Page 41 of The Tsar's Obsession
"Then I'll burn with you, baby."Baby.I hadn't noticed how that word began to feel like the only thing I wanted to hear.
"I'll fall with you,svet moy."My light,my world.I didn't realize how easy and natural that sounded.
"I'll keep you in my arms, away from judgment day, Sunshine."Sunshine.I refused to admit how addicted I was to his voice pronouncing that sweet name.
Kirill didn't break any of his rules, while all of mine shattered when my lips touched his. But one night couldn't turn into forever.
18
All Of You
Kirill
Miashiftedbesideme,the morning light barely peeking through the heavy clouds outside.
Like an angel, I felt her lean in and plant the softest kiss on my forehead. Her gentle hands traced my eyebrows before sliding down my cheeks and then cutting all contact.
"Fuck." Her little whisper was filled with anxiety. I peeked my eyes open to see her sitting on the edge of the bed, staring out the window, her hair tangled and wild after everything that happened between us.
She was sure I was asleep, but in fact, it was me who woke her up, unable to keep my lips off her shoulders.
Laying still, I observed how she moved around my bedroom, her body carved by God himself, and found her dress. She easily slipped it on before searching for her shoes and purse. She never found her thong.
She was leaving. Without even saying goodbye.
I'd experienced so much pain in my life. I'd been stabbed, shot at, had my ribs broken with a bat. I'd been burned; I'd been hit with a car. Nothing felt as painful as watching her sneak out when she thought I was asleep.
Keeping my eyes almost closed and not daring to move, Istilled my breathing when she approached my side of the bed. She kissed me. Soft. Hesitant. A goodbye. Not wanting to leave. Not wanting to break this. But doing it anyway.
But before she could pull away, I snapped. My fingers closed around her wrist, yanking her back into my arms, into my fucking orbit, where she belonged.
"Don't go," I gritted out, pressing her into me, afraid she might vanish. She giggled. That pure and light sound gave my soul the peace I so craved. "Don't go."
Our bodies, so hot against each other, fit perfectly like two missing pieces of a puzzle that completed the picture.
"I can't find my thong. You can have that as a trophy for winning this game," she breathed into my ear, not daring to look me in the eyes.
"I don’t want the trophy. I just want you. All of you, Mia."
She was slipping away, reluctantly untangling herself. "I can't. Just one night, remember? And the night is over. Don't call me." Her voice broken with her own message, she abandoned me in my bed and walked out. Out of my apartment, out of sight, out of reach.
Everyone has their demons. Mia had her own, but I would take them, submit them, and kill them so she could see the light. It was me and her; she couldn't fight it.
I respected her rule. I didn’t call all day. But by nightfall, all bets were off. I called—she didn’t pick up. I texted, but Mia never responded. I gave her a week while Yuri reported her whereabouts.
I was dying. Sick. Unable to focus on anything. There was nothing inside me, and nothing fucking mattered. Absentmindedly, I’d stare out the window of my office, replaying every second of our time together.
Was this what she actually wanted, to never see me again? Then she made a mistake, and I would help her fix it. Thankfully, I had someone on my side. Viv asked Mia out fordrinks, but I would be there instead. A whole fucking week after she left my apartment.
There she was, stepping into the bar in a little black dress with polka dots, casual and so fucking mesmerizing I almost drooled. She was under the impression that she would meet Viv, but her eyes widened when she caught me approaching her little table and taking a seat in front of her.
Fuck. I should have just been honest from the beginning. I should have told her who I was and why I was in her life. But I was too scared she wouldn't have given this a chance.
"Hello," I opened the conversation, but she merely nodded. "I don’t like being ignored, Mia. Especially by you.”
"I'm sorry. I didn't want to ignore you, but I also didn't want to..." She trailed off, not having any real reason. Keeping my eyes on her, I nodded while she shifted uncomfortably in her chair.
"Now. Tell me why you're doing this. Don't lie. Don't make up excuses. Just tell me.” I leaned in, finally getting a dose of her sweet scent.
