The Beast

Chapter Sixteen
Cold But Attentive

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HANNAH

   I couldn't work.

   I mean, I could. I should. But ever since Lev left the bedroom this morning, I've been aimlessly staring at the IPad—at the layout of Lev's penthouse apartment.

   Every time the IPad threatened to turn off, I hastily tapped the screen. I thought if I did it long enough, I'd stop procrastinating, but... I couldn't stop thinking of how Lev left this morning.

   God, I'm so embarrassed with myself. This whole thing... why did I put myself in this position?

   The day of Micah's memorial was a roller coaster. From working, to meeting scarily powerful people, to Lev starting to open up about his past. From Lev fucking me against the wall in a hallway.

   When we finally returned to the dining hall minutes later, the rest of the service went smoothly. Lev ignored me while Rosalina did everything but stay silent. We finally returned to Lev's bedroom two hours later. It was only then that I cracked and blurted, "Are we... that was a one time thing."

   It wasn't a question, but when the words came out, it sounded like one.

   Lev said nothing, head hung low as he unbuttoned his shirt. But there was an undeniable smirk poking the corner of his mouth before he strode to the bathroom.

   That was two days ago.

   And as much as I want to say everything went back to normal, it hadn't. Maybe at first glance, Lev could be considered the same, but no. He wasn't.

   Yes, Lev was still cold, but something changed in the way his attention lingered on me longer, even when he thought I wasn't looking.

   I'm reminded of this morning, when he left without a word. But that didn't stop me from trembling from his scrutiny as I glued my gaze on the IPad. But unlike all the other times he demanded I look at him, Lev stormed out of the bedroom after a minute of drilling his eyes on me.

   Since then, my mind has been elsewhere.

   What was he thinking? Did I make things worse?

   I've been trying not to push him, hoping that things could return to normal. But no matter how many times I avoided his stare, I knew there was no taking back what happened. What I did.

   After speaking to her parents, Rosalina secretly informed me that Lev would be leaving on the fourteenth. That was only in a few days. As hard as it was, I tried to remain positive—that when we came back to New York, we would forget what we'd done.

   That I slept with my freaking kidnapper. Something had to seriously be wrong with me. No normal person would ever let themselves be so vulnerable with someone like Lev Somov.

   Frustrated and embarrassed by my actions, I shut off the IPad and laid it on the small table next to me before standing. I didn't think about my actions before treading to the door and cracking it open, only to see Danila. Or Aistov.

   I tried to smile politely when our eyes met. "Hi," I whispered, stepping out of the room. "Um, you're still here?"

   He tipped his chin higher and straightened his shoulders. "Somov entrusted me to stay here."

   "To protect me, or to keep his family from me?" I tried to joke.

   His dark eyes fell on mine. "Both." He glanced behind me. "Where do you think you're going?"