Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 83195 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 416(@200wpm)___ 333(@250wpm)___ 277(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83195 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 416(@200wpm)___ 333(@250wpm)___ 277(@300wpm)
I also wonder what his obsession with Cinita is. I feel like he’s just waiting until she gets in touch with me or something. Like I’m a placeholder.
As he slips into the driver’s seat, I ask, “Have you stopped looking for her?”
He starts the engine, and I instantly reach to buckle myself in. I’m pretty sure the seat belt saved my life last time, so I’m definitely opting to wear it again. I notice his hands tighten around the steering wheel, and at first, I think he won’t answer me. I mean, he doesn’t have to, and he’s certainly selective as to when he wants to speak.
“No.”
My stomach drops, and I don’t like the way it feels. I can’t seriously like this guy, right?
“What is your fascination with her?” His eyes are dark in the moonlight as they lock on mine before he looks away and continues driving. He doesn’t answer me right away. I’m used to him not responding, so we sit in the car in silence.
What is it about Cinita that has this man in such a chokehold? It can’t be just about beauty. Though, yes, she’s a stunning woman. She moves as if the air was her dance partner. I had never seen anyone dance as expressively as her, and it surprised me that she wasn’t dancing for bigger shows. Cinita can dance, but she’s also a wraith. One moment, she’s there, and the next, she’s vanished.
“I don’t have a fascination with her,” he finally says after about five minutes of silence. “She was at the same orphanage as Anya and me.”
I bite my lip because he makes it sound like that’s explanation enough. But it certainly doesn’t clarify as to what their relationship is now.
“Were you all close growing up?” I ask. Trying to pry information from Alek is like getting into a heavily guarded vault.
“No,” he answers.
Right. So still no real explanation as to what type of relationship they have. One thing I’m pretty sure of is that Anya doesn’t like her. But why should I care what their relationship is like? It’s not like Alek and I are a thing. Sure, we kissed—and it was a hot fucking kiss—but that was it, wasn’t it?
He pulls over to the curb, and I realize we’re in front of my apartment building. As strange as things have been since Alek stepped into my life, I’m also grateful for his generosity and kindness.
I turn to give him my full attention. “Do you want to come up?”
“Do you want to fuck?” he asks boldly.
My jaw drops. “I…”
“I would fuck you, Lena, if you want to,” he adds. I’m pretty sure my eyes bulge from my head at his words.
“I-I meant to see the f-furniture,” I stutter. “Since you bought everything, I thought you might want to see it.” I feel stupid now, realizing it probably did sound like I was propositioning him.
He’s staring at me so intently I can’t look away before he finally says, “Okay.”
I climb out of the car, the awkwardness heavy in the air, more so coming from me than him. Then again, I couldn’t imagine Alek ever being nervous, but now that he’s brought up fucking, it’s all I can think about as we walk up the five flights of stairs.
He waits patiently as I fish my keys out of my bag. My heart is pounding in my chest. I can smell him right next to me, and his words sink further into my head. It’s been over a year since I’ve had a man in my bed. Do I want him in my bed? I’ve thought about it, but he rejected me so epically last time that surely he’s made it clear he’s not interested. I squash the hope of his words from the car. He says he would, but can he really? How does that even work for someone who hates touching people?
“Stop shaking. I didn’t tell you I was going to skin you alive and fuck your corpse.”
“Fucking hell,” I mumble, managing to get the key close to the door. “You do that?”
He smiles, and I can’t help but be mesmerized by it. In a horrific way.
“Skin people? Sure, I’ve done it once or twice. But fucked a corpse? No. I like my women to scream, and dead women can’t scream.” The keys drop from my hand, and he bends down to pick them up. “You dropped these,” he says with a smile, and, fuck me, my panties just melted.
“Go in,” I say with a wave. He steps in first, scanning everything before his gaze lands back on me.
Alek is a very good-looking man, but I never noticed this the first time I met him. It’s hard not to notice that, but he also gives off don’t-fucking-talk-to-me vibes, and he does it very, very well, so I really have no fucking idea where I stand with him.