Chapter 39 Chapter Thirty-nine
Elena's POV
"Nikolai..." I called out the moment Nikolai stepped into the changing room, and the air shifted.
It thickened. Heated, pressed against my skin like an invisible weight. It didn’t matter that the space was small, barely enough for both of us to stand comfortably, because being close to him always made everything feel smaller, intense, and dangerous.
"Uh!" He hummed, I turned around, gripping the dress at my back. “The zipper… It’s stuck.” He didn’t answer. "Please help me with it." He simply stepped closer. Slowly and quietly. Like a predator approaching prey.
I felt him stop right behind me, just close enough that I could feel the heat of his chest on my back. I held my breath without meaning to. This closeness was burning and suffocating at the same time.
His fingers brushed the fabric at my waist, steady and sure, and then glided upward until they found the zipper. My heartbeat thudded so loudly I was convinced he could hear it. Nikolai’s voice came low behind me. “Hold still.” As if I could move. As if I could breathe. I was playing with fire and this fire would burn me.
His knuckles brushed my spine as he tugged at the zipper. The soft graze of his skin against my skin sent a shiver straight down my back and I closed my eyes, gripping the edge of the changing-room wall to keep myself upright.
He worked the zipper free with a slow, careful tug. His breath ghosted the back of my neck. I felt him lean closer, too close. Close enough that if I turned my head even a little, our lips would meet, suddenly the zipper slid into place. But Nikolai didn’t move away. He stayed right behind me.
My entire body buzzed with awareness, every inch of me screaming for him to close the distance. I dared to tilt my head slightly, just enough to catch his gaze over my shoulder. His eyes were on my lips again.
He swallowed, his jaw tightening as his chest rose and fell against my back. He shifted closer, barely leaving space between us, but it felt like the world tilted.
“Nikolai…” My voice betrayed me, soft and trembling. His hand lifted like he wanted to touch my face. His lips parted like he wanted to say something or kiss me. I leaned in just a fraction, his fingers moved and touched my cheeks, wanting to cover the space between our lips as his eyes focused on my lips.
Ring!!!!
His phone shattered the moment. He snapped back as something burned him, clearing his throat harshly as he stepped away. The sudden cold air replacing his warmth left goosebumps across my skin. I wet my lips with my saliva, trying to control my racing heart.
“Stay here,” he muttered, voice rough as gravel. He pulled out his phone, walked to the furthest corner of the tiny room, and answered sharply, “What?”
I faced the mirror, trying to steady my breathing, staring at my flushed cheeks and swollen-looking lips. I looked like I’d been seconds away from doing something irreversible. I just wanted that taste of last night for the second time.
Nikolai spoke low, tense. “Are you sure?” A pause. "Fuck!" Another low curse under his breath. When he hung up and turned toward me, his expression was darker, guarded again like he’d slammed all his walls back into place. I curse whoever had called him. I hated that phone for ringing.
He didn’t say anything at first, just stared at me. I waited for something, an explanation, a reaction, anything. At this point, I don't even know what to expect. Finally, he asked, “Where is your phone?”
I blinked, then I remembered I switched it off last night, and didn't put it on this morning when I picked it up this morning. “I switched it off.”
His eyes narrowed. “Why?”
“I didn’t want Rafael calling me,” I answered honestly.
He stepped forward, jaw clenching. “Is Rafael the only one who calls you?”
I shook my head. “My dad, Shannon, and some other people.” He stared at me like I had grown another head.
“Elena,” he said slowly, “if you knew others would call you, would it not be stupid to turn off your phone just because of one man?”
I felt heat rush to my face. “Are you calling me stupid?” He didn’t answer just ran a hand through his hair in frustration.
“We’re leaving,” he said abruptly. He opened the curtain and strode out without waiting for me. I quickly gathered the clothes and followed him to the counter. As the cashier started ringing up the items, he turned to me. It was at this moment that he realized the things I had picked. “Why are you buying all these seductive clothes?” His tone wasn’t judgmental, it was something else. Something tighter and possessive. “This isn’t your style,” he added.
I felt my pulse pick up. “I’m changing my life next year. And so I’m changing how I dress too.” He said nothing after that. Not a word. His jaw twitched, but he stayed silent until we paid and walked back to the car. I could feel the tension rolling off him in waves. When I sat in the passenger seat, I turned my phone back on.
It immediately lit up with notifications. And then, too quickly, Rafael’s name flashed across the screen. I sighed, his band just soured my mood. I didn't want to answer the call, but I knew at this point, I had to. I pressed the answer button Before I could even greet him, his voice exploded through the speaker. “ELENA! WHERE THE FUCK ARE YOU? DO YOU KNOW HOW WORRIED I WAS?!” I jerked the phone slightly away from my ear.
“Can you stop shouting, I was...”
“You didn’t answer my calls! You switch off your phone, and your father kept calling me, telling me to give you the phone, and I couldn’t even reach you!” he shouted. “What were you thinking turning off your phone?!”
My irritation flared instantly. “Rafael, do NOT shout at me.”
“Do you know I didn’t sleep? I thought something happened to you!”
I rolled my eyes, what a pathetic liar. I guess he snores all through the night, he wouldn't have kept trying my number if my father wasn't bombarding him with calls.
“oh please, I’m fine, why are you calling?”
"Where are you?" He asked almost frustrated
"Stop asking stupid questions, why are you calling?" I could feel the rage in Rafael's voice but he was fighting it.
“Your father is here at the mansion!” My heart dropped.
“What? Is he here? As in, here in Italy?” I asked, my voice almost breaking.
“Yes! He went straight there the moment he couldn’t reach you. Father called and told me, he is here.” I froze.
Holy shit!
My eyes snapped to Nikolai. If my father were at Don Alessandro's mansion already, then there is trouble. I slowly lowered the phone and stared ahead, blood draining from my face. Nikolai’s hands tightened on the steering wheel.
“Fuck!” he cursed quietly, his grip tightened on the wheel, for the first time since I’d met him, Nikolai actually looked scared.