42. Mel

Gleb's lips crash against mine with a force that tells me the barrier between us has shattered. I don't know what I said that made him change his mind. And honestly, right now, I don't care.

Because his strong hands are suddenly around my waist, his fingers splayed across the bare skin of my back as he pulls me roughly toward him. I gasp at the feel of his rock-hard erection pressing between us.

His towel snags against the intricate fabric of Silvia's beautiful dress. And though I don't want to ruin it, I'm so consumed by desire, I can't bring myself to say anything.

Besides, I fully intend to remove that towel the first chance I get.

Pulling me into his room, Gleb softly closes the door behind me, giving us an extra layer of privacy to avoid disturbing Gabby. But she's so deeply asleep, I have no doubt she'll make it through the night without a peep.

"God, I want you so bad," I gasp against his lips, my hands exploring the firm planes of his lean, powerful muscles.

"I couldn't stop thinking about you in this dress," he growls, his mouth shifting to my throat and raising goosebumps along my spine.

"Really?" I gasp as his dexterous fingers go to work on the buttons that close it at the top.

He nods, his hot breath washing across my skin and sending a shiver of anticipation through my core.

"I might just have to borrow it from Silvia more often, then," I joke.

A low rumble that sounds dangerously close to a growl vibrates from deep in Gleb's chest, sending a shockwave of arousal to my clit and drenching my panties in an instant.

Buttons undone, Gleb runs his hands down my back to the zipper that starts at the base of my spine, and I can't help but wonder—hope, even—that he might not have already assessed how he could take it off me.

Skin on fire, I curl my fingers around the snugly wrapped edge of his towel, relishing the sharp V that points the way toward what I crave. With a light tug, I release the terry cloth, dropping it to the floor as I reveal Gleb in all his godlike glory.

Every inch of him is rock-hard and toned beyond reason, like a marble-carved statue with a layer of silken skin on top. But he only gives me a moment to admire him before his fingers wrap around the collar of my dress.

He slowly guides it over my shoulders and down my arms until it slips free to pool at my feet. And I'm left in nothing but my now-dripping undies.

His eyes rake down my body with unbridled appreciation. But the visual caress is so different, so much more tantalizing, from any of the looks I ever drew at Pearl's—or even before. Only Gleb's infernal gaze can light a fire in my core.

And it leaves me a molten puddle.

For the breadth of a second, I contemplate getting down on my knees before him.

I know that men like receiving head—I was used enough when I was younger to understand that much. I know what they like girls to do.

And I want to do something to please Gleb, to show him how much I appreciate him.

But I'm scared that if I try it, I might trigger a bad memory.

Which would only ruin the progress I've made with him.

So, instead, I boldly step closer to Gleb, closing the space between us as I grasp his thick length with my hand. He groans, the tendons in his jaw popping as his fingers find my hips. He grasps me with unyielding strength. Not enough to hurt me—just enough to steer me slowly back toward his bed.

"W-Will it hurt again at first?" I ask, my nerves jumping into play as I think about the other two times we've had sex.

Gleb shakes his head no, the confidence in his eyes setting my soul on fire. And mingled in their green depths is a conflicting emotion that makes my heartbeat quicken.

The backs of my knees find the edge of the bed, and as I sink onto it, Gleb leans over me, slowly guiding me back onto the bed like a panther stalking its prey until it has its meal right where it wants them.

"You really want this, Mel?" Gleb asks, pausing once he has me sprawled across his blankets.

"Yes," I murmur, nodding.

Gleb's lips lower slowly to mine this time, consuming me with a tenderness that makes my chest ache. I can feel from the vibration in his body that he's resisting the urge to be rough with me. And the thought frightens me just as much as it thrills me. To know he's walking the thin line of claiming his own desire or giving me mine.

I want him to do both—or more, I want to please Gleb. To prove that I'm trying to get past all my fears. To show him the kind of loyalty and devotion he's shown me time and again.

Heat radiates through my core as his kisses slowly shift from my lips to my throat, then lower until they find my collarbone. My breath hitches as it reminds me of our first time together—the way he brought me to climax just by sucking on my nipples.

And I wonder if he might do it again.

My pulse throbs dangerously in my clit, my folds growing slick with anticipation as his lips keep inching down my skin. They reach my breasts at the same time as his hands, and he palms the soft flesh, kneading them as he guides one nipple into his mouth.

I cry out at the intense wave of pleasure that crashes through me.

And when he lightly pinches my other nipple, I nearly come undone.

Pressing my lips together, I remind myself to be quiet because I don't know how soundproof Gleb's walls are. And I definitely don't want to wake Gabby like this.

I can feel the heat of my climax building between my thighs, the throbbing pulse in my core that tells me I'm not far from that indescribable cliff. But before I reach it, Gleb's lips release my taut nub, making me gasp and jerk in frustration.

He gives a low, dark chuckle—not the genuinely amused one that sends butterflies fluttering in my stomach, but a wicked chuckle that tells me he knows just how close I was.

Groaning, I roll my hips against him, seeking the release he stole from me. But before I can open my mouth to whine, his lips are traveling still further down my body. Tingling anticipation mingles with a nervous self-consciousness as his lips near my panties.

I've never had a man's lips so close to my clit, and I don't know how I feel about it.

"W-What are you doing?" I stammer, my mouth taking control as my nerves get the better of me.

"I want to taste you, Mel," he breathes, his fingers hooking around the waistline of my undies, his lips hovering mere inches above the white lace.

"What?" I gasp, my clit throbbing with excitement even as my stomach coils anxiously. I never liked having men's cocks shoved down my throat, so I can hardly imagine it would be enjoyable for Gleb to do the equivalent to me. But he wants to? The thought of it makes my heart perform a funny beat.

"If I told you you'd like it, would you trust me?" he asks, his silky voice raising the temperature of my body by several degrees.

Biting my lip, I nod. And I watch as he drags my panties down my legs, removing them completely. Then he's pressing his face between my thighs, his shoulders supporting my weight as his hands palm my ass.

And his tongue strokes out to lick my slit, gently parting my folds. His striking green eyes watch me with unquestionable excitement. But as soon as his mouth finds me, I know I'm a goner. I gasp, my fingers fisting his blankets as I arch my back.

Pleasure like this just shouldn't exist. The wet warmth of his mouth covering my clit is so overwhelming, I think I might explode. The silky softness of his tongue as he runs it slowly from one end of my seam to the other sends fireworks zinging up my spine.

"Oh god!" I gasp, struggling to stay quiet.

My back arches up off the bed, and I pant as my knees quiver, my thighs vibrating against his broad shoulders. Every drop of my reticence evaporates as the euphoria consumes me with burning desire.

If this is what it feels like to a man when he gets head, I would be much more inclined to return the favor—for Gleb, at least. Because Jesus Christ, I don't think my heart's ever beat this hard. I'm panting with the intensity of my arousal, the throbbing pulse radiating through my core.

And when Gleb slides two fingers inside my soaking entrance, I completely fall apart. His fingers curl, brushing against some hidden spot deep inside me. And that, combined with his glorious lips on my clit is sensory overload.

I short circuit, my orgasm blasting through me with such force, I nearly forget my own name. My walls throb, my clit twitching between his expert mouth. And still, Gleb doesn't stop, his fingers sliding in and out as he rolls my sensitive bundle of nerves with his tongue.

Twitching and jerking, I ride out my release with heaving breaths.

And when he finally releases me, his fingers sliding out of my depths, I'm so intensely satisfied that my legs fall open, my eyelids fluttering with heavy bliss.

"Does that mean I was right, you liked it?" he teases, that rare smile curling his lips and making my heart skip a beat.

"Mm-mmm," I agree dreamily, so enraptured that I can't seem to find my words.

Gleb chuckles—this time, that warm, amused sound that makes my stomach quiver. And though I'm so intensely satiated that I could almost fall asleep, I feel the stirrings of fresh excitement.

Hooking my legs over his elbows, Gleb slowly climbs back up my body, folding me in half as he stretches me—and exposes my holes completely.

My pulse quickens because I know what's coming. Anticipation thickens my blood until it's roaring through my ears. And a hint of anxiety trickles in. But he promised it wouldn't hurt, and I want to trust him.

Leaning over me, Gleb captures my lips with his.

I can taste the tangy bitterness of my own arousal. And when Gleb pulls back, his green eyes dancing, I know he knows he tastes like me.

"Delicious, aren't you?" he murmurs, and the question positively melts me.

Rather than wait for an answer, he brings his lips back to mine as he kisses me passionately.

Stomach quivering at the thought that he thinks I taste good, I have to admit, it's almost as sexy as watching him looking up at me from between my thighs.

My walls tighten at the scintillating image burned into my brain.

"You ready for me, boginya?" he murmurs against my lips.

I nod, and my breath catches as his silken tip finds my wet entrance. Then, he slowly eases inside me, taking his time. Fiery, hot excitement licks up my spine at the intensity of the stretch it takes to accommodate his girth.

But he's right.

Between the lingering euphoria of my first orgasm, the shocking amount of slick arousal flooding my core, and the tantalizingly slow pace he's using, it doesn't hurt at all.

In fact, it feels better than anything I've ever known before.

Even better than his lips wrapped around my clit, which I didn't think could be outdone.

"Oh shit!" I gasp as my walls start to flutter. "Oh fuck, I'm gonna come!" I pant, astonished that it could take so little effort.

But as Gleb releases another of his sexy chuckles, the vibrations of his chest launch me straight into oblivion. Shuddering and jerking beneath him, I come hard, my body taking on a life of its own.

Gleb groans as my walls throb around him, gripping him so forcefully it's making him have to go even slower.

"I love your sailor's mouth," he rasps, pulling back just enough to meet my eyes.

And though I know he wasn't saying he loves me, the word still makes my heart skip a beat.

"Good thing because I can't seem to help myself… Believe me. I've tried."

He runs his nose along the side of my neck, brushing aside my hair so he can reach my ear. And when he whispers, it makes me shiver with lusty need. "Are you ready for more?" he breathes, the warm air washing across the shell of my ear.

More?I hope he doesn't mean there's more of his cock to fill me, because I'm so full, I could cry. But I desperately want another orgasm, so I nod.

Capturing the lobe of my ear between his teeth, Gleb bites down gently as he starts to rock inside me. And with each thrust, he buries himself to the hilt, driving his thick tip so deep it makes my eyes roll into the back of my head.

"You like that, moya boginya?" he rasps, his pace slowly building as his hips grind forward against my clit without mercy.

"Mm-hmm," I whimper, pressing my lips together to keep from crying out.

I'm so close to pain that my pleasure has ignited all my senses, intensifying the deeply masculine scent that envelops me, the feel of the soft sheets and Gleb's even softer chest brushing against my skin, the taste of my juices still lingering on my tongue, the sound of his heavy breaths so close to my ear.

Each erotic sensation drives me wild, as does the fact that Gleb's folded me so efficiently in half that all I can do is soak up the pleasure he demands from me. My muscles tense and quiver with the need for release. But I'm entirely at his mercy.

And god, but he knows how to satisfy me.

My clit pulses as my arousal steadily climbs toward that now-familiar peak. Heat flashes across my skin and makes my thighs burn. Wrapping my arms around Gleb, I pull him closer to me, needing more of him—all that he'll give me.

I can feel the tension in his body, the way his thick chords of powerful muscle strain to keep himself under control. And for a fleeting moment, I wonder what it would feel like if he lost that restraint. If he satiated his own pleasure without concern for hurting me.

I'm not ready to find out.

But still, the possibility excites me more than I can admit.

Because I want to be the one that gives Gleb pleasure.

I want him to crave me as desperately as I crave him.

It's stupid and irrational, since I know we have plenty of hurdles we need to get over if we're going to try and make this marriage something real.

But I want to try.

More than ever, I want to put my past behind me and learn to grow into something better. Together.

"Fuck, you feel so good," Gleb groans, his thrusts intensifying as the friction between our chests makes my nipples throb; they're so hard.

"Come with me, Gleb?" I plead, my legs trembling from exertion and my impending release.

"Now, boginya," he growls, each punishing penetration growing more erratic.

And the thought that he's about to come is all it takes to topple me over the edge. Lifting my head off the pillow, I gently bite down on the warm, salty flesh of his chest to stop myself from crying out.

Like my lips are a trigger, Gleb shoves deep inside me, buried to the hilt, as he releases his first pulsing load. Swelling and twitching, he comes with me, filling me with liquid warmth.

We pant together, my arms still wrapped around him, holding him close. I don't want to let go. For once, I don't feel trapped beneath someone else's weight. I feel enveloped, as if by a comforting blanket. And my heart pounds so forcefully against my ribs, I'm sure he must feel it inside his chest.

Finally, the euphoria of my orgasm makes my arms too heavy to hold on, and I release Gleb, melting into a puddle beneath him.

Gleb steals one more slow, sultry kiss. Then he gently eases out of me and collapses onto the bed. "I didn't hurt you, did I?" he asks after several moments of silence.

Rolling onto my side, I snuggle close, using his shoulder as my pillow and draping my body over his. "No. There was no room for pain with that kind of pleasure," I joke.

Gleb's arm tightens around my shoulders, pulling me closer so he can press a kiss to the crown of my head. He inhales deeply, his chest rising beneath me, and he releases the air slowly, as if savoring my scent.

"Will Gabby be looking for you?" he asks gently after another long pause, and his words rouse me enough to let me know I'd already started to drift off.

"Hmm? No. She was so tired, she won't be up again tonight."

I can feel Gleb nod from the way his shoulder moves slightly. Then, the silence falls once more. And this time, sleep sweeps me away before I even know it's come for me.

* * *

The bed iscool beneath my palm as I rise from a deep and dreamless sleep. The pillow beneath my cheek is warm and heavenly soft. But as I rise to consciousness, the emptiness of the bed beside me slowly starts to dawn on me.

And when I open my eyes to see where he is, the room is empty. Gleb's gone.

My heart squeezes uncomfortably at his unexpected absence, and I try to calm myself. He probably just had to get up to use the restroom or something. Lifting my head off the pillow, I glance at his bedside table to see that it's nearly seven in the morning.

Gabby will be up soon.

Groaning as my stiff body protests, I slowly climb out of bed and gather my borrowed wedding dress. It seems silly to put it back on. Hopefully, Gleb won't mind me taking a T-shirt—just until I can put my pajamas on.

Slipping into his oversized tee, I'm glad to find it reaches just low enough to cover me.

Gathering the rest of my discarded clothing, I head quietly out of his room and down the hall toward the guest bathroom.

But as I tiptoe, the sound of a drawer roughly closing draws my attention toward the far end of the condo. Pausing, I contemplate ignoring it to get dressed. But if it's Gleb, I want to say good morning first. To see what drew him out of bed without waking me.

So, instead, I set my dress on the bathroom counter and make my way toward the kitchen.

As I pad through the living room, though, I find a blanket and pillow on the couch. And my brows furrow. Did Gleb spend the night out here after I fell asleep?

Another drawer closes, and I turn my attention back toward the kitchen. Rounding the high-top counter, I find Gleb standing there, already dressed as if he's ready for the day.

"Morning," I say brightly, trying to mask my confusion.

He barely glances up as he continues to search for whatever it is he needs to find. "Morning," he answers flatly, his voice distant and distracted.

And though I desperately don't want to read into it, I can't help the seed of doubt that settles in my stomach. "Everything alright?" I ask, propping my hip against the counter as I cross my arms.

"Yeah, fine," he confirms in that same detached tone. He seems to find what he was looking for then, snatching it into his palm and slipping it into his pocket. "I'm late, so I need to take off. You and Gabby are welcome to use the apartment as you wish, but stay here until we can sort out your next plan of action. Call me if you need anything. And don't answer the door for anyone. Understand? I'll be back this evening."

"Okay," I agree.

It stings a ridiculous amount when he brushes past me without so much as a kiss. Turning, I follow him to the front door like a lost puppy, wishing he would just look at me.

But when he does, his eyes are unreadable—a wall of steely conviction. "Try to remember to take it easy—rest and recuperate, like the doctor said."

"Okay," I repeat, my voice growing less confident by the second.

Then Gleb's out the door, shutting it quietly behind him, leaving me feeling abandoned and confused.

My eyes turn back toward the couch and the rumpled bedding there. I know it won't do me any good, but I can't help myself. Heading over to the discarded blanket, I pick it up and bring it to my nose, inhaling Gleb's familiar masculine scent.

Yes, he definitely must have slept out here last night.

A wave of hopelessness washes through me. It would seem that, try as I might to rekindle the connection we had, Gleb was still ready to practically run from me by this morning.

Passion, we might have. A physical connection more powerful than logic or reason.

But the stuff it takes to have a real relationship?

I'm not so sure I know how to fix that.

I don't even know where to start.

Sinking onto the couch, I bury my face in the blanket—and try desperately not to cry.

Because I think I've lost Gleb for good this time.

Thanks for reading!

Twisted Princess is the final installment of the Twisted Kingdom duo. Continue reading for a sneak peek or click here to get it now!

Twisted Kingdom

Mel

"Mama?"

Gabby's anxious voice draws me from my emotional turmoil, and I drop the blanket Gleb used last night when he slept on the couch. Rising from his makeshift bed—the one he must have preferred over sharing his bed with me—I head toward the guest room, where Gabby and I will be staying.

"I'm right here, keiki," I assure her as I open the door.

She looks adorably rumpled, her hair in disarray as she looks at me with sleepy eyes. "We have pancakes with Auntie Kieri?"

"No, baby. Not today. Auntie Kieri is in Boston, and we came to New York. Remember? It's too far to drive to see her today. But we'll see her again soon." My heart twinges as I fear how horribly I might have uprooted my daughter from her happy life. Kieri was like family—as close as a mother to me and most definitely a key person in Gabby's life.

It feels suddenly like a terrible sacrifice—to be without the woman who has supported me and shown us such kindness. My stomach knots as I consider the reason we fled Boston. The reason Gleb drove hundreds of miles to come get us and bring us to New York.

Vincent Kelly. A cousin to Boston's most ruthless Irish mafia boss.

I shudder at the memory of his hands on me and know I made the right decision. Because he didn't just plan on possessing me—he would have made me put Gabby up for adoption.

Striding farther into the room, I settle onto the bed by Gabby's feet, and she slips out from under the blankets to climb into my lap.

"What do you say we make pancakes, just the two of us?" I suggest, giving her a squeeze and kissing her temple.

"No Geb?" Her seafoam-green eyes are wide with innocence, entirely unaware of the chaos her question unleashes inside of me. Because Gabby's newfound best friend is someone so much more to me.

Even Gabby's attempt at Gleb's name makes my heart pound. Last night was so incredibly perfect. So passionate. So filled with intimate pleasure. It washed away all my lingering anxiety over the pain involved with sex. It solidified that Gleb is vastly different from the men who hurt and abused me in the past. And it felt as though Gleb and I might have finally overcome the barriers separating us.

But his distant and coldly withdrawn response to me this morning, before he left for work, made it perfectly clear that I have a lot more effort to put in if I'm going to fix what I broke between us—if that's even possible.

"Gleb had to go to work, keiki. But I'm sure we can see him later. In the meantime, shall we explore his super-cool house?" I infuse my voice with enthusiasm to mask the lingering ache of Gleb's absence.

"Yeah!" Gabby says, trumping my excitement as she leaps off my lap.

And just like that, she's wide awake.

"Maybe you can help me unpack our new things," I suggest, opening the bag of clothes Silvia lent me since all Gabby's and my possessions are back in the destroyed Escalade just outside of New Haven.

"Okay!" Gabby says, joining me by the bag.

I pull out a small stack of toddler-size pants for her and place them carefully in her arms. And as she carries them to the dresser, I follow with the bag to open the lowest drawer for her. Gabby attempts to neatly tuck the pants into a corner. She manages to keep them stacked until she pulls her arms out from beneath them—at which point, they topple into a heap of colorful fabric.

Smiling, I help her tidy them up before we dig back into the bag for a stack of shirts. Silvia was more than generous in her donations, and Gabby's eyes light up as we uncover some beautiful dresses for both her and me. She's always loved colorful patterns—anything with flowers really.

And it would seem either Silvia is of the same mindset or she just knew what Gabby would enjoy.

We spend about ten minutes unpacking, another fifteen getting dressed, then we head out into the spacious main room of Gleb's two-bedroom condo. It must cost an arm and a leg to live here. From the vaulted ceilings and large picture windows allowing in streams of golden sunshine to the white marble kitchen countertops and hanging light fixtures that resemble glowing glass orbs, it's immaculate.

Gabby's eyes grow wide as she sees it all for the first time. This is the nicest place we've ever stayed in, and it breaks my heart a little to know that, as Gleb's daughter, this is the kind of lifestyle Gabby has a right to, the home she deserves. And one I've never been able to provide for her.

"Pretty, isn't it?" I ask, rubbing the pad of my thumb over her knuckles as she grips my middle and pointer fingers.

She puts her own thumb in her mouth and nods, her head swiveling slowly to take in every fine detail.

In the kitchen, she looks lost, unfamiliar with the layout or the fine brushed silver bars that serve as handles for the cupboards. Kieri's old dark-stained wood cabinets didn't have handles, and I'm sure the sleek design of Gleb's pristine white ones must look like some kind of futuristic puzzle.

"Shall we look for breakfast ingredients?" I suggest, showing her how to open the cabinets as I start with the tall one that I imagine is the pantry.

I hoist her onto my hip, and we dig around for baking soda, flour, sugar—none of which I can find.

"I don't know, Gabby. Pancakes might be off the menu until we can go to the store."

"Okay," she agrees, her tone dipping with disappointment.

I open the fridge, praying Gleb actually has food on hand for us. The pantry didn't help my optimism. But as soon as the cool air washes over us, relief floods me.

He might not have a lot of baking materials, but Gleb has a full produce section in his fridge—fruits, vegetables, eggs, milk. Funny, but I never considered what kind of an eater Gleb might be. For all the time we spent together, I've never seen him eat.

Again, that sense of a gaping chasm between us reignites, and I wonder what it might take to actually know Gleb. As a person—not just a brooding savior shrouded in mystery and my assumptions.

"How about some scrambled eggs with cheese?" I suggest to Gabby, trying to make that sound as delicious as pancakes.

"Yeah!" Her smile is radiant as she peers into the fridge with me.

I don't know how I got blessed with such an agreeable child.

"And maybe some fruit?" I open the fruit drawer and pull out an apple, handing it to Gabby before I go in for the box of strawberries.

Together, we whip up a healthy breakfast and head to the kitchen table to eat. Gleb doesn't have a booster for her to sit comfortably in, so keep her on my lap, and we pick at the same plate.

Gabby's wonderfully cheerful, talkative despite the danger and upheaval she's endured lately—uprooting her life, ending up in a high-speed chase, sleeping in the hospital with Gleb watching after her because I was comatose. And all the while, neither of them know the truth. That Gleb is Gabby's biological father.

I chew my lip as I consider what could have happened if I hadn't woken from my coma. They might never have found out because I'm the only one who knows the truth. Guilt eats at my insides.

Seeing how good with Gabby he is, how drawn to him she is…

I don't know where Gleb and I will end up. I try to think of any sign that he might be happy in this marriage, but I can't.

Yesterday, during the wedding, he seemed more tortured than anything. Nothing about our half-baked ceremony or the dinner that followed gives me hope that he actually wants to pursue a real relationship with me. And his reluctance to sleep with me only reinforces that.

Though the sex last night was out of this world in my book, I practically had to coerce him into it.

And then this morning?

No, I don't have high hopes that he's ready to forgive me.

But I'm determined to make the best of our situation because, despite all the curve balls I've thrown his way, Gleb has continued to save my ass and show more genuine concern for me than any man has in my life before.

And I need to tell him about Gabby. He saved our lives. He's brought us under his protection. He's shown her more care and consideration than any man ever has before. He deserves to know the truth about his daughter.

Taking a deep breath, I start to formulate a plan in my mind.

"You want to help me do some cooking for dinner tonight, keiki?" I ask as Gabby forks a clumsy mouthful of eggs off the plate.

They topple off the tines back onto the heap of eggs as she turns to look at me. "What we make, Mama?"

"I don't know just yet, but once we finish breakfast, we'll see what the options are."

"Okay!"

It's an easy day, much like Gabby and I would get on my one day off from Pearl's. We explore the house, watch cartoons on the massive eighty-inch TV that occupies an entire wall of Gleb's living room. Then we prepare a stir fry with the ingredients I can find in the fridge.

The sun sets, and as the night grows later, I debate whether I should text Gleb to find out when he'll be home. I don't want to nag him—especially with the curt way he left this morning. But it'll be Gabby's bedtime soon.

Finally, I decide to feed her and get her ready for bed.

I'd hoped to have a nice family dinner, then tuck her in for the evening before dropping my bomb on Gleb. But I don't want to disrupt Gabby's schedule any more than I have to right now. She's had such a trying week.

By 10 p.m., Gabby's sleeping soundly, when I really start to worry about Gleb. He did say he'd be back today, didn't he? Did he give me a time? Not that I recall. But I had the feeling it would be earlier than now.

What if he decided to stay away after what happened last night?

I glance down at the satin tank-and-shorts sleepwear Silvia lent me—not provocative, but enough that I might encourage a repeat of our wedding night. Is it too much? Maybe he's hoping I'll already be in bed so I can't bother him.

I eye the food sitting on low heat on the stove. Maybe it would be better to pack it up. But I would hate to put it in the fridge only to have him walk through the door.

My entire body jolts at the sound of a key sliding into the lock on the front door. Pressing my palm to my heart, I pad into the entryway to meet Gleb there. I force a smile onto my face, ready to try again to mend the wedge I drove between us.

And as he steps inside the door, my heart stops.

Expression stone-cold, Gleb looks exhausted.

Emotion riots inside his green eyes, warning me that something's wrong.

Then I see the blood.

He shrugs out of his black leather biker's jacket, and his dress shirt is soaked in it.

Violent crimson spatters covering his chest, his abdomen, his jeans.

"Oh my god, Gleb!" I gasp, rushing forward as panic surges through me.

His eyes flash up to meet mine, taking me in all at once as he locks the door behind him.

"Are you hurt? Is that your blood?" I demand, disregarding the mess as I tug on the buttons of his shirt in an attempt to uncover his injury.

Strong hands grasp my wrists, pushing my hands away, and there's no misinterpreting the body language as Gleb growls, "I'm fine. It's not mine."

Ice trickles through my veins at the anger in his tone, and I peer up at him through my lashes, suddenly nervous that I did something wrong.

"What happened?" I ask tentatively, following as Gleb tosses his jacket on the coat rack and heads toward his bedroom.

"I don't want to talk about it," he states coldly.

But I'm not ready to give up, grabbing his arm, I try to regain his attention. "Gleb, just talk to me. Are you mad at me? Did I do something wrong?"

Turning on me so suddenly that I nearly slam into his chest, Gleb looks down at me with such intense anger I know I must have done something.

"Is there a reason you have to walk around the house practically naked?" he demands.

"I-I—I thought you might like it," I say, looking down at the soft fabric as my heart sinks.

"Yeah well, you're only making this harder than it needs to be. You're here so I can keep you safe, but what happened last night can't happen again. It was a mistake, and we both know it, so just… go to bed, Mel."

Gleb closes his bedroom door in my face as his words rip through me. He really thinks sleeping with me was a mistake. The effort I put in today feels as though it's only come back to slap me in the face because I now know without a doubt that Gleb doesn't want me anymore.