Life on the Edge (23 page)

“Your face is red,” he said.

I touched the glass to my flushed cheek. It cooled my face but not the heat I felt from Sergei’s appreciative stare.

“I’m just really hot,” I stammered.

Sergei’s smile widened, and he took a sip of his drink. “No comment.”

One of the Russian coaches called out to Sergei and asked him a question I couldn’t translate. They started a long exchange, so I went upstairs to see if it was less stuffy. I found a pocket of space away from the tables and rested my elbows on the railing to watch my friends dance below.

After a few minutes, I sensed someone behind me. My pulse quickened as Sergei’s woody cologne floated under my nose. Sergei mimicked my stance and stood close enough to me his forearm touched mine on the railing. The scene looked perfectly innocent, but no one could see the million sparks of electricity generated through that slight physical contact.

“Do you know how bad I want to kiss you right now?” Sergei’s eyes wandered down to my mouth.

I let out an exaggerated gasp. “Wouldn’t that be against your rules?”

“The competition is technically over.”

“Yes, it is.”

“Can you get out of here soon?”

My heart skipped a few beats, and I nodded.

“I’ll leave first.” He stood up straight. “Meet in my room?”

“Okay.”

His lips drew into a slow smile as he walked away, leaving me to count the minutes before I could make my exit. I tapped my high heels on the wood floor, waiting for an entire song to play. When the music transitioned, I went downstairs and sought out Chris.

“Hey, I’m going back to the hotel. You stay and have fun.”

“It’s still early! You’re bailing already?”

“I’m beat. I’ll see you in the morning!”

I scurried away and couldn’t get out the door and across the street to the hotel fast enough. A light rain had begun to fall, but I danced so quickly between the raindrops I stayed dry.

As I jumped into the elevator, I realized going to Sergei’s room in the middle of the night might send him a message I didn’t want to send. I’d always had a clear idea of when I wanted to experience my first time with a man. My ideals were very conservative, but I’d intended to adhere to them. However, Sergei had unlocked feelings within me I didn’t know existed.

By the time I knocked on his door, I had more adrenaline pumping through me than I had when I competed. The door had barely shut before Sergei pulled me to him, his lips claiming mine. The hunger and passion in his kiss overwhelmed me with an aching rush. I clung to his biceps; his strong, tense muscles in my grasp.

We stumbled further into the room, and Sergei brushed my hair back, placing a tender kiss on my collarbone. Everything inside me turned to liquid. Only a week had passed since he’d last held me in his arms, but it seemed so much longer.

“I want you so much,” he breathed against my parted lips.

With his body pressed to mine, I felt just how much. Both my heart and my mind raced, in direct conflict with each other. How could something I believed was wrong feel so right?

The hem of my shirt rose with Sergei’s hands, and my breath hitched as his fingertips explored my back and my stomach, leaving a path of goose bumps. I was having a hard time hearing any rational thoughts in my head. Every touch set my skin on fire and awakened a new desire.

Then the voice of reason interjected,
No, this isn’t how you want this to happen.

Sergei slipped his hands from under my blouse and laced his fingers through mine. Our mouths melded together, he eased me with his body toward the bed. The battle in my mind came to a grinding halt.

“Sergei, I’m . . .” I swallowed to catch my breath. “I’ve never . . .”

He brushed a soft kiss on my lips. “We can take it slow.”

His tempting eyes and luscious mouth had my head spinning, but I fought to stay strong.

“I’m sorry, I can’t,” I whispered.

He shifted slightly backward and caressed my hair, letting his fingers follow the waves. “It’s okay if you’re not ready.”

I sat on the bed and looked down at my lap. “You don’t understand.”

“Then talk to me.” He dropped to his knees in front of me.

I picked up my head. “I’m not going to be ready anytime soon because I’m waiting until I’m married.”

His face didn’t twitch, crease, show any reaction, so I rambled, “I know it’s old-fashioned and seems ridiculous to a lot of people, but it’s something I feel strongly about. I should’ve told you this before. I just had no idea how or when . . .” I bent forward, setting my elbows on my thighs.

Silence remained as I gathered Sergei was digesting the information. The pitter-patter of raindrops against the window grew louder the longer the stillness stretched.

Sergei gently clutched my hands. “
Em
.”

Our eyes met, and I marveled at how his cool blue eyes could also radiate warmth.

“I want to be with you in every way . . . so much,” he said. “But if this is what you want, then I’ll respect that.”

“You’re really okay with this?” I searched his face for any signs of doubt.

A tiny smile tugged at his mouth. “It’s not my preference, but I can deal with it.”

“Are you absolutely sure? You might feel that way right now, but if you think it’s going to be an issue, I need you to tell me now before we get even deeper into this.”

The smile left his face, and he studied me with a powerful stare. His hesitation clawed at my gut.

He released my hands and sat next to me on the bed. “I’m sure.” He cupped my chin. “Because I am absolutely, completely in love with you.”

My heart did somersaults. I wasn’t expecting to hear that, and the words rang in my ears like the most beautiful melody ever played.

I palmed his firm chest and locked my lips on his. Looking into his eyes, I prepared to say what I’d longed to tell him, what I’d known since the sunrise at the cliffs.

“I love you, too.”

Sergei brought me closer and kissed me, dizzying me with joy. Wrapped in his arms, I smiled up at him. “You’re probably thinking ‘Why’d I have to fall in love with the
chastest
girl on the Cape?’”

He chuckled. “No, I’m not.”

“Then tell me what you are thinking. Honestly.”

“I’m thinking I’m going to be taking a lot of cold showers.” He laughed again.

I cringed while laughing with him. “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t apologize.” He kissed the tip of my nose.

“Seriously, though, I shouldn’t have let you think it was going to happen. I let myself get caught up in the moment.”

“It’s very easy to get caught up with you.” Sergei ran his hand lightly down my arm. “I should’ve talked to you instead of assuming you were ready.”

A sharp rap on the door froze us. We gave each other startled looks.

“Who could that be?” I whispered.

We both stood as another knock came. When Sergei pointed to the bathroom, I nodded and crept toward it. Before closing the door, I noticed a trace of lipstick on the corner of Sergei’s mouth. I erased the smudge with my thumb and made myself scarce.

Sergei answered the knocking, and Chris’s voice carried through the crack in the bathroom door.

“Hey, sorry to bug you so late. Have you seen Emily since you left the club?”

Sergei hesitated. “No, is something wrong?”

“She forgot her phone on the bar, so I went to her room and knocked a bunch of times, and she didn’t answer.”

I sucked in a breath.
Oh, no.

Sergei paused again. “She’s probably in the shower. Why don’t you wait and call her room in a little while?”

“Yeah, maybe so. Thanks, man. Sorry to bother you.”

“No problem. Let me know if you don’t find her.”

Chris left, and I emerged from the bathroom. “I’d better get to my room before he calls.” I leaned against the door. “I could come back afterward.”

“As tempting as that sounds, I don’t want anyone to see you coming back up here.”

“Good point.” I reached out and put my hands on Sergei’s waist. “I’m still glad we decided to break the rules tonight.”

He angled toward me and rested one arm on the door. With his finger, he traced a line down my breastbone, stopping where the V of my neckline came to a point.

“You’re a bad influence on me,” he whispered in my ear.

His chest pressed me to the door as his kiss warmed me all over. I smiled to myself. I was always going to have a fondness for hotel room doors.

I stroked his cheek, letting my hand slide down his prickly skin to his open collar. “Thank you for being patient with me.”

He touched his forehead to mine. “You’re worth every second of the wait.”

I sauntered down the hall, reflecting on Sergei’s loving response, and turned the corner to the elevators. Seeing Chris there, I jumped backward. Seconds later, the elevator chimed, and I took a cautious peek. Chris was gone.
One more month of hiding this from him. Shouldn’t be too hard . . . right?

Chapter Eighteen

“Aw, you brought me flowers?”

I blinked in surprise at the sight of the bright bouquet in Sergei’s hands. He handed them to me with an equally vibrant smile, and I brought the hot pink roses close to my nose. They held the sweet smell of love and promise. I reached up and thanked Sergei with a lingering kiss.

“I’ll get a vase and put them on the table for dinner.”

With one week remaining before the World Championships, we had a rare opportunity for an evening alone at my house. Aubrey was out with Marley, and Chris and Trevor were playing basketball at the gym, so we looked forward to no interruptions.

Sergei followed me to the kitchen, where I rummaged through the cupboards above the sink. I retrieved a large cut-glass vase from the corner cabinet and delicately removed the flowers from the green tissue paper.

“The pizza smells amazing,” Sergei said.

“Thanks, I hope it tastes as good as it smells. I haven’t made one from scratch in a long time.”

“I have no doubt it will be delicious.” He slipped his arm around me.

“If it isn’t, you’d better tell me. Pretend we’re at the rink where you have no problem criticizing me.” I tapped his nose with the tip of a pink bloom.

I finished arranging the flowers and took in another whiff of their scent. “Can you grab the sparkling water and the glasses? I already brought the plates and silverware up to the terrace.”

While Sergei set the patio table, I placed the vase in the center and positioned candles on either side. Their flickering light illuminated the bouquet, making the roses appear an even deeper shade of pink.

“I’ll get the pizza,” I said. “I put a stack of CDs on the stereo if you want to pick out a few.”

“You’re sure you don’t need any help?”

“No, I’ve got it.” I waved Sergei toward the CD player on the edge of the patio.

In the kitchen, I pulled the pizza from the oven and admired the crust I’d kneaded, now golden and crisp. The gooey mozzarella cheese had melted in perfection around the green peppers, black olives, spinach, and artichokes. My mouth watered, so I pulled a tiny bundle of spinach from the pizza and blew on it before taking a taste. I hummed in approval as the cheese and leafy greens combined for the ideal flavor marriage in my mouth.

As I prepared to make the last slice through the pie, a loud knock on the door halted me. My neck tensed, and I wiped my hands on a dishtowel, bunching it into a clenched ball as I climbed the steps to the foyer and opened the door.

“Surprise!” Mom cried.