Page 76 of Sinful Promise

As much as I want to kiss Danil, I don’t want to risk getting hurt. If he sees a relationship between us as nothing more than a game, then I don’t want any part of it.

I want him, but only if what he’s offering me is real.

The moment Alek parks the car in the underground garage of Zara and Dimitri’s building, I pull my hand free of Danil’s grip and climb out of the car. The alcohol in my system, combined with sitting so close to him for the past thirty minutes, has my entire body on fire. It also doesn’t help that the garage is like a sauna; the air thick, and my skin breaks out in a sweat.

“Emily?”

“Danil, please, I…” My hand goes to my throat, and I try to take a breath as he gets out of the car and comes over to me, looking so breathtakingly handsome that my knees almost give out.

I need some air.

Now.

“Let’s get you inside.” He places a hand on the small of my back.

I step away from him, and I don’t miss the hurt that flashes in his dark eyes. “No. I just… I need some space to think.”

And I can’t do that with you touching me.

Surprisingly, Danil lets me walk away, and I take the elevator up to the penthouse, alone.

Thankfully, when the doors slide open, the place seems to be deserted, so I quickly hurry upstairs to my room before Danil has a chance to catch up to me.

I throw myself on the enormous bed and bury my face in the pillows.

Fuck tonight.

In fact, fuck every night since my heart decided it wanted to fall in love with Danil.

Because that’s what’s happening here. I’m falling in love with a man I’m not sure I can trust, and I don’t think I have the strength to fight against it for much longer.

I’m just sosickof putting myself out there and getting hurt. Why can’t things just be easy for once?

A soft knocking sounds at my door, and I let out a groan.

“Go away, Danil!”

Zara opens the door. “It’s me. Is everything okay?”

I lift my head and cringe at the concerned look on my sister's face.

She’s in her pajamas, and her hair is slightly messy, as if she has just woken up.

I sit up. “Shit, did I wake you?”

“No, Sasha did, but Dimitri’s gone to check on her. So, tell me, is everything okay?” Zara comes into the room and closes the door.

“Yes.” I know Zara won’t believe me.

“Emily—”

“Look, I’ve had a really long day. Danil can fill Dimitri in on what happened.”

“So, something happened?”

“I’m not really sure. Like I said, Danil can fill you in. I just want to have a shower and go to bed.”

“Okay, well… I’m here if you want to talk.”