Page 7 of Savage Little Secret

“You know what? How about I order a pizza or something and we can just…talk?” I suggest as I turn to him.

Dmitri tilts his head a little, amusement glinting in his eyes. “Really?”

“We’re obviously both having a tough time. Let’s try to relax for the rest of the night and eat pizza,” I tell him, too exhausted to do much of anything else.

Just for tonight, we can pretend none of this exists. Tomorrow, I’ll figure out a new plan for my future. A better one. Hopefully.

Dmitri nods after a moment. “Okay.”

“I’ll call for delivery,” I say as I walk past him to grab my phone off the counter.

Dmitri grabs my arm to pull me to a stop next to him. He coaxes me a little closer to him, making my heart race as the thought of his lips crosses my mind. It feels like an eternity since we last kissed.

“Have them deliver it to my place,” he tells me.

I blink up at him in surprise. “Your place?”

“I don’t want to be alone tonight. Do you?” Dmitri asks me.

I breathe in deeply as I reflect on the past few nights. How I’ve been tossing and turning. How cold the bed feels when I’m alone. Even the thought of sleeping beside him makes warmth fill my chest.

“No, I don’t,” I whisper.

“I want you in my bed again.” Dmitri’s eyes roam over my face, tension building in the space between us. Just when I think that he’s about to kiss me, he pulls away from me. “How much?”

“What?” I ask, even though I know exactly what he means. Before he can ask again, I shake my head and tell him, “You can pay for dinner.”

“Are you sure?” he asks, his lips nearly curved into a grin as if he’s happy and relieved by my response.

“Yes. I’m sure.” I can’t take another dime from him, especially not for intimacy that I want more than anything. Tonight, I want us to be together without any strings, equally, genuinely.

“Then get your things. We’ll call in pizza on the way.”

With excitement fluttering in my stomach, I head to my bedroom to pack an overnight bag, happy I’ll be spending the night at his place.

Tomorrow will come with consequences.

But tonight, he’s mine.

3

Dmitri

Last night wasn’t what I expected.

It was better.

Cara and I ate. We talked. We slept in the same bed without tearing each other apart.

It was exactly what I needed. A night where I acted like I was a normal person.

I wish the night could’ve lasted longer, but at least Cara’s still here with me. Because she wants to be, not because I’m paying her.

“Morning,” she murmurs as she rubs her eyes sleepily, a few strands of her long hair straying in different directions as she sits up in bed next to me.

“Morning,” I say as I lean my back against the headboard, soft morning light painting my bedroom in a gentle glow. “Did you sleep well?”

“The best I’ve slept since I was last over here,” Cara admits.