as if bringing me to orgasm is his day job. I refuse to acknowledge how my stomach swoons every time he looks at me.
He laughs, and the sound causes warmth to fill my chest. Dread quickly follows as I grapple with reality.You are leaving in a week. This is a vacation fling, and it doesn’t matter how good the sex is, you do not have the funds to stay—and you’releaving.My thoughts circle and swirl. My reactions to him are too much, way too soon.
“I’ve been to several countries in my life. Some I detest, others I can somewhat find enjoyable.”
“Have you been to America?” I blurt. Smooth Aubrey, super smooth.
