I fell back on the bed, and she followed, both of us staring up at the ceiling. In the hush of the room, she added, “On the date tomorrow, ask him anything you feel needs an answer.”
We talked for a while, arguing over little things and agreeing on others, until sleep crept in. Carina surrendered first, her breathing deepening until the softest snore slipped past her lips. I chuckled and slid off the bed. Since we were in a guest room, the extra bedding was always kept in the closet.
I opened the closet, pulled out a blanket, and laid it over her. She shifted but didn’t wake. I stood there watching her, wondering how she could find sleep so easily when my mind wouldn’t stop running in circles.
On the bedside table, my phone blinked. I reached for it, and to my surprise, Rodion’s name lit the screen with a text message. A rush of excitement bubbled through me.
I laughed and skidded back into the bed beside Carina, careful not to wake her. My thumbs hovered before I typed.
I waited, fingers tapping against the blanket, unnecessarily unsettled.
His reply came almost immediately.
A chuckle escaped me as I typed.
I bit down a laugh, shaking my head. Carina stirred beside me, so I stifled the sound, typing my reply in silence. Before I could send it, another message came through.
For a while, there was nothing, and I stared at the screen as if it could force him to respond. After a few minutes, he replied.
I rolled my eyes and whispered, “So where are they?” My fingers flew across the keys.
The pause stretched longer this time until finally his curt response appeared.
I couldn’t help myself.
I scoffed at the screen.
No reply followed. I set the phone back on the table and switched off the lights, yet I couldn’t stop smiling. He texted. The man who ruled everything stepped out of his comfort zone.
I wondered what he looked like while typing. Had he allowed himself to smile? Was he hunched over his desk in the office or already in bed somewhere?
The questions blurred with my thoughts until sleep pulled me down. Dreams weren’t shadows or blood, but Rodion. I dreamt of him walking toward me in a dinner suit, the kind that demanded a room’s attention. He caught every glance and stole the moment.
The dream shattered when a touch jolted me awake. My breath caught; lips pressed against mine, swallowing a scream that was rising. I blinked in shock. Rodion? My panic dissolved into a haze as his mouth devoured mine, a kiss so deep it stole every ounce of air from me.
He lifted me with ease, arms locked beneath me in a bridalhold, and carried me out of the room. I clung to his shoulders, dazed, not sure if I was still trapped in a dream or if he was truly here. He moved through the dimly lit hallway, straight to the staircase leading upstairs.
My voice came out in a whisper. “When did you get here?”
“A few minutes ago.” He took the stairs.
“But I thought you were in Florida.”
He pushed into his room and let the door click shut behind him. “I was.”
My brows knit together. “Isn’t that hours away?”
He lowered me down on the bed, his palm braced beside me as he hovered over me. “What time do you think it is?”
“I don’t know.”
His mouth pulled into a smirk. He straightened, stripping off his jacket. He then opened his shirt buttons, each one revealing more of the hard lines of his body. His belt, his pants, all came off until he was left in nothing but his briefs. He slipped into bed beside me.
I smiled despite myself, warmth curling in my chest.
His hand found mine, thumb rubbing lazily over my knuckles. “It’s almost dawn.”
I turned toward the window, but the heavy curtains let nothing in. “It feels like we just talked an hour ago.”