“Nothing happened,” he said, increasing the pressure on my chin, and forcing my attention back to him.
“Okay,” I said, my breaths finally coming out steadier. He released me and headed back to the simmering pan.
“What are you doing?” I said.
He picked up the spatula and hit me with a look that said I was an idiot.
“Making breakfast. Technically lunch since you slept so long. I’ve been debating changing your nickname to sleeping beauty.”
I watched him transfer the chicken into a giant stainless steel pot while I tried to wrap my head around everything. He stirred it a few times then poured a huge helping of shchi into a soup bowl.
Dmitri set the bowl on the island, and shot me an expectant look.
This whole situation was so fucking bizarre, but the scent of cabbage wafting through the air was making my mouth water.
“Is it…” I trailed off, thinking better of finishing that sentence.
His jaw ticked, and from the thunderous look in his eyes he knewexactlywhat I’d refrained from saying.
“No, I didn’t fucking poison it,” he said, his voice an angry rumble. “I saved you last night. Why thefuckwould I kill you after all that work to keep you alive?”
Logically I knew that, but everything felt like it’d been tilted off its axis since I’d woken up here disoriented and terrified. I felt like Alice tumbling down the rabbit hole, unsure of where I’d land.
I rubbed my eyes. Exhaustion and the aftereffects of the drugs threatened to crush me.
“I know,” I said quietly. “Thank you for saving me… again.”
Dmitri’s eyes pierced me at the words, but his expression remained unreadable.
I peeled myself off the wall, and headed to the island. When I settled onto the barstool, Dmitri poured his own bowl. He leaned against the counter, towering over me.
“Eat.”
I took a sip and was shocked by the flavor of the sauerkraut. I stuffed another huge helping in my mouth. Heat rushed up my neck when I felt the sear of his attention.
Dmitri was staring at me, a small smile lining his face. “I like seeing you eat.”
The heat roared into a full-blown blush.
His eyes lazily traced the red streaking down my neck. “You’re so small, kotenok. Sobreakable.”
“I’m not.” I kept myself from scarfing down another bite even though my stomach was roaring to devour the entire thing.
My denial was almost laughable. Dmitri was probably three times my size. And even though I towered over most guys, I barely reached his shoulder. Whether it was a half empty room or an overly packed auditorium, it was always impossible to ignore the way Dmitri’s presence seemed to engulf the entire space.
I swallowed as I stared at those nimble hands absently stirring his soup. They’d wrapped around my neck that day we’d sparred, and I knew then that he’d literally held my life in his hands. If he’d wanted to, he could’ve snapped my neck before I could even process his movements.
The lie thickened between us, and my stomach rumbled.
“Eat,” Dmitri ordered. Then he paused, a smirk spreading across his face. “On second thought,don’t. I’d prefer to shove that spoon in between those pretty lips.”
Goosebumps traveled up my neck. The moment I met his heated eyes I dropped the spoon with a clatter.
When I jumped at the noise, his smirk deepened. “Do I make you nervous, kotenok?”
I forced a glare, but his amusement just grew.
Everything was out of equilibrium. The man who’d murdered my brother–and happened to be the most notorious killer in the Bratva–had saved me again last night. And I had zero memories. Along with no way to piece it together.
