Part 29 (1/2)
He straightened and narrowed his gaze. ”You've been dreaming. I said my goodbyes to you over three weeks ago.”
”Less than two weeks ago, you came to me in the middle of the night.”
He sucked in a breath. ”Don't tell me you saw me in your bedroom.”
She lifted her chin. ”Just because I didn't see you doesn't mean you weren't there. We both know you were there, Andrei.”
”You didn't see me.”
”I don't need to see you to know when you're near.” She captured his hand and held it against her b.r.e.a.s.t.s. ”Isn't that clear by now? I know you were there, Andrei. I couldn't see you, but I can feel when you're near.”
”So now you're clairvoyant?”
”I never thought I was.” She shrugged. ”You can try to deny it all you want, but there's clearly something special between us. Why are you even trying to deny it when it 's so obvious?”
Because he had no choice. He removed his hand from her clasp. ”Why are you trying to spin a few days of l.u.s.t into something more?”
She rose and he stepped back. She clamped a hand on his arm, her eyes sparkling with angry defiance. ”Why are you trying so hard to pretend that I don't mean anything to you when we both know I do?”
He jerked away from her, narrowing his gaze. ”I'm going to tell you this for the last time. Leave me alone. Don't come looking for me and don't expect me to seek you out. We had a weekend fling. It was incredibly nice, but it's over. Deal with that reality, Dacoda.”
”Andrei! How can you call what we share a weekend fling?”
He shook his head, ignoring the hurt in her voice. ”Don't think I'll put up with you stalking me.”
Her cheeks flushed and her eyes shot angry sparks at him. He knew what was coming, but made no effort to avoid the hand she swung at his cheek.
”You miserable, soulless b.a.s.t.a.r.d. Why are you trying so hard to hurt me?”
He stepped away from her. ”I'll take you home.”
”Don't do me any favors. I'll get home the same way I got here, but you should know that I have no intentions of allowing you to kick me to the curb.”
”What the h.e.l.l is that supposed to mean?”
”It means I'm not going to allow you to try to cheapen what we feel for each other. I don't care what you say, I know you feel some of what I feel, Andrei. What we feel for each other is special and real.”
He stared at her, his jaw clenching. How the h.e.l.l could he make her understand that they had no future together without really hurting her? ”It's over, Dacoda.”
Her filled with tears. ”Why are you doing this, Andrei?”
He swallowed hard to dislodge the lump in his throat. Unable to stand the censure in her gaze, he turned away. ”I've said all there is to say.” He crossed the room to open the door. ”I'll take you home.”
She shook her head and stalked out the door.
He followed her. She turned and glared at him. ”I don't need an escort, Andrei.”
”I'll take you home.”
”f.u.c.k off!” She turned away.
He caught her hand and turned her to face him. The pain he saw in her gaze hit him with the force of a stake in his heart. ”Dacoda... ”
”Why are you doing this?” The tears streamed down her cheeks. ”If you just told me why, maybe it wouldn't hurt so much. Why, Andrei? Just tell me why. Please?”
”Because I have to.” He released her and curled his hands into fists to keep from pulling her into his arms. ”If you know half of what you claim to, then you know I have no desire to hurt you.” He wiped at her wet cheeks. ”But I need you to understand that whatever happened between us is over.”
She pressed the back of her hand against her lips.
He extended his hand. ”Give me your keys and I'll have your car brought to your apartment later.”
She sighed, sniffed, shrugged and gave him her keys. ”Have it your way, Andrei. You don't want me? Fine. I'll find someone who does.”
He sucked in a breath and raked a hand through his hair. Oh G.o.d, help me. He took her arm and walked her through the club and out into the cool night.
He opened the pa.s.senger door of his SUV.
She shook his hand off when he touched her and got in without any a.s.sistance from him. They made the hour drive to her apartment in silence. They didn't speak until they stood at the bank of elevators in her lobby. ”You'll be all right?”
She nodded, looking at a spot beyond his left shoulder.
”I'll have your car brought here and leave the keys in your mailbox.”
She nodded again and stepped onto the elevator. When he moved to step inside with her, she shoved at his chest. ”I told you to f.u.c.k off.”
He stepped back and the door slammed close in his face. Swearing softly, he turned and stormed out of the building. Climbing into his SUV, he sat with his hands clenched on the steering wheel, staring up at her apartment window. He lost track of how long he sat there before he became aware of a car coming to a stop in the parking spot beside him.
The driver's door opened and the big, dumb blond Evan got out. He carried roses, a bottle of expensive wine and gourmet chocolates.
Andrei's lips tightened. The b.a.s.t.a.r.d wasn't wasting any time trying to steal his woman. He growled and jumped out of his SUV and found himself facing Tat.
”Andrei?”
d.a.m.n Dacoda. She had him so confused and angry his defenses were down. Tat should not have been able to sneak up on him like that. ”Don't interfere, Tat,” he warned. ”You got me into this s.h.i.+t by insisting I meet her.”
”I thought she would be good for you.”
”You thought wrong.”
She placed her hands on his chest. ”I'm sorry about that, Drei.”
”You're sorry? And that's supposed to make everything okay?”
She sighed. ”For whatever reason, you've decided you don't want her. I think that's a mistake, but it's your mistake to make.”
”Yes it is, so stay out of this.” He stepped around her.
She stepped in his path. ”If you don't want her, fine, but I'll be d.a.m.ned if you're going to ruin her chances with Evan.”
His nostrils flared. ”What chances? Have you forgotten you paid him to sleep with her, just as you conned me into going out with her?”