Page 22 of Sinful Promise

I know he’s constantly comparing himself to his brothers and Anton, but in my eyes, he’s the best out of all of them by a long shot. Not just in the looks department, but also in how incredibly kind and funny he is.

“Because you’re cute when you get all worked up.”

Heat scorches my cheeks.

He thinks I’m cute?

“Thanks?”

“You’re welcome.”

Danil disappears behind his menu again, and I take a moment to admire his tanned and muscular forearms that are on show. There’s just something about them that has my mind filled with many filthy thoughts.

“I am ridiculously thirsty.” I pour myself another glass of water and down the contents in one go when the waiter comes to our table.

We place our order, and the waiter walks away.

“Other than your lecture running late, how is your day going?”

I can’t help but notice that he’s avoiding eye contact with me. Instead, he’s running his finger around the rim of his coffee cup.

And then there was the hiding behind the menu even though he always orders the same thing…

Why is he being weird? Is it because he heard what Jana said at the bar the other night?

My body stiffens at the thought.

That must be it.

This isexactlywhat I was afraid of—that Danil would act differently around me if he learned how I truly felt about him.

But then again, Danil is never one to shy away from difficult conversations. Surely, if he overheard, he would have brought it up?

Between the stalker incident and the possibility of Danil learning about my true feelings, my head feels like it’s about to explode with all the thoughts that are swarming around inside of it.

With all that’s happened over the last couple of days, I can’t get my brain to focus. I spent an hour this morning finishing up a multiple-choice quiz that should have taken less than ten minutes, all because I couldn’t stop worrying about the guy who’s been breaking into my apartment.

Not only that, but when I avoid thinking about my stalker, my brain fixates on whether Danil overheard Jana telling me I should just fuck him.

He’s not brought it up that makes me think that he didn’t, so I should be relieved. But I’m not.

I guess on some level I was kind of hoping he had heard and would decide to act on?—

“Hello?”

I snap back to reality to find Danil smiling at me. “Huh?”

“Am I that boring?”

“You are many things, Danil Koslov, but boring is not one of them.”

He quirks an eyebrow. “Oh yeah? Then, what am I?”

“A pain in my ass?”

Danil throws his head back and laughs, and I find myself laughing too. Being around Danil never fails to make me feel better.

I smile at him. “So, what’s new with you?”

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