Page 140 of Fractured Ties

He said nothing then, but he also didn’t argue. Turning his back to the counter, Kolya offered his arm to her wordlessly. He didn’t even like looking at the burn, really. He stared at the decorative clock that covered one entire wall behind the large dining table.

The second Maya pressed that cold cloth to his arm, she didn’t miss the way he flinched, and air hissed between his teeth.

“Sorry,” she whispered.

Kolya shook his head subtly, and his gaze went back to clock like he was waiting for the time to get to a certain number. “It’s fine, no?”

Three days they had been back in Chicago, and this was how it had been the entire time. Kolya … waiting. For what, Maya wasn’t sure, but she could see it in his eyes. He was waiting for something. The other shoe to drop, maybe.

But he wasn’t telling her.

Maya set the cloth aside and grabbed the cream that needed to be applied to the burn three times a day with every bandage change. She knew why Kolya didn’t want her doing this—he didn’t want her bothered by the sight of the burn, but that was honestly the last thought on her mind as she applied the cream.

She was pissed it’d happened at all.

Fucking crazy.

But goddammit, she loved him.

Still, she didn’t miss the way Kolya flinched again when she started wrapping the bandages around the burn. She thought maybe she could distract him …

“You know, before New York …”

His gaze drifted to her. “Thought we agreed to not talk about that.”

Well, he did.

She just agreed.

“Not New York, Kolya, before,” Maya said.

“What about it?”

“I found a house I really liked, actually. I never got the chance to show you. It’s perfect—six bedrooms, four bathrooms, three floors, and a three-door, attached garage. Indoor pool in the back, with a small guest house. Huge backyard for a certain you know who … ten-foot high fence.”

Kolya made a noise. “I do like that. It’s not white, is it?”

Maya smiled, but hid it by glancing down. “The fence?”

“Exactly that.”

“I suppose you’re not the type for the white picket fence, and two-point-five kids, are you?”

She’d just finished securing the bandages with medical tape at her question, which freed Kolya’s arm. He used that to his advantage to wrap it around Maya’s trim waist and yank her into him. Without a word, he slipped a hand under her jaw, tipped her head back, and kissed her hard. His tongue snuck into her mouth to tangle with hers, and quiet all those chaotic thoughts that seemed to constantly color up her mind.

Pulling away, but not going too far, Kolya murmured, “I am yours, dushka.”

Maya winked. “I know.”

“I am whatever you need.”

“But the fence is dark-stained wood.”

“Good.”

Maya laughed. “We probably should fill those bedrooms, though.”

Kolya arched an eyebrow high. “Not yet, though.”