Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 78587 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 393(@200wpm)___ 314(@250wpm)___ 262(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78587 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 393(@200wpm)___ 314(@250wpm)___ 262(@300wpm)
That I can bleed
That I can bruise.
That I can break.
But I will rise.
Not as the woman who suffered in silence and compliance,
But as the woman who will never bow again.
He ran his hand over the words like they meant something to him, and then sighed, “You know, these are really good. Intense, but they’re good.”
“You think?”
“I do.” He smiled. “The sketches are good, too. You have real talent. You should do something with them. Put them in a gallery or something.”
“I don’t think I could do that.”
“Then, maybe a book or something.” He dropped the pad back down on the sofa. “You could always use a pen name.”
“Maybe.”
He nodded, then let out a breath. “Well, I’ll get out of your hair. I just wanted to make sure you were okay.”
“I’m good.”
“Have Bog call me if that changes.”
“I will.”
With that, Nikolai gave me a wink, then turned and walked out of the apartment, leaving me alone once again. And once again, the hours seemed to drag by. It was another day of trying to keep myself from going crazy. I couldn’t stop thinking about what Nikolai had said about Sergei. It was so hard not knowing what was going on with him.
There was no doubt that his distance had something to do with that kiss. I’d thought he’d wanted me as much as I wanted him, but now, I wasn’t so sure. Maybe he realized he didn’t want me at all. Maybe he regretted it so badly he couldn’t even look at me. Maybe he wished I were gone.
I had no idea what was going on in his head because he wasn’t here. I couldn’t feel him watching me or hear his voice when he talked to me. The thought made my chest ache and frustrated me at the same time.
It was nearly midnight before I heard the front door open and the quiet clink of Sergei’s keys. My heart started to race when I heard him start down the hall. I lay there for a minute and stared up at the ceiling as I tried to muster the courage to finally face him.
I had to know why he was distancing himself from me.
I had to know if he wanted me to leave.
There was only one way I was going to find out, and that was to talk to him face to face. It took me a moment, but eventually, I forced myself to toss the covers back and get out of bed. I opened my door and started out into the hallway. It was dark, and I could barely see as I started toward Sergei’s room.
I didn’t get far when my toe caught on something, and before I could steady myself, I went sailing forward. A yelp slipped from my lips as pain shot through my side, sharp and hot, and then my head slammed against something hard.
Then nothing.
Everything went black.
The next morning, I woke in a daze, and I’d all but forgotten my tumble until I stretched and realized I wasn’t in my bed. Instead, I was in Sergei’s, and that was a shock all its own. But what was even more shocking was the fact that he was asleep right next to me. I was a little caught off guard, but I wasn’t completely unnerved by the discovery.
Nor did I feel threatened or uncomfortable. It was just the opposite; I felt safe and protected. I had no business being in his bed, especially after his disappearing act over the past couple of days. I needed to get back to my room, and I needed to get there fast.
But the second I tried to sit up, Sergei’s arm flailed to the side and landed on my stomach, holding me in place. I froze. I didn’t want to wake him, so I eased back on my pillow.
I couldn’t get over how peaceful he looked, almost angelic, which was something I didn’t think was possible for such an intense man.
He was always handsome. Early in the morning, before his shower and before he’d even thought about brushing his hair. And when he left for work in his black business suit and designer shoes. And even when he was just in his jeans and a T-shirt. It didn’t matter. The man could turn a head.
He certainly turned mine, time and time again. But it wasn’t just his looks that got to me. It was the man behind the intense glare and fierce demeanor that made my heart skip a beat. It wasn’t a side that he showed often, but after one glimpse, I was hooked.
I was staring at his beautiful, full lips when he mumbled, “Morning.”
“Good morning.”
“You sleep okay?”
“I think so. I’m a little foggy.” I pulled the covers up to my chin and added, “I tripped on something in the hall.”
“The table next to the bathroom.”