Chapter 10 #4
Sasha glances over at me and then puts his eyes back on the road as we enter heavier traffic.
“You complicate things in my head,” he finally admits.
“Things were always very clear on who I could kill and who I couldn’t, but you make that difficult.
” He briefly catches my eye again. “You make things grey, Cyn.”
“I’m sorry,” I start to say, but he reaches over and squeezes my thigh.
“Don’t you dare apologize for that. I’m the one who’s fucked in the head. I’ll figure it out. I just need to create a new set of boundaries that revolve around you.”
“A new set that doesn't include you killing jackasses who say stupid things?” I ask. When he doesn’t immediately agree with me, I say, “There are a lot of jackasses out there, Sasha. You can’t kill all of them. Wouldn’t that just draw attention to you and your family.”
“It would,” he finally agrees. Grabbing my hand, he brings it to his mouth and kisses the back of it. “Like I said, I’ll figure out a way to handle this. You don’t need to worry about it, Cyn. You don’t need to worry about anything.”
By the time he pulls up outside the vet clinic, I have minutes to spare, not nearly enough time to make sure my new boyfriend isn’t going to go on a murdering spree while I’m at work.
I do what I can do, though, and lean across the distance and cup his face.
“Please let this go, Sasha. He’s not worth it. ”
He cups the back of my head and kisses me softly. “But you are, krovinka.” He kisses me again and smiles, “Better hurry up, Cyn, or you’re going to be late. Call if you need me, and I’ll be here when you get off work.”
I kiss him back and then give Chort a hug. “Do I even have your number?”
“I put it in your phone while you were sleeping.”
I grin and give him another quick kiss before getting out.
Before I walk in, I look back and wave. Sasha waves back, looking effortlessly sexy as usual while Chort keeps his head out the window with his tongue lolling out.
They make a very cute picture, and I can’t resist snapping a quick photo before I get my ass inside and hustle to the back office to see what’s on the schedule for today.
My phone vibrates in my pocket, and when I pull it out, I see a text coming from a new contact.
It’s labeled Boyfriend/Stalker and the photo is a close up of him in his skull mask.
The vivid blue of his eyes stands out sharply against the bone color of his mask.
It doesn’t scare me like it once did. I see too much of him in those eyes, and I’m no longer scared of Sasha.
BOYFRIEND/STALKER:
Did you just take a picture of me?
ME:
And of Chort. You guys looked so cute. I couldn’t resist. Nice profile pic, by the way. So are you my boyfriend or my stalker?
BOYFRIEND/STALKER:
Both and more, Cyn.
I hear footsteps coming closer, so I hurry up and text that I need to go.
BOYFRIEND/STALKER:
I’ll be thinking about you, krovinka.
ME:
I’ll be thinking about you, too.
I hit send and then slip my phone back in my pocket right as Dr. Mindy walks in.
“Hey, Cindy. I’ve got a Dalmatian waiting in room two. Can you help Cheryl with the x-rays?”
“Sure,” I tell her, and then I force myself to forget all about my personal life while I switch over to work mode. For the most part, I manage it. Even as I’m helping the techs and cleaning out kennels and loving on all the animals, some part of my mind is still with Sasha.
By the time my four-hour shift is over, I’m covered in cat hair, and other things I don’t want to think about.
I’m desperate for a shower, and the last thing I want is for Sasha to see me like this, but there’s no hiding it.
When I step outside, I see him sitting on his motorcycle, waiting for me.
His dark helmet turns in my direction, and a part of me melts at that small movement.
Apparently I’m developing a kink of my own.
I don’t realize I’m frozen in place until he curls his finger at me, beckoning me to come to him.
Feeling my face heat up, I close the distance, and as soon as I’m next to him, he raises the visor on his helmet.
His lower face is still hidden from view, so I lean in and kiss the tip of his nose.
I can tell by the way his eyes narrow that he’s smiling, and then he surprises me by pulling me in for a hug.
I relax in his arms, forgetting all about the cramps that still plague me and my sore feet and need for a shower.
“I missed you, Cyn.”
His words are as sweet as the hug he’s still giving me, and I cling to him for a few more seconds before stepping back and taking the helmet he hands me.
“Change of plans,” he says while I shove the helmet on.
“How so?”
Reaching out to do my strap, he says, “I’m taking you back to my place before we meet up with Savanna.”
“I really need some fresh clothes. I feel disgusting.”
After tightening the buckle, he gives me a wink before closing my visor. “Trust me, krovinka.”
I nod, because I do trust him, and then I get on the back of his bike.
I wouldn’t say I’m graceful, but it’s not nearly as bad as the first time I did this.
I even manage to get my feet on the pegs all on my own, and by the time he starts the engine, I’m already clinging to him from behind.
The ride back to his place is peaceful. I never thought I’d feel comfortable on the back of a motorcycle, but I feel completely safe with Sasha, so safe that I shut my eyes and squeeze him tighter.
When I feel the bike slow, I open my eyes as we turn into his driveway.
We go through his insane security features, and after we’re inside and I’ve spent several minutes loving on Chort, I look around and my mouth drops open in surprise.
The place looks exactly like it did this morning, but there are a few key differences that I immediately notice, like my favorite purple blanket that’s now draped over the back of his couch, a stack of my textbooks on his coffee table, and when I look back at the door, I see my shoes lined up beside his.
“Sasha, what did you do?” I ask as I look over at him.
His arms are crossed over his chest, one hand lifted up and rubbing at his jaw. I’d say it was a nervous move, but his eyes are anything but hesitant when he says, “I moved you in with me.”
“What?” I’m so stunned that it’s the only word I can manage before I race up the stairs to his loft bedroom.
Sure enough, my pillow is now on his bed, my photos hung on his walls, and my clothes are hanging in his closet right beside his.
A quick glance in the bathroom makes it clear he didn’t leave anything behind.
Hell, even my bathrobe is hanging on a hook.
When I turn, he’s standing right behind me. Meeting his gaze, I say, “You can’t just move me in with you.”
I swear he’s fighting a grin when he says, “I believe I just did.”
“But,” I start to say, and then get flustered and have to try again. “You barely know me. I have a dorm room. I need to be on campus so I can be close to all my classes and work. I can’t just leave!”
He steps closer, towering over me as he cups the back of my head, gently fisting my hair and tilting my face up to his.
“I know everything I need to know about you. I want you here with me. I want you where I know you’re safe.
” The fingers of his other hand run along my cheek.
“I told you I’m not letting you go. I meant it, krovinka. ”
“What about school? I’m not quitting, Sasha.”
The corner of his mouth twitches at my tone. “I never asked you to. It’s not a long drive to campus. I can bring you, or you can drive the Jeep. Whatever is easiest for you.”
“That doesn’t seem fair,” I say, but I also know I don’t have the money to buy my own car.
“Of course it’s fair. What’s mine is yours, and if you don’t want to drive that, I’ll buy you something else, whatever you want.”
I think about what he’s offering. It’s a lot more than a beautiful place to live.
He’s offering me a home, a life with him and Chort, and the freedom to continue to pursue my degree.
We’re moving fast, there’s no denying that, but it doesn’t feel wrong.
My intuition isn’t screaming at me to get the hell away from him, and the possibility of never being woken up again by a too-peppy Brittney is very tempting.
Aside from the fact that I’m worried he might change his mind, I can’t think of any reason to say no.
I want to be with him. Even if it’s crazy and irrational and moving very quickly, I still want it.
“Okay,” I tell him. “I’ll move in with you.”
He leans closer, bringing his lips to mine so I feel them when he whispers, “That’s so cute that you think you had a choice.”
Before I can argue with him, he kisses me silent.
I have a feeling this is how he’s going to win every argument we have.
It’s impossible to think when his mouth is anywhere on me.
All I can do is submit and ride the wave.
Sasha is obviously used to being in control, and a big part of me loves handing it over to him.
It’s exhilarating to not have to worry about anything because I know he’s going to take care of it.
He deepens the kiss, stroking my tongue with his as he grabs my ass and slowly leads me back towards the bathroom. As soon as we’re through the door, he grabs onto the bottom of my shirt and starts to lift it.
“What are you doing?” I ask when our lips part so he can pull the top half of my scrubs off.
“I’m taking care of you, Cyn.” His fingers run down my sides, and then they’re hooking into the waistband of my pants. “Let me do this for you, krovinka.”
It doesn’t even occur to me to argue as he slips the last part of my scrubs off and then reaches over to start the water for the tub. His eyes run over me, and he makes no attempt to hide the hungry look he’s giving me.
When he grabs a bottle of bubble bath, I laugh and say, “I never would’ve pegged you as a guy who likes to take baths.”
Standing, he reaches for his shirt and pulls it off while he says, “It’s good for sore muscles. Sometimes I train too hard.” He shrugs like it’s no biggie, like it’s normal to be a little sore because you were practicing your stabbing techniques on dummies that hang from your ceiling.
“And you like to do it with,” I stop and read the label on the bottle, “mango berry bubble bath?”
He grins and pops the button on his jeans. “I’m going to switch to coconut.”
I watch as he gets undressed, mesmerized yet again by the sight of his naked body.
Unable to resist, I reach out and run my fingers over him, tracing the bloody thorns that circle his upper arm and the large scar that mars the intricate detail of the design.
When he turns to shut off the water, I get a close-up view of the tree that’s inked onto his back.
It’s stunning. The talent involved is undeniable.
I run my fingers over the raven that’s swooping down to land on the pile of skulls beneath the large tree. “This is amazing. It must’ve taken hours.”
“Forty-six of them,” he says and my jaw drops.
“You endured forty-six hours of pain?”
He looks over his shoulder at me. “We didn’t do it straight through. It took months.”
“Wow,” I say, running my eyes over all the tattooed skin on his body. I can’t imagine how many hours he’s spent enduring pain while all these images were etched permanently onto his skin.
“Maybe I’ll get one someday,” I tell him.
When he turns around, I get an eyeful. He’s fully hard, every inch of him just as thick as I remember it being, but this time he’s not gripping himself, so I get a full, unobstructed view, and when I see my name tattooed along his shaft, my mouth drops open in shock as I look up at him.
He grins and reaches up to pinch my chin between his thumb and forefinger. “Exactly how your mouth should be every time I take my cock out.”
I’m too stunned by the sight of those three letters on a very delicate, private part of his body to think about the image he’s just put in my head. “That’s my name,” I say. “On your…” I pause and close my mouth.
His smirk is sinful when he raises a brow and asks, “On my what, Cyn?”
“On your privates,” I finally say, feeling my face heat up to scorching levels. The deep laugh he gives isn’t helping.
“On my cock, Cyn,” he corrects. “I had your name tattooed on my cock.”
“But why did you do it?” I look down, unable to take my eyes off the name that’s marking his thick, veiny shaft. My name.
“Because I’m yours.” He wraps his hand around himself. “Because this cock is yours, and your name belongs on it.”
“When did you do it?”
I hear the amusement in his voice when he says, “A few days after I saved you.”
Stunned into silence yet again, all I can do is gawk at him and say, “What?”
“I’m not a man who changes his mind, krovinka. I knew I wanted you, I knew you were mine, so I made it official. Does that scare you?”
I meet his eyes and tell him the truth. “No, it doesn’t scare me.” Looking down, I reach my hand out and lightly drag my finger along my name. He hisses out a breath as his cock swells even bigger and pre-cum beads at his thick head. “I like it.”
“Fucking hell,” he groans when I trace the three letters marking him.
His fingers drag along my chest before circling around my back and unclasping my bra so it can fall to the floor.
After I’m topless, he makes quick work of my underwear.
He eyes every inch of me while his fingers dance along my breasts, down my stomach, then up my sides—featherlight touches that tighten my nipples and create a very familiar ache between my legs.
“I’ll take you to get a tattoo anytime you want, Cyn, but I think your skin is gorgeous as is.”
I never know how to respond to the sweet things he says to me, so I give an awkward “Thanks” before letting him go and stepping into the tub.
I’m thrilled he loves my body, but I’m still not comfortable standing around naked in front of him.
As soon as I sink under the water and the bubbles cover my chest, I feel more at ease.
Sasha looks down at me. “I shouldn’t have added the bubble bath. I don’t know what the hell I was thinking.”
I grin up at him and curl my finger at him like he’d done to me earlier.
The tub is big enough for both of us, but not by much.
He sits at the opposite end, long legs on either side of me with his knees sticking out of the water.
Before I can try to give him more room, he grabs my foot and starts to massage it.
“Oh, wow,” I say, leaning my head back as he works tension out that I didn’t even know I had. I’ve never had my feet rubbed, and I had no idea how relaxing it could be.
I’m beginning to think moving in with Sasha might be the best decision I’ve ever made.