Silent Heart (The Vlasov Bratva #5)

Chapter 9 – Harley

T here was nothing left to do but traipse back into the gargoyle’s lair. Funny how whatever trance that was last night didn’t illicit the same physical response from me as now. In the dark, it had been taking care of a wounded creature. Now…the beast was here, and I wanted to play. My pulse raced. Electricity zinged over my skin. The quick, heated look he’d given me as he took one glance at my outfit was enough to turn my nipples into hard stone, and they still were alert.

In the kitchen, Kole began to pull out a blender from a counter. “Do you drink protein smoothies?”

“I do, actually,” I said, shifting uneasily back and forth. It took all of ten seconds to say screw it. I began to snoop through the cabinets, migrating to the pantry in search of the magical beans that brewed the liquid black gold.

Peering into the drawers on the island proved useless. I spun around, intent on going to the cabinets on the wall, and crashed into a mass of hard flesh. My inhale was a gasp. A rich, masculine scent invaded my senses. Holy cow, he smelled so damn good! I leaned forward, wet my lips, and lifted my gaze.

The unguarded look he gave me sent a bolt of heat straight to my core.

A whimper sounded in my mind. Gosh! I wanted this man. It took everything I had to not climb him. He didn’t pull away, but he didn’t close the distance either.

But he was definitely interested. That was desire flaring in those stormy depths.

Why was he holding back? It could be a result of whatever happened last night.

That realization was the only thing powerful enough to make me step backward. The next shaky breath that filled my lungs had less of his intoxicating scent. If he didn’t want to engage in this because of his condition, I could respect that.

I broke eye contact and continued my search. While the cabinets were stocked with dishes, there wasn’t anything else, certainly nothing edible inside. The pantry was a different matter. It was sparse. Packets of dehydrated camping food lined in a neat row along one side were the only occupants.

I looked between the bags and the man who apparently lived off them.

He’s like some superbad hiding out up here.

I pushed the nonsense from my mind. “Kole?”

He flicked me a look.

“Where’s your coffee?” The relief in my voice was due to the fact that his gaze was steady and alert.

“There’s no coffee.”

My palm flattened over my chest. “No coffee!”

“No.” He took a step closer.

I gaped at him. “Who doesn’t drink coffee?”

“Me.” Another step.

My fingers rubbed my sternum, knowing full well there was no bra to support the ladies under the satin pajama set. Man alive, but Kole was a quiet one. This extra lack of words could only be the result of his moodiness over last night. If I’d have known he would be this closed off—

No . No, I still would have chosen to come and be with him. He hadn’t been in his right mind and he’d been too close to the lake. The swimming lessons might give him enough skill to paddle about, but they couldn’t save him from the deeper waters.

“Look, before you blend that all up, let me propose an alternative,” I blurted out.

Kole paused, bottled water suspended over the blender’s yawning mouth. His mask of stone still wasn’t back in place. The lunacy of my desperate attempt to bridge the gap was inconsequential compared to the fiery touch of Kole’s unguarded stare.

Lust flared through me.

I could do this. I could ask the man out.

Besides, too many lines were crossed, and I was too far gone to stop now. “Since you’re new in town, let me take you out for breakfast. I know a great little spot on County Road 9. They have coffee for me, and you’ll love a slice of home cooking.”

It was impossible to know what he was thinking. Emotions, strong and wild, spun and danced in those stormy depths. In the soft morning light, the irises were more grey than blue.

“We would cancel our swimming lessons?” The question was laced with a soft purr.

“Let your body rest. Even the Rock has cheat days,” I added with a grin.

“Which rock?”

Oh, my lanta. Did he grow up under a rock?

“Never mind.” I held out my hands. “I’m a shit instructor without my caffeine. You can make that healthy shake and we can try the lesson, but I won’t guarantee the results.”

“Are you wearing that?” His undisguised look raked down my body.

I felt his focus, a sizzle of heat scoring down my front and settling between my legs. It took everything I had not to shift them together.

“I’ll drive my boat home, change, and meet you there. The place is called Betty’s. You can’t miss it.”

Kole continued to study me. It was like watching a monstrous beast from a book of legends and myth decide if he was going to devour me or let me fly away. I fisted my hands and locked my leg muscles so I didn’t do anything stupid like close the distance and wrap them around him.

“I’ll see you in a bit then,” he agreed.

I all but bolted from the kitchen. Only once I was on the water, with the bright sun beating down on me, did I begin to think clearly again.