Page 21 of Branded in Love
“In Russia, there’s no waiting between first and second rounds,” he almost sings.
I glare at him. “Well, if you’re having another, I want one too. So fill it!” I give him my glass.
It doesn’t take much to persuade him. We have another shot. This one doesn’t burn as much. I’m actually enjoying it.
The timer rings. Gavriil turns off the stove. He sets aside the skillet and serves our dishes. “Mm… Sasha would be proud.” He drags a stool and sits next to me.
I grab the bottle of Beluga and pour us another shot.“Salute,”I say.
A heartfelt smile stretches his lips. It makes my limbs melt. “I know what we need,” I say, leaning forward as I hold his warm stare.
Gavriil rests his strong jaw in his fist. “What do we need?” he whispers. His voice is sensual and intimate. His widened pupils swallow me whole... Unstoppable waves of excitement wash over me. I cannot look away.
“Music,” I say simply.
He takes out his cell phone and opens an app. “Here.” He offers me the phone. “Choose anything you like.” His serene maroon eyes find mine again. He stares at me with such intent that it makes my heart turn over in response.
Out of the corner of my eye, I see him fill the glasses. I’m going through his playlists, delighted as I discover that his favorite songs match mine. I choose the one with an ethereal dream-like vibe, and the music plays in the house through a ceiling speaker system.
Gavriil hands me my glass. He makes another toast in Russian. A shock ripples through my body each time he speaks in his mother tongue. I don’t think he realizes how attractive he is, even more so now that he’s loosened up. I don’t even ask him what he said. I simply pour the delicious vodka down my throat and enjoy every single part of this moment.
He lowers his glass and sets it in front of him. He then crosses his arms over the table and hunches a little. A soft sigh sails through his lips. “You continue to amaze me, Luciana…” he blurts.
“Huh?” I pout, pushing my glass aside.
He rakes his fingers through his hair, suppressing a smile. “When I told you that your boyfriend was a vampire…”
“He wasn’t my boyfriend.” I bristle. God, how many times do I have to say it?
Gavriil shoots me a knowing look. “When I told you,” he continues, “you took the news rather well…” He bites his lower lip. “Then I take you to Natalya, and you don’t even question the fact that she’s a witch.” He shrugs matter-of-factly.
My brow furrows. “Why would I?”
“Exactly,” he says, baffled, for some reason.
“Then she tells you I’m a warlock,” he mumbles with a vacant stare, almost to himself. “You don’t even flinch.”
A snigger escapes from my mouth. “Is that all you’ve got?” I taunt him.
His darkened stare cuts to mine. “Oh, I’ve got more…” His intensity jolts my heart into a quickened beat.
I hold my breath, trying to pace my pulse. But it doesn’t do much to help. “Really?” I manage. “Well, let’s hear it.”
Gavriil heaves a deep sigh. His gaze drifts towards the vodka. “I’m gonna need another one of these first…” he says, grabbing the bottle, then pouring himself a drink.
I push my glass towards him, but he holds it by the rim and puts it away. “No, no…” he groans. “I want you sober for this.” Another sharp stare locks in my eyes. “As sober as possible, that is.”
I scoff. “I’m perfectly fine,” I tell him. The fact that I have to say it makes me giggle. I roll my eyes back. My face feels so warm. “Spill it.”
Gavriil drinks the shot. His fingers glide over his lips for a second. “When you asked if I was a vampire hunter,” he begins, hesitant, “you weren’t all that astray.” He swallows hard. “Vampires have natural enemies. You see…”
“You’re a warlock,” I say in reassurance. “I know.”
“I ammorethan that,” he says in a low voice.
“Like what?” I blurt. “A werewolf?” A smile thins my lips.
His expression remains impassive. “Try another beast,” he murmurs, looking away. “Like… a bear.”
