Page 33 of Night So Silent
The way he says it sends a tremor from my chest down through my belly.
“Um…I…” I clear my throat, my mind racing. “What?”
Goosebumps bloom over my arms and my hands turn clammy. Sergei comes to a halt just inches from my chest, so close that I can smell the torturous aroma of oakmoss and wintergreen emanating from his daunting stature. “You take care of everyone else. Does anyone take care of you?”
I have to tip my head back to look up at him. He’s stifling…in the best way.
“I take care of myself—inallways,” I retort, finally finding my voice again.
“Apparently.” He plants his palms on the counter at my sides, towering over me. “You’re intelligent and resourceful, but you’d rather chew your own arm off than ask for help. Why is that?”
“Because…” Am I seriously validating this question with a response? “You were sleeping.”
What else am I supposed to say?
His mouth twitches with amusement. A few heavy moments later, he leans down, close enough that I’m sure he can hear my heart pounding in my chest.
“Should I just take what I want, too?”
He tilts his head and leans in, coming closer and closer until his nose brushes mine, daring me to take the bait. And I shouldn’t. I shouldn’t give in, but I don’t want him to stop.
“Sergei.” I pull back before I lose myself. “Did you do this on purpose?”
The corner of his mouth curls in amusement. “Did I make it snow on purpose?”
I don’t exactly know what I’m asking. Of course he didn’t make it snow, but he knew how to find me at the airport. And even though he wasn’t responsible for me tripping the breaker, it seems too coincidental. He has to have flaws. But I’m not sure those flaws include shapeshifting into a monster from the woods.
“I mean,” I take a breath and meet his eyes, “are you a stalker like Colson?”
It might’ve worked for Brett, but if Colson had pulled that shit with me, he would've ended up in prison or in a bullet-ridden pile of blood and guts on my porch. It’s the last thing I need right now, and if I can find a reason to, then I’ll walk out of this room and end this right now.
“Astalker…” Sergei draws out the word like he’s saying it for the very first time. His eyes wander to the windows, still covered by the vast spans of drapery. “Out there on the mountain, yes. And whatever I follow out there ends up in the deep freeze in the shed. But not here. You came back willingly.”
Something flicks my chest, giving me a start, and when I glance down, I realize that half the snaps on my shirt are undone. Sergei runs his hand over my shoulder, his touch sending a chill down my back as he sweeps the flannel off my arm.
I blink, shocked that he’s even touching me. He’s so bristly that I almost can’t imagine him touching anyone. But his fingertips feel electric, sending goosebumps skittering over my skin.
“Did you like having the house to yourself today?” he asks, not taking his eyes off me.
Every word he utters sounds like a threat, even if it’s a completely benign question. And that juxtaposition is driving me absolutely insane.
I love it.
“Um,” a flutter ripples through my chest as a smile threatens my lips, “it was nice…and quiet…”
He snakes his arms around my back and then suddenly tightens his grip. My hands fly to his shoulders as he lifts me onto the counter.
“And the snow…” I keep talking as I feel the snap of his fingers behind my back, “the snow was really beautiful.”
“You shouldn’t have gone outside,” he chides, gently pulling the straps of my bra down my arms.
“Why not?”
“I’m sorry I was gone so long,” he continues as my bra falls onto the floor. “Or maybe you liked it that way.” He doesn’t look away, running his hand over the small of my back.
“Because you’re such a distraction?” I smile.
“You would know about that,” Sergei replies, his eyes affixed to my bare breasts. “You’ve been the worst of distractions since you stepped off that plane.”
