Kat
I wake at two in the afternoon. I would’ve woken soonerbut every time I stirred, the comfort of Adrian’s heavy arm draped around my side made me fall straight back to sleep.
God, I’ve never actually slept with a guy before him.
I’ve had sexlots of itfrom the moment I landed in England but never sleepovers. I couldn’t while I was in the dormitory at school, and I’ve only had hookups since I’ve been living alone. No boyfriends. No one familiar in my bed, holding me like we belong together.
I find it delicious. I even liked it on the ship when we were sardined together on one tiny cot. I climb out of bed and pad into the bathroom. Adrian trails me-apparently, I’m still his prisoner. Either that, or he’s decided there’s nothing to hide between us anymore.
“Are you hungry?” he asks, leaning his shoulder in the doorway. “You must be famished.”
I love this guy. I really do. I love the way he takes care of me. The way he thinks about my needs.
“Yeah,” I admit. “I’m totally starving.”
“I’ll order room service. What sounds good?”
“A sandwich,” I say. “And tea. I haven’t had tea in days.”
“I’ll get you tea,” he promises and backs away.
As soon as he’s gone, I miss his presence. We’ve been in close quarters since Wednesday night. I’m beginning to feel like I can’t breathe if he’s not beside me. I use the toilet, brush my teeth and then climb in the shower. In it, I find all the things I could ask for. A fresh razor, big full bottles of shampoo and conditioner and a nice facial cleanser. Not the small hotel-size kind. No, Adrian had to have bought these.
I smile and shout, “Thank you for the conditioner!”
I hear the rumbles of Adrian’s deep voice, but he’s not talking to me. He must be on the phone to room service.
I take my time in the shower, thinking about making myself beautiful for Adrian. I shave my legs, my armpits, and my bikini area. I wash my hair twice and condition it thoroughly. The whole time I sing “Grace Kelly” song by Mika. The one I’d used to try to make Adrian crazy back at his place. I sing it at my the top of my lungs. It’s an invitation, and eventually, he takes me up on it. He pulls back the shower curtain with a smile on his face. “Did you say something about bending over?” he asks.
“You were listening!”
“I always listen malyshka.” He shucks his clothes and steps into the shower with me.
“Are you going to bend me over and fuck me in the shower?” I ask hopefully, my hands sliding over his pects.
“Oh, I am definitely going to bend you over and fuck you in the shower,” he promises, stepping close with dark intent. “I’m going to do all kinds of dirty things to you.”
I lose my breath. “Like what?”
“Turn around,” he orders.
I turn and face the wall, placing my hands on the tile like I’m under arrest.
He hooks his forearm under one of my knees, lifting it up and out to the side, so I’m standing on one leg, spread open for him. “I’ve needed to plow you in this position ever since you gave me a little show in my bathroom. Remember that?”
“I remember.” I smile to myself.
“Is this what you wanted, then, dietka?” He positions himself at my entrance.
“Yes,” I admit, turning to look over my shoulder at him. He’s so handsomeso strong and sturdy. It’s grounding just to be around him. To have his attention shining on me. Every indignity I’ve suffered since I met him has been worth it. I wouldn’t trade even a minute of it. Maybe that’s the maso in me talking, but I don’t care.
I feel right when I’m with Adrian. Not so off-balance. So wobbly.
He makes me feel…centered.
If I got to keep you, Kateryna, I would build you an art studio.
I want to ask him what his plan is now. I sense something’s changed in him. But I’m afraid of the answer. Afraid to lose this burgeoning hope in my chest. This fantasy that we might have a future. That he’ll take me to Chicago and introduce me to his sister. Build me that art studio.
It’s foolish, but I don’t want to let it go.
Not yet.
Adrian pushes into me, bracing his free arm against the wall next to mine as he snaps his hips in and up. Already our bodies know each other. The rhythm comes easily. My body receptive to his, needy for his aggressive touch. The hot water in the shower has filled the room with steam, and I get dizzy from the heat building in my core.
I reach between my legs and grip the base of his cock, making a ring of my fingers for it to slide through as he arcs in and out of me.
His breath hitches, turns growly. He drills into me harder. Faster. “You’re so hot, Kateryna. So sexy. I want to give you every orgasm you ever desired.”
That simple expression is all it takes.
My intimate muscles spasm around his cock, catching and releasing as I come.
Adrian curses in Russian and pounds harder. I cry out in pleasure as lights dance before my eyes. I’m dizzy and off-balance, but it doesn’t matter.
Adrian has me, and I know with all certainty he won’t let me go.
He shouts, his movements growing jerky until he plunges deep, his dick pulsing as his hot cum fills me. I come again in the most satisfying climax of my life.
Adrian holds me up as we pant together then switches the water to cool until I regain my balance. I shut it off completely and step out, rushing to beat him to the towel. Laughing when he snatches it out of my hands and holds it open for me.
“Next you’ll be holding doors for me,” he teases, dropping a kiss on my forehead as he bundles me like pierogi in the towel.
A knock sounds on the door. “Stay here, malyshka,” he tells me, wrapping another towel around his waist before he exits the bathroom. I hear him open the door and speak to the hotel employee bringing our food.
I only briefly wonder what would happen if I came out. Is Adrian no longer afraid of me asking for help? Does he know I wouldn’t run from him now?
I wait until I hear the door close then come out and beelinestill nakedfor the food.
Adrian’s smile is indulgent as he steps into a fresh pair of boxer briefs. I envy him for having clean clothes to wear. “Keep running around naked, dietka, and you’re going to get yourself fucked again.”
I pull the silver covers off the plates. “Ooh. Darn. That would be a real hardship.” I look over, biting my pinkie. “You’re so bad at it and everything.” The food looks so good I almost weep. I pick up a sandwich half and eat standing up, unable to even figure out how or where to sit first.
Adrian tugs on a long-sleeved shirt and slacks, then brings a handled shopping bag over to me. “I bought you some clothes.” He pulls out an expensive-looking shirt and, instead of handing it to me, pulls it over my head.
I don’t know why it makes me swoon, but it does. I like it when he takes care of me. I set the sandwich down long enough to poke my arms through the sleeves, and then he holds out a pair of leggings for me to step into.
“Where did you find these?” I ask, my mouth full.
“Downstairs.”
“That was nice of you.”
“It was necessary,” he grunts. “Not nice.”
“Whatever.” I smirk into my sandwich.
“There’s a sweater, too. You can wear my jacket when we go out.”
“Where are we going?” I take another gigantic bite of sandwich.
I don’t really expect him to answer because he never does, but he surprises me. “To buy you a coat.”
Awww. We’re going shopping together? Things really have changed.
Misgiving splinters off the sapling of hope I’m nurturing, but I ignore it. I don’t want to question the future. The now is too beautiful to mar with it.
Adrian picks up the plates of food and arranges them at the table by the window, pulling out a chair for me. “Sit, Kit-Kat. I’ll sit with you.” He takes the opposite seat.
It’s such a simple thing, but it makes me impossibly happy. I’m in my fantasy world- Adrian and I are a couple. This is what it would be like if we were traveling together. We’d stay at luxury hotels and order room service. We’d sit across the table from one another and make each other smile.
I wrap myself in this feeling. The warmth and rightness. The centeredness.
Some part of me knows it won’t last, but I steadfastly ignore that niggling.
For this moment, I’m going to bask in the attention of the man I’ve fallen head over heels in love with.
Adrian
I can’t do it.
I’m walking away from this endeavor entirely. No Interpol. No personal vengeance.
Kat deserves to be made whole, and bringing down or killing her only parent would just further throw her off-balance.
After we eat, I make quick work of tying up loose ends while she’s in the bathroom brushing her hair and getting ready.
Then I take Kat out. I pretend it’s for herbecause she needs to get out after being imprisoned for four daysbut really it’s for me.
I’m savoring these last few hours with her.
I take her first to Meir Street to shop. We find her a beautiful red woolen coat, and I buy it for her, but she refuses to put it on.
“I don’t want to take off your jacket.” She hugs herself as if to keep me from removing it. “It smells like you, and it makes me feel safe.”
My body liquifies into warm syrup.
“Oh.” She blinks up at me, arrested. “Are you cold, though?” She’s ridiculously cute.
“No.” A lump crowds my throat. “I’m from Russiathis isn’t cold to me. You keep it on, malyshka.”
After Meir Street, we head to the diamond district where I buy her a pink diamond stud to replace the little gold hoop she wears in her nose.
We sit down in a quaint restaurant for dinner. All the while, I memorize Kat’s face. Her smile. Her exuberance that lights up and dims in a chaotic pattern.
I order coffee and dessert, then send a text from her phonethe one I put back together while she was in the bathroom. I set the phone down on the seat beside me.
“I have to step out to make a call. You stay here.” It’s an order but a mild one. She searches my face as I stand. I tap the table. “Don’t leave, malyshka.”
“I won’t,” she promises, and I believe her.
That, more than anything, is what makes my chest fissure from the pain as I walk away, never to see Leon Poval’s daughter again.