Page 13

It’s Saturday morning and Ruslana and I are shopping again. I can’t help but love her. She is fun and outgoing and loud and energetic and in a lot of ways, very similar to me. We get on like a house and fire. She laughs at me when I tell her something is too expensive and Radmir will be upset if I use his credit card that much.

“I think you should get two, then. One in each color. My brother won’t even notice the expense.” She grins.

I stare at the gorgeous jacket, dark green, kind of emerald, it would definitely make the color of my eyes pop. Then, with a wicked little streak of mischief, I think to myself. My plan was to cause havoc in his life and now I’m stressing over spending a little of his money—ok, a lot, a lot of his money. But it seems he has a lot of money either way.

By the end of the day I have spent so much of his money that I feel a little nauseous. It’s not only about how he will react—it just seems so wasteful. I don’t really need all these clothes. Sure, I want them, but that’s not the point.

Causing havoc, Jade.

Even for a man I am supposed to hate, I feel guilty about the amount I spent, encouraged by Ruslana, of course.

I push the guilt aside and stride into his house in the late afternoon. The driver carries all of my shopping bags up to my room, walking past Radmir as he comes down the stairs towards me.

“You look like you had fun.” He smiles broadly.

My cheeks flush red, I had hoped to sneak the bags past him, but he doesn’t seem in the least bit phased by the sight of them.

“Ruslana says she wants to take you to the other mall next weekend.” He steps close to me.

“Oh my goodness no , I enjoyed the day, but that is way too much shopping. What will I do with so many things?” I laugh.

“She just likes to spend time with you. Don’t even worry about the shopping side of it. You should go if you like being around her, too.” He smiles, slipping his hand around my waist. My body tingles, little sparks lighting inside me.

“I have something to show you—“ he grins.

“Ok?” I ask, squinting at him and wondering what he is up to now.

He lets his hand run down my arm then slips his fingers between mine. Ugh . He’s so divine. He’s so romantic. He’s so sweet and caring and sexy. And to top it off he’s so dominant in all the exact right moments.

I clench my jaw, stopping the thoughts dead in their tracks.

He is a murderer. He took someone I love from me.

“It’s upstairs.” He smiles, pulling me to follow him.

He has the lights dimmed low in the hallway as we make our way to one of the guest rooms upstairs. I know it’s a guest room because I saw it when I was exploring weeks ago already. Why in the world would he want to take me into the guest room?

Except when he pushes the door open it isn’t a guest room at all.

The bed and cupboard and dresser have been removed and replaced with big leather chairs that look just like movies theatre chairs, except fancier and more comfortable.

On the wall he has set up a white screen and a projector, and images of some old movie are playing—splashing colors onto the blank white screen. The volume is turned low, but the sound seems to be coming from every corner.

Then, along the wall is an entire sweet shop. A popcorn machine, a proper one—the big kind they have in the movie house and the entire room smells of fresh popcorn.

The entire wall is filled with Perspex tubes filled with assorted gummy bears, sweets and next to it all is a fridge of cool drinks and bottled water.

Along the floor, from corner to corner of the entire room, he has set up strip lighting like they have in the real movie theaters so you can find your way to your seat.

“A movie theater?” I ask, shocked to my core. “You made a movie theater.” I’m mumbling in disbelief.

“I wanted a special place for us to spend time together and I know how much the movies mean to you.”

“Radmir—“ I gasp, feeling overwhelmed by a hundred emotions all at once. Confusion and conflict churns inside me. This man who I am meant to hate. This evil, treacherous, murderous man who has shown me nothing but how incredible he is. I am trying so hard to hate him, but it’s becoming more and more obvious that I can’t.

Everything I came here to do has been forgotten along the way. I don’t even think I should be here anymore.

He pushes me towards the chairs, an excited glimmer in his eyes that reminds me of opening presents on Christmas morning. I chuckle at his joy. He’s so freaking excited to show me this room. It shows me how much thought and effort he put into it— just for me. All of this is for me.

No one has ever done anything even close to this special for me before.

“I assume you want to do this properly .” He asks with mock seriousness, “Popcorn, an oversized soda and, shall I bring you an assorted selection of sweets, or would you like to choose your own?”

I glance towards the colorful wall of sweets.

“I’d like to choose them.” I grin and he immediately ushers me to the sweetie bar.

The colorful sweet wall looks like something straight out of willy Wonka.

“I can’t believe you did all of this in a day,” I comment, knowing he couldn’t have done it any other time because I only told him about the movies last night. He hands me a little paper bag, it’s pretty with red and white stripes, to fill up with sweets while he goes to get our popcorn.

Over and over in my head I repeat this isn’t real. The real him is a monster. Don’t fall for this.

But it’s no good. I’m falling. Whether I want to admit or not. I’m falling—all the way to the bottom of the cliff. I’m falling so hard I’m going to break every bone when I land. And this is a very dangerous position for me to be in.

What about your brother?

I’m confused.

We sit down in the movie chairs and he starts an old romantic comedy.

At first I’m uncomfortable, fidgeting and shifting in the chair, my thoughts all over the place, worrying about my own choices, but I keep hearing him chuckle at the movie and when he reaches out to softly place his hand on my leg. His gentle touch immediately soothes all of my anxiety away. He’s not supposed to have that effect on me, to be a source of calm for me. But that’s what happens.

I start paying more attention to the movie instead of the tension in my mind. Soon, I’m giggling and tucking into my sweets and popcorn. Radmir and I laugh loudly at the scenes and look at each other with amusement.

I pick up a piece of popcorn and flick it, hitting him in the cheek.

His eyes grow wide, he clearly hadn’t expected it, then dark with mischief. He picks up a handful of popcorn and throws it at me.

“What?” I stammer, laughing loudly.

I stand up and dust the popcorn off my seat and clothes then sit down again, but as I do he wraps his arm around me.

It feels so nice.

To be held like this.

To be embraced, gentle and warm.

I rest my head on his shoulder, trying to ignore the more intense responses in my body—the heat that is building and the quickening of my heart rate.

The movie goes on and we chat about plot, trying to guess who is going to do what and why it is or isn’t stupid.

“Oh, just tell her how you feel.” Radmir laughs at the lead male actor.

I glance towards him and he looks down at me, leaning in the crook of his shoulder. For a moment, I can’t breathe. His eyes are so deep, swirling pools of dark mystery. He reaches out and brushes hair from my face.

“You are beautiful, Jade. I can’t tell you that enough.”

My heart feels like it’s going to explode from my rib cage. A thousand birds beating the wings up against the inside of my bones.

I bite my lip and fight the charged tension, growing sharper by the second, screaming at me to kiss him, touch him, let him take me.

He turns his attention back to the movie but that gorgeous smile is still settled on his face. My eyes trace over his rugged jaw line. His perfectly shaped profile, and those lips. Oh fuck. Those lips.

I let out a half moan, half gasp. A soft sound, but he hears it.

His eyes narrow towards me and his hand drifts down my body, onto my hip, pulling me ever so slightly closer.

Stop this, Jade.

Stop this and watch the movie.

To my horror, the scene in the movie escalates. They are standing in his apartment. Low lighting. The mood perfectly set. The guy steps towards the girl and grabs her face. “I’ve loved you since the moment you stepped into my office. I can’t stop thinking about you,” he says with dark urgency.

Her lips part and she takes in a sharp breath.

“Philip, I don’t know if I can—“

He kisses her, and all of her resistance crumbles away as their hands begin to explore each other. Clothing is tugged free and tossed aside and the scene becomes more and more heated.

Radmir’s hand on my hip, the heat begins to spread, soaking right into me. I bite my lip and do everything I can to fight it, but I’m dying here.

He leans over, wrapping his other hand around the back of my neck and pulls me closer to him. The kiss is electrifying. His lips connect with mine and my body is a surging force of passion.

My skin becomes feverish with desire.

He moans against my lips and my pussy starts to heat with need.

Instead of pushing him away, I reach up and touch his jaw, deepening the kiss.

His hand slips beneath my t-shirt. His fingers on my naked skin.

Stop this, Jade. This isn’t right. You have to stop. But I can’t.

I’m trying.

I’m trying so hard to regain control of myself.

But I’ve been wanting to feel him against me—

He moves again, shifting himself so that he is hovering over me.

I tense, knowing where this is leading and screaming at myself to resist him.

“Jade?” his voice is tender, worried. My eyes are squeezed shut.

“Mm?” I mumble, tightly.

“You don’t want this?” he asks, with hurt in his voice.

“I—“ I want it so badly it’s aching inside me.

“It’s ok—honestly. It’s totally fine,” he quickly reassures me, moving back into his seat.

He leaves his arm wrapped around me and turns his attention back to the movie.

But my body isn’t able to let go that easily.

I fucking want him.

And what harm is there in just having a little bit of fun?

It’s not love. I’m not stupid. But physically, this man drives me crazy and there is no reason I shouldn’t let go and enjoy the moment for the carnal pleasures it has to offer. Nothing more, nothing less.

I turn towards him and grab his face in both hands, slamming my mouth into his and kissing him with force.

He lets out a low growl that pushes me, encourages me. Now that I’ve made up my mind to allow this to happen—my body is on fire.