Tonight I did, dammit.
I realized I sounded needy, but I didn’t want him to see me like this. “I’m sorry. It’s okay. I’ll make it work.” I added a contrite, “Sorry.”
Holding my head in my hands, I gave myself a mental pep talk.
This man has been extremely kind to you tonight, Mina. In a few measly hours, he’s given you things you could’ve only dreamed of. Don’t be ungrateful.
A light knock at the door then it opened a few inches. His hand came through holding something dark. I took it and the door closed. I held it up.
It was a black shirt.
Tension I hadn’t known was there unfurled from my gut as relief had me laughing softly. I called out, “Thank you.”
He replied softly, “You’re welcome, mouse.”
I redressed, holding the white shirt in my hand as I walked out of the bathroom. The lights were off, but Lev had switched on two tall lamps, one beside the sofa, which was now folded out to make a bed, and one beside the nightstand, next to the bed.
My eyes widened as I saw Lev’s back to me.
His bare back.
Oh, dear me. His muscled bare back.
He turned at my light gasp. Even though he still wore his dress pants, he’d removed his shoes and socks, leaving his large feet free. Lowering my flaming face, I rushed over to the bed and threw myself into it, covering myself up to the chest with the heavy covers.
He looked closely at me, searching my face. His eyes took me apart bit by bit and it was unnerving. Discomfort forced me to avoid his eyes. Quiet surrounded us then he stated quietly, “You don’t like people seeing you.”
My eyes met him then. “I beg your pardon?”
His eyes roamed my fresh face. “You can’t hide behind makeup. You can try, but you won’t succeed. Not with me.” He paused then said, “I see you.”
It was not something a normal person would have said. It was relentless and calculated and very much to the point, almost as if he didn’t know of the discomfort his words stirred within me. Almost as if he didn’t care.
But I saw he did care. He said the words in a gentle manner so as not to frighten me. He stated what he saw, and that was all.
My words chosen carefully, I spoke slowly, “Any mask on the street is a good mask.”
He sat on the sofa bed, moving himself back until his legs were stretched out in front of him. He crossed his arms over his broad chest. “Masks don’t suit a person with your face.”
“My face?” I asked with a narrowed glare. I knew I wasn’t gorgeous, but I didn’t think I was unattractive.
He clarified, and my heart skipped a beat. “A face like yours makes men stumble over themselves.” He tilted his head to look at me through a new angle. “Faces like yours are carved into statues, immortalized in stone for the world to see over the ages.” He let in a deep breath then exhaled slowly. “You…are art.”
My skin broke out in gooseflesh as a flush stole up my neck. My lips parted and my ears burned.
What the hell did he just say?
“I’d like to know more about you, Mina, but the hour is late and I have an appointment in the morning.”
I wondered whether he would leave me alone in the house or if he would take me with him.
He got under the covers then turned off his lamp. I heard rustling and realized he waited until he was covered before he removed his pants, which landed on the floor with a soft thud. I was sure that was for my benefit rather than his own. After all, he had no issues removing his shirt in front of me.
The small gesture turned my manner. Some of the standing tension slid out of me. He really seemed like a nice guy. But still, I didn’t know this man, and after all he’d done for me, my mind warned me to be weary of him. After all, no one was that selfless.