Page 32 of Sins and Virtue

Damn Russian bastard.

The scent of strawberries caught my attention as it registered that he was also using my hygienic products.

“Then don’t talk then.” I slapped his hand away from my face, a residue of his touch lingering. “And stop using all of my shampoo. It’s very expensive and rare to find!”

“Don’t worry, I’ll buy you more.”

“With what money?”

“That’s my business. I’ll get you your supplies. Just be patient.”

I clicked my teeth, my face pulling tight together while I scrunch my nose. “So you say.”

He unexpectedly and roughly grabbed my chin, tilting it up to look at him, keeping my gaze defiant. “Don’t doubt my words, kotyonok. When I promise something, I make it come true. Come hell or high water.”

“It’s not of importance to me.”

Empty promises were nothing more than words.

Words couldn’t change a thing without actions.

And I wouldn’t be some fool to trust anyone when they haven’t proven themselves.

“It is to me.” His grasp became tighter, his aura more volatile, like he was someone else for a brief moment. “As much as I can drag you to hell, I can grant you the greatest pleasures, Blair. And there’s nothing more that I would like to do than have you be my own personal heaven. Do you know what heaven tastes like, kotyonok?”

My lips part, a breath escaping me as my hand lands on his chest and my eyes settle down on his full lips. Wondering if they contained the answer.

I swallowed thickly and shook my head.

“Do you want to know?” He lowered his head, bringing his face closer to mine, my resistance growing weaker, almost futile. His nose brushes against mine, and the heat from his skin burns me. Burning like the sun, condemning everything in its path, but for the moon, it’s willing to die every night to let her live and admire her even if he couldn’t touch her.

If Konstantin truly wanted me, he would understand I couldn’t want him. I shouldn’t. We couldn’t be.

Perhaps if we had met under different circumstances… But this was my reality. My sentence to live out.Alone.

“No.” I murmured, scared. “Please.”

Kon closed his eyes and released a frustrated groan, almost like he had been internally fighting himself.

What just happened?

“Anyways, I slept like shit.” He grumbled under his breath.

“Not my problem,” I dismissed him as I gathered the bread from my dress’s pocket and handed it to him. “Here, eat.”

A deep rumble left his throat. “Always so caring, kotyonok.”

“You know me. I might want you gone but not dead.” A petty smile drew on my lips, displaying my deepest true sentiments. Being a bitch is who I was at the core, but I was a bitch with a heart. So poor causes made my chest ache.

Out of nowhere, a gray silver pigeon came to the window, tapping its beak repeatedly to the point it felt like it was going to break, so I took a step forward when Konstantin straightened his arm out in front of me, preventing me from doing so. “What?”

“I’ll check it.” His order was devoid of emotion as he approached the glass. Raising the window still, the bird stopped, just waiting on standby. Noticing it had a small leather chain attached around his neck, carrying something.

“It’s a messenger bird.” I said mindlessly.

Konstantin grunted, meticulously taking the small rolled piece of paper from the bird. He then lifted a finger and ran it gently over the head of the pigeon as it cooed before taking its leave, becoming one with the leaves, and returning home.

He returned his attention to the note, unfolding it as his eyes scanned the letter. His gaze hardened, and his features became detached, like he didn’t like the news he received.