Who have I been these last couple of years?
Just a monster with a scar … instead of the man she apparently sees in me.
I admire her ability to see beyond the surface.
No, I fucking worship it.
And just like that, I begin to realize I’m starting to fall for her. Hard.
“I like … you,” I say.
She opens her eyes softly, the corners of her lips tugging. Then she places a finger on my lips.
“Right …. Just fucking,” I say, nodding.
“No … I just mean it’s time for sleep,” she says, blinking at me.
“Hmm …” So there is still a possibility for her to like me for more than just my cock? She hasn’t denied me either, so that’s a definite plus. But it doesn’t mean she’ll stay.
I smell the top of her hair again, trying to memorize her scent in case I never get to smell it again. Because there’s a big chance she’ll eventually leave me, and I want to remember her forever.
Especially considering the decision I made tonight.
Vladim will come for her.
***
Morning
I wake up, and for the first time in forever, the nightmares that continuously haunt me don’t plague me. But when my eyes crack open, and I look around, I notice something’s missing.
Her.
Chapter 14
Viktor
I jump up out of bed and look around.
She’s nowhere to be seen.
I pull open the window and look out, but there’s nothing to see.
Shit.
Fuck!
Shit, she’s gone.
Running my hand through my hair, I take a deep breath. Then I pull on some sweatpants and a white shirt and rush out the door.
“Alexis!”
I run through the hallways, not giving a shit about the ache in my leg. I have to hurry. Maybe, she only left minutes ago and I can still catch up with her. Or maybe, she’s already gone, but then I’ll know exactly where she is too.
If that’s the case, she’s where she wants to be, but I’m not gonna let it happen.
She can’t return home.
Not with Vladim on her trail.
As I rush through the hall and make my way to the door, Winston peeks out the kitchen. “Viktor?”
“Not now, Stan.”
“Viktor … I don’t think you should rush off like that.”
“Not now, gramps!” I repeat as I put on my coat. “Gotta catch up with her.”
He clears his throat, crossing his arms.
“Catch up with who?”
It’s her.
I immediately turn around, only to spot her with a spoonful of cereal right in front of her mouth.
“You,” I mumble, stepping toward her.
Winston frowns, and I throw my coat at him as I walk past him.
“You’re still here,” I say, looking at her putting the spoon in her mouth.
When she’s done chewing and swallows, she answers, “Uh, yeah … where would I be?”
I lick my lips, my brows drawing together as I rub the back of my neck. I don’t wanna say it. I don’t want her to have to think about going back.
“Oh …” She puts her spoon down.
I guess she already figured it out.
“Home.”
I sigh as I sit down across from her. “Yeah.”
“You thought I’d left you,” she says, biting her lip.
“I … can’t lie. Sorry.”
“You keep thinking I’m going to leave.”
“Because I know you want to,” I say.
She shrugs. “Or maybe I quite like it here.”
“Liar.”
She narrows her eyes at me. “Whatever.”
Winston comes walking back in. “Don’t fight in the morning.” He grabs a bowl and a spoon from the kitchen and places it in front of me. “Eat.”
“Not hungry.” I shove them away, but he shoves them back.
From the corner of my eye, I see him glaring at me, but I don’t care. She’s staring at me too, and I’m not breaking contact either.
Without looking away, I grab the cereal and milk and pour them into my bowl. She takes another bite of her cereal, never taking her eyes off mine as I put the spoon in and taste it.
And then we sit and eat … and stare.
“Okay …” Winston says, and he grabs a newspaper and sits down on a stool in the kitchen and blocks us out while reading.
I don’t care. I’m not talking and neither is she. I’m not going to give her any more excuses to make a run for it, and she’s not telling me what she really thought when she saw me, so …
SMACK!
Something’s stuck to my face.
Sticky … milky … cereal.
And her face. It turns from a full-on frown to full-blown laughter.
She places her hand over her mouth, but it can’t hide her sly smile.
Grinding my teeth, I wipe my face off with a napkin and cock my head at her.