Finally, when the sun was setting and their backs were starting to ache, they got out of bed. Katya took a shower, and Wulf joined her halfway through. After they got out, he gave her one of his old college sweaters – she didn't have any real clothing, and her dress was a wadded up mess in the bathroom. The sweater only hung to the tops of her thighs, but they didn't have any plans to leave, so she didn't care.
She finally texted Tori, who was near frantic with worry in her messages. Katya asked her roommate not to say anything to Liam – that conversation needed to be had in person, in private. It wouldn't be pretty, and she could only pray that he understood. Just thinking about it caused her stomach to knot up, but then she looked up and watched Wulf as he pulled a shirt on, and just like that, she didn't feel bad anymore.
They snuggled on the couch and watched old movies. Ordered Chinese food and ate it in his living room – something he'd never done before, she found out. He always ate in his kitchen. She fed him pieces of barbecue pork with chopsticks, then wiped up the mess on his chin with a napkin.
They whispered to each other, about things they'd always wanted, but had never said to other people. Katya wanted to own a bakery, knew she had the talent and client list to make it a success, but she knew nothing about running a business. Handling that much money, having employees to worry about, it all terrified her. So she stayed where she was, getting a paycheck that she knew she was worth more than.
Wulf confessed to having a massive fear of rejection. “Duh,” she'd replied, earning a tug on her hair. It extended to all parts of his life, and was something he played very close to the vest, he explained. Considering the business world he moved in, it was imperative that his competition never find out, obviously. He didn't keep close friends, didn't have long term relationships, couldn't even hold a conversation with his own sisters, because he was afraid they'd see what an asshole he was capable of being, and they'd turn their backs on him.
“So I turn mine first.”
Katya liked the asshole-Wulf, she admitted to him. She liked that he was brash and blunt and even sometimes rude. He wasn't afraid to do whatever it took to get a job done, to make sure he ultimately got whatever he wanted. He just needed to learn how to turn it on and off.
“So what you're saying,” he chuckled as he stretched out behind her on the sofa. “Is I need to learn to be a little less of an asshole, and you need to learn to be a little more of one.”
“I guess, yeah.”
“Well, you came to the right teacher.”
They laughed more than they ever had in all the time they'd spent together. She learned his laugh lines, knew how to find them around his eyes. Traced her fingers along them. He looked so good when he smiled, he needed to do it more often. She would help him.
And they talked. For hours. About everything. Her family, his family, school, jobs, past relationships, life, love, the universe. They teased and told jokes and he chased her around the apartment, making her laugh endlessly. He pushed her up against one of the windows and peeled off the sweater, kissing his way down her spine while she looked out over a sleeping city.
“We were made for each other,” he whispered late in the night, his lips wandering over trembling skin.
“Yes,” she agreed.
“Who would've thought, all those years ago. My next door neighbor, little Katya Tocci. I never even noticed you.”
“Not so little anymore.”
“No. Thank god we were able to keep the house.”
“Yeah, cause good neighbors are hard to find.”
25
Katya woke up to the sound of an alarm buzzing. She jerked once, still half asleep, then moaned and stretched out. Slowly lifted her head up to look around. Her hair was everywhere, falling all over her face. She blew on it till she'd cleared away a strand that allowed her to see. Wulf was laying on his back next to her and was rubbing his hands over his face.
“What time is it?” she asked, her voice creaky from all the talking they'd done.
“God, it's late,” he groaned, lifting his watch off his night stand. “It's almost noon.”
“You're lucky I've been banned from work, Mr. Stone, or you'd be in big trouble,” she said, stretching again before rolling onto her back.
“Paid leave is hardly the same as getting banned, Tocci. Fuck, it's so late,” he repeated himself as he sat up. He scratched his fingers through his crazy hair, obviously trying to wake up.
“Sorry,” she laughed, pressing her palm against his back. “You're the one who wanted to stay up so late.”
He glanced at her, one eyebrow quirked up in irritation, then he fell backwards. Rolled so he was on top of her.
“I think you're partly to blame for that,” he reminded her, biting into her lip. It was swollen from the night before, and she moaned as her pulse throbbed in response.
“Guilty.”
They kissed for a while longer. It was different, now. Kissing Wulf had always been a treat for the senses, but now, there was nothing methodical about it. He wasn't planning an attack on her body. He was enjoying it. Reveling in it. She never wanted to let him go.
“I want to stay with you,” she whispered into his hair as his tongue traced along her clavicle.
“Good, I want you to be here.”
“But I have to go home. I need clothes, a toothbrush, and I have to … I have to talk to some people,” she said. He stopped moving, which made her freeze up. That damn one percent lack of trust – he'd given her emotional PTSD. She was scared of his reactions.
“Some people, huh. Would this have anything to do with the date you were all dressed up for?” he asked.
“Possibly. And my roommate is pissed that I didn't call her that first night, she almost called the police. She thought you found me and killed me.”
“I did kidnap you.”
“Hardly – I was awfully willing.”
“You beat me with your fucking purse.”
“Don't be such a baby, you can barely see the bruises.”
He dug his fingers into her side, causing her to shriek and laugh.
“Okay,” he said, silencing her with a kiss. “Okay, let me go into work real quick. I have to clear something up with a shitty investment. I'll come back and I'll drive you to your apartment.”
“Wow, you're going to drive me all the way across town? This must be love.”
“I might even take the top down for you.”
“Stop, I might swoon.”
He kissed her on the nose and jumped out of bed. She watched him while he got dressed. He didn't pull on one of his suits, his normal attire for work. He went casual, just grabbing jeans and a polo shirt. She hoped that meant he wouldn't be gone all day. She didn't want to lose the momentum they'd built up.
As he slipped on a blazer, he came back over to the bed. Crawled over it and kissed her soundly, forcing his tongue down her throat. She was almost panting when he finally pulled away.
“Please be here when I come back,” he whispered, tracing his finger down the side of her cheek.
“I will. Don't be gone too long,” she replied. He shook his head and stood upright.
“Two hours, possibly three. Not a minute longer, I promise.”
“See you in three hours.”