Page 57 of Sergei
With that, Sergei picked up his phone and called Malcolm. Half an hour later, I had changed into pajamas, and we were eating in front of the fire. Once we were done, Sergei found us a movie, and we settled on the sofa. Sergei placed a pillow against his thigh like an invitation, and I took it.
I curled up next to him and placed my head on the pillow. I felt utterly content as I lay there next to him. Maybe that was why I felt like I could ask the question that had been weighing on me for weeks. “Can I ask you something?”
“Yeah. You can ask me anything.” He chuckled as he added, “I’m not sure I’ll answer, but you can ask.”
“Well, then there’s probably no point in me asking.”
“Won’t know unless you try.”
“Why didn’t you tell Viktor that I was here?”
“It’s complicated.”
“Complicated how?”
“It’s hard to explain.”
“Try.”
“Let’s just say I had my reasons.” He shrugged. “Some good. Some not so good.”
“How so?”
“At first, it wasn’t intentional. I just needed time to get things in order and make sure you were out of harm’s way.”
My eyes narrowed. “And after that?”
“Then, it got complicated.”
“That’s not an answer.”
I knew this wasn’t easy for him. Sergei wasn’t one to open up easily, but eventually he said, “Because once Viktor knowssomething, he acts on it, and he does it without thinking it through. I wasn’t having that. Not with you.”
I was about to push him once more, but he cut me off by adding, “Trust me, Lina. I’m not good at sharing.”
“Sharing?” I couldn’t help but smile. “So, it’s true. You really are keeping me prisoner.”
“If that’s what it takes.”
I laid my head back down on the pillow as I giggled, “You gotta do what you gotta do.”
“Exactly.”
When the movie ended, neither of us moved. We just waited for the next movie to start. It was some old western that I had zero interest in, and it wasn’t long before I dozed off.
I had no idea how long I’d been sleeping when I felt myself being lifted off the sofa. Startled, I opened my eyes and found that I was safe and secure in his arms.
I slipped my arm around his neck and rested my head on his shoulder as he carried me into my bedroom. I let out a contented sigh. I couldn’t help myself. I loved being this close to him, and when he lowered me down onto the bed, I couldn’t seem to let him go. I wanted him to stay with me, to kiss me like he had before. He started to stand, but I kept my arms around his neck, holding him tight as I whispered, “Sergei.”
His eyes locked on mine with a heated look that sent a chill down my spine. Sergei leaned forward, and I thought he was about to kiss me, but he stopped just inches above my lips. “You need to know I can’t keep playing cat and mouse with you. If I kiss you right now, I won’t be able to stop.”
“But I don’t want you to stop.”
“You’re not getting what I’m saying here, Lina. I want youtoo much. I’m not sure I can keep control.” He took a step back as he said, “I want to touch you, taste you… Hell, I want to bury myselfdeep inside you. And once I have you, I’m going to want to have you again and again.”
His words washed over me like a wave of heated desire, coursing through my veins with a burning need that nearly took my breath away. Every nerve in my body tingled, making it impossible to think. As I lay there staring up at him, breathless and aching for his touch, I finally managed to respond, “I want you, too, Sergei.”
“You need to be sure,” he warned. “I’m not a good man. I may have saved your life, but I’ve taken plenty of others. You can’t imagine the things I’ve done. As much as I’m not proud of it, I’d do it all again to be here with you.” He stood up and looked down at me with a fierce expression as he continued, “I’m broken, Lina. I’m not sure if I’ll ever truly be right again. So, listen to me when I sayyou need to think this through. Because once we start, there’ll be no turning back.”
