Page 42 of Krampus Kruk
“I’m not leaving until you look me in the eye and tell me you don’t want me here,” he says into the silence.
I open my mouth, but nothing comes out. I hate him again—for making me feel so fucking seen.
“Who’s Morgan talking to?” I hear my stepbrother Jason ask behind me.
I yank the flowers from Piotr’s hand, shove them at my mom without looking at her, and then push Piotr backward, shutting the door behind me so we can have privacy.
“Morgan,” he says, reaching for my hand.
I pull away, setting the painting on the front stoop. I’m not ready to give in, not yet.
He steps forward anyway, flattening his palm against my lower belly, pinning me softly against the door. My breathcatches. I’m not scared. I’m remembering how he touched me last night—how he commanded me.
“I’m sorry,” he says. “I should have told you I had you vetted, but I didn’t expect this, something real. I didn’t expect something incredible to happen between us.”
I shut my eyes, overwhelmed as tears prick again. I’m exhausted and freezing, standing here in yoga pants and a thin long-sleeve. I clench my fists to warm my hands.
He unzips his coat.
“No,” I protest, though my tone comes out meek.
“Baby girl …” I hear the soft reprimand in his tone.
A tear slips down my cheek. That name does things to me.
He drapes the coat around my shoulders and cups my elbows, warming me. “You can punish me for fucking up however you want.”
A laugh bubbles out—unexpected. Something wicked flickers in my mind. I shouldn’t be smiling, shouldn’t be this turned on.
“Youalready know what it’s going to be,” I say with a smirk.
He growls then threads his fingers through mine. “Anything for my baby girl.” He lifts my hands and kisses my knuckles, one by one. “What I think you want most right now,” he says, staring deeply into my eyes, “is to get out of here.”
He’s right.I nod.
“Let’s go.”
“You think this gesture is enough of an apology?” I laugh lightly, and then my eyes go wide as he drops to his knees on the cold, concrete sidewalk.
“I fucked up letting you leave this morning, by not fighting, not explaining,” he says, staring up at me.
I wipe my eyes, stunned he’s bowing.
“I don’t want us to never see each other again,” he says after a moment.
“Fuck these tears,” I say, wiping my eyes. I feel the same. “Where are we going?” I ask playfully, already surrendering to the fact that I’ve fallen for this old-ass man.
“Wherever you want.”
I hum, squinting at him. “Wait. You brought my mom a gift and not me?”
His expression doesn’t change, but he stands, reaching behind him and producing a long, velvet box. “I got you something.”
Jewelry?My eyes widen again as he hands it to me. I flip open the box to find a diamond tennis necklace.
“Oh my God,” I whisper in disbelief.
“Wear it when you want to be my baby girl. Otherwise … I’ll enjoy spending time with Morgan.”
