This place is incredible. But there are no photos of him or anyone on the walls. Nothing personal anywhere. It’s more like he hired a designer to fill the space and never bothered making it his own.
My hand stays against the wall as I move deeper into the house, past what looks like a full home gym. I thought I heard him earlier, but maybe he left after I fell back asleep.
A metallic click echoes from the end of the hallway, toward the garage. I haven’t been in there yet. I head that direction, ease the door open, and blink.
Three cars sit in the corner, including his Aston Martin Valiant, and there’s room for at least five more cars. The garage is massive. Low Russian rap fills the space.
Alexei’s at a workbench against the far wall, shirtless in gray jeans, turning around with a disassembled gun in his hands. He’s cleaning it with a cloth. Then I actually look at the wall behind him. Rifles. Sniper rifles. Handguns. Things I don’t even have names for. All mounted. All organized. An entire arsenal just hanging there.
He raises an eyebrow at me, keeps wiping down the gun. “Da, I know. Impressive.”
I rub the back of my head, wincing when my fingers brush the bruise, and walk farther into the garage. Then I see Clover darting out from under one of the cars and I actually laugh. “You brought Clover in here while you’re cleaning guns?”
He shrugs and tosses the cloth onto the bench, then does something to the gun that makes it click back together. “Rabbits need open spaces to explore. Nothing dangerous in here.”
I scoff and glance at the wall again, then back at him. “Yeah. Nothing dangerous at all.”
He sets the gun down on the bench and crosses over to me, pulling me against his bare chest. He kisses the top of my head, and I wrap my arms around him, breathing him in.
His hands rub up and down my back, slow and grounding. “How are you feeling? Hungry?”
“I’m a bit better today. What happens next?”
His hands go still on my back. Something shifts in his expression. “You don’t need to worry about that.”
“I’m so tired of feeling broken all the time.”
He hums low and pulls me tighter against him. “Zaychik.”
I pull back just enough to meet his eyes. “Yeah?”
“Please believe me when I say I would never hurt you. You’re the only thing in this world that makes me feel human. The onlything I want to protect instead of destroy. I’d cut off my own hands before I’d let them touch you wrong. I will take care of everything for you.”
The words catch in my throat. I swallow, nod, feel my eyes start to burn. I bury my face against his chest before he can see me fall apart. His grip shifts, and I’m about to protest when his hands slide under my thighs and behind my back. He lifts me in one smooth motion. I wrap my arms around his neck and let him carry me, let myself sink into the feeling of being held.
“I’m running us a bath. I bought bubble bath for you.”
He did what?
“How did you even know I love bubble baths?” I press my lips to his chest.
“I went through your laptop when we first met. All your apartment searches had tubs. And I saw you at the store once, staring at bubble bath for three minutes before walking away without it.”
I pull back and just look at him. He raises his eyebrows, completely deadpan, zero awareness of how unhinged that sounds. I burst out laughing. “That’s … Jesus Christ.” I clear my throat. “Thank you.”
He carries me into the bathroom and sets me down carefully. I watch him turn on the water, add soap until bubbles start foaming up. Then he’s unbuckling his belt, shoving his jeans down, and I can’t look away. He’s half-hard already and my pulse kicks up.
He crosses back to me, and his hands are gentle when he helps me out of my clothes, fingertips dragging over skin. He takes my hand and pulls me toward the tub as it fills. He gets in first, then reaches for me, helping me settle between his legs. His arms wrap around me, and he’s careful not to touch the back of my head where it’s still tender. I sink back against him, let theheat of the water and his body seep into my sore muscles. My head still aches but this helps. Being here with him helps.
“Alexei?”
“Hm?”
I hesitate but go for it. “Will you teach me how to use a gun?”
He goes still behind me. “What?”
“I want to learn how to protect myself. I’m tired of being helpless.”
