Why is she pushing me away?
“Do you want me to go?” he asked.
She stared at him for an extra beat before she rose out of bed. Since the hotel was still operating with generators, she turned on her phone flashlight before vanishing into the bathroom. As she was peeing, he entered.
“You didn’t answer my question,” he said.
She finished, washed her hands. “I’m headed into the embassy today, so I need some sleep.”
He pulled her into his arms. “Happy New Year, Halston,” he said before kissing her.
That elicited a little smile.
Damn, she’s making me work for it. I love that.
“Happy New Year.” She kissed him back, broke away, and headed back into the suite. “Bring my phone when you’re done.”
As he cleaned himself off, he made a decision. To his surprise, there was no hesitation on his part, no angst about his choice. Back in the bedroom, he turned off her phone flashlight, crawled into the bed, pulled up the covers. She was facing away, so he snuggled close, wrapped his arm around her.
“I’ll stay, then make you breakfast before you take off for work.”
“I can grab something at the embassy.”
“Today’s a holiday.”
“Not for me, plus I was late on the ambassador’s first day, so I feel like I need to show my Russian loyalty.” Her shoulders and upper back tightened.
He started massaging her, finding her filled with knots between her shoulder blades. “Roll onto your stomach.”
She rolled over, shot him a little smile. “Gonna get me from behind?”
“I can take care of youafterI relax you.” He rubbed her shoulders, pausing on the knots to work out the tension.
She breathed deep. He was lying on his side, using his right hand to rub.
“This is unexpected,” she said. “I like it.”
“You’re tight.”
“Yeah, I’m a mess, but I try to hide it.”
He leaned over, kissed her shoulder. “I like you.”
“Well, who doesn’t like to fuck?”
“No, Halston, not that. Sei bellissima, troppo bellissima per me.”You’re beautiful, too beautiful for me.
“Those lines don’t work on me, bud.”
“I’m not lying to you.” He grew quiet as he worked on an especially tight knot in her upper back.
“Wow, that hurts.”
“You’re different,” he continued, determined to speak from his heart. “You’re smart, courageous. You intrigue me. You killed a man with your bare hands. And without much effort.”
“I was trained by the best.”
“At Langley?” he asked.
