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"Sevan," I breathed out, hunching over as more of the disgusting chunky bile spilled from my lips, "Away—go away," I whispered under my breath, feeling my eyes burn as I truly processed what I had done.

I threw up on her shoes.

Oh fuck.

I shook my head when I felt more bile shoot up my throat, stumbling past Sevan.

Who was quicker than me.

She had slid out of her loafers, immediately guiding me further into the bathroom and pulling the lid of the toilet up.

I stumbled down onto my knees immediately, hunching over the toilet as more of the sour bile twisted up my throat and nearly choked me in the process.

I'm not sure when my hair had been pulled back or how—I just focused on surrendering for once.

But to my own body that rejected everything occupying my stomach.

My throat nearly felt like it had been burned raw by the time I was done, coughing as my body jerked with each movement.

Until eventually my nausea faded.

But the ache in my stomach was still just as fucking unbearable.

What the fuck.

"Zinovia," Sevan suddenly murmured, queuing me back into her presence.

I genuinely forgot about her for a moment.

I forced a weak hum, unable to form any words as I felt her gently tug at my hair—securing it up out of my face in a ponytail.

"Are we done at the toilet?" she asked, clearly wanting to make sure my nausea had faded.

I nodded, letting out a deep sigh.

But it didn't make the aches shooting down my body any better.

"Let's brush your teeth and get you in bed," she said, gently guiding me away from the toilet by my shoulders.

I let out another deep sigh, stumbling up as she helped me onto my feet.

And Sevan didn't bother asking questions or saying anything actually.

She remained quiet as she filled the glass cup on the sink with water, bringing it to my lips so I could swish it for a moment.

And while I did that, Sevan began opening one of the toothbrushes provided, applying some of the toothpaste to the bristles before turning the sink on.

I let out a long painful sigh as I spit the water into the sink, allowing Sevan to gently grab my chin and guide my attention back to her.

And as soon as she brought the toothbrush to my lips, I parted them—weirdly letting her brush my teeth for me.

I unconsciously reached for her arms, gripping them tightly as I prayed for my own fucking stability to return.

Because right now everything aches.

And standing only makes me feel worse.

But luckily Sevan was finished with brushing my teeth after a couple of minutes, allowing me to swish water one more time before she guided me into the bedroom.

I immediately scrunched my nose up at the bile on the floor.

But Sevan didn't seem to pay it any mind as we walked around it, guiding me over to the other side of the bed.

And as she pulled the covers back, I immediately slid under them, watching as she began taking the dishes off the bed and placing them on the room service cart.

I scrunched my heavy eyes shut, wondering where the fuck I went wrong at.

Did someone try to fucking poison me?

Nazara...

Does she take things that personal?

Because I can always return the favor.

"Yeah, send up someone to clean this," I heard Sevan say, most likely on the phone with the hotel staff.

But I naturally tuned her out as I settled deeper in the bed, focusing on my erratic heart that had slowly calmed down.

My body still ached, especially my stomach.

"Zi," I heard Sevan say before the bed dipped beside me.

I only forced a hum, feeling too out of it to string words together.

"What did you eat baby?" she whispered, and I felt the softness of her hand against my cheek.

I let out a deep sigh, "Soup," I tried to say, but it barely came out as audible, "Salad—cake," I forced out, shaking my head when my stomach ached worse.

I heard Sevan hum in acknowledgment, feeling her hand pull away as she stood up from the bed.

It was only silent for a few moments.

I wasn't even concerned with where Sevan had gone—all I could do was keep my eyes tightly shut.

"Chicken," Sevan determined, and I could suddenly feel the bed dip beside me again, "I think it was the chicken in your salad."

I reached out before I could think it through, "You lay in bed," I forced out, weirdly wanting her right here beside me.

But I didn't want to say that.

And for once, Sevan didn't force it out of me.

Instead, she slid under the covers beside me and ran her arms around my body.

I let out a breathless hum as I nuzzled deeper into her chest, wrapping my arms around her waist.

My eyes slowly grew heavier as I relaxed further, especially with Sevan now playing with the ends of my hair.

I somehow managed to zone out the unbearable ache in my stomach, focusing only on her hand playing with my hair.

Luckily, it was enough to make me slowly drift to sleep.

But given I had barely slept any last night, it wasn't that hard to feel tired.

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I let out a rough sigh, feeling a sharp ache weigh down my head as I nuzzled deeper under the covers.

But now that I was even halfway awake, all I could focus on was the sharp pains still coursing through my stomach.

Fuck chicken.

I never eat it again.

I groaned slightly as I stirred from my sleep, blinking my eyes open that felt so beyond heavy.

"Sevan," I breathed out as soon as I met her dark eyes, realizing I was nuzzled even deeper into the side of her body, "It fucking hurts."

Sevan eyed me, pursing her lips in disapproval, "I know, Zi," she said, now reaching over to the nightstand.

For Tylenol?

When did she get that?

"You went out?" I whispered, unable to fully hold a conversation with her right now.

Sevan shook her head, "I sent someone from my team to pick it up," she briefly explained as she opened the pill container, "Along with new shoes."

I groaned at the embarrassing image she had painted in my head, burying my face under the covers.

Which was enough to earn a laugh from Sevan.

"You're being dramatic baby," Sevan said in amusement, "I've handled much worse than just dead bodies—throw up is the last of my fucking concern."

I only shook my head, "I continue to be dramatic," I determined, still finding it embarrassing, "They cleaned it up already da?"

Sevan hummed as she grabbed the glass of water, "Yeah after we switched rooms," she briefly explained as if it were the most casual thing ever.

Meanwhile, I was trying to figure out when the fuck we switched rooms.

"You were going in and out of sleep," Sevan added, noticing my open display of confusion.

I furrowed my brows deeper, trying to recall us switching rooms, but all I could picture was Sevan carrying me.

"You carry me?" I clarified, parting my lips when she brought the straw to my lips.

"Would you have preferred I dragged you?" Sevan said almost in amusement, which naturally made me roll my eyes—allowing her to slip the pills past my lips after I sipped some of the water.

But even after I swallowed the pills she still made sure I drank even more water.

The entire glass actually.

"You need something on your stomach," Sevan determined, easily making me shake my head, "Something small and bland," she added, not backing down on her decision.

Which earned a deep sigh from me.

"Fine," I mumbled with another sigh, but this one was much more dramatic.

Sevan took my agreement anyway, reaching over to the nightstand where there was a pack of crackers.

"It's from the store," Sevan explained as she opened the crackers, "I'm force-feeding the chef who made your salad raw fucking chicken after this is said and done."

I hummed forcefully, "I help you," I immediately insisted.

Which naturally made Sevan's lips twitch up, "As expected," she murmured, pausing her actions when her eyes met mine.

I drew in a deep breath as I held her stare, unsure of what this weird tension was between us.

It was less sensual and... more intimate.

I can't tell if I am overanalyzing it.

"You are the one other person who witnesses I am sick," I suddenly said, glancing away from her dark eyes to the pack of crackers she finished opening.

"And who is the other?" Sevan said, clearly anticipating what I might say.

I think if I said a woman's name I would hear of her death come tonight.

But it's not.

And the other person I'm referring to is already dead.

"My father," I said almost reluctantly.

Mostly because I do not have these sort of discussions.

This feels very personal.

Yet I chose to tell her.

It wasn't a slip-up.

"He's the only other person?" Sevan asked almost curiously, finding that to be odd.

And technically it was.

But I refused to leave my room while I was sick.

"Da—he would bring me everything I ever needed while I stayed in my room," I briefly explained, reluctantly taking one of the crackers when Sevan handed me one, "I force him to watch trashy American reality television."

Sevan chuckled slightly, "Dimitri Koslov?" she repeated back to me almost in clarification.

Because the image of my father was much different in anyone else's eyes aside from mine.

God have mercy on anyone who crossed paths with him.

You think I am bad—he is only a hundred times worse.

And he taught me only a quarter of what he was capable of.

"My father was a different man behind closed doors, Sevan," I said, sitting up slightly so I could take a bite of the cracker.

"I always assumed a nanny raised you," Sevan admitted, tilting her head slightly at me.

I parted my lips in offense, "You think I am this amazing from nanny?" I asked her, glancing down to her lips when they grew with an amused smile, "My father passed his greatness to me makyshka."

Sevan shook her head when her smile managed to grow more amused, watching as I grabbed another cracker to eat.

"You're funny, Zinovia," Sevan said, eyeing my face as I chewed a few times.

"Da," I murmured as I chewed a few more times, "I have to hide my comedic abilities or else women fall madly in love," I said, my tone taking a joking approach with her.

Sevan chuckled at my rare jokes, "I'm surprised you can hide them with how funny you are," she said, going along with my joke.

I felt my lips twitch up slightly as I ate another cracker, feeling Sevan's familiar touch brush past my waist.

And began rubbing my lower back.

"You're staying with me tonight," Sevan said, leaving no room for disagreement.

I shrugged, "So long as I have skincare," I determined.

Sevan immediately nodded, "I'll send someone to buy anything you want," she didn't hesitate to offer.

I raised a brow, "Vodka too?" I subtly murmured.

Sevan tilted her head, "Someone's feeling better," she said, clearly amused by my request.

I shrugged, "I have stomach aches—vodka helps with that," I concluded, determining that some way somehow vodka solved most of my issues.

"I'll rub your stomach then," Sevan shut my vodka request down, "And I'll have them get a heating pad too."

I narrowed my eyes even her words alone made my body burn, "I would rather the vodka," I mumbled.

Sevan smirked, "Stubborn Russian," she murmured, reaching up to gently wrap her hand around my neck.

"Controlling Colombian," I countered back, tilting my head in challenge.

Sevan's smirk only grew, her eyes flickering down to my lips, "Kiss me baby," she said, her voice nothing but demanding.

I raised a brow, "And what about last night with Nazara?" I decided to purposely ask.

Irritating her has become a very bad addiction.

Yet Sevan didn't seem irritated in the slightest.

"Are you claiming you fucked her, Zinovia?" Sevan clarified, and I knew she already knew otherwise.

Knowing her she probably had eyes on me at that fucking poker event.

"Nyet," I mumbled reluctantly.

But only because she would know if I'm lying, so it felt beyond pointless.

"And why didn't you fuck her?" Sevan almost purposely asked.

And whether it was her intention or not, the question left me annoyingly speechless.

Because I'm still trying to figure that answer out.

So until then I lie and say—

"I behave for you."

It felt almost degrading to say those words to her, but it was better than being noticeably speechless.

Then she will dig for more.

"Good," Sevan murmured in approval, "We'll find other ways to make me mad and keep you satisfied."

I tilted my head almost immediately, mostly at the strike that shot through my chest at her words.

"We will?" I clarified, unable to hide my subtle surprise at her words.

Sevan hummed in acknowledgment, "Yeah," she whispered, gently guiding my face closer to hers by my neck, "I vote in the bedroom."

I immediately rolled my eyes, "You are annoying, Sevan," I mumbled, glancing down briefly.

Before finally pressing my lips to hers for a kiss.

Which Sevan immediately reciprocated, pressing her body closer to mine instead of tugging me closer.

Her touch was gentler.

Even our kiss was.

Which was unusual.

I was unaccustomed to her lips moving softly against mine, kissing me with nothing but carefulness.

I wanted to hate it.

But I couldn't.

All I could do was fucking like it.

This is very bad.