Twilight Sins: Chapter 36

My phone rings. I silence it. My mother needs to stop calling me in the middle of the fucking night. It’s late morning in Russia, but it’s after midnight here.

I left Luna’s room an hour ago and went back to my office. I’ve been waiting to see what she’ll do. I told her she could sleep wherever she wanted, but considering the sight of her in nothing but her bra made me want to bury myself in her and never leave, she’ll sleep better if I’m not around. If she moves back to my room, I’ll stay in my office.

I’m mad at you. And I missed you. And I don’t know who I hate more, you or myself.

Life would be easier if she hated me.

It would be even easier if I hated her.

I’m staring blankly at the wood grain of my desk when something white streaks in front of me.

“Fuck,” I spit, sliding my chair back.

Gregory doesn’t mind as he coils himself into a ball on the corner of the desk like the world’s most impractical paperweight.

“I bought you a bed so you wouldn’t climb all over the furniture,” I remind him icily.

The cat lets his head lull back and paws at me.

I roll my eyes. “You and your mother have that in common. You both like to wedge yourselves exactly where you aren’t supposed to be.”

I scoop him up, lock my office door, and carry him with me to the living room. On my way to the bar cart, I drop Gregory in the second cat bed I bought him.

It made sense to get two since my office door is locked most of the time. If I want him off of my furniture, making sure he has somewhere to sleep is imperative. The more comfortable he is, the more he’ll leave me alone. It’s a win-win.

It’s the same strategy I applied to Luna living here.

Here’s hoping it works better on Gregory.

I pour myself some vodka and toss it back. When I first started drinking, every shot burned. My father laughed when I spit and sputtered through my first drink. “One day, you’ll get used to it,” he said.

That’s the way it will be with Luna.

Right now, she’s under my skin. The sight of her in my house, the sound of my name on her lips, and the feel of her body in my hands all burn. Every second of being near her without being able to act on every filthy thought that crosses my mind is painful.

One day, I’ll get used to her. One day, it will be easier.

When she looks into my eyes and tells me she loves me, it won’t faze me at all.

I groan and take another shot. Blyat’. Life would be easier if everyone did what they were supposed to do.

She asked if I was tired of ordering everyone around, and I told her the truth. Only when people refuse to listen.

Which has been happening far too fucking much lately. Luna won’t stay out of my hair and let me protect her, Nik thinks I need him to play matchmaker for me, and our mother won’t rest until she’s made me Mariya’s guardian.

I have no doubt I can wipe out Akim Gustev, even with all the distractions. It would just be a whole hell of a lot easier if everyone around me would do what they’re told.

Gregory chooses this exact moment to crawl out of his cat bed and jump up onto the couch. Before I can shove him off, there’s a knock at the door.

I stand up, jabbing a finger in his direction. “Don’t get comfortable.”

Gregory settles into the spot I just warmed up for him, tail wrapped around himself.

I leave my glass on the side table and make my way to the door. It’s late for someone to be knocking. The only people who get through the gate without me knowing about it is my family. And Nikandr is long past knocking, no matter how many times I tell him not to barge in.

He must have forgotten his key. I yank the door open, but it isn’t Nik on the porch.

Before I can process what I’m seeing—who I’m seeing—the dark-haired girl drops her suitcases, throws her arms wide, and grins up at me.

“Surprise, big brother! Aren’t you going to let me in?”