Page 39 of Saving Forever
He nods, eyes searching my face as I set down my things. “What happened?” he asks quietly.
I sigh. “Give me a minute to wash up and I’ll tell you.”
I grab my pajamas and disappear into the bathroom, suddenly a little nervous. We’ve been sharing a bed, platonically, for several days now, so that’s not a problem. Neither of us brought up the fact that we woke up spooning the other day, and I don’t see any reason to. Erections happen when men sleep, especially in the morning, so there’s no need to make things awkward.
But something feels different tonight.
Coming home to a man who’s waiting for me in bed feels…intimate. That’s the only word for it. And I’m suddenly unsure whether or not I did something wrong in going out with Serena tonight instead of pushing the issue with his family. Did he expect me to do that? In the moment, I figured I would give in gracefully and let Viktor handle the fallout.
But maybe I shouldn’t have?
I wash off my makeup, brush my teeth and put on some moisturizer, then I pad back out to the bedroom. I climb on the bed but sit cross-legged facing him.
“What did my mother do?” he asks, his voice gentle but his gaze intense.
I swallow. “Um, so, when I got there, Olga had a friend waiting and they said they forgot I was going and had already offered her my ticket to the show. So, I said it was okay and I left to go meet up with Serena.” I grimace. “Did I do something wrong?”
He looks angry for a minute but then shakes his head. “No, no, not you. I should apologize for this.” He blows out what sounds like a frustrated breath. “This is what I worry about…this behavior. Unacceptable.” He mutters in Russian. “I will talk to her.”
“No, don’t,” I say quickly. “It’s fine. I can handle them.”
“I think they will only get worse,” he says. “And they will be…mean.”
“What are they going to do? Spill wine on my clothes or something?”
“Maybe. Or embarrass you in front of other wives.”
I shrug. “Look, if you want to look at it very black and white—this is a job. And for the next year, handling your family is my job. That’s why you’re paying me. Believe me, this isn’t my first time dealing with mean girls. The thing is—we’re in my country, with my friends, my husband’s team, my world. If Olga wants to play games, I promise you, I’ve been playing much longer. And probably better, thanks to my father.”
“All right.” He nods slowly. “But I will speak to my father. Normally, he is very quiet when it comes to the women in the family, but if I tell him I am angry, he will say something.”
“Like I said, you focus on hockey. Let me focus on the rest.”
He looks at me for a long time and then holds out his hand.
We’re alone so we don’t have to hold hands.
But he wants to.
And my body seems to be on board because I reach out and slide my fingers around his.
“I also would like to talk about…sleeping together.”
My face flushes, and my heart skips a beat. “Um, what?”
“The other morning when we woke. I was aroused. I do not remember turning to hold you but…I am sorry if this was inappropriate.”
“You…wait.” I shake my head. “You think I’m upset?”
“You did not give…consent.”
Consent.
Sweet Jesus.
My hot, quirky husband is worried about consent. Even though he truly didn’t do anything. He can’t help waking up that way.
“I consented to sleeping in a bed with you and we both know men can…wake up that way.”
