Page 28 of Cruel Russian Monster
Jaroslav and I had already been down this path, and it didn't work. I couldn't get caught up in feeling anything for him.
I had to remember the plan: escape.
I yanked my hands away from his, cursing my feelings back to the dark void where they belonged.
I glared at him.
He wasn't the man I had fallen in love with three years ago. He was a different man now, detached and cruel.
Don't forget he kidnapped you and forced you to marry him.
I folded my arms across my chest. “Are you laughing at me?”
“No, I'm just wondering why you're so nervous around me.” He smirked. “Do you like what you see?”
Did a tiger have stripes?
Why was this man sexier than he was three years ago? And would he be even sexier three years from now?
I moaned inwardly as I felt myself becoming moist at just the damn thought.
Shit.
Ireallywanted him to leave my room.
He was standing there looking like a tall glass of ice water, and I was feeling thirty levels of thirsty, like I’d just walked from one end of the Sahara to the other.
“Tomas is also here,” I said, ignoring his question, hoping it’d prompt him to go. “He didn’t want to leave in case either one of us needed him. He stayed in one of the guest bedrooms.”
Maybe he'd go check in with Tomas, and finally put on some damn clothes.
What I didn’t expect was the way Jaroslav’s eyes narrowed.
Was he angry that Tomas had stayed in his house?
One thing I noticed about Jaroslav was that he didn't have anyone else living in this house with him. No housekeeper…no chef…no security detail. Which was weird for a man of his status.
I rushed to explain. “Please don’t be mad at him. I asked him to stay.”
Jaroslav didn't say anything.
My eyes widened. “God, I overstepped, didn’t I?”
I started pacing, my nerves getting the best of me. “I just…I felt safer knowing he was here in case something else happened and I couldn’t…and then you wouldn't wake up…and I…”
Jaroslav stepped forward and gently turned me to face him, his fingers tilting my chin until I met his gaze.
“It’s fine,” he said, tenderly. “I was just surprised he agreed to stay, considering he has two small kids at home.”
Why was he touching me?
And why was I allowing his touch to affect me this much?
I nodded slowly. “The last thing I wanted was for him to get fired. I don’t think I could’ve handled that…” My voice cracked slightly, and I lowered my eyes. “After everything.”
After almost losing the only man I’d ever loved.
I squeezed my eyes shut.
