All day, he’s been in my head. Every time I tried to focus in class, I found myself remembering the warmth of his hand in mine, the way his voice softened when he said he’d take care of me. It wasn’t just about the money. It was about how he made me feel seen. Safe. Wanted.
I’m beginning to realize that those are emotions I need and crave. Feelings I’ve been missing all along.
And now, standing here in the chill of the fading day, I hate how much I miss him.
I know I should be careful. He belongs to a world I’ll never fit into. His family is in the bratva. I read up on it in class. In their world, a world of secrets, power, and danger, marriages are often alliances arranged by families to increase their power. Even if I fall for him, it’ll never end well. What if his family kills me because I’m a distraction? That thought sends a cold wave of fear up my spine. But my heart doesn’t care about logic. My heart just keeps whisperinggo to him.
The passion, the desire, and yearning I feel for him is dangerous, wild, and untamed. I can’t cut it away without cutting my heart loose.
Then I see him.
Dmitry steps out of the building, surrounded by a stream of students. His tall frame rises above the crowd, dark hair slightly tousled, bag slung across one shoulder. His shirt is rolled at the sleeves, revealing strong forearms, and his glasses catch the sunlight.
I raise my hand to wave.
He doesn’t see me.
Because he’s laughing—with her.
The girl beside him is petite and blonde, with bright blue eyes and the kind of easy smile that probably gets her anything she wants. She’s holding her notebook against her chest, leaning in a little too close as she talks. Dmitry says something that makes her laugh again, and the sound hits me like a slap.
Jealousy isn’t new to me. I’ve felt it before—at family dinners, watching my father dote on Selina, the daughter he actually loves. But this is different. This feels sharp and hot, like something tearing through my chest.
I hate it.
I hate that he’s looking at her like that, with focus and interest. I hate that she’s getting his smile. I hate that I care.
Before I can stop myself, I move.
My heels click across the pavement, quick and determined. I reach them just as she’s finishing a sentence.
“—so if you want to study together before midterms?—”
“Hey, baby.” My voice comes out too bright, too sweet. I loop my arm through Dmitry’s, feeling the muscle in his arm flex against my side. “Looks like class is finally over.”
Dmitry’s head turns instantly. His mouth curves, slow and knowing. “Callista.”
The blonde blinks, her smile faltering. “Oh. I didn’t realize you had a?—”
“Girlfriend,” Dmitry finishes for her. His voice is calm, but there’s amusement glinting in his eyes. “Callista, this is Maya. We were just talking about our finance project.”
“Oh?” I ask lightly. “Is that what they call flirting now?”
He laughs, low and dangerous. “You’re jealous.”
“I’m not jealous,” I snap, even though we both know I am.
Maya looks uncomfortable. “Um, I should?—”
But Dmitry’s enjoying this. He leans closer to me, his arm brushing my waist. “She gets like this when she’s hungry,” he tells Maya with a grin.
“I’m only hungry because you promised me dinner and kept me waiting outside for half an hour.” I roll my eyes at the girl. “Can you believe it?”
“Dinner? I thought we were going to work on my social life?”
Shit. I realize I misspoke. The original invitation was to make a plan for him to meet the students he has his eye on. Now I’ve made it seem like I’m asking for a date. It’s too late to backpedal so I make the best excuse I can come up with.
My cheeks burn. “Well, I can’t work on an empty stomach.”
