Page 135 of Drown Like Heaven
“That’s it?”
“Are you unsatisfied?”
“I just think you’re lying.”
Tentatively, I flattened my palm on his arm, tightening my fingers on the bulk of his muscle.
“Masters,” he warned. “Don’t grope me.”
“I’m not.” I squeezed harder, moving up toward his shoulder, the nighttime making me bold.
“If I did this to you, what would you call it?”
“I’d call it nothing.”
He took his hand off the steering wheel, then grabbed my upper arm, still watching the road. When I didn’t say anything, he moved higher.Slowly, like he was waiting for me to react, to admit my lie. His palm molded to the slope of my shoulder, fingers extending toward my neck.
The instant the tip of his finger made contact with my bare skin above my neckline, I gasped softly, swallowing a whine.
And he retracted his hand.
Neither of us spoke another word until Dr. Killshaw pulled into the parking lot of Mila’s apartment, navigating to a space near her unit. My throat had gone dry and useless. It was difficult to be in such a small space with him, tosmellhim, and not do anything about it.
“I’ll walk you up,” he said as he shifted the truck into park. My eyes went wide.
“No! No, it’s really okay—”
“Not a problem. I’d like to ensure you get inside safely.”
Great. He’s a gentleman.
I shoved open my door, hastily shooting off a series of rapid-fire texts to Mila, hoping she was awake and she’d see them before we were standing on her doormat. Dr. Killshaw was waiting for me around the front of the truck so I shoved my phone into the pocket of my jeans and headed off across the parking lot, my heart slamming on my ribs. My lie was about to catch up with me.
I pressed my lips together, not looking at him as we went up the outdoor stairs towards Mila’s second-floor apartment. Dim lights shone from beside the unit doors, a few moths lazily drifting around the yellow glow, bumping on the plastic.
My phone had not buzzed once.
I was fully dragging my feet by the time we finally approached the door.Shit.
“I…forgot my keys,” I lied, hoping it sounded convincing enough. “Let me just…call my roommate.”Please, Mila. For the love of God.
I got out my phone and pressed on her contact with shaky hands, raising the phone to my ear and saying a silent prayer that she’d wake up. It rang…and rang… Then it was silent, save for some shuffling and a groan.
“Hey! So sorry, but I’m outside,” I said to the noise of blankets moving against each other.
“Chto za khuynya? I—shit, Kota—what?” Her voice was groggy.
“I forgot my key and—”
“Since when did you have a fucking key—” She was wide awake now.
“Can you come let me in?” I asked quickly, cutting her off in case Dr. Killshaw could somehow hear her voice from the quiet speaker on my phone. The sound of the call ending played in myear, and I clutched my phone tighter, hoping that meant she was coming to the door.
I looked at Dr. Killshaw, who seemed too intrigued by this whole thing.
Finally, the door flung open, Mila standing there in a tank top and sleep shorts, hair in a messy bun, rubbing her eyes.
“Dakota, what—” She froze, eyes shooting wide open when she noticed who was standing behind me.
