“Here. Drink this. It’ll warm you up.”
“What is it?”
“Glintvein.”
“In English, please.”
“Mulled wine.” He chuckles. “It’s basically just red wine heated with cinnamon, cloves, a little honey, and orange peel. Russians drink it in winter, so we don’t freeze to death.”
I take a sip, letting the hot liquid warm me from the inside out. But when Kirill settles onto the sofa, arms draped over the backrest and eyes locked on me with that heavy, consuming gaze, it’s not the drink that makes me flush. It’s him.
I set my mug on a coaster and cross my arms, staring him down.
“Why am I here, Kirill?”
“Because you want to be.”
My lips curl in irritation. “And what gave you that idea?”
“We both know that if you didn’t want to be here with me, you’d have found a way not to.”
“Maybe I was curious.”
“Or maybe you just missed me,” he counters, coaxing my nails to dig into my palms.
“I have never met a more conceited man,” I snap back. “You really are full of yourself.”
“That all might be good and true, but I don’t hear you deny it.” His voice lowers. “You did miss me. You’re just too stubborn to say it.”
“And you’re not?” I scoff, crossing my arms tighter over my chest.
Kirill leans forward, elbows braced on his knees, fingers laced together, as his dark gaze pins me in place.
“I missed you,dusha moya. Every day since you left me, I have missed you.”
I swallow hard, his words wrecking every defense I’ve tried to rebuild.
“That is my truth,” he says softly. “Are you brave enough to be as truthful with me? With yourself even?”
When I don’t respond, he eases back against the couch, something sad flickering in his eyes.
“Come,milaya. Come sit with me so we can talk.”
“Just talk?”
“Would you prefer we danced first?” He arches an eyebrow, the suggestion clear as day.
No.
No dancing.
Not if I’m to keep my wits about me.
I slowly walk toward him and am just about to sit beside him when he grabs my waist and pulls me down onto his lap.
I slap his chest as one of his hands slides to the nape of my neck, his fingers threading into my hair. “Let me go.”
“No.”
