Chapter 8

Chapter 8

Katya tossed and turned but could not go to sleep no matter how much she tried. The day had been filled with a lot of activities- her prancing from store to store with Michal following, a big scowl on his face. Funny, he didn’t have the scowl before they started off. It was when she walked outside, after the first stop they made that the scowl appeared.

Or, maybe she had done too much? Crossed a line? Did he see her as some kind of slut and could not hide his displeasure?
*Perhaps he thought of her as a silly little thing- spoilt rotten. *

Shoot. She slapped her forehead. She got so caught up in wanting a reaction that she forgot to think about how she actually looked.
She sat upright. How would she face him the next morning? Luyeva would not let her hide away, that was sure. The older woman never shied away from confrontations. Katya could still remember the biggest argument her governess and father had- deciding if it was right for Katya to have friends away from school.
Of course, her father had been against the motion. But Luyeva stood her ground- and even though Katya lost her friends later on, she could still remember that day. It was the day her father fell silent and had no comebacks.

Suddenly, she felt lightheaded. She needed something soothing that would make her fall asleep and maybe stay asleep till her father came back. She checked the time- 3:30am.
Nobody would be awake, meaning it was the perfect time for snacks. Leaving her night robe, she walked out, closed the door behind her and made her way to the kitchen- humming a tune.
The kitchen lights were off. Just the way she wanted it. She knew her way to the pantry.

She opened it, took out a tin of cookies and was about to exit the door when the lights came on.
Her governess! Oh no.
“Luckily for you, you are not an intruder.”
Her heart skipped a beat at the sound of the voice. Not Luyeva, but the man she had been avoiding.
She turned around to see Michal seated on a chair, in a corner, drinking from a mug.

“And you have chosen to come out with just a shirt- again.”
Fuck. Katya did not bother to look down, because she knew he was telling the truth. But how was she to know that someone else was going to be, not only in the house, but awake at this time? She felt her cheeks heat up in sheer embarrassment.

*Play it cool. Don’t let him see your ruffled feathers. *

“And I see that you made yourself…coffee? Couldn’t sleep?

“I was working late.”

“Oh? What exactly is it that you do that keeps you up till 3:30 am?” She had to ask.

“Wouldn’t you like to know?” he replied her, eyes never leaving hers.

“I would, because I am curious. But if you choose to keep it a secret-

“Why are you awake?”

Cut short, Katya could only stare at him. He stared back. She kept looking, willing herself not to break eye contact. The intensity of his stare deepened and she could feel the beginning of tingles all over. Then a tightness that began in her belly and moved upwards, then took a detour and began its way back down…

“Why are you awake?” He repeated.

“Why do you think I’m awake?” she asked.

She watched as he stood up from the chair, dropping the mug on a island and began to walk towards her.
“You can’t answer a question with another question. It is considered rude.”

It felt…good. The tightness travelled lower, down to her belly, her thighs, that place…her lips fell open but she quickly closed them.
“You cut me short, remember? I think you are the rude one here.”

“Are you cold?” He ignores her question, moving closer to her.

“No. Why?”

“Because you are wearing a flimsy big tee and your body is giving a clear sign of either chills or arousal,” he replied, walking past her and turning left to the pantry cupboard she took the cookies from earlier.

*Arousal*? Katya looked- didn’t have to look down completely. Her nipples were very noticeable through the shirt. She quickly crossed her arms.

“You know,” Michal closed the pantry door and began walking back to her. Instinctively, Katya took a step backwards and met the door, “you have been playing a game with me. And it seems like you have been winning. But the truth is, I so hate to lose.”

*What game? The only game. *

He came to stand in front of her. Then he smiled.

Katya could not stop her eyes from traveling down his visible adam's apple, the exposed skin from three buttons undone, the belt riding low on his waist, the bulge that seemed to grow bigger as her eyes lingered.

Arousal. She fought hard against the urge ti press her thighs together. The feeling was between her legs but it felt heady- somehow clouding her senses.* He was right.
*
She felt his finger under her chin and swallowed hard.

“My eyes are up here, Katya. Except you want to keep playing the game? I can assure you that you have a very eager competitor. Although, you seem to be very eager too. More than you were just a few minutes ago.”

Katya’s head snapped back up at his words. Her hands! She had uncrossed them at some point and now… *bloody nipples. *

“Do you want to bring pleasure along? Could be the exact motivation you need. Seeing as you brag about him every single chance you get.” His lips were no longer smiling and his fingers were doing a steady tap dance on his leg.

Katya could not stop her face from heating. She searched or an excuse to bail her out. *The cookies. Yes. *
“I’m just going to take this and go to my room.”

Michal’s smile returned.
“Okay, if you say so. But remember, if you keep playing, I am not going to back down next time.”