Page 95 of Ruthless Sin

---

“You didn’t?—”

“I know. Not tonight.”

She looks at me for a long time.

“Why?”

I bring my hand up to her face.

“Because if I let you touch me tonight, it becomes about me. And tonight isn’t about me.”

She’s quiet.

Then, so softly I almost don’t hear it:

“Thank you.”

I kiss her forehead.

“Sleep.”

She closes her eyes.

She settles against my chest.

Her hand stays flat over my heart.

I pull the blanket from the foot of the bed. I cover her with it.

We lie like that.

The lamp on the desk is still on.

I look at the woman asleep against my chest.

Her face is soft. The chain at her throat moves with her breath. Her right hand is on my ribs.

Milochka.

I can’t tell her yet.

When I do, I’m going to lose her.

I close my eyes.

I don’t sleep.

19

MILA

I can’t stop looking at the dress.

Silk, the color of weak tea. Cassia left it in my closet last week with a small smile.

Nights of reaching for his belt. Nights of his gentle hands stopping me.

“Drugoy noch’yu.”A different night.

---