Page 60 of Scarred (Russian Sinners 2)

“In that case, they’re a perfect match,” he teased.

“I guess you are right,” I agreed.

I couldn’t help but note how he watched me. As if he was trying to solve a puzzle. It made me nervous. I felt it from the moment we met. His eyes were always watching me, studying me, and I worried what he’d discover.

In hopes of shifting the attention away from speculations of love matches, I asked what has been weighing on my mind. “Can you tell me where Anastasia and Scarlett are? How is Anastasia feeling? When can we see each other?”

Something flashed across his face. “That is a lot of questions,” he replied calmly, his Russian accent stronger than I detected before. “I can’t tell you where in Russia are your friends. But I can tell you they are both safe.”

“And Anastasia’s recovery?” He hesitated for a fraction of a second but it was enough for dread to pool in my stomach. “Is her recovery going well?”

“Yes, she will be out of the hospital in a day or so,” he told me and I sighed in relief. That meant she was well enough. Although it was concerning how long she had to stay there.

“Is she out of danger?”

“Yes,” he said and I believed him. I had the strangest feeling that this man did not lie. Actually, I knew it without a shred of doubt. Either he would tell me the truth or not tell me anything at all. “We didn’t realize that we would be betrayed. Dimitry, my brother although not by blood, is blaming himself.”

I didn’t even realize my hand reached out to his. “Please tell me what happened,” I squeezed his hand.

His eyes lowered to where our hands met, and I quickly pulled my hand away. What possessed me to touch him? I never initiated a touch with any man and this one made me effortlessly do it. Yearn for it! Even that first day in the car, it felt natural to offer him comfort.

“Because Vlad divulged information, Anastasia was kidnapped again by Boris. He was supposed to be on our side. I believe it was Vlad that approached you when you were jogging. Anyhow, Dimitry went after her and found her,” he watched me carefully, as if to ensure I was okay. “There was a shootout and she took a bullet that was meant for Dimitry.”

Anastasia always wanted to save people but taking a bullet for someone else was quite something.

“I guess she really likes Dimitry?” Unsure what else to say, the question framed statement just came out.

His lips smiled and I watched him mesmerized. He really was beautiful when he smiled.

“Yes,” he replied chuckling. “I think both of them are quite enthralled with each other. He proposed and she accepted.”

It surprised me that Anastasia would fall for a man that quickly. After all, she barely knew this Dimitry.

Oh, and I know Nikolai so much better!

If Dimitry was anything like Nikolai, I had no doubt he was a good man. And Anastasia deserved a good man. The fact he went after her after she was kidnapped again and she took the bullet for him told me they were definitely head over heels over each other.

I took another sip of wine and felt my insides getting all warm. Whether it was the idea of Anastasia finding her happily ever after, the man in front of me, or just the alcohol, I wasn’t sure.

Either way, I should be careful drinking around a man I barely knew although he made me feel safe. And God, the repeat of yesterday would be so much better than any wine. It was the strangest feeling, as nervous as he made me, I still felt safe around him.

I took a bite of my dish but when I looked up, his face showed his desire. I swallowed hard and my cheeks heated up. I desired him too, so much that it was frightening. His unapologetic openness was intoxicating. I actually loved it very much. He didn’t hide his desire, didn’t hide his upbringing, nor his past. He was unapologetically him, and it was intoxicating.

I took another drink of the wine since I felt it was the only thing that would calm me down.

He started talking about other parts of Russia I had not seen before and thought I would like. I nodded, but truthfully, I barely heard the words. My brain was in a haze and my heart was racing in excitement or maybe it really was the alcohol.

We finished our dinner. When the waiter asked him if he wanted dessert, his eyes were hot on me, and for a second, I felt like his dessert. Heat spread through me, and I forgot all about the waiter or anything else. Nikolai just shook his head and asked for the check. A few minutes later, we made our way back to his car, with his driver waiting.

As we slid into the leather back seat, I did not scoot all the way to the door, to be as far away from him as possible. I stayed sitting next to him, our knees touching. I craved to be even closer to him. I wished I had another glass of wine. I was somewhere in between feeling relaxed and feeling the intense urge to feel his mouth on me again.

“I need more wine,” I murmured more to myself.

“I’ll pour you another glass when we get home,” he promised, his voice a pure seduction.

My skin burned where our legs touched. I stared in amazement, trying to understand this desire such a simple touch stirred in me.

“Olivia,” Nikolai’s voice got me out of my trance. “We are home.”

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