Page 21 of Vile Bastards
Wow.
He studies me studying his work, head slightly canted, blond hair white-gold under the obnoxious fluorescent lights. It sticks to his forehead and curls just slightly around his ears, lending him a boyish gleam that clashes with the hard set of his perfect mouth and his hyper-masculine form.
There’s a draw between us that wasn’t there before. Could be the sex. Could be the shared experience of near-death. Could be a lot of things. All I know is that I felt compelled to come here, to see him, to … let’s be honest: my bitch-ass probably came over here for some vitamin D. Not the kind found in spinach either but the sort that’s tucked nicely instead those designer jeans of his.
I stare back at Alexei as Bohnes steps in behind me, locking the door three times over. I’d bet anything he was scouting around outside before coming in.
“I did, but only because it was my fault your life was at risk in the first place.” Alexei squeezes the sponge in his hand, and it drip, drip, drips to the hard-packed dirt floor.
“Regardless … I owe you a thank you.” I tuck my hands into the pockets on my coat. I’ve only heard the story from Bohnes and Widow, but I’d like to hear it again from Alexei. There must’ve been multiple moments during the ordeal where it would’ve been far easier for him to abandon me than to save me.
I’m grateful for that.
I reach out, just to see if he might let me touch him, but he takes a step back.
I end up dropping my hand by my side.
Bohnes lets out a sound of annoyance from behind me; it’s part scoff, part growl. I glance over my shoulder at him, wondering if he knows that Alexei and I had sex. Did anyone think to tell him? Widow maybe? For some reason, I can’t see Alexei admitting to it.
“You know we fucked, right?” I ask, pointing at Alexei. “I just want to be transparent.”
“I’m aware.” That’s all Bohnes says. Two words. He was my first, and I know he wants to be my last. I have a feeling he won’t be going anywhere unless I completely banish him, and even then, it’s questionable. It’s entirely possible that he might stalk me for the rest of my life. Not to hurt me or anything, but just to watch from the shadows.
That level of commitment is equal parts terrifying and exciting.
I turn to Alexei again, but his jaw is clenched, and he’s wearing a look of pure callousness that makes the fine hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. When he turns that look back on us, there’s contempt there. That, and a sickening sense of superiority that causes my head to spin.
How … how the fuck could he look at me like that after saving my life? After offering me his virginity? If I’m not mistaken, Alexei believed he was going to die and wanted to gift me his cherry before ending up six feet under. That’s a big deal, isn’t it?
Now he’s staring at me like he wishes I were dead.
“I’m sorry to tell you this,” Alexei begins, looking past me at Bohnes. “But I intend to court Miss Force properly.”
Huh?
Bohnes sighs. He’s figured it out before I have. Alexei isn’t glaring at me: he’s glaring at him.
“I knew I should’ve left you to freeze to death.” Bohnes says that with absolutely no sense of jest. He’s serious. I can see it. Alexei is a liability. Taking him on as a client might have been a mistake, despite the possibility of a gargantuan payoff. It truly would’ve made more sense for Bohnes to let him die of hypothermia on the shores of the McKenzie River.
The fact that he chose to save him warms my heart immensely.
“Now that I’m in the running,” Alexei begins, moving over to the sink to drop the sponge off. He strips the rubber gloves and then comes to stand in front of me again. He swallows past a lump, licks his lips, and then reaches up a tentative hand.
I stare there in complete awe as he willingly places that hand on my right shoulder, leans down, and then pauses with his lips hovering a fraction of an inch above mine. Alexei’s gaze dips to my mouth, and he wets his lips a second time before closing his eyes and dropping in for a kiss.
I’m pleasantly surprised, even as I’m under the impression that a brush of lips is all that I’m going to get.
Alexei mumbles something in Russian against my mouth, and then he’s pressing forward, and I can feel his fucking tongue sliding between my lips. I go stiff all over, and then I’m kissing him back and reaching out for him all at once.
