Chapter 22 Daphne
22 Daphne
‘So… Milosh,’ Teddy says, as we make our way up the stairs.
‘Yeah, what about him?’
‘He’s a little intense, don’t you think? Not to mention he’s absolutely terrifying with his whole military task force thing.’
‘He’s not that bad.’ I try to laugh when Teddy rolls his eyes dramatically, but all I’m thinking about is what I’ve just learned.
I feel like I should be sadder than I am right now.
Milosh isn’t a bodyguard. Okay, that’s understandable. I’m not over the moon that I didn’t know this but it doesn’t really make much difference to how things are going or have gone. And he was the person in the snug to start to tell me the truth. He’s been the one keeping me safe and I’m almost certain Daddy asked him not to say anything.
Daddy lied to me. Again.
Honestly, that’s kind of to be expected. I’m slowly growing numb to him and his lies, and at least now I know the truth.
My mother worked for MI6 and so did my father.
My parents are basically Peggy Carter and Howard Stark.
‘Yeah, he’s not that bad. He likes me about as much as Henry does,’ Teddy quips sarcastically. ‘I’ll never understand what I did to annoy that man.’
‘Me neither. But you’re absolutely right, he despises you. It’s kind of funny, actually.’
‘Oh, you would think that wouldn’t you, Daph?’ I simply nod and give him an innocent smile.
‘I’m glad you’re here, by the way.’ I stop by the door to the guest room next to Milosh’s. ‘And I’m so sorry this happened to you.’ I rub my hand along his forearm.
‘Ah, that’s all right,’ he says, grabbing my hand and grinning. ‘At least it gave me an excuse to see you again.’
‘Is that so?’ I laugh, dropping my hand and opening his door.
‘So what exactly is going on with you and Milosh?’
‘What do you mean?’
‘Well, the way he looked at me when I touched you suggests you’ve slept together or something.’
I roll my eyes. ‘We have not slept together, Teddy.’
‘Well, then, what is it? Because I need to know if I should tread carefully.’
‘We…’ I trail off. I really don’t know how to describe what’s happening between me and Milosh any more. Technically, yes, he’s simply my bodyguard. But saying that feels wrong. He feels like so much more but nothing at all, at the very same time. It’s confusing and I hate it.
But I also kind of love it.
‘Wait.’ I pause. ‘What do you mean, tread carefully?’
He enters the room, placing his duffel on the end of the bed and turning to look back at me knowingly. ‘Ah, come on Daph.’ He walks towards me, his steps slow. ‘You mean to tell me you’ve forgotten what happened between us?’
Teddy was the first guy I ever did anything with. I was fifteen and he was eighteen and his family was spending Christmas with ours.
It was after dinner and we were sitting on the sofa watching a film while our parents were still in the dining room when he leaned in and kissed me.
‘I’ve been obsessing over those lips for ever, and I wanted to know if they felt as good as they looked,’ he had said to me.
‘Well, d-do they?’ I questioned, completely flustered. It wasn’t like I’d never got any male attention before, it was that I didn’t usually care for it. But that wasn’t the case with Teddy. I’d known him all my life, and ever since I could remember our families had talked about how we’d grow up and get married. And I was never against it because to me Teddy was that hot older guy, of course I liked him. The fact he liked me back sent shivers racing down my spine.
‘They do,’ he whispered in response, moving closer to me. He kissed me again, and after a few minutes he lifted me onto his lap.
His hands started to explore my body but as soon as we heard the doorknob shake he practically threw me off him, proceeding to pretend like nothing had happened.
‘How about a re-do, with a bit more adult content?’ Now he slips his hands into mine and starts walking backwards, dragging us towards the bed.
‘Teddy,’ I sigh. ‘No.’
‘Ah, come on, Daph. Why not?’ He pouts, sitting down on the bed and pulling me in between his open legs. ‘I just want to take my mind off of what happened today.’ He rubs his hands up and down the back of my thighs, adding in a whiney tone, ‘Please,’ when I don’t respond.
Everything about this feels wrong.
His hands on my skin, our proximity, his whiney boyish nature. I feel uncomfortable and honestly wish Henry was here doing his helicopter parent thing right now, or Milosh was giving him one of those threatening looks. But they’re not here so I have to get myself out of this one.
‘How about we go on a run around the grounds after dinner?’ I suggest, keeping my smile light and airy.
‘A run?’ he echoes sceptically.
‘Yeah! A run will help you get your mind off everything and maybe we could do a little outdoor workout as well. I mean, who needs the gym downstairs when you have fresh air!’ I jest.
He looks at me for a few seconds and I can see the idea whirling around in his head. ‘Is it because of Milosh?’ he asks.
‘What?’ How did we get on to Milosh?
‘Are you and him together? Is that why you don’t want us to happen?’
‘Um…’ I trail off.
Is it because of Milosh? I know a part of me wished it were his hands exploring my body instead of Teddy’s but I don’t think that’s it. I’m fond of Teddy, I just don’t feel anything romantically towards him any more. And it doesn’t help that he’s so pushy about this stuff. What would happen if I told him to stop, if I changed my mind. Would he listen?
‘Wait, no. That’s not it.’ Teddy starts shaking his head in disbelief. ‘You’re still a virgin, aren’t you?’
‘Yes,’ I admit. It’s not like it’s a secret, but I feel icky talking about this with him.
‘Oh, I get it.’ Teddy smiles, simultaneously spinning me round and pulling me onto the bed, leaving me lying next to him. ‘You’re saving yourself for me, aren’t you?’
‘What?’ I gape. But he doesn’t respond because he’s too busy studying the necklace that just fell out of my top.
‘That’s a pretty necklace,’ he says quietly as if to soothe me, an unreadable emotion flicking across his face as he reaches down to touch it.
When I swiftly changed out of the gala dress earlier, returning the Graff necklace to its box, my neck felt bare. So I replaced it with my mother’s necklace, tucking it down under my top to avoid any questions from my father. It had stayed there, successfully hidden, until now.
‘Um…’ I clear my throat, lifting myself off the bed to stand, tucking the necklace back under my top. ‘Thank you.’
He simply nods and sits up on the bed, hands between his legs. He looks thoughtful for a moment so I turn to leave. I stop at the door when he says my name again. ‘Daphne?’ I turn around to face him, hand still on the knob. ‘I think a workout would be great.’ He smiles that boyish smile of his and I’m immediately at ease. This is the Teddy I like. Fun, sweet and not pushy.
‘Great! Dinner’s at seven-thirty so we can work out after that.’
‘Looking forward to it.’
As I close the door to his room, I see Amelia walking up the stairs. ‘Hey, did you want to join me and Teddy for a workout after dinner?’ She reaches me and we walk together towards her office at the end of the hall.
‘Sure.’ She smiles. ‘Henry will absolutely hate it, and I haven’t riled him up in ages so we’re way overdue.’ She laughs as she opens her office door and rounds the desk to sit down.
‘He is really hot when he’s angry,’ I add.
‘Daphne!’ Amelia gasps. ‘You’re not allowed to say that.’
‘Meelie, just because the man’s known me since I was five doesn’t mean I haven’t got eyes. Your husband’s hot.’ I shrug. ‘Deal with it.’
Henry has a roughness about him that just screams sexy, with his tall, strong build and his heavily tattooed arm. His fluffy brown hair is the only soft part about him. Well, minus his delightfully gentle counterpart.
‘Mmm, you’re not wrong,’ Amelia agrees, starting her computer. ‘But he’s not the only good-looking guy in the house now, is he?’ She looks up at me with the most unconvincing innocent expression. ‘I mean, I personally believe when a guy constantly sticks up for you, gets a little protective when another guy starts touching you and, oh, I don’t know, tells you the truth when no one else does…’ She breathes a satisfied sigh. ‘I don’t know, I just think that’s rather attractive.’
‘Really?’ I deadpan. ‘How unexpected of you.’
‘Daphne, when are you going to admit you find Milosh attractive?’ she says, releasing an exasperated sigh.
‘I never said he was unattractive.’ I shrug.
‘Well, that’s good to know.’ A low voice drawls from behind me. Ignoring Amelia’s grin, I turn around to see Milosh standing by the door I left open.
‘Mr Petrov.’ I plaster on my most confident smile. ‘Are you here to talk to Meelie?’
‘No, I wanted to talk with you.’
‘Huh,’ Amelia quips. ‘Who would’ve thought it?’
Releasing a heavy sigh, I motion for Milosh to turn back around so we can talk in the hall.
‘How can I help you, Mr Petrov?’ I ask as soon as I’ve closed the door.
‘I wanted to check you were all right after everything you heard downstairs.’ I look at him, studying his face.
‘Yes.’ I smile, starting the walk to my room. ‘I’m fine, thank you.’
‘You sure?’ Something about the concern lacing his tone makes me stop walking and lift up on my tiptoes to hug him. My arms snake around his neck while he stands there tense and rigid. I breathe a laugh as I drop my arms to find his and bring them to my back.
‘Thank you for being the one to tell me the truth,’ I whisper.
‘You deserved to know.’
I smile into his chest as I feel his arms tightening around my waist, pulling me closer into him and his firm, warm body. Gosh he smells good.
With his strong arms wrapped around me and his hands pressed against my back, I feel oddly at ease, the closeness mixed with his all too familiar scent comforting.
It’s strange: not half an hour ago I was listening to how my life has completely fallen apart, fear dominating my mind and worry climbing up my spine. But now, as I stand here, all I feel is peace.
Amid all the turmoil and uncertainty, Milosh has been the calm in the storm. Always knowing what to do, figuring out solutions for our problems and protecting me.
I know it’s his job, but a tugging feeling in my heart tells me it could be something else.
Something… more.
‘Milosh?’ I whisper, starting to break the hug so I can look at him.
‘Hmm?’ His low voice rumbles as his gaze bores into mine.
‘I—’
‘Oh,’ Teddy interrupts. He’s standing awkwardly in the doorway to my father’s bedroom. ‘Sorry, I didn’t know you two would be out here.’
‘Teddy, what were you doing in my father’s room?’ I start to pull away from Milosh, but he holds me there, his hands firmly on my waist as he looks at Teddy with such cold calculation that Teddy starts shifting uncomfortably.
‘Oh, well.’ He starts laughing, looking anywhere but my face. ‘I was looking to see… if he had a toilet brush.’
‘There’s a toilet brush in the bathroom in the guest room. Why were you looking for another one?’
His face starts heating. ‘It’s a bit embarrassing, I don’t want to really get into it.’
‘Answer her question, Teddy,’ Milosh warns coolly. The cold steel of his tone is at odds with his gentle yet firm touch.
‘W-well, I… ugh… made a bit of a mess.’
‘A mess so large it causes you to slip and fall into another man’s bathroom?’ Milosh queries.
‘Yes?’ Teddy sounds like he’s questioning himself.
‘Oh, well, I’ll call Charlotte to come and sort it out. Depending on the size of the problem she may need to call a plumber,’ I respond. Milosh keeps his face impassive but I can hear him breathe out a laugh.
Teddy’s face reaches a shade of red a ripe tomato would envy. ‘No, no. Goodness, no. Th-that’s all right.’ He starts fiddling with his toilet brush-less hands. ‘I’ll sort it all out, no need to worry!’ he calls out as he promptly walks into his room, shutting the door.
‘That was odd, right?’ I ask, turning back to look at Milosh, dropping out of his embrace.
‘Yeah, it was.’ Milosh studies me for a moment, slipping his hands into his pockets. ‘Does your father keep anything valuable in his room?’
‘I’m not sure.’ I furrow my brow. ‘Why? Do you think Teddy was after something?’
‘Maybe.’
‘Oh, I don’t think so. Yes, Teddy has certain… eccentricities, but he’s not one to steal.’
‘Hmm,’ Milosh hums, watching me silently. ‘I know it’s not my place to ask, but did you and Teddy ever…’
‘Once,’ I finish for him. ‘We kissed once, a couple of years ago.’
His jaw ticks but he remains impassive, nodding curtly.
‘Why do you ask?’
He shrugs. ‘Curious.’
‘Really?’ He’s curious about my romantic past?
‘Apparently so,’ he grumbles.
We stare at each other in silence, his eyes heating and his jaw clenched.
I drop my gaze to his mouth. ‘I know he wants to do or be more, but I’m not interested.’ I can feel my body temperature rising as I look up to meet his eyes. ‘In him, at least,’ I add in a whisper.
An unreadable expression passes over his face for a split second. ‘Good to know.’
‘It is?’ I breathe.
‘It is, Miss Green.’