With careful hands, he helps me rise and steadies me at the sink. I lean heavily on the porcelain, the coolness a small mercy to my flushed skin. He turns on the faucet, and I splash water over my face and rinse out my mouth.

Aleksandr finds a hair tie on the counter and gently pulls my hair back into a loose bun. His touch is methodical, almost tender, a stark contrast to the image of him that’s been painted in my mind.

I meet his eyes in the mirror, but the words get lost. And then, it’s like the world fades to black, the details of the night slipping through my fingers like grains of sand as unconsciousness envelopes me.

***

I wake up, and it takes a moment for the fog to clear, for me to realize I’m sprawled on top of Aleksandr. My cheekpressed against the solid warmth of his chest, his arms encasing me, making me feel smaller, more delicate than I’ve ever felt.

He smells good, a mix of something spicy and that undeniable scent of ‘man’. It’s comforting and disarming all at once, and I find myself not wanting to stir, not wanting to break the peace that’s enveloped us.

But then it hits me—the weight of who he is, what he’s done. I’m snuggled up with a murderer, and yet, I feel so safe. How can that be? The thought should send me reeling, but his heartbeat under my ear is a steady drum, lulling my anxieties back to sleep.

His hold tightens, pulling me impossibly closer, and I can’t help but mold myself to his form. His chest is bare, the skin under my palms radiating heat, and I’m suddenly hyper-aware of every point of contact between us.

The question that’s been dancing on the tip of my tongue finally slips out, a whisper against his skin. “Did we...?”

He stirs, a low rumble sounding in his chest as he slowly comes to. “Did we what?” he asks groggily.

My face heats up as I try to find the words. “Uh, did we... do anything last night?”

His eyes shoot open, and for a moment, he seems taken aback. “I’m not interested in taking advantage of you, Emma,” he says, his voice soft with sincerity. “We just slept.”

Relief floods through me, but the way his fingers trace patterns on my back is anything but innocent. As if sensing my thoughts, Aleksandr’s hand slides lower, coming to rest on my hip. The touch sends shivers down my spine, and I’m suddenly all too aware of how little clothing separates us.

I tilt my head up to meet his gaze, and there’s a hunger there that sets my blood ablaze. “What happens now?” I ask.

His lips twitch in a smirk, and for a moment, I’m caught in the intensity of his gaze. “Whatever you want,” he says, his voice a purr.

And I know what I want. I want him. Badly.

But not just him. I want Dmitri... and Nikolai.

And it seems unfair that I’m doing this to him. Aleksandr seems to sense my hesitation, his hand stilling on my hip. “What is it?”

There’s a moment of silence. Then, he shifts beneath me. “I already know.”

I freeze, my heart pounding as I turn to face him. “What do you mean?” I ask, feeling exposed and vulnerable.

“You underestimate how much we pay attention to you,” he murmurs, his lips brushing against the shell of my ear. “I also know that you’re a virgin.”

“What? How could you possibly know that?”

His lips curve upwards in a smirk. “Your innocence is written all over you, Emma. But don’t worry, I’ll teach you everything you need to know.”

My cheeks flush at his boldness, but there’s something exciting about the way he’s talking to me. The way he’s taking charge.

“And what about Dmitri and Nikolai?” I ask, my heart beating faster at the thought of being with all three of them.

“So, you’ve kissed them. That’s child’s play. With me, it’s never just a kiss.”

My heart beats so fast I’m afraid it might leave my chest. I swallow hard, my body thrumming with anticipation. “What do you mean?”

He doesn’t answer. Instead, he gets up from the bed, the movement fluid and full of purpose. His back is to me as he pulls on his shirt, a barrier as solid as any wall he could put up.

“That was reckless, what you did last night. Getting drunk, staying alone here,” he says.

I sit up, pulling the blanket around me like a shield. “I just... needed some space.”