Chapter 35 Gennadiy
GENNADIY
When we finished, we stared at each other, panting and uncertain. What now? I don’t think either of us had ever lost before. Or was it possible that we’d both won?
We dressed, stumbling and shaky-legged as we tried to drag soaking wet pants up our legs.
I’d ruined Alison’s blouse, so I gave her my suit jacket to wear, which was comically huge on her.
Then we climbed back on the stolen bike and rode back to the mansion.
With the wind whipping against our soaked bodies, it was freezing, and by the time we got home, both of us were shivering.
I took Alison straight to my bedroom and pushed her into the big, walk-in shower fully dressed, and we stood under the hot spray until our teeth stopped chattering, then peeled our sodden clothes off and let the heat soak to our bones.
We wrapped towels around us and went to the bed.
The idea was just to sit down for a moment, to rest before we dressed.
But it had been a long couple of days with not much sleep in between, and even though it was only mid-afternoon, we were both exhausted.
I flopped back on the bed, thinking I’d just rest my eyes for a minute, Alison pressed close to my chest, cuddling in like a sleepy cat, and both of us were asleep in seconds.
I was woken by my phone buzzing: Radimir. I answered, still half asleep. “Are you okay?” he demanded. “There was a shoot-out, they found your car, wrecked—”
“I’m fine,” I whispered. “Somebody attacked us. We got away. I’m sorry, brother, I should have called. I was—” I looked down at Alison, asleep on my chest. “Distracted.”
Radimir went quiet. “You’re with her right now, aren’t you?”
I went to deny it, then closed my eyes, ashamed. I’d lied enough to him. “Yes.”
Radimir sighed. “How long have you had…” I heard the snap of fabric as he tugged his waistcoat straight. “Feelings for this FBI agent?”
I swallowed, looking at her half-uncovered breasts, at the little tattoo of a bird on her lower back. “A while,” I mumbled.
“Gennadiy…” I could hear the anger in his voice, but I could hear concern, too. He was worried about me. “I’m telling you, we can’t trust her.”
“And I’m telling you, we can,” I said stubbornly, and ended the call.
I stroked Alison’s hair. Blyat’! What had I done? I’d sworn to stay away from her, to protect her. But then I’d touched her cheek in the alley, and it had been so cold and…
I braced for the rush of guilt that would make me tell her this was a mistake, that would make me push her away all over again, but it didn’t arrive. Looking down at her slumbering face, all I felt was...good.
A slow shock spread through me. Finally giving in to my feelings had let me see something: this was right. Me and her. Working together, fucking, her asleep on my chest. The whole thing. Maybe this was the only way it could work, for opposites like us. Either we destroyed each other or...we joined.
I had no idea how we were going to make it work, but I knew I wasn’t giving her up again.
Now I just needed to figure out what to say to her. Luckily, I had some time while she was still—
At that second, she shifted and stirred. I felt my heart rate rocket. No! No no no no! I wasn’t ready yet! I stroked her hair and made little shh-ing noises. But it was too late.
Alison opened her eyes and looked up at me.