Luerna could feel how his eyes devoured her, and an ache developed in her belly she didn’t want to acknowledge. He bit his lip before his eyes popped to hers, and all his desires were exposed in the darkness. It was overwhelming, frightening, and totally intoxicating.
“I never thanked you,” she forced out in a mild attempt to change the subject. “For spilling your drink on me.”
“Any opportunity to get you wet.”
Luerna narrowed her eyes. “Have you always been this big of a flirt?”
“If I have, it’s news to me.”
“Probably don’t need to flirt. You just flash your big muscles and your sexy tattoo, and the girls come flying.”
Levka pulled at his collar carelessly while giving her a better look. “You like my tattoo?”
“I’ve seen better.”
Levka cackled and enjoyed the way a smile pulled at her lips. They created a little vortex where only they existed, and the stress and misery melted off her, leaving behind a version of who she once was. Did she know that pieces of her were still there? Buried underneath all the years of pain? He wanted to pull her in front of the mirror and expose it.
In this bubble, Levka could say anything. His heart pounded with the thrill of telling her, and he opened his mouth. “Luerna—”
“Levka!” Kira called from around the corner.
Before Levka could stop her, Luerna was down the hall. Levka stepped forward but stalled and clenched his hands at his side. He couldn’t run after her, not here, but she had to have felt something. It was distant and nearly out of reach but not impossible.
Hope was a terrible thing.
Kira stepped into the hallway. “There you are. Would you like to see our horses?”
No,was his immediate thought, but his mouth protected him. “Of course.”
It was cool outside, and he took a deep breath to clear the haze left over in his head. He should have asked Gil for some Oxy, and he searched for the man as they walked to the barn.
The horses whinnied when they entered.
“Do you ride?” she questioned.
Levka raised his hand to a beautiful white mare. “No. We don’t have a place for horses in the city.”
“My sister and I love to ride. This is hers. Valentina. Named after a baby she miscarried.”
Levka hid the physical ache that rocked him. He hadn’t known about that.
“This one is mine.” Kira stood in front of a charcoal-colored horse. “Ami.” She kissed the horse on the nose, and it nudged her. Kira looked back at him with a flirtatious smile. “It’s nice to finally be alone.”
The barn door opened, and Adrik, Alexei, and Gil came out. Levka was thankful for the interruption, but Kira snapped. “Excuse me. We are having a private conversation.”
“What do you need privacy for?” came Adrik’s cheeky response.
Levka couldn’t stand him. If he married into the family, what kind of bullshit would Adrik give him? He’d never move into this house, that was for damn sure.
Shit, that’s what Papa’s doing right now, isn’t it?His future was being decided for him, and he was standing in a smelly barn, annoyed he didn’t get a pill to numb him. How much longer would he pretend he didn’t have control? He did; he just didn’t like the options.
Levka faced his fiancée. “Kira, can I talk to you?”
Wide-eyed and surprised, she nodded her head and took his outstretched hand. But before she left the barn, she turned to her brothers. “Stay here. I mean it.”
Levka pulled her through the doorway just as Luerna was coming out. He paused when he saw her, two inches from her face. Her gaze dropped away, embarrassed, afraid. It was all the encouragement he needed. She felt something for him, was starting to, or was scared to admit it, but it was there, and he couldn’t destroy it by marrying Kira. Levka pulled Kira along, traveling back into the house, having no idea where he was going until he found a door and pushed it open. It was a small office but empty, and he shut the door behind him.
Kira stood in the middle of the room, holding her arms. “Are you okay?”
