Looking at him, I wondered if I had heard right. He was still mumbling something as sleep started taking over. I must have heard him wrong, I convinced myself. I was exhausted and needed to rest. Breathing in deeply, I pushed the thoughts away. Snuggling back, I felt his arm tighten around me.
I woke to find Iosif staring at me. Covering my face with my hands, I spoke into them. “No, don’t look at me. What are you doing? You’re making this weird.”
He laughed as he spoke. “I couldn’t help it. You look so lovely while you’re sleeping. A sleeping beauty.”
I rolled over and sat up on the side of the bed. Stretching my hands out over my head, I turned slightly, smiling back at him. “Thank you, but believe me, it’s not always the case,” I mumbled.
Then I remembered our last conversation and wondered if I had heard him correctly. “I didn’t hear you clearly last nightas I was half asleep, but you said your last name is Chernykh?” I asked softly, trying to keep my tone innocent.
“Yes, that’s correct, and yours?” he asked. He sat there like his last name meant nothing. To most, it wouldn’t have. But to me, it meant a lot. In that moment, I knew I couldn’t tell him mine.
I got up and headed to the bathroom. I was about halfway when I heard him asking again. “What’s your last name?”
Stopping in my tracks, I swallowed hard. Glancing back, I replied lightly. “Brown, it’s Brown.” He nodded, placed his hands behind his head, and flopped back, smiling. I quickly moved into the bathroom and closed the door. I couldn’t believe what I had gotten myself into or that he so easily believed me.
Well, this was it. Now was the time to split. I knew I had to get out. He was asking about my friends all night. But now I was sure he was actually looking for me. He hadn’t realized it yet. But I wasn’t going to stick around until he did. I knew the situation had gone from normal to horrid in seconds.
If my brothers heard of this, there would be hell to pay.
Chapter 3 - Iosif
Stretching out, I breathed deeply as I watched the bathroom door. This woman was like no other I’ve ever met or been with. I didn’t expect the sex to be mind-blowing, but it was.
I’ve always been able to keep my cool and be in control. I’ve surely never lost my shit when it came to sleeping with a woman. But Clara has unraveled me. She had taken it to a whole new level.
Closing my eyes, I knew I was still in the sex-induced bliss she had left me with. I wanted more of her. I wanted to feel this high all the time. Looking back at the bathroom door, I waited patiently for her to return. I wanted us to do it all over again before going our separate ways.
After a couple of minutes, I sat up and listened carefully. I tried to hear if there was any sound. My eyes narrowed as I studied the bottom of the door, hoping for some smoke. I wondered what was taking her so long. No sounds were coming from the bathroom, not even water running. Something wasn’t right. I got up and walked closer, suddenly feeling slightly worried. I hoped she was okay.
I knocked and listened, but there was no reply. “Clara?” I asked as I knocked again. “Are you okay?”
There was still nothing. Opening the door slowly, I peeked inside. The bathroom was empty. I felt my breath catching as I looked around. The window was open. Moving to the window, I stuck my head out. I scanned the surroundings, but there was no sign of her. She had run away.
But how? It is very far down. Leaning out the window, I noticed the fire escape ladder was drawn. I felt my browscrumple as I frowned. The distance from the window to the fire escape wasn’t small. It was mind-boggling.
She must have jumped it. That was the only explanation I had. She was flexible, but I didn’t even hear it. As the thought crossed my mind, I thought back to last night. I could have done so much more if I knew she was that flexible.
Smiling, I shook my head. I didn’t have time for such thoughts. Pulling back in, I turned and sat down on the tub’s edge. Why, why would she run away? I didn’t understand. What did I do to drive her away? I thought things went pretty well. The way she moaned, whispering my name, was a sure indication of her pleasure. She enjoyed it.
Moving back to the room, I stood wondering as I looked around. I was unsure of what had just happened. It felt like I was in a dream. The evening was pleasant, the sex fabulous, and then the short discussion before we fell asleep.
Rummaging through our conversation of last night and early this morning, I tried to think what I could have said that had triggered this. What did I say that rattled her so much that she had to leave? I mean, I was extra careful when I asked about her friends.
Walking to the chair by the window, I sat down, staring out. Then it hit me. It felt like I had walked into a brick wall. Clara was none other than the Aslanov I was hunting. Jumping up, I slapped my forehead as I paced up and down. That’s why she didn’t tell me her actual name at the bar. Thinking back to the photo, I nodded. Yes, Clara was the baby Aslanov.
She was the one I was looking for. How could I not have seen it? She had pulled the wool over my eyes. I couldn’t see it. Her beauty enchanted me. And then obviously the sex, oh mysoul. That was the only reason I could think of that would cause her to flee.
How fucking blind can I be? I’ve been hunting her, and I didn’t see it. The signs were in front of me, mocking me like a cruel joke. How had I missed it? Her laughter, the way she carried herself, I brushed them off.
I was consumed by her, by what I craved, and not by who she was. I allowed myself to get lost in the images floating in my mind. I allowed her to seduce me. The one I was looking for was right here, and I was blind.
The realization stung me. I could slap myself for allowing my desires to cloud my judgment. I got tangled up in her web. Flopping down on the bed, I closed my eyes. I could still smell her. Licking my lips, I could taste her sweet, tender lips. Placing my hands over my face, I swore under my breath. “For fuck’s sake!”
How could I have been so dumb? No, she blindsided me by giving me the best sex I had ever had in my entire life. Sitting up, I frowned. I couldn’t decide if I was angry, disappointed, or sad. She was also the only person on earth who was able to trick me.
She didn’t do it with force or elaborate schemes. She had precision and was subtle. A soft smile here, a well-timed glance there, just enough to make me drop my guard without even knowing.
No one had ever gotten this close, made me question my instincts the way she did. It was maddening how someone seemingly harmless could weave her way past my walls. I replayed every interaction in my head, wondering where I slipped.
