Chapter 8 #3
“You want me to take a picture of myself right now?” I ask, gesturing towards my hair, knowing it’s still blowing around like I’m a witch who’s just stepped away from her coven.
He takes his phone and holds it up at face level. I quickly grab my hair and try to keep it in place. “Wait, not yet,” I say.
I hear the amusement dripping from his words when he says, “I’ve already taken several.”
“What?”
“And another,” he says.
Knowing if I yell, he’ll just take a picture of it, I tilt my head and give him a big smile instead.
“Perfect,” he murmurs, and it’s several more seconds before he actually drops his hands. Before he puts his phone away, he calls me and then hangs up. “Now you have mine too.”
“But I don’t have a photo,” I say while trying to pull my phone from my pocket.
“You’ve got to be faster than that, besyonok.”
He leaves me standing on the veranda, too stunned to move, and with what I’m sure is a dopey look on my face. I’ve had a few nicknames over the years from my family, but usually it’s something my dad’s come up with or it’s my cousins calling me a bookworm.
Damien calling me little demon is the best one I’ve ever been given.
Before I go inside, I add him into my contacts, using one of the many pictures I’ve secretly taken of him.
It’s my favorite. He’d been looking off to the side at one of his cousins, and there’s a grin playing at the corner of his mouth, like he’s seconds away from giving a full smile.
I’m obsessed with the lines of his jawline and neck, and this one gives me the perfect view of both.
I pocket my phone when my mom calls my name and then go inside with the others. My Uncle Vasya is back, and when I walk in, his eyes run from me to Damien and then Bran.
I wanted to show him the sea cave, Bran signs. Ev had to miss it.
Stayed up too late studying, Damien signs. He looks over at my grandma and says, “Thank you for breakfast. That was delicious.”
“Anytime,” my grandma says, walking over to pat his cheek again. “Tell your cousin to get to bed earlier next time so he can come too.”
“I will,” he promises her and then he returns the quick hugs my mom and aunt give him.
Even though there’s a lot I’d like to say to him before he walks out the door, I can feel my uncle’s eyes on me, so I school my features and settle on a casual, “It was good to see you again.”
He follows my lead when he barely glances my way and says, “You too.”
While my mom finishes saying her goodbyes, I plop down onto their couch and pull my phone out, pretending to read a book on my Kindle app.
I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that if my uncle suspects anything, anything at all, my ass will be on lockdown for the remainder of Damien’s trip.
I’m grateful that the hoodie I’m wearing is just a plain black one, the same kind he’s seen on my brothers a million times, the same kind I’ve borrowed before so there’s no reason to suspect it’s Damien’s.
Thankfully, he doesn’t ask and put me on the spot.
My uncles are just as protective as my dad, and I know they all feel it’s their duty to keep an eye on each other’s kids.
If either one of them thinks I’m crossing the line with Damien, or anyone else for that matter, my dad will know about it in seconds.
I love them, but I can’t trust any of them with what I’m feeling right now.
I’m not even a hundred percent sure what I’m feeling because I’ve never once felt anything even close to it before.
It’s what I’ve tried to conjure up for Tyoma or Kostya but have always failed.
When I’m with Damien, the attraction slams into me without giving me a choice.
I’m drawn to him in a way that makes it impossible for me to ignore or deny it.
I’m still thinking about him when one of the guards brings my mom and me back home.
The first thing I do is dig out my old supplies from when Yulia and I used to make our own jewelry.
We’d often drill tiny holes into shells and decorate ourselves along with Talia and Allie.
After breaking an enormous amount of shells, I’d finally gotten the hang of it, and when I manage to drill a tiny hole into the turritella shell, I’m relieved to see I haven’t lost my touch.
Digging around, I grab some of the thin, black cord and cut off a large enough section.
After securing a knot, I slip it over my head and into my shirt so it’s sitting against my skin.
The shell hangs low enough to not be visible, and if I had any cleavage, it would be nestled in it.
Pleased with how it turned out, I sit down next to Nyx and scratch her belly.
I try to ignore the desire I have to text him, but eventually the temptation gets the better of me.
Besides, he didn’t seem to have a problem with exchanging numbers.
It wouldn’t hurt to send a little text before the race tonight.
Maybe he’ll even respond and want to talk for a bit.
I grab my phone and lay down so my head is on Nyx, just like she likes it. The plan is to keep it brief, but once I start typing, words keep coming out. With a groan, I send it off and then turn my head so I can kiss Nyx.
“Why did I do that?” I ask her. “I should’ve probably played it cool and not texted at all. I should’ve just waited until tonight.” I meet her amber eyes when she lifts her head. “I count on you to help me not do stupid things, Nyx.”
She huffs out a breath and drops her head again and then grunts to let me know she’d like to be petted.
I run my hand over her soft fur while I wait for a response.
Just when I’ve convinced myself he’s not going to respond, my phone buzzes.
I expect to see a bubble of text, but instead it’s a voice message.
Quickly putting in my ear buds, I play the message and listen to his deep voice.
“Hey, Sitka. I’m glad you texted. I had a fun time with you too.
I’m not doing much of anything right now.
Ev is trying to get in some reading before tonight, and I’m watching Lyra to give Max and Talia a break.
Bran mentioned you have a dog that’s sweet but looks like it should be guarding the gates of hell.
I feel like I have to see this. I’d love a picture when you get a minute. ”