He followed close behind her as she walked down the hall, but he didn't touch her. She stepped into a guest bathroom and he yanked a towel off a rack, handing it to her. Then he left, shutting the door behind him.
Katya immediately sat down on the closed toilet. What. In the actual. Fuck. How … how had this all happened? She'd been on a date with Liam. Now she was on the other side of town, with Wulf. And what the hell was that about – she hadn't known where he lived, she'd gotten on a random train at a random stop and gotten off at a random time, then walked. She'd walked forever. San Francisco wasn't exactly huge, but it wasn't tiny either.
Talk about a cruel twist of fate.
She finally stood up, shivering as she did so. He kept the apartment ridiculously cold, she could feel the air conditioning washing over her. She took her shoes off and shimmied out of her dress.
When she looked up, she saw her body from her thighs up in his huge mirror. She was wearing her special black matching bra and panties – only brought out for good dates. Her eye makeup was a little smudged, giving her a slightly haunted look, and her hair was a frizzy ball on her head. She chuckled as she took out all the pins and bands, allowing the heavy tresses to fall around her shoulders.
Good lord, he'd said those beautiful words to a train wreck.
She shook her head. Such negative thoughts about herself. Who gave a fuck what she looked like when they were both on the verge of nervous breakdowns?
We need to stop this. He beats himself up, I beat myself up, and pretty soon, we're beating on each other.
She glanced at the door and started breathing fast. Whenever Katya was hurting, she wanted comfort. She wanted her mother, or Tori, or Liam, to wrap their arms around her and hold her. Tell her everything would be alright. That she was loved and trusted and that they would never, ever hurt her.
Wulf was hurting, and his first reaction had been to lash out. To hurt someone else. Because he hadn't known any better.
She didn't bother with the clothes he'd left her – she slipped back into his shirt and hastily fastened a few buttons before leaving her tiny sanctuary.
He was back in the same spot, between the living room and kitchen. His back was to her and he was staring out over the city. One hand was in a pocket, the other was hanging at his side, holding an old fashioned glass. There was a sliver of amber liquid in the bottom, though she knew him well enough to know that it had probably been three fingers high when he'd poured it.
I know you, Wulf. I know you.
Suddenly feeling nervous and shy, she gathered her hair over one shoulder, then made the slow march towards him. In her bare feet, she was barely a whisper as she moved through the apartment. It wasn't till she was almost right behind him that he heard her. He glanced over his shoulder, then turned around. He quirked up an eyebrow at her appearance but didn't say anything. Just drank the last of his cognac.
“I need to tell you something,” she said, staring up at him, refusing to be afraid.
“Okay,” he said, leaning over and setting the glass on his table.
She didn't speak, though. She kept staring. He held so much weight on his shoulders. His businesses, his family. He was so strong, it was unbelievable. Maybe, though, just maybe it was time for someone to be strong for him, for once. She stepped even closer, her breasts brushing against him.
“You need to hear this,” she whispered, reaching up and pressing her hand over his heart. “You're not a bad man.”
“Katya, you don't -”
She moved her hand from his heart and covered his mouth.
“You're not. I know you're a good person, because I care about you, and I'm a good person. It's okay to not be perfect. It's okay to feel things, sometimes. Even scary things. Because I'm here, Wulf. After everything. You're not alone, I'm not leaving. I wouldn't leave you. I care about you. I trust you. And I would never, ever, hurt you,” she promised him. His eyes fell shut and he leaned forward to press his forehead to hers.
“Don't say these things. You can't take them back,” he said. She now had her hands on either side of his face.
“I don't want to take them back. You can't take back the truth. It's already there – we just need to be brave enough to say it out loud.”
“I'm bad for you,” he whispered, his voice low and scratchy. He tried to step back, to break their connection and get away from her – get away from the truth, but Katya stepped even closer, bringing herself flush with him. Refusing to give up on him.
“You're everything to me,” she whispered back.
“I'm going to hell for what I've done to you.”
“And I'll bring you back,” she insisted, already over the fight they'd had. Over the walls they had between them. His hands slid onto her hips, and she thought maybe he was over them, too.
“There's no going back from this,” he warned her.
“It's way too late for that,” she agreed.
“Say it again,” he breathed.
“You're not alone. I'm here.”
For the first time ever, when Wulf kissed her, she could feel his nerves. Feel how unsure he was. Like he was afraid of her. What a shocking revelation. She'd brought such an amazing man to his knees, had him quaking in fear. Her, little Katya Tocci.
She wouldn't allow it. He tried to pull away, and she got closer still. He tried to stop the kiss, she pressed her lips harder. Stood on her toes and combed her fingers through his hair, smoothed her tongue over his bottom lip.
Even Wulf had his breaking point, and he finally reached it. His hands balled into fists, pulling the shirt tight across her back. His tongue slid between her lips and he leaned into the kiss so much, she was forced backwards. He followed and they sidestepped into the living room.
“You don't understand,” he breathed into her.
“I don't need to,” she cut him off.
He gripped the front of the shirt and yanked. Buttons went flying, then his hands were on her skin, skimming across her hips. Caressing her back lightly before squeezing her sides. Gripping her tightly around her ribs.
She wasn't surprised that he could pick her up – all those years in a pool had ensured Wulf could pretty much do any physical activity he wanted. She braced her hands on top of his shoulders while she was lifted high enough that she had to look down at him. She wrapped her legs around his waist, then coiled her arms around his neck as she settled into place.
“No going back,” he repeated his earlier statement, kissing and licking along her neck. She let her head drop back.
“I know.”
He carried her into the living room, then he sat down on a plush sofa. She stayed wrapped around him, wanting to envelop him in her love. She'd been given so much, all her life. By so many people. It felt right to pass some of it on to Wulf. He needed it more than her.