Page 48 of Born into Madness
“What?” I’m so shocked by what he’s said that it takes me a second to add, “Why on earth would I be embarrassed of you?”
He shrugs his broad shoulders. “I don’t exactly fit in around here. If you’d rather, I can go back to watching you from the shadows. I won’t be mad, Cyn. I don’t want to make things harder for you.”
“I don’t want you to leave,” I quickly say.
The corner of his mouth lifts up. “I never offered to leave,krovinka. That’s not an option. I can hide, though, if you’d prefer that.”
“I don’t want you to hide, Sasha.” I reach up and rest my hand on his firm chest. “I don’t ever want you to hide.”
His eyes soften at my words, and before I even have a chance to take my next breath, his mouth is on mine and he’s kissing me like he’s starved for the taste of me. God, this man undoes me so easily. His mouth is soft but insistent, his tongue demanding entrance but when he slides in past my lips, it’s not harsh or rough. It’s slow and insanely erotic, and by the time he pulls away, I’m breathless and every inch of me is lit up and buzzing. I’m desperate for more, and if we weren’t in the middle of campus and attracting a crowd, I’d be wrapping my arms and legs around him and begging him to take my virginity, because Sasha definitely passes the fireworks test. Everything lights up when he’s near me.
“I missed you, my little Cyn,” he whispers against my lips.
“I missed you, too,” I whisper back, and then I give a soft laugh. “Everyone is watching us.”
“Let them.”
“I think some of the girls are drooling and probably wishing me a horrible death.”
His arms tighten around me. “If anyone hurts you, they’re fucking dead.”
I know he isn’t kidding, that it’s not some careless threat he’s throwing around to make himself seem tough. Hewillkill anyone who hurts me, and I should probably be appalled by that. I’m not, though. Instead, I kiss him again and run my fingers through his dark hair.
“Thanks for showing me your face,” I tell him.
His eyes search mine. “Not disappointed?”
“I mean, a little,” I say with a nonchalant shrug. “But I’ll get over it.”
He actually looks worried for a split second before I smile and start laughing. “Jesus, Sasha, you’re gorgeous. You have toknow this. I mean, look around. Everyone is staring at you and wondering why in the hell you’re standing here with me.”
“Why would they wonder about that?” he asks, and the confusion on his face isn’t an act. Sasha is hard to figure out. His way of thinking is obviously different, but he also seems to have a problem with social cues and understanding things that come easily to others, like the fact that he looks like a god and he’s chosen to wrap his arms around a commoner.
“Because you could be with anyone you want,” I try to explain. When he still looks confused, I add, “Like one of the beautiful Kappa girls.” I suddenly realize what I’ve just said and shake my head. “Why in the hell am I telling you this?”
“I don’t want anyone else. I thought I made that clear the last time I saw you.” His fingers thread into my hair as he plants his other hand firmly against my lower back. It’s a possessive grip, one that I couldn’t easily get out of. Every hard inch of him is pressing against every much softer inch of me. “I’m not sure why you think you’re not as good as other women, but we’re going to be talking about this later. I don’t like it, and it needs to stop.”
He doesn’t give me a chance to argue, just pats my ass and gives me another kiss before saying, “You’re going to be late,krovinka. Let’s go.”
I manage to make it through my next two classes, but I know I’m going to need to study extra hard because I barely paid attention in either of them. It’s impossible to focus on cell biology when you have a Russian wet dream sitting right next to you, stroking your thigh.
When I’m finally done for the day and we’re on our way back to my dorm building, I hear someone shout my name. Surprised to hear my roommate’s voice, I stop and wait for her to catch up. She runs towards us in her tiny top and skirt, blonde hair softly blowing in the wind, and I let out a soft groan. I feel like I’m watching aBaywatchreenactment, and when she stops in frontof us, the overeager smile she gives Sasha makes it clear I’m not the reason she wanted us to stop.
“Oh my god, Cindy, you didn’t tell me you have a boyfriend,” she gushes while she gives Sasha a flirty wink.
“Um,” I start to say, not sure at all how to handle this, but Sasha immediately steps in and says, “She probably didn’t think it was any of your business.”
Brittney falters at his tone, but true to hernever give upattitude, she puts a hand on her slender hip and says, “Well, it’s kind of my business if you’re going to be coming to visit or maybe even staying over.” Her smile widens when she says the last bit, and throughout the entire exchange she’s yet to even glance in my direction.
“How will it beyourbusiness if I’m staying over to seemygirlfriend?” he asks.
“Because we share a room,” Brittney says, and then gives a little giggle. “I didn’t even know anyone was interested in Cindy. I mean, she never leaves the room unless it’s to go pick up food.”
Right when I feel my face heat up and a very strong desire for the earth to open up and swallow me whole, Sasha tightens his grip on me and says, “Well, I’m very interested.” His blue eyes find mine before he adds, “And I love how seriously she takes her classwork. I think it’s fucking adorable when she orders pizza and stays in to study and watch Netflix.”
My smile falters because that’s oddly fucking accurate, but he just gives me a wink before turning back to Brittney, who’s not looking quite so chipper anymore. She doesn’t have it in her to just give up, though, so she makes one last attempt to catch Sasha’s eye. In a practiced move I’ve seen her do before, she shifts her weight to one leg and starts to lift her foot, pretending to adjust the ankle sock she’s wearing. Leaning over a bit so her cleavage is on full display, she looks up from her lashes and reaches for Sasha’s arm for balance. Instead of helping her, hequickly takes a step back while keeping me right next to him. I watch as Brittney opens her mouth in surprise before losing her balance and falling right onto her ass.
I’m just as shocked as my roommate, so that at least saves me from barking out a laugh at the sight of her. Furious, she smacks her hand on the ground and yells, “Why’d you just let me fall?”
