“No,” I said too quickly, before he could finish. I didn’t want to hear it. If he meant to say it meant nothing or I shouldn’t getattached, I didn’t need to hear it. I stared at his chest, forcing down the lump in my throat. “I know. You don’t have to say it.”
“I see.” He fell quiet for a moment, then asked, “Was it bad?”
My eyes raised to him. “Sorry?”
“The sex,” he said calmly. “Was it bad?”
I wanted the ground to open and swallow me. My cheeks burned. Was it normal for him to talk about it so casually? As he lifted the coffee to his lips, I grabbed the cup and took a huge sip.
The bitterness hit my tongue. I groaned, coughed, and hissed, “Why the fuck is this so bitter?”
When he smirked, I took another sip. Somehow, the bitterness helped. After downing the rest, I handed the cup back to him. “I need a shower.”
He took the cup but didn’t release my hand. His fingers curled around mine. With his usual effortless confidence, he hooked a finger under my chin and lifted my face.
“You didn’t answer the question.”
“I don’t want to talk about it.”
“So it was bad?” he asked.
“I didn’t say that.”
“You are behaving like it.”
I blinked. “No.”
Rodion studied me. The corner of his mouth twitched like he was holding something back. “You also said a lot while sleeping.”
“No, I didn’t.” Taking a step back, I pointed at the bathroom. “I’ll use the shower.”
He didn’t say a word. I grabbed the T-shirt from my feet and backed towards the door. His eyes stayed on me, puzzled, like he couldn’t grasp why I didn’t want to flash my bare ass.
Once I opened the door and stepped in, I ran to the mirror and stared at my reflection.
Jesus.
My hair stuck out in every direction, my lips were swollen,and a small trail of dried drool marked my cheek. I wiped it off, dragging my fingers through my hair and cursing under my breath.
Faint love marks along my neck caught my eye. I touched them, feeling the ghost of his lips. His gentleness last night was the part that bothered me the most. I didn’t expect him to hold me or stay in bed afterwards.
I looked down at the tender outline between my legs. He marked me. My legs pressed together on instinct, and I bit my lip. I was sore, but it wasn’t bad. It was the kind that made your body remember every second. And even now, a dangerous part of me craved more.
The door opened, and I turned so fast I almost slipped. My pulse slammed in my chest as Rodion walked in, completely naked. I backed away, reaching for my T-shirt like it could protect me.
My eyes dropped to his cock before I could stop them. I looked away so fast my neck twinged. He was half hard, as if one touch would wake him fully. He walked past me like I wasn’t even in the room, turned on the shower, and stepped under it.
What the hell was wrong with this man? I found my tee and clutched it as I moved towards the door. He rubbed his chest like none of this was strange. Like we were a married couple easing into a lazy morning.
“I... I’ll use the other room.”
“Just get in here, Alessia,” he said before I reached the door.
My hand froze on the doorknob, and my eyes closed. I could still feel his touch and the softness. If I stepped into that shower, I would kiss him. I knew it.
The T-shirt slipped from my fingers when Rodion grabbed my wrist and turned me toward him. His eyes stayed on mine as he guided me to the shower. I stepped in, the water hitting my skin with a slow, coaxing heat. My body tensed, then eased.
Rodion released my wrist and grabbed the shower gel. He poured some into his palm, then handed the bottle to me. I took it, poured, and handed it back. Turning away, I washed my hands and shoulders.