Page 28 of Phantom Flower

By the time night fell, I took a shower. Late. Past midnight.

The house was quiet. Mother and Daniel were already asleep.

I stood under the scalding water until my skin turned pink. I padded back into my dark bedroom on bare feet, towel clutched tight.

Dimitri Morozov was sitting on the edge of my bed. Legs spread, elbows on his knees, head tilted as he watched me.

Black shirt. Leather jacket.

He looked completely at home.

What the fuck?

I yelped like a fucking idiot, heart slamming so hard I felt it in my throat.

My hand flew to the towel, yanking it higher, clutching it with both fists like it could somehow shield me from the way his gaze dragged over every exposed inch of skin. Thighs. Collarbones.

“What the fuck?” I snapped. “What the fuck are you doing in here?”

He smiled.

“Waiting for you.”

I backed up a step.

“How the fuck did you get in here? What are you doing? Get out—get the fuck out right now.”

Dimitri’s eyes flicked to the window behind him, then back to me.

Calm.

Amused.

Dangerous.

“Through the window. Your security’s a joke, little fairy. I’ve been in here before. You were unconscious last time. This time…” His gaze dropped to the towel and lingered on where it barely covered the tops of my thighs because I had it wrapped up to my chest. “This time you’re awake.”

My face burned. I took another step back, hiking the towel higher to my chest.

“You can’t just break in whenever you want.”

He chuckled and leaned back on his hands, still sitting on my bed like it was his throne.

“Get off my bed,” I managed. “And get out. Before I call Kento.”

Dimitri’s smile widened.

“Kento’s not here. And even if he was, he wouldn’t get here fast enough. We both know that.”

He stood up slowly.

I stepped back fast.

My back hit the door.

Nowhere left to go.

Dimitri took one step toward me, then another, unhurried, like he had all night.