Page 91 of Sins and Virtue

It all felt like a fever dream until I felt a heavy pressure sitting on my shoulder.

I angled my head; out of the corner of my eye, I saw how Blair slept in the crook of my neck. Her arm interlinked with mine as she pressed herself softly against me, trying to keep herself warm.

Her lips slightly parted as she lightly snored.

Cute.

It wasn’t a dream but my god-given fantasy.

Carefully, I raised my hand, inching nearer and nearer to her face until my fingers softly traced the contour of her cheek, observing how warm and pink it is, just like the curve of her full lips. The thought of having someone like her so close… it made me ache and long for something more. It’s not something I fully understand yet but would love to explore… withher.Everything in the last few weeks would have been nonexistent if she didn’t cross my path. It was like fate had conspired for us to meet.

I wanted so much more, but only if she wanted me too.

Dropping my hand, I watched and guarded her sleep until she began to move around.

“Morning, sleepy kotyonok,” my voice was husky in the brisk of the morning.

“Morning,” she yawned, parting her head as she stretched her arms up and out; the edge of her shirt rose a bit. “How did you sleep?” Blair spoke with her eyelids closed.

“Usually, it’s a bit early for me. Prisoners usually wake up at five a.m., but it’s three a.m., so I’m lacking on my beauty sleep.”

“Five o’clock in the morning sounds so early, like I need at least to sleep until—” She stopped mid-sentence, her eyes ripping open with massive concern. “What time did you say it was?”

“Three—”

“Three?”

“Three.”

“Shit, I have to get back before anyone notices.” In a hurry, she clumsily stands up, throwing the blanket aside as she begins stumbling carelessly, her hair a bit disheveled.

“Wait.” I told her, grabbing her by the arm and stopping her.

“What?”

Emotion caught in my throat. Time moved so fast when I was with her. I just wanted it to stop and live with her in this moment forever. “Just be with me a bit longer.” I plead softly.

Her face scrunches up as she still appears groggy as she bats her eyes closed. “I don’t understand. Why?”

“Because…” There was only one reason. One vital irrational factor.

I angled her head, lowering my mouth to hers.

The taste of sweet cherries filled my senses.

“Konstantin,” my name fell from her lips like a forbidden whisper. It roused in me a heavy longing and ache for something I didn’t quite know how to express. “I can’t.”

“Why not?”

“My vows,” she whined through the resistance as her muscles tightened, attempting to slip and flee from my grasp.

But my hand that settled on the curve of her back kept her still, prohibiting her from leaving me. “Your vows aren’t permanent yet. You aren’t vowed to anything yet. But if you will allow me, I would vow myself to you. In every human way possible.” My heated whisper blew past her ears.

A small breath escaped her parted lips.

A glint of the disappearing moonlight flickered through an angle of her face, illuminating her dilated eyes as a shiver passed through her shoulders.

The proposal was a scandalous affair.