Page 35

That got a small flicker from him, a glance, brief and cutting. “Don’t know where your mouth’s been.”

The jab hit its mark. At first, I didn’t know whether to be insulted or be amused. But then his lips twitched. I allowed the laugh to slip free.

“You mean before this soda can? I think you know pretty damn well, since you got the front-row seat to watch it all.”

He let out a breath that might’ve been amusement or disbelief. He handed me the cigarette, and it seemed like more. Like another attempt at a truce.

“Couldn’t resist,” he said.

I placed the cigarette between my lips, where his had been, feeling the harsh tickle in the back of my throat from the first drag. I blew the smoke out through my nostrils, took another drag, then handed the burning stub back to Stas. His fingers brushed against mine, sparking a hot flare that danced its way up my forearm.

Fuck. This was a problem. I could not be genuinely attracted to Stas.

“Seems like some assplay was all you needed to knock that stick right outta your ass,” I said after a while. “Finally found your sense of humor.”

“Fuck off. I have a sense of humor.”

“You never show it.”

“You’re my enemy. Why would I show you that side of me?”

“Good point.”

He took another slow drag, then said quietly, “About earlier.”

I glanced at him, waiting.

“I might’ve… overreacted.” He stared out into the dark yard. “You didn’t force me. I know that.”

I shrugged, trying to play it off, even though my chest went tight. After his reaction earlier, almost choking me out, I never expected him to bring up the topic. I figured we would pretend none of it had happened.

“It’s understandable. Was your first time getting your world rocked like that.”

He flicked the cigarette ash over the railing, the motion neat, controlled. “Were you born this cocky?” He shook his head. “Don’t answer that. Back to what happened earlier, we’d be in trouble if anyone found out. My family isn’t as tolerant as yours, and besides, your face is the background for our dartboards.”

I clutched my heart. “Ouch.”

“You killed a lot of our men, Yuriy. Dismembered them. Why?”

“It’s fun?”

He clenched his teeth. “Fun? It’s disrespectful. We buried one of our men without a head. A year later, you sent it to us. That’s some sadistic shit.”

I clutched my hands behind my back. Who was he to judge? The bodies were useless anyway once they were dead, so what did it matter?

“You have your hobbies, and I have mine, Stas.”

He shook his head slowly. “For that reason, no one can know what happened in that bathroom tonight.”

“Does this mean we’re doing it again but keeping it a secret? If that’s the case, I’m up for that.”

“That’s not what I meant. We can’t—I’m not gay, Yuriy. I’m not interested in men.”

“It’s just me, then?” I grinned, winking at him.

“As I’ve found myself saying too often around you, that’s not what I meant.”

“But it’s what you implied.” I hopped on one foot as the cold was making my feet numb. “There are wicked things I know how to do with my tongue, Stas. What happened in the bathroom? Just the tip of the iceberg”