Page 35 of Cruel Russian Monster
“Of course it was.” He smiled.
“And I hope you don’t think that once I leave here, I’m heading straight home. I’ve got some shopping to do.”
“Which you could just do online,” Jaroslav said, the playful ease between us dimming.
I smiled, trying to keep things light. “It’s not nearly as fun clicking a button as it is walking through a store, talking to actual people.”
Jaroslav gave me a strange look. So I turned back to the shelves and grabbed two more books, pretending to be absorbed in the titles.
“Vera,” he said quietly, “why did you sneak out?”
“For the second time, I didn’t sneak out.”
He didn’t argue. Instead, he added the books from my hands to the ones in his and set them on the nearby table. Then he reached out and tilted my chin up with a gentle touch.
“Vera, talk to me. There’s a reason you did this. What is it?”
I bit down on the inside of my cheek, hesitating.
Would he even care if I told him?
“Why do you care?” I asked softly.
He sat on the edge of the table, legs parted, and gently pulled me between them.
His thumb brushed along my cheek, slowly.
“Why wouldn’t I?”
“Do you really want me to give you a list?” I rolled my eyes, and he chuckled.
But then his tone shifted into a serious one. “Vera, I’m asking because I genuinely want to know. I don’t like the thought of you wandering around this damn city alone. That night at the bar…I got there in time. Next time…I might not.”
He exhaled, voice softening even more. “Please…”
“I’m bored,” I sighed. “You’re never around. I’m not used to sitting around doing nothing. I’m not used to being in a big house all by myself. I'm used to always having someone around.”
I swallowed hard, then lowered my eyes.
Now I just sound like a damn baby.
“Never mind. It’s fine. I’ll be okay.”
I tried to step out of his grasp, but he didn’t let go.
“Vera.”
He cradled my face in his hands. “I agree, you will be okay. But only if you let me in. I can’t help if I don’t know what’s wrong.”
I dropped my gaze, my fingers curling gently around his wrists.
He didn’t push; he didn’t say another word. He just waited.
A few minutes passed before I finally looked up and met his eyes.
“I miss my life…shopping, going to the club, dancing…”
My voice wavered. “I miss my family. I miss Katya and Alexi. Hell, I even miss hanging out with your family at Lev’s.”
