“One day will p-pursue it together, okay?”
Heat flared in her gaze. “Okay.”
“Now go back to sleep.”
“I’ll try.”
She then snuggled against my shoulder. It didn’t take long for her breathing to shift. As I lay awake staring at the ceiling, I despised myself for not coming clean with her then. She’d been brave enough to risk telling me about the Beast, yet I remained a pussy by refusing to come clean about the Beast’s identity.
But Sarah’s fears weren’t in the same category as mine. She only thought she had to worry about my response to her admission.
I knew mine would break us apart.
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT: SARAH
Iwoke to the sun streaming across my face and being wrapped in someone’s tight embrace. Blinking my eyes, I wondered how the hell I was in my dad’s den. More than that, how was I in his den with some man’s arms around me?
And then I realized it was Maksim’s arms.
I didn’t get to process another thought. A reel of last night’s events started playing in my mind at warped speed. Oh God, what a nightmare?
Well, not all of it was bad.
Maksim and I had almost kissed, and then we’d come to an agreement to date. That part was extremely nice along with the fact he’d promised to send the Beast away. I still couldn’t believe Maksim hadn’t cared that I’d slept with the Beast. Most men were so weird about who you’d been with in the past, especially if you had a connection to them.
As he shifted beneath me, I couldn’t help noticing his very ample morning wood. I’d already felt his erection against me last night, but I hadn’t been this close to him. Jesus, he was huge. The very thought of him putting that huge part in me caused my mouth to run dry.
To try and curb my sexual thoughts, I gazed up into his face. He appeared so peaceful in sleep. He often had the weight of the world on his shoulders, and he wore that pressure on his face with his tight jaw and creased brows.
He was always handsome, but there was something serene about him all relaxed in the sunlight. I couldn’t keep myself from bringing my hand to his face. With the back of my hand, I rubbed the dark stubble along his jawline.
To my surprise, he didn’t startle, so I just kept petting him. Running my fingers through his silky black hair. Tracing the tattoos along his neck. Rubbing his lips.
It was the sounds of my parents bustling around the kitchen that finally caused him to stir. I wanted to yell at them to be quiet so I could keep pawing this beautiful man.
When Maksim opened his eyes, he blinked at me in disbelief. “Hi,” I murmured.
“Hey,” he replied, his voice incredibly gravelly…and sexy.
His massive body undulated in a wide stretch. When he froze, I bit my lip because it was obvious he realized he was hard. “It’s okay,” I reassured him.
“Hazard of sleeping b-beside a beautiful woman,” he replied.
“How can you be so charming this early in the morning.”
“Just stating facts.”
“If we weren’t taking things slow, I would take care of that for you.”
He groaned and covered his face with his arm. “Fuck. Why d-do I have t-to be noble?”
“Good question.”
As I thought about last night, I couldn’t help murmuring, “I can’t believe you’re still here.”
With a teasing smile, he replied, “Did you expect me to t-turn into a pumpkin at midnight?”
“No, Mr. Russian Smartass I didn’t,” I laughed.
