Page 77 of Born into Madness
“You know I’d never lie to you,” Sasha tells him. “I was just as stunned by it as you are. He’s never once tried to bite her.”
“I’m a little jealous,” Niki admits. “He’s only ever tried to kill me.”
“Can’t wait to meet him,” Sav says with about as much enthusiasm as she’d show for a dentist appointment.
“He’s a sweetheart,” I say, sticking up for the dog I love.
Sasha’s large hand squeezes my inner thigh, and I smile up at him. I think he loves that I’m protective of his dog. I’m stillgrinning up at him when another cramp hits me hard. I try to hide it, but judging by the way he narrows his eyes in worry, I’m not doing a very good job of it. While Sav and Niki both reach for the last taco, Sasha slips a hand in his pocket and pulls out a couple of pills and puts them in my palm. I immediately recognize the blue pills, and when I roll them over and see Midol written along the capsule, I know with absolute certainty that I love this man. Not only did he bring along a knife, but he also planned ahead and tossed a couple of Midol in his pocket just in case I needed them.
“Thanks, Sasha,” I tell him before quickly putting them in my mouth and taking a drink.
“I’ll always take care of you,krovinka.” His fingers brush my cheek, forcing an involuntary response of me leaning in for more while simultaneously closing my eyes and feeling the all-too familiar ache bloom between my legs. “In every way imaginable.”
My cheeks heat up along with the rest of my body, and when I look over, Niki and Sav are both staring at us. Niki looks stunned, making it clear that Sasha’s never acted this way with anyone else, and even though I already knew this, it’s still nice to be reminded of it. Sav is looking at me with big lovey-dovey eyes, nothing but pure happiness shooting out of her right now at seeing me in love.
“This is going to take some getting used to,” Niki says, using his chip to point between the two of us. “My brain is having a really hard time with this.”
“What?” Sav asks. “He’s not usually this sweet.”
Niki laughs. “He’s a lot like his dog. It’s not really safe for him to be around others, and no one is stupid enough to try and get close.”
“Well, my dog and I both fell hard,” Sasha says. He gives his cousin a wicked-looking grin. “But don’t worry, nothing else has changed.”
“So she didn’t tame everything?” Niki asks.
“There’s no taming that, I’m afraid,” Sasha tells him, “but Cyn is proof that I’m human.”
I lean my head against his shoulder, loving the feel of him next to me, the strength that emanates from his body even when he’s just sitting down. I love it, and when he wraps his arm around me and kisses the top of my head, I know he loves it, too.
Before anyone can say anything else, Niki checks his phone and then shoots a quick look to Sasha. He tells him something in Russian that makes Sasha laugh, the deep sound vibrating up his chest while Niki looks stunned and I swear a shade paler than he was a second ago.
“Is everything okay?” I ask.
Niki types out a quick response before putting his phone away and saying, “Yeah, I need to get going, though. Apparently, I’m getting my nose pierced tonight.”
Sav laughs. “What?”
“I made a bet with Sasha’s younger sister. I honestly didn’t think she’d win, but I gave my word, so a nose piercing it is.” He looks over at me and says, “It was nice to meet you, Cindy. I’m sure I’ll see you again soon. After all, you still need to meet the rest of us.”
I’m already feeling nervous about it, and Niki must see the worry written all over my face, because he says, “Don’t worry. They’re going to love you.”
He stands up and adjusts his messenger bag before switching to Russian so he and Sasha can have a conversation without us. Being around them is a great motivator to study harder because I’m tired of being left out. He smacks Sasha on the shoulder, but before he turns to leave, he looks back at Sav and says, “It wasgood meeting you, Van. If you ever want me to take a look at that computer of yours, just let Sasha know.”
I’ve never seen my friend look so flummoxed, but she manages to tamp down her huge smile enough to say, “Thanks, and it was nice meeting you too.”
He’s gone before the blush can leave her cheeks, and when she turns to me, she looks lit up from the inside, like someone shoved a sparkler up her ass. I don’t ask her flat-out if he’s passed thePride and Prejudicetest, but I do hold up my pinkie finger and give it a wiggle while raising a brow.
She knows I’m asking if she felt any fireworks, and she quickly shakes her head and says, “Like you wouldn’t believe.”
Sasha’s kind enough to not ask what’s going on, but I’m pretty sure he’s already got the gist of it. He’s observant enough to pick up on the obvious attraction, and, well, Sav’s having a hard time hiding anything right now. I’m guessing she’s never been so happy to have shitty computer skills. It gives her the perfect excuse to see him again.
“So, do you want dessert,Van?” I ask, unable to resist calling attention to the nickname Niki had given her.
She tries to not smile and fails miserably. “You know I can’t leave here without the sopapilla.” Her eyes lift up to Sasha. “That’s how she got me to try this place. She bribed me with dessert.”
I grin and shrug. “It worked.”
“Like a charm,” Sav admits.
