Page 41 of Arseni

I don’t know if she wants me to confirm, but I don’t.I turn her, her eyes shining with something I can’t make out.Then, I pick up a piece of turkey and bring it to her lips.When she goes to lift her arms, I hold them down.

Slowly, her lips part, and with the innocent way she eyes me, the situation almost feels erotic.The goal was to demean her, but the feel of her lips on my fingers makes my cock stir.

I pick up another piece of turkey, my mind taking me to places I command it not to go.“Did you have big plans?”

She shakes her head after cinching the food with her teeth.Once she’s swallowed, she doesn’t immediately take the next bite.

“I was just thinking how pathetic it is that this is the first Thanksgiving I’ve shared with another person.”

Glancing at me, she quickly takes the next bite and turns her head away to chew.

“You mean as an adult?”

She swallows.“No.My dad was an anti-patriotic drunk.One time my mother put a paper turkey I made on the fridge, and he broke her arm for it… We didn’t do Thanksgiving.”

I nod, though I don’t at all understand.I’ve sat through so many awkward dinners with families of fosters I hardly knew that it seems impossible to have been alone thirty-five years in a row.I desperately wanted to be.There is nothing that says, ‘you have no family’ more bitterly than recognizing two faces among a crowd with everyone referring to you as a stranger’s son.

“What about your adoptive parents?”

“They were the over-the-top volunteer type.They took me along when I was a kid, but…” She shrugs.“I never counted it before, but it’s obviously better than this.”

I stare at the plate, picking at a green bean.It’s a nice reprieve from her talking when I take it to her mouth.

I don’t know why I’m asking questions.I don’t want to know this shit.Boo fucking who, you missed out on a holiday.So what?

“Do you live here?”she asks, glancing around.

It’s strange.Very fucking strange.But my knee-jerk reaction is to say yes, just to impress her.My second reaction is shame.

“No, this is my boss’s place.I’m staying here to be close to you.”

“He let you bring your dog?”She scrunches her forehead like that’s confusing for her.Even she thinks a dog doesn’t fit in a place this nice.Nikita is seriously going to kill me.

“Someone broke into my house today and poisoned Roscoe.He’s just here until the guy who did it is taken care of.”

Her face blanches.When I bring another bite of turkey to her lips, she doesn’t take it.

“What?”I ask, lowering the food.

She swallows.“Do you know who did it?”

“Some dick my roommate pissed off.Why?”

Her knee jabs my thigh as she curls her body into me.“Are you sure?”

I narrow my eyes and take my time answering.

“How bad was the damage?Did they steal anything?”she goes on, her voice growing impatient.

“Why?”

With a deep breath, she closes her eyes.“Five years ago, my stalker burned a cat in my backyard as a threat.He isn’t above hurting animals.”

Jesus Christ, heburned a cat?

“The guy was there to trash the place.Roscoe was probably just in the way.If he wanted him dead, there are more efficient ways to kill?—”

“It could’ve been a warning.”