It was getting through, and Luerna could see that he wasn’t here just to sleep with her. Levka was here to get her to fall in love with him. It’s why her happiness was so important. He didn’t want her to fuck him because she wanted revenge or she wanted control. He wanted her to be so enraptured by him that the only way to show it was through physical passion.
Luerna came out after an hour wearing black leggings and a long-sleeveless purple shirt. Her long hair was dry and thrown over her shoulder. She had done her makeup sparsely and just enough to highlight her perfections. “Is this what I’m wearing?”
“We are commoners,” he approached. “Unfortunately, we are too good-looking no matter what we do.”
She giggled, rolling her eyes.
All night, Luerna was searching for the secrets. Everyone had them, and Levka was no different. She was used to pleasantness, to fakeness. In her world, manners were used as a ploy. If someone was polite, they were less likely assumed to be a back-stabbing liar. But eventually, the truth came out in little moments of unguarded tempers. But Levka was very good at what he was doing.
And she was falling for all of it.
She was beginning to think he was perfect. It made her feel less worthy of his attention. Did he know that? Was that one of his hidden secrets? Did he feed off of mentally unhealthy women if only to sneak into their beds?
It was a ridiculous thing to think of, considering all the chances.
Luerna hated doubting him because he had proven himself over and over again. And perhaps if she was something worth his time, she would see how amazing of a man he was. She could feel the love that poured out of him every time he looked at her. She could lean into his gentle touch as he kept her arm locked in his. She’d notice how he walked on the street side if only to keep her safe.
Luerna spent the night observing him. Listening to him. He was an open book, sharing so many stories. He talked about his business. He spoke about how much money he was making and where it came from. He shared with her things Rurik and her father had never deemed her worthy to know. She was so ignorant about the family because she was made to think that her only purpose was to raise kids. What did she need to know about the ins and outs of the mafia?
By the end of the night, Luerna was overrun with information; she begged him to stop. He laughed, his cheeks red, and he apologized. It was adorable.
Levka walked her to her hotel room. This would be the moment, right? To solidify their affair? To bring him to her bed. That’s what he wanted. That’s all where this was going. It was nice of him to think of her feelings, but it was also draining, pretending that they weren’t here to screw around.
Levka leaned in, and she closed her eyes for his lips on hers, but then they dashed across her cheek, and her eyes flew open. He smiled. “Will you have breakfast with me? I do have to leave by nine to make my flight.”
She vaguely nodded, still confused.
“Goodnight.”
Then he turned and walked away.
Luerna dropped her arms. “Really?”
Levka faced her with his hands in his pockets. “What?”
She scoffed. “Nothing,”
“Luerna–”
She pressed her card against the door and shoved in. Before it could close, Levka’s foot intercepted. “Wait.” He held the knob, watching her from the entryway but she went into the bedroom. He rested his forehead against the doorframe. He hesitated, wondering if he should leave, but then he stepped in, shutting the door. He made no further move.
Luerna appeared, standing, staring, aggravation on her brow. “You connive this meeting with my brother; you fly me hours away from home to a hotel room where no one knows who we are. And you say goodnight?”
He scratched at his stitches, trying to piece together what he wanted to say without sounding like an asshole. “I’m trying to be a gentleman.”
“What? You think I’m too messed in the head? You think you can take advantage of me?”
“No–”
“Then what? Don’t you want me?”
Levka sighed and whispered. “It’s not about what I want, sunshine.”
Her heart broke. “You think I don’t want you?” Luerna approached and Levka straightened, stiffening, almost fearful. His heart was chaotic in his chest, and his breath was getting heavy. It’s how she always made him feel; like he was having a heart attack.
“I can’t fix you, Luerna, you understand that, don’t you? This isn’t what will make everything better.”
Her hands lay on his chest. She could feel the pounding of his heart. “I’ll fix me,” she promised. “But I still want you, Levka.”
