She surprises me into laughing again. It’s oddly euphoric and disorienting, like huffing nitrous. “Come,” I manage to control myself, “I’ll get you ready for bed. Do you need to call your sister and let her know you’re safe?”
“Oh, that’s okay. She’s away with some friends. They’re having a spa weekend and doing some shopping in New York.”
Looking down at her sweet face, I’m disgusted by Inessa, spending money on useless shit and spa treatments when Lucya is here, working double shifts to pay for it.
Reluctantly untwining her hair from my fingers, I lead the way into my bedroom. I have a guest room. I don’t know why I’m not putting her to bed in there. But the vision of her long black hair spread out over my pillow is too compelling.
Lucya seats herself on my bed, shifting uneasily. “Are you sure I can’t take the couch? Honestly, it’s far more comfortable than my bed at home.”
“All the more reason for sleeping on an excellent mattress,” I say, pulling the covers back.
“Oh! These pillows…” she sighs. “So fluffy, like angel’s wings or a unicorn rug.”
It’s everything I can do to not laugh again.
“Sleep,Kolibri.I’ll be waking you up in a couple of hours.” Folding the down comforter over her legs, I tuck it in on thesides, snug to her body. The memory hits me; my mother used to put me to bed like this, joking that if I was all tucked in, the cold could never reach me.
I have very few memories of my childhood. It ended the first time my father put a gun in my hand at twelve and told me to shoot the sobbing man on his knees in front of me.
I did, of course.
Sometimes, these memories come back and I realize I haven’t always been something monstrous. I don’t know if it’s comforting or not.
“Alexi?”
Realizing my hands have been smoothing up and down her legs, I pull back. “Go to sleep. Goodnight.”
“Goodnight. And thank you.” She squeezed my arm.
“For what?”
She broke into a little grin. “For not snapping my neck like a glowstick and throwing me into the dumpster.”
Leaning down, I kiss her forehead. “You need to sleep before that saucy mouth of yours gets you into trouble.”
Her skin is warm and the smell of my body wash mixes with the scent of her clean skin and lavender. I stay close for a moment before brushing my lips against her forehead again.
“I was thinking…”
“Hmm?”
“You could- you know, you could sleep here too?” She smiles awkwardly. “There’s plenty of room.”
“I’ll be fine here.” I settle in my big leather chair in the corner of the bedroom, putting my feet up on the ottoman. “Now rest, no more talking.”
She pulls the covers up to her nose, but I still hear her mumble, “Bossy…” before she almost instantly falls asleep. Watching her flop around in her sleep, I’m glad I didn’t take her up on her invitation, I’d have a bloody nose by morning.
Still… I settle back, listening to the soft sound of her breathing. I want to hold her down, control those flying arms and legs and bask in her warmth, keep her against me until my frozen soul is warm again. Most men would melt for this sweet girl. I am not one of them. Any softness was scourged from me long ago. I don’t feel tenderness or affection. But my desire to feel the heat of this hummingbird against me is almost too much to control, so I leave the room, shutting the door behind me.
Chapter Eight
In which we find that Alexi is A Giver.
Lucya…
I’m running through the pine trees at home, towering over me, branches reaching up to the sky. They close in around me, making me invisible, making me feel safe. The sharp, clear scent of the trees fills my lungs…
“Kolibri.Wake up, little hummingbird.”
