Page 60 of The Cute Psycho

VLAD

Iwait for her to answer, wanting her, no, needing her to tell me it wasn't justkindness.

Imagine my shock when I'd come around, only to feel soft lips pressed to mine, the intoxicating scent of her body invading my nostrils.

It's never happened before. Never have I snapped out of one of my rages like today, and it's all because of her.

I sneak a glance at Sisi, and for the thousandth time, I have to wonder what it is abouther. I've only been around her for a few hours now, and already, I feel more at peace than I have in ages.

Maybe it's because Vanya is not around, invading my space and holding me accountable for everything that happens around me. For the first time, it's just me.

And her.

Fuck, and that kiss that wasn't really a kiss but more of a peck... Even now, thinking about it, I just want to close my eyes and embed it into my memory.

She doesn't realize that being this near to her has been the closest I've been to another human being in... forever. She's bold and openwith her touch, sometimes her hand reaching for mine without her realizing it.

It shocks me.

It delights me.

I don't think I've ever felt the absence of touch until she decided to strut into my life and turn it upside down. What is a man to do when he's suddenly faced with all the things he's never had, all within reach?

Take. Take and selfishly take.

But the most bizarre thing is her easy acceptance of me. She'd neither been shocked nor scared, when so many before her have shunned and ostracized me, fear being the ultimate impetus for their actions.

Not in her case.

So accustomed I've grown with others being terrified of me that I have to continually ask her if she's scared yet, worried there may come a moment when I'd be too much for her and she'd just... disappear.

No, that's out of the question.

I'll keep her by my side even if I have to fight her, or Marcello and an entire army. I'd already pretty much decided that when I'd been in her room, but tonight just solidified my decision.

Besides, if she's there to stop my blackouts, then she's also helping other people, since I won't be killing as many anymore. The way I see it, it's a win-win situation.

Satisfied with my line of thought, a smile pulls at my lips.

"What are you smiling at?" she asks, looking all suspicious, her arms crossed over her chest... Already my eyes are following another path, and I have to shake myself to focus on the road.

"Me?" I feign innocence, but seeing her pout at me, those full lips demanding my whole attention, I can't help myself. "When I lose my manners next time, will you kiss me again?"

Her eyes widen, and she blinks rapidly, looking at me as if she didn't hear me.

"If I must," she murmurs, a little too low, but it's all the incentive I need to pull over.

"What..." She trails off as she sees me open a small compartment, taking a set of knives and testing each blade before settling on one. Justas I'm about to cut my arm open, she stops me, her hand covering my own as she's trying to snatch the knife from me.

"You're crazy," she mutters, forcefully dislodging my fingers from the knife. "Why would you do that to yourself?"

"So you can kiss me again," I answer honestly.

She regards me curiously, all the while taking all sharp objects from my proximity and stuffing them back in the compartment.

"You liked it that much?" she asks, lowering her gaze as a blush envelops her cheeks.

"It was nice." I shrug.

---