Chapter 20 - Yefim

My bruises have faded, my body has healed, and it's time to go back home.

I feel a bittersweet sense of regret leaving the hideout. Tia has been taking care of me, treating me like a king, her tender sweetness has been the most beautiful part of my day, every day since I was injured.

I want to stay in that moment, having her treat me like I am her entire world. I know when we go home it will all change. It'll go back to how it was before.

"Are you ready?" she calls from downstairs. The driver is here to fetch us.

"I'll be down in a minute," I sigh, glancing one last time around the room, at the bed I shared with Tia.

She still has her own room back at home, and I don't think I will sleep as well without her at my side. Being here has been like stepping outside of our normal life into a cocoon in which we can just be together and not think about anything else.

But we can't live here forever.

"Yefim? Do you need help with anything?" Tia calls up to me.

"No, I'm walking down the stairs as we speak."

I walk up to her, wrapping my arm around her side, smiling down at her beautiful face. She stands up on tip toes of kisses me. It still catches me by surprise every time she does it. I'm not expecting her to treat me that way.

I love it.

I adore her.

I don't want any of this to end.

***

When we get home, Tia stands at the top of the stairs, staring down the long passageway to her bedroom.

She seems hesitant about something.

"What's wrong, baby girl?"

"Um. Do you think, maybe, the housekeepers could move my stuff to your room?" she asks nervously.

"You want to share my bedroom with me?" My heart is beating so hard in my chest, and I'm doing my absolute best to act cool and calm about this. But inside I'm screaming with happiness.

"If that's okay with you? I just—sleeping next to you was so—" She bites her lip.

"I'll have them sort it out right away. Leave your bag here in the hallway. Go down at have some tea, and when you're done it will be moved."

She grins at me, tilting her head to the side as she examines my face, trying to read my expression.

Then she giggles softly and wrinkles her nose. "I'll make you coffee," she says, turning back down the stairs and heading to the kitchen.

I can't believe it.

I can't believe that she wants to share a bed with me.

I shake my head. I still have to be careful of all of this.

She is graduating next week. College will be finished, her debts are eighty percent paid and finished as well, and she has a good job at my company, which means her record is perfect and she will be able to apply for a good position in any company she chooses; basically, all in all, our entire arrangement and reason for getting married is almost fulfilled.

Once she graduates, she will be free to divorce me as we agreed.

I can't let her do that.

I know I gave her my word, but I can't let her walk away from me like that.

I have to figure something out. I have to keep her close.

***

After dinner Tia is standing in my bedroom, our bedroom, slowly undressing. It's not intentional, but she is seducing me with every movement she makes.

All she is doing is standing in front of her closet, looking for something comfortable to sleep in, but from where I'm standing, she is a goddess, flaunting her perfect body, teasing me to the point of oblivion.

When she pulls an oversized tee shirt over her head, tugging it down her body, hiding her perfect cures, you would think that the attraction might fade, but it doesn't. She looks so cute in that massive shirt—I still can't take my eyes off her.

She steps to the side of the bed, pulling the covers back. She slips her legs beneath them, wiggling down against the pillows.

I want to reach out and drag her against my body, but I also don't want to be too pushy or filled with expectation now that she has asked to share my room.

I flick the bedside light off and snuggle down against my own pillow on my side, facing her.

I feel her shifting in the bed, moving closer to me, until the curve of her back is snuggled against the curve of my front.

I grin and wrap my arm around her, pulling her even closer.

I won't push my luck further than that, but my body is screaming at her touch.

I'm completely obsessed with her.

***

At work I start passing more and more projects her way. Important ones linked to big clients. Names she recognizes and knows only the top people in the company handle.

"Yefim, are you sure about this?" she asks, staring down at the client's binder.

"Very sure. You're the only one who can handle this. Besides, you're graduating at the end of this week, and your position in the company will improve, along with your salary."

She smiles up at me, her eyes bright and eager. "I'll get promoted?"

"Yes, these new clients you're working on are sort of an introduction to your new role."

"Well, I won't let you down, I promise," she answers excitedly.

I watch her carry the binder out of my office, into her own.

For now, my plan is to make her feel like she has really needed here. Like this company needs her more than any other company she might want to apply at. Also, once she has graduated, I plan to offer her a salary too high for other companies to compete with.

***

On Friday, Tia has the day off to attend her graduation ceremony.

I insist on going to celebrate alongside her. I am proud of her. She has worked her ass off for this. I've seen the hours she put in, and I know there were a lot of hours before I even met her.

"Are you excited?" I ask as we walk towards the massive building of the university.

"Oh my word, I'm so excited. Not just to be graduating, but because I don't have to study anymore. The hours of my time that this took up—it's like—I don't think I'm going to know what to do with myself, to be honest with you." She laughs loudly as I place my hand on her lower back and follow her inside.

The ceremony is great. A little tedious, a little long, especially seeing as the only person I'm actually interested in seeing here is Tia, but the moment she steps up onto the stage to accept her degree, and when she turns to search for me in the crowd and throws me the smallest wave, and the biggest smile—that moment makes it all worth it.

All the family and friends of the graduates filter out of the hall onto the grass outside. Tia comes running over to me, her black graduation gown flowing behind her, the weird hat they had to wear gripped in her hand. "I've been invited to a post- graduation party at my friend's place. Her name is Clara, she doesn't live too far from here."

"That sounds great. Is it tonight?"

"It's right now, actually. I was hoping you'd come with me?"

I grin. "Of course, I'd love to. I was hoping to celebrate with you anyway. I booked a restaurant for us, but I'll change it to tomorrow night, or whenever you're feeling like going."

"It's really sweet of you to think ahead like that. Let's go to the party tonight, and dinner tomorrow night?"

I nod. "Done."

"Everyone is heading straight from here to Clara's house. You know, she actually sent me the invite like two weeks ago, but with everything going on I completely forgot about it."

We climb into my car and Tia pulls the black graduation gown off her shoulders, tossing it into the back seat. She is wearing a gorgeous red body-hugging dress beneath it, her black heels accentuating her legs.

"You look incredible. In case I didn't tell you yet," I say, pulling out into road once she's buckled in.

"Actually, you told me about four times today, but if you want you can keep telling me. I don't mind." Her cheeks are glowing. The smile on her face tells me she's really enjoying herself. I would be too if I had worked so hard towards something and today was the day I got to celebrate it.

Whatever happens from now on, all I care about is finding a way to keep her close to me. That's all I want.

She belongs to me, and I won't let her go.