Page 33 of Corruption

Nadia

It’s late when Alik and Kiya get back. I’m almost glad that I had to stay back and talk one of the donors out of pulling out for the next fiscal year with as long as they were gone. There’s only so long that I can tolerate art galleries like the one they went to when it’s not paired with something like music or fashion design or lots of alcohol. But I am excited to hear Kiya tell me all about what she saw seeing as she was buzzing with excitement before she and Alik left.

However, as soon as Kiya walks in, she kicks off her shoes and heads into the hallway.

“I ordered dinner. You like chicken alfredo, don’t you? If not. You can—”

“I’m not hungry. Really tired. I’ll see you in the morning.”

“But it’s not even ei—”

Kiya is already gone. I turn to Alik, who is staring after where Kiya went.

“What happened?” I ask expectantly.

Alik sighs. “I almost don’t want to tell you this and give you any ideas. But you’re going to find out anyway.”

“Well, don’t leave me in suspense.”

“I kissed her.”

“Oh.”

I wasn’t expecting that.

We’ve brought a few people into our relationship, specifically our sex life, over the years. Temporary always. Never longer than a couple of weeks. But the prospect is nothing new. However, Alik’s not usually the one to make the first move, and it typically takes him a while to warm up to people. So for him to have kissed Kiya says a lot.

After I finally wrap my brain around that, I’m indignant.

“No fair, my love. You didn’t even like her, and you got the first kiss.”

“I never said I didn’t like her. I said she’s off limits. And it’s not afirstkiss. It’s the only kiss. We just got caught up in the heat of the moment. Nothing long-term—or temporary, for that matter, Nadezhda.”

“You don’t get to kiss her and then I’m not allowed to.”

“I do get to when I wasn’t supposed to kiss her in the first place because she’s mypakhan’sfiancé.”

“Thepakhanis your brother.”

“All the more reason not to risk literal war.”

I decide not to argue with Alik about that. There’s no need to. He’s never been good at getting a taste of something, liking it, and then deciding not to have anymore no matter what he says about Vaughn. It doesn’t help that he doesn’t hold his brother in high regard anymore.

“Why did she run to her room then? Did she not like it?”

“She liked it,” Alik assures me.

“Then why…” I frown. “You said heat of the moment. So you didn’t talk about it before? And you didn’t say anything afterward?”

“We were looking at art before. We continued afterward.”

I sigh. “This is why when we chose someone,Iapproach them first. You’re so bad at explaining things and declaring intentions.”

Alik gives me that blank, expectant stare.

“She was born and bred in Georgia. How much would you like to bet she thinks she just kissed another woman’s husband and is a homewrecker?”

Alik scoffs. “You’ve been openly flirting with her for days. I invited her into the playroom twice.” I’m going to have to ask him about this second time because this is the first I’ve heard of it. “There’s no way she thinks we’re exclusive that way.”

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