But the universe gives me a small mercy. Liev is still asleep, breathing evenly on his bed.
With one arm flung over his head and dark hair falling across his forehead, he looks unarmed, maybe for the first time since I’ve met him. My gaze drifts, taking in the solid lines of him, the broad shoulders, the slow rise and fall of his chest, the faint shadow of stubble along his jaw.
Temptation slides through me, warm and reckless. The urge to cross the room, crawl into his bed, and press my mouth to the place where his neck meets his shoulder is sharp enough to make my fingers curl into the sheet.
But I don’t.
We’re working. Yesterday was an aberration. We got carried away.
And you told him all of your secrets.
I check the clock next to the bed. It’s early. Too early for Keke to be up if she did take a sleeping pill. Decision made, I slide outof bed and change quietly into workout clothes, tugging my hair into a loose knot.
I cross the room and stop at the edge of his bed.
For a second, I just watch him sleep then reach out and give his shoulder a gentle shake.
“Liev—”
It happens too fast to process.
One second my hand is on his shoulder, the next his arm whips up, fingers closing around the back of my neck. The world flips. My back hits the mattress as he rolls, his knee pinning one arm to my side, and trapping the other above my head. His weight cages me in, breath hot against my face, eyes dark and lethal.
My body locks, and my lungs forget how to work. Every muscle goes rigid even as my heart slams against my ribs.
He’s off me instantly. One blink and the pressure is gone. My arms are free, and the weight is removed. Liev’s standing at the foot of the bed, horror and regret written across his face.
“I’m sorry,” he rasps. “I was sleeping… It’s instinct… I don’t sleep with other people in the room… I didn’t…” He drags a hand down his face, pacing a few steps before stopping, eyes locked on me. “Malyshka.” His voice is raw. “I’msosorry.”
“I know,” I say quickly. “It’s fine. It’s my fault. I shouldn’t have?—”
It’s true. I know Liev didn’t mean it. I know he stopped the second he registered it was me.
My rational brain knows it. My body doesn’t care.
It stays tight, every breath shallow, my nerves humming like angry bees.
I sit up slowly, then push myself to my feet.
“I was just going to tell you I’m heading down to the gym.” Thankfully, my voice is steady. “For an hour. When I get back, you can go, if you want.”
He doesn’t answer right away. I look away from his stricken eyes.
I want to joke. To make him feel better. But even knowing he would never hurt me… I can’t. I need to get out of this room before I do something that makes everything worse—like give in to the tears threatening.
I grab my water bottle and keys, and offer him a small, reassuring smile I don’t feel. “I’m okay,” I insist.
I’m not sure which of us I’m trying harder to convince.
Thankfully, the hotel gym is empty.
I set the treadmill faster than normal.
Sweat slicks my spine and soaks my hairline, but I keep going, until my mind finally quiets. Until I no longer hear the voices in my head telling me that I’m weak and broken.
I bend forward, bracing my palms on the rail, breathing hard.
Everything is going to be fine.
