Dominate me by Julia Romush (best e reader for epub TXT) 📗

But here, too, fate surprises me.

"Close your eyes", my flutter in the clouds stops his voice. Neither tough nor demanding. Just imperious. Like Artem himself. One that is simply impossible not to obey.

And I obey. I trust him so much that I close my eyes and wait.

This moment drags on, and I'm starting to get nervous.

I shudder as soon as the cold metal touches my skin. Goosebumps run down my body, and I suddenly pull my hands up to my neck. These are instincts.

"Put your hands down", he now commands, and I obey. I finally guess what's going on. The man gently throws my hair over my shoulder, and a second later I hear a click. "And now you can open your eyes ..."

I did not know what I deserved this day and such an evening, but for the first time in a long time I could say that I was happy.

"It costs a fortune", I look down and roll a small stone in a gold frame. This earring is cute and unobtrusive, but insanely expensive. 

"Do not exaggerate", Artem barely smiles and does not look away from me. He likes how the gift looks on me. He likes my reaction.

"Thank you," everything that happened to me today is so much. I don't know how to behave and react properly. Is that how it should be, or has something significantly changed in our relations?

"Just don't think of anything extra", the man's voice brings me back from heaven to earth. I look at Klimov, and he has already put on his shirt and pants, now he is buttoning them.

"Let me help you?". I get up and slowly walk to him, waiting for an answer. The man is silent, and I accept this as consent. That's the least I can do for him right now.

My hands were shaking, my fingers wouldn't listen, but I still tried. It was embarrassing, but still I would not trade anything for this warm feeling inside me, which grew between us.

"I'm sorry", I said in a trembling voice. I did not dare to look at Artem, so as soon as I finished, I turned away and took a step aside.

I also need to get dressed, because apparently we will go home now. I think Artem said he would take me. Or I have already heard it ...

"What are you apologizing for?". Klimov grabbed my arm, stopping me.
As if he doesn't know. He understands everything perfectly, but by his actions he forces saying everything aloud.

"For the fact that I did not tell everything at once", I try to gently pull my hand away, but I can not do anything.

"And why didn't you say?". I understand from his voice that he will not be angry, but I can't understand such interest either. He was never interested in anything when it came to my life, and here is such a turn.

"I thought you wouldn't be interested", I answer honestly, "that you wouldn't want to go into my problems ..."

After all, as I now remember, I came to Artem's office once, just when I needed his help. And I remember just as well that he answered me. It's a good thing I didn't dare remind him of that now. Let everything be as it is now. Let him think I'm wrong.

"You were wrong", he replies, forcing me to get lost in surprise. If this is true, then I am glad to be so wrong. Although I am ready to make such a mistake every day, I will continue to think for myself.

Honestly, I would never have thought that Klimov could say something like that. A couple of days ago, I would have laughed if I had suddenly been told that this person was found under a microscope at least a gram of humanity, but today was not funny. For me, his action was just incredibly important, and his support is invaluable. This immediately overshadowed everything that had happened between us in the past. Just for what happened in those few hours, I was ready to forgive him for what had happened for several years of my life.

"Next time, if something happens", Artem now sounded a little annoyed than a minute ago, "to avoid what happened in the restaurant today. I do not assume a repetition of this."

"I understand", I nodded, "well ..."

And only now my man lets me go. Slowly, as if reluctantly, he spreads his hand and lets me go. I need to get dressed, so I go straight to the sofa, and Klimov himself takes the car keys from the table.

And what was it now? Annoyance because of what? In general, why did he behave like that? If my memory serves me right, he was ready to punch a lawyer in the face when he didn't know or understand who he was and why we met him at a restaurant.

"Then, can I ask you something?". I don't think I found a good time to be bolder, but I had nothing to lose.

"So. What about?". I did not know how to ask correctly, so I did not walk around and around.

"Can I find out your personal phone number?". Yes, it was a stupid request, because I could ask for anything, and I asked for such a trifle. But this, at first glance.

"Why?". I was confused and did not immediately find an answer.

"To ... communicate with you. To be able to call. To warn in case ..."

"All right, all right", my man interrupts me and starts dictating numbers, and since I don't have a phone at hand, I have nothing left but to remember, "just don't you dare bother me with little things."

This is a small victory. My personal. I look furtively at the man at this moment and see him smiling slightly. Just for a second. But now I know for sure - something has changed between us, and I really like this "something".