Page 89 of Ruby Malice

I shouldn’t care. I should let him patch me up and then hoof it right back to the bus. But I know that’s not possible. I won’t be able to walk away from him or this. Not until I know. Maybe not even then.

Kirill grimaces. “Hopefully, fleeing the fucking country.”

“What?” I look down to see his expression. As soon as I catch a hint of blood, I moan and avert my eyes again.

Kirill lowers my leg and grabs my hands, pulling me to my feet. “I’m all done.”

“What do you mean you’re done? I just saw the cut and—”

He grabs the hem of my shirt and starts sliding it up. I yelp and shove the fabric down. “What are you doing?”

His green eyes narrow in amusement. “You’re shivering. You need to warm up.”

I thought the buzzing under my skin was nerves, but he’s right. I’m covered in goosebumps and shaking from head to toe. I’m sure at least part of it is because I’m half-clothed in Kirill’s bathroom. But another part of it is that I’m dripping wet and cold.

“Then I should keep my clothes on.”

He shakes his head. “They’re wet. I’ll get you new ones. But first, shower.”

He reaches around me and turns the shower on. Instantly, steam clouds rise over the glass wall. I sigh at just the thought of standing in the warmth.

When Kirill grabs my shirt again, I don’t fight. I lift my arms and let him help me. “I can do it myself,” I say softly. But neither of us are buying it.

“You’re still shaking. I’m not going to let you pass out and crack your head on the tile.”

“I don’t think the world is as dangerous as you make it out to be.”

He drops my shirt on the floor with a wet plop. I still have on my bra and panties, but I feel completely exposed.

“The world is exactly as dangerous as I make it out to be,” he replies.

“As one of the dangers, do you speak from experience?”

He smiles, his white teeth gleaming in the bright bathroom light. “From a lifetime of it. But don’t worry: I already said I’ll keep you safe.”

For some reason, I believe him. When Kirill walks me backwards towards the shower, I obey. I step over the lip of the shower and slip into the warm water.

The second the water covers my skin, I moan. My entire body unclenches, relaxing into the heat.

“Fuck,” Kirill sighs.

I push my hair back from my face and look over at him. He’s standing in the shower door, safe from the spray. His green eyes are almost black, his jaw clenched.

“This feels nice.” I reach around and unclip my bra, knowing exactly what I’m setting in motion.

I slide the straps down my arms slowly. Then I pinch it between my thumb and finger and hold it out to him. Kirill grabs it from me, his fingers brushing over mine in the process. I jerk my hand back. Primal electricity like that can’t be safe when I’m this wet.

“Why didn’t you?” I ask.

“Why didn’t I what?”

I look at him. He’s taken another step into the shower, but he’s still just out of reach. Ricocheting water droplets are sinking into the cotton of his shirt.

“Viktoria,” I say. “I saw her leave.”

Fury flashes over his face. “I saw her leave, too. And I’ll deal with her later.”

For Viktoria’s sake, I hope she really is fleeing the country, because Kirill looks absolutely murderous. Is that for me? Because she nearly ran me down? Those are questions for later, I suppose. I’m having enough trouble keeping track of what’s happening in front of me.

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