Chapter 15 By the time I put Anna to bed, she is clearly feeling better. I sigh with relief when she falls asleep, and I slip out of her room. Dimitri left in the afternoon, heading to one of the casinos, and I heard him come home a half hour ago, but he didn't come into Anna's room, leaving me to take care of bedtime, which is a relief. My goal is to creep into my room without seeing him and then pretend to be asleep. I'm feeling weird about playing investigator even though that is why I came here in the first place. Every time I look at him, what I see is the man who is helping me, caring for me, in ways no one ever has before. And I'm repaying the favor by doing my absolute best to betray him. I've never been good at being the bad girl and I'm struggling hard against my own nature. I just open my door, about to step into my room, when he rumbles out from down the hall, "Milaya." "Shh," I respond. "I just got Anna to sleep." He walks toward me, eating the ground between us. "In that case, come to my room." "Dimitri," I whisper, worrying my lip. "I shouldn't." "You should," he says, leaning down to place a kiss on my neck. My skin tingles at the touch and I can already feel myself giving in, wanting him more than I want to hold the line. But I can't do this. I can't share his bed while I work to expose his crimes and find my friend. Maybe I could ask him... This would all be so stupid if he isn't even the man I'm looking for. And I hate keeping secrets. But if he is the man who has Cadence, would he tell me the truth? Goose pimples break out all over my skin. "Dimitri," I say on a gasp. "This is a conflict of interest. I told you yesterday⁠-" "I disagree," he rumbles into my skin. "Having you in my house and in my bed feels like the best alignment of interests possible." "Whose?" "Mine," he wraps an arm around my waist, pulling me close, my body fitting so perfectly into his. "Now, if you don't want to shower with me, I have another idea..." My mouth goes dry as my nipples pucker. His last idea was the best night of my entire life. "Does it involve handcuffs?" He smiles into my skin. "No. But it does involve me crouching down between your legs while I lick you until you scream my name." I get so wet, I can smell my own arousal and I'm sure he can too. "Oh God," I whisper, one of my hands snaking around his neck. "Is that a yes?" he licks and kisses his way up my neck toward my ear. This is so wrong and so right all in the same moment and I draw in a trembling breath, as I shake my head, trying to gain some control over my wayward body. "No. No. I've got to get some work done." It's a feeble, shitty excuse, and my words are flat with my lack of conviction. Still, he eases back, his brows drawn together. "Did I frighten you, milaya? I'm sorry if I did." His hand cups my cheek. "I'll slow down." I don't want him to think he's scaring me when I feel braver than I've ever felt before. "It's fine. I just..." "It's all right," he soothes, his other hand running lightly down my arm, making goose pimples break out all over again. "I can be as patient as you need." Crap. He's making this so much harder. Feeling like a complete jerk, I nod and then dart into my room, closing the door. Leaning against the solid wood, I draw in a ragged breath. I don't want to fight him. I want to let him keep healing me. Pushing off the door, I cross the room and pick up my phone. I'd stopped trying to call Cadence when I took this position, but I hit her name, listening to the line ring. I need to hear her voice, remember why I'm here. The call goes to voicemail. I listen to her message, tears forming in the corners of my eyes. "Leave a message if you're brave enough." I shake my head at her words, always stirring up trouble. I miss her so much and I'm worried. When the tone sounds, I squeeze my eyes shut. "Hey, Cade, it's me. I just wanted to hear your voice and also tell you...I know there were times I should have fought harder for you. But I'm fighting now. It's tough for me, I know you know that. But for you, I'd go to the ends of the earth. I'd fight all the way. I love you." I hang up, my hand pressing to my mouth as I fight back the tears. They're no help at all, and they'll only drain me of the energy I'll need. That's when my phone rings. I look down and my eyes nearly pop out of my head. It's Cadence! "Cadence?" I cry into the phone. "No." A deep male voice rumbles back. "Stop calling, Ava. Cadence doesn't want to speak to you." And then the line goes dead. I let out a strangled cry, my hand coming to my mouth again to cover the sound. A broken sob breaks through my hands as I sink to the floor. Whatever I feared just came to life in one man's gravelly voice. Cadence is in trouble. "Now I lay me down to sleep..." I whisper into the room. This time I need to do more than just lay on the bed, like I did when Al came at her. This time I'll fight.