I swallowed hard, stuck in the intensity of Sergei’s stare on me.
What…
Whatisthis?
What’s happening?
Why—
Blinking quickly as I waited for common sense to return to me, I lowered my gaze and tried to hide how flustered I was.
He’d kissed me. He’d actually swooped in just like that andkissedme. The idea to lie that Sergei was my boyfriend hit me so quickly that I didn’t have time to rethink it. Or to think it through at all. Common sense and logic didn’t apply. I blurtedout that I was with this strong, scary-looking man because I couldn’t deny how secure he made me feel.
After Fitz’s death, I’d sworn myself off men. Yet, in the face of danger, I was drawn to Sergei. Without knowing anything specific about him, I’d come to see him as my ally.
A friend?
Something more?
Afraid that he would lash out at those men, I had said the first thing that came to mind. That I wasn’t available. That I was taken.
Oh, my God.
It was the stupidest thing I could’ve said. I didn’t make a habit of lying, but the words left my mouth too quickly before I could take them back. All I hoped for was that Sergei wouldn’t correct me or be mad. That he’d play along and not laugh me off.
But what wasthat?
Leaning down to kiss me like that, rendering me speechless with the soft yet hungry press of his mouth on mine, he confused me.
I couldn’t think. I couldn’t rationalize how wrong this was when it felt so right. The surge of desire that he induced in me woke me up. Startled me. The warm pressure of his hand on my face comforted me, tricking me into wanting more.
I’d been kissed before. But it had never felt like a visceral claim.
And what isthis?
All the sounds and chaos of the bar fell to the back of my mind. Hazy and drugged under the hot stare Sergei had yet to take off me, inches between us, I tried to come back down to earth.
Why is he looking at me like this?
Like he wants to kiss me again?
What does this mean?
How can he be watching me like he wants another excuse to hold me closer?
That kiss was a lot more than merely playing along with my lie. Nowhere in my fantasies had I imagined him kissing me like that. Or that I would feel the potency of it down to the marrow of my bones. Down to the growing arousal between my legs.
Oh, my God!
What have I done?
What has he done to me?This was no simple kiss. My stupid lie was already getting so complicated.
I backed up, stunned, and let the noise of the bar bring me back to reality. I was here to work and earn a paycheck, not lie about this handsome, strong businessman being my boyfriend. I was here to mop this spill and get back to giving out drinks, not wonder if this sexy man could actually want me.
“Whatever,” one of the men complained, walking off. His two friends left with him, and still, I couldn’t face Sergei properly. My cheeks burned like they were on fire. My heart raced like I’d run a marathon. My knees shook like I wanted Sergei to hold me for much longer.
“I…”
