I take it out of the drawer and brush my thumb over it. It’s one of my best. The only one I still have left from before my face turned into that of a monster. It’s the only reminder I have left of a life without this pain.
“What is it?” Alexis asks, peeking over my shoulder.
I turn around and open my hand to show it to her. “A watch I made a long time ago.”
Her jaw drops. “You made this?” Her fingers reach for it, but then she hesitates. “Can I see?”
I nod and let it take her from me. Her fingers touch it as if it’s the most magical thing in the world, tapping and listening to the sound, her eyes sparkling with enthusiasm.
“Wow,” she murmurs. “This is incredible.”
“That one’s good, yeah. The others? Not so much.”
“Others? There’s more?” A glint in her eye appears that makes me smile.
“Yeah … I have more.”
“More watches? Or do you make other things too?”
“Rings. Bracelets. Necklaces. You name it.”
“Oh my God.” She smiles brightly. “That’s so awesome! I love jewelry.” She pets the watch as if it’s some kind of prized possession and looks at me from under her lashes. “How much do you have?”
“Hmm … enough.” I shrug. “But don’t think you can come here and rob me because I take prisoners.”
“No shit.” She raises a brow at me. “I don’t steal; that’s my sister’s thing. I just like … shinies, that’s all. Do you sell them?”
“Nah, it’s just an outlet for me. Nothing more.”
“Well, it’s pretty,” she says, handing the watch back to me. “Shame you’re keeping your talent to yourself.”
In a spur, I push it back into her hand. “You keep it.”
“What? No, it’s yours,” she says.
But I close her fingers around it. “Now, it’s yours.”
“But … this looks like it means something to you.”
“It does.” I take a short breath. “Which is why I want you to have it.”
She wets her lips and looks up at me. “I can’t ta—”
“You can.” I hold her hands, so she can’t give it back. “I want to give this to you.” I look deep into her eyes as I speak, hoping she understands why I want her to have this. “Your sister came for this. Look at it as my way of … making things right.”
I can’t set her free … but this, I can do.
Her brows draw together, and she looks at her hands, then back to me, and sighs. “All right.” She smiles, and her eyes turn watery, but she doesn’t cry. “Thank you.”
“It’s the least I could do.”
“Hmm …” She steps closer and leans up on her toes. Then she presses a simple, yet shattering kiss on my cheek. My bad cheek. The one covered in scars. And still, she lingers on my skin like it doesn’t matter to her … Like she can’t even feel them.
She places her hand on my other cheek and gently caresses me, smiling at me while looking at me with this strange, intoxicating look. It makes me want to grab her and kiss her.
But maybe that’s her point.
So I lean in, grab her waist, and kiss her right on the lips.
She tastes so good. Like sweets and milk and everything that’s bad for you, but so delicious.
I can’t get enough.
Her hands find their way to my ass, pulling me closer to her, making me groan into her mouth. I lick her lips and coax her mouth to open. Her tongue meets mine, entangling in each other’s mouths, wanting every last taste of it.
She squeezes my ass, making me jolt up and down. I’m still not used to the touch, but I can’t get enough either. She’s just that addictive.
When she takes her lips off me, I can still feel them burn on my mouth. She smiles coyly and turns around, casually sauntering off.
For a second, I’m still hazy, but then I realize I didn’t just feel her squeeze.
The kiss was a distraction.
“Hey …”
She glances over her shoulder and then her eyes widen the moment she sees me come toward her.
She starts to run.
“Fuck!” I scream, yelling after her. “Give me back my goddamn phone. You won’t get away with this, Lexi!”
Chapter 15
Alexis
With Viktor on my heels, I rush up the stairs, holding the phone tight.
I know what I did was a low blow, but I had to do it. I need to call my sister … I have to know if she’s okay and to tell her that I’m fine.
He reminded me of her, and now, I can’t get her out of my mind.
If he’s mad, so be it. It’s his own fault for making me think of her.