Sorry, solnishko. That’s not possible.
Solnishko? What does that mean?
I immediately look it up.
Solnishko – sunshine. Can be used as a pet name or a term of affection like honey. It can be both friendly or flirty, depending on the context.
Well, which one is it?
A little sound escapes me, somewhere between a laugh and a whimper, as I imagine facing him again. I press the phone to my forehead like I can absorb it into my skull and make it disappear.
Not wanting to say anything else before I ruin the situation even more, I call Mandy—which, in hindsight, is probably the worst idea ever. But hey, why stop now?
She answers on the second ring. “I was wondering why you weren’t replying.”
“Mandy.” My words come out strained. “I just did something. Something bad.”
She scoffs, like the thought of me doing anything bad is beyond far-fetched. If she only knew…
“What did you do?”
“I texted him.”
A long pause stretches between us “Who?”
I let out a huff. “Kirill. I meant to text you, and I thought I was, except the really inappropriate text about his tongue that I meant to send you went straight to him.”
Another long drag of silence hangs, so long I almost question if she’s still there, until…
“Oh my God!” Mandy starts laughing so loudly, I pull the phone back. “That’s fucking hilarious.” She tries to catch her breath. “What did you say, exactly? I need details to the letter.”
“You’re the worst,” I groan, pretending to cry.
Once I give her the whole exchange, she chuckles even harder.
“This isnotfunny.” I pinch the bridge of my nose. “I’m going to have to quit. That’s it. I have to quit.”
“You are not quitting,” she says between giggles. “You cannot text a man about his tongue and vanish! Because how else are you gonna know if he can use it right?”
“Oh my God, Mandy. I don’twantto know how well he can use it. I just want this all to go away.”
My face burns again because right now all I can picture is him between my thighs, those deep, dark eyes drinking me in while his mouth sucks on my?—
With a grunt, I shake my head. This can’t be my life. It just can’t.
“Of course you wanna know. And now he knows what a dirty girl you are.” She laughs again, and I’d strangle her right now if I could.
“I’m going to die of embarrassment.” I sink deeper into the leather, hoping it somehow swallows me whole.
“You’ll be fine.” I register that grin in every syllable. “I bet that man has already pictured you naked, getting tied up on his bed.”
“Mandy,stop.” Heat rushes up my neck, my brain supplying me with images before I can shut it down.
“That man is into you,” she continues, like she’s stating a fact. “He’s probably relieved to know you’re into him too.”
“Doubtful.”
I don’t bother mentioning how he never corrected me about me being out of his league. He’s just a nice man, that’s all. Didn’twant to hurt my feelings or embarrass me any more than I already was.
