“Krasivoglazaya,” he said, his voice like a warm cocoon I wanted to bask in. “Forgive Dominic’s lack of manners.” He frowned at the back of his friend’s head. “We’ll have a few words about it,” he muttered.
“That’s all right.” What else could be said in such a situation? My throat went dry, and I quickly grabbed the champagne and took a large sip, enjoying how the cooling liquid ran through my body and distracted me from the stranger. He put his bag in the overhead compartment, closed the lid, and sat down next to me. Instantly, the smell of rich cigarettes and expensive cologne washed over me, making me instinctively lean closer to him to inhale it.
If I had one weakness, men who used good cologne was it, and although I hated cigarettes, something about the combination of those two on an attractive man did crazy things to my libido and imagination.
“Nervous?” His voice was deep, and husky, and damn, why did it make me shift uncomfortably on the seat? Without glancing at him, I stuck my nose to the window.
“No, I’ve never been to Russia, but it’s hardly my first flight.” He laughed; it was rich and loud as if he hadn’t a care in the world.
“You’re in for a surprise, then.”
No accent was evident in his voice, and before I could stop myself, I asked him a question. “Are you from there?”
He raised his brow, put his elbow on the armrest between us, and leaned over, which put his face closer to mine and allowed me to see the amusement and something else in his eyes, something I wasn't quite able to catch. No man had looked at me with such an expression before. “Where?”
“Moscow?”
He half smiled and then shook his head.
Did I get it wrong? He was American?
“Oh, I’m sorry. I just assumed—”
“I’m from Irkutsk.”
Blinking several times in confusion, I clarified, “Irkutsk?”
“A city in Siberia. Where Baikal Lake is.” He chuckled. “My love for this city transferred to the rest of the guys,” he added, probably talking about Dominic and such.
I did know about Baikal Lake. Who wouldn’t? It was, after all, one of the largest lakes in the world and had almost clear water, perfect for drinking, so Russia was pretty much set in case of any cataclysm coming. It was also said if someone got lost there, no one would be able to save them, because the lake was so deep. It was mysterious, large, and, based on pictures, very beautiful.
However, I had no clue a city existed in Siberia… and wait, city?
“There are cities in Siberia?”
The drink the stewardess got him while I was digesting his information stopped halfway to his mouth. He blinked and then raised his brow. “Yes, a few of them. Why are you surprised?” Then he studied me for a second, and before I could reply, he laughed again. “You don’t expect Siberia to have cities?”
Okay, that was embarrassing, and my cheeks heated up. I was probably as red as a tomato, but I couldn’t say much to him.
“No!” I decided to quickly clear up the misunderstanding. “I just assumed it’s a state, like we have Alaska?”
He nodded, sipping his whiskey. “Russia doesn’t have states though.”
I freaking blushed again. “Sorry.”
“No need to apologize,krasivoglazaya. Someday, you’ll have an opportunity to see it for yourself.”
That word again, curiosity was killing me, and maybe once I knew the meaning, my body wouldn't go on high alert. It probably meant some lame-ass nickname or comment. “What does it mean?”
He studied me for a second then placed his drink on the floor and raised my chin with his fingers. The first contact of his skin to mine made my heart beat faster as he whispered a few inches away from my lips, “Beautiful-eyed.”
I was too stunned with his compliment to reply, but when I finally found my voice and wanted to speak, a stewardess interrupted us and whispered something in his ear. Radmir narrowed his eyes, and she took a step back, hanging her head low.
Clearly, she knew she’d screwed up.
He stood up, gave me one more smile, and went into the direction of the pilots’ cabin.
Weird.
