Chapter 19 #3
My cheeks flush with embarrassment.
I’m a sticky mess, but Matvei doesn’t care.
He bends down, lifts me into his arms, sheets tangled all around me, and carries me to the bathroom.
He jerks his head at the door, and Polina leaves.
"I can stay a little longer if you need me," she says.
"Thank you."
He stands me in front of the tub, and the sheets fall to the floor. I’m naked beneath it.
Wordlessly, he lifts me, gently settling me into the warm water.
It feels good.
I lay my head back and close my eyes.
A few seconds later, there’s the sound of a splash.
I look up and see him, naked, climbing into the tub with me.
I open my mouth, but before I can speak…
"Little witch, for fuck’s sake, let me take care of you."
He holds me in his arms, on his lap.
And for some reason, it’s okay.
I’m still bleeding, but if he doesn’t care, neither do I.
He grins at me, his eyes warm and affectionate. "Listen," he murmurs, "if you think a man like me is afraid of a little blood, it’s like you don’t know me at all."
My cheeks flush in embarrassment.
I note the way he tips a cup of warm water over my head, little droplets trickling down my face.
I sigh contentedly, and when I do, he keeps going.
"Feels good," I whisper.
He runs a soft washcloth over my shoulders, my neck, and under the water, over the curves of my body.
Between my legs.
Over my tender breasts.
Across my back and up again.
He rinses and repeats.
Rinses and repeats.
And when the waves of pain come again, he shifts me, turning me over so I’m held in his left arm, resting across his shoulder.
His other hand spans my back again, pressing steady and firm until the pain passes.
And I think I might love this man.
We stay in the tub until the water grows cold.
I shiver.
"Do you want more hot water?" he asks quietly.
I shake my head. "No. I wanna go back to bed. Please."
"You don’t have to be polite," he says with a smirk. "Just bark out orders. This is the one time you’re the one in charge."
"You might regret that," I say teasingly.
I earn a rare smile and flash of white teeth. "That’s my girl," he says quietly. "There she is. You must be feeling better."
That’s my girl.
I never knew how much those words could mean to me.
He pulls the plug on the drain, and I watch the water swirl down, shivering.
Then he wraps a towel around his waist, then one around me, and carries me to the bedroom.
The bed is freshly made.
Polina sits in a chair by the little desk in the corner, tapping something out on her phone.
"Better? The meds should’ve kicked in by now."
I nod. "Thank you so much."
"Of course," she says, getting to her feet. "We’re sisters. I do have to go, but I’m going to leave very specific instructions for him."
My heart sinks.
I don’t want her to go.
I like her here.
She sees the look on my face and smiles.
"I promise you, he’s got this. And I’m giving you my phone number so you can text me. I happen to have an in with his boss."
She’s teasing, but there’s a serious edge to it, I know.
"Thank you."
It seems like too little, and yet something passes between us.
“And you owe me nothing. Just keep coming to the family dinners. As I keep telling the other girls, we need more women in this family."
She pauses, tilting her head. "Oh, and don’t be afraid of my husband." She stands and smiles. "He really is a bit of a softy."
She leaves, and as the door clicks shut behind her, Matvei looks at me. "That’s actually not true."
That makes me smile.
"I’ll be right back. I have to talk to her. Here. “I downloaded some games and shows for you. You’re staying in bed today. Polina says it’ll help. And there’s a book too."
He hands me a ridiculously large tablet and a book.
I stare. It’s The Best of Poe.
My throat tightens.
I raise an eyebrow. "I don’t stay in bed all day."
A look crosses his face, and his voice drops. "You do if I tell you that you are."
I smirk. "If you start bossing me around, I’m gonna text Polina. She said she has an in with your boss."
His eyes darken, amused. "Go ahead. Text her. And if you get out of this bed, I’ll spank your ass. Not now. But I have an excellent memory."
I stick my tongue out at him like a child.
He smiles, shaking his head. “That’s one. Keep it up.”
The door shuts behind him.
It still hurts, but not as much.
It’s better than it has been in a long time.
I wonder what medicine she gave me.
I hear them talking on the other side of the door, and a part of me wonders—if I hadn’t run… none of this would’ve happened. I would’ve been forced to marry Rafail.
I can’t imagine being with anyone but… Matvei.
And I know I’m not feeling well, that I’m compromised, and I… He’s the one who gets me. There’s something about his irreverence and hard edges that makes me crave more of him.
No, this isn’t how I planned anything.
And I do worry about what he’ll do when he finds out the truth about me.
Especially because I know what he wants from me.
But right now, I’m doing what I always do.
Get through today.
Survive.
I’ve never thought about a future.
And I can’t think about one now.