Page 63 of The Dark Side

“Haven’t changed!”

He chuckled, his eyes light, and he admired the smile that graced her lips.

Even as the seconds ticked by, simply staring at her, Adrik felt no need to be anywhere else. In her presence was enough. He soaked her in like a wet dog in the sunlight. She warmed him to his core.

He tried so hard to remain distant, but he was losing the fight. He could only pretend not to care for so long until he broke. Now, Adrik found himself saying, “Go out with me tonight.” He didn’t regret it. He had spent weeks apart from her already. He needed a recharge before he forced himself to go any longer.

“Okay.”

A finger stretched, touching her knuckle. Adrik kept his eyes on hers, suddenly desperate to get her to understand how much he was hiding, how he was pretending. Her cheeks reddened, but the desire was very much in her eyes, and she swallowed, parched, as her heart rate escalated.

Adrik added a second finger, a feathery touch across her knuckles. He couldn’t believe such a small action would cause him to lose his breath. It was dangerous, but it was the kind that excited him. He wanted to feel her skin atop his, with her lips at his ear.

But a reminder came swiftly through the fantasy. If Katia or a servant came in right now, it would be over. She’d be taken from him.

Adrik sat up suddenly, breaking from her. “Wait for a text.” He dived out of the room, feeling like a fucking coward.

Chapter twenty-three

Courage

Joliestaredatherreflection. She wore tight jeans, a nice blouse, and decorative sandals. She was going for a less ‘boy look’ while trying to be casual. Her hair was curled and layered, with just a bit of eyeliner to help her brown eyes pop. And though she appeared calm and collected on the outside, she felt out of breath as her heart pounded excitedly. She didn’t know if this was a date or something else, but it certainly made her stomach twist like it was.

Stop it,she chided herself.It’s just lust. It’s desperation. It’s his undeniable sex appeal.

There were so many reasons to be attracted to Adrik.

And so many reasons to be afraid of him.

Jolie attempted to cover the bruise on her arm, but the coverup only made it look like a bruise with makeup on it.

A knock on her door made her jump, and she spun toward it. A voice on the other end muffled through. “Miss Bell, I’m here to take you to your parents.”

My parents? Who said I’m going to my parents?

Then it dawned on her. It was code. Adrik was not taking any chances.

Jolie snatched the listening device off her dresser and slipped it into her purse. She wasn’t going to use it, but there was always an underlying fear that something terrible could happen to her at any moment. She hoped Agent Mally didn’t put much stock in her ability to get good information. Jolie wouldn’t know even if she succeeded. They spoke Russian more than sixty percent of the time.

A text message beeped on her phone, and she clicked it.‘I’ll meet you.’

It was from an unknown number, but she knew it was Adrik. Though it made her smile, it didn’t last long. The extent he’s going through to keep anyone suspecting was disconcerting.

It brought Yakov’s warning to her head. ‘You were hired as a tutor, and that is what you will do. Anything else will violate your contract, and I will turn you out faster than I gutted that lion.’

Another text binged, but this was from her mother.‘Where is this man taking you? I need the exact address.’

Jolie texted back,‘Can you not be so paranoid?’

‘You’re my only child. I will be paranoid even when I’m dead. Address.’

Though her mother’s overprotectiveness was annoying, Jolie was used to it by now.‘I’ll send it once I know.’

There was another knock, and Jolie was out the door, following the foot soldier, trying to even out her breathing as she went. She felt giddy, like a kid the night before Christmas.

“Jolie!” Alexei called from the living room as she passed. She spun from the front door, hoping to have an innocent, not caught-in-the-headlights look, but she was sure he saw everything in the reflection of her eyes. Alexei slipped his hands into his pockets. With an unreserved look down her form, he said, “You look nice; where are you headed?”

“Um, uh, oh, am.”