In fact, she was so pleased, she couldn’t keep the smile off her face all the way back home. The only time it dropped was when they were in the car and Anatoly told her about his strange encounter with Roxanne while Maggie was in the bathroom. Ultimately, they’d decided to let it go and focus on the case.
There was nothing pointing them in her direction except the weird appearance from Markov and with no probable cause, Maggie couldn’t exactly poke around the dance studio or do anything official. No, it was better if they moved on with their night and so here they were, standing outside her apartment.
“Do you wanna come in?” she asked, still holding Anatoly’s hand.
His hesitation was visible. “I do not want to impose…”
Maggie laughed, playfully slapping his shoulder. “What a silly thing to say. Of course, you wouldn’t be imposing. I just invited you.”
He gave her a soft smile, his thumb tracing over her knuckles nervously. “I am uncertain whether or not you are attempting to seduce me,” he confessed.
“Why? Do you want me to seduce you?” she asked, unable to stop herself from teasing him a little. When he only cleared his throat uncomfortably, she hastened to add, “Come on, we can snuggle on the couch while we watch a cheesy romantic comedy.”
“Maggie…” he implored.
“Okay, okay, a macho action flick if that’s more your speed,” she offered instead. “I just… don’t want to say goodbye.” The confession spilled from her mouth before she could stop it and as it did, her cheeks flushed a bright crimson.
Finally, Anatoly smiled at her and she wondered what was going through his mind at that exact moment. Then his gaze fell to her painted lips as his hands took hold of her waist, pulling her into him even as he walked her back against the door and pinned her there.
“Anatoly?” She breathed his name like a question she wasn’t ready to hear the answer to. The expression on his face sent a shiver down her spine.
He didn’t answer and instead kissed her, deep and sweet and full of longing. A low groan escaped him as he gave and took in equal measure, entrancing her in his embrace. It suddenly occurred to her that this was his way of seducing her and the realization sent a hot blaze through her core like an unchecked wildfire.
Maggie clung to his shoulders, returning the kiss with equal passion and yearning. Excitement burned in her belly, but just when she was getting entirely lost in him, Anatoly didn’t just pull away, he stepped back several paces, leaving her hot and wanton and utterly confused.
Conflicted emotions warred across his face as she blinked, trying to regain her senses. “Are you okay?” She didn’t know what else to ask or do. She didn’t understand the problem and therefore didn’t know how to help him through it.
“Izvinite,” he gasped, looking truly apologetic.
“Why? For kissing me?” She was still struggling to understand.
Anatoly shook his head. “For being conflicted.”
Drawn to him, she took a tentative step forward, wanting to close the distance between them entirely but not until he was ready for her to do so. “Explain it to me. Why are you conflicted? I’m here and willing, we’re in a committed relationship. What’s the problem?”
He let out a ragged sigh, his gray eyes stormy with emotion. “It is matter of desire and belief causing war in heart. I do not want to betray beliefs, but need for you is… overpowering.” He reached for her hand, but pulled back before his skin made contact with hers.
“Oh.” Maggie didn’t know what to say to that. She worried her bottom lip, trying to come up with something to assuage him and kept coming up short. If he wasn’t ready, then she didn’t want to push him into something he would end up regretting.
“We can wait, Anatoly. You don’t have to do anything you’re not ready for,” was the best thing she could possibly say in this situation.
But Anatoly was shaking his head again, confusing her further. “You misunderstand. I do not want to wait.” He fixed her with an imploring stare, his eyes almost glowing with intensity. It reminded her of the night she caught him feeding and a little shiver tingled down her spine.
“I do not want to simply make love. I want to claim you, Maggie,” he continued. “Wholly. Eternally. Biblically.”
Maggie’s throat was suddenly dry at that confession and she swallowed, trying to clear it. Nobody had ever spoken to her this way, looked at her with such need and conviction. Her body felt simultaneously hot and cold, eager and apprehensive. She trusted Anatoly explicitly; it was herself she doubted.
“I don’t understand what’s stopping you…” She breathed, searching his face as though the answer might be written there.
He finally took hold of her hand and his touch drove the chill of lingering uncertainty away. She had made mistakes in the past, given her love to the wrong man, but this was different. This was the truest relationship she’d ever been in and nothing save death was going to take her away from him.
“I do not want to rush,” he finally replied.
Maggie snorted at that. “You might be ageless, but I’m not, remember? My clock is ticking down. Unless you decide to make me a vampire or?—”
“Nyet,” he interrupted her, his tone leaving no room for argument. “I will not damn your soul for my own selfish purposes.”
She nodded, willing to accept that. She had no idea what went into making a vampire in the real world, but not being able to see the sun or live a normal life felt far too overwhelming a decision to make. Especially right now when so much else was on her mind.
