Page 15 of Ruined By Sin

"Okay?" Instead of the hasty, short tone he's taken previously, this one is calmer and more comforting. I get the sense that he really does want to make things right, which should feel like a checkered flag victory for me. But it makes me feel bad for lying to him. I've honestly guilted him into taking care of me when I have zero ability to back up my claims.

"I'm not going to keep you here longer than I have to. I need you to believe that."

My eyes flick to the door that separates me from the outside world. There's a knot of sadness sitting on my chest threatening to choke me, but Timur seems so sincere. I have to believe he means what he says. I've never encountered a man in this world who is as genuine or compassionate as him. My father has his moments, but he's ruthless, just like Victor. Timur seems to bea different sort of man, and either I'm being duped or he's being real with me.

"I believe you," I say, looking him dead in the eye. He holds my gaze for a moment and nods, then leans back and picks up his coffee again, and the tension in the room eases.

"Is there anything you need?" he asks. "Anything that would make it more comfortable?"

I've been staring at four walls for two days and my mind is starting to eat itself. He's offered everything that would keep my body fueled and sated, but I'm going stir-crazy.

"A drawing pad, maybe," I say, "and some pencils. I like to sketch or write. Poetry, mostly. It helps me think."

"Done. I'll have it for you this afternoon." The look of satisfaction he offers is so attractive. He's gleaning joy out of being able to provide for me. God, he's handsome when he smiles.

"That's it, really..." I'd ask for a phone, but something tells me he'd balk at that. I just need to buy time for Victor and my father to send a rescue team. They just have to put the pieces together about who attacked our meeting and then they'll come looking.

He shakes his head slightly, like I've asked for too little. "Whatever you want, Kira. Books, music, anything. I mean that."

When he says my name, it makes butterflies flutter in my belly and my face gets hot.

"Thank you," I whisper, feeling the sudden urge to get up and leave the room. I don't know whether it's the guilt I feel over deceiving him or just my giddy attraction, but I can't sit still now.

I bolt upright, tipping the chair over, and it makes my cheeks burn. But when I spin around to pick the chair up, Timur rises from his seat at the same time, catching me off guard. I bump into him, almost knocking him over, and his arm goes around my waist, pinning me to his body.

"I, uh..." I swallow hard, praying the flush of my cheeks isn't too obvious. My entire body feels about a thousand degrees as he smiles softly.

"It's okay, accidents happen." Timur's thumb strums my back as his hand splays perfectly and pulls more firmly so I feel every pulse of his heartbeat in my core.

He's so handsome when he smiles, and I should not be thinking about him like this. His eyes drop to my lips then slowly rise to meet mine again, but when my tongue flicks out nervously over my lips, he watches the movement like he's hungry.

"I should... I need to..." My hand uncurls on his chest and his hot breath dusts my cheek.

"You are an incredibly beautiful woman, Kira."

Don't do that! No... Don't say my name.

I shake my head, but he's already leaning in, eyes fluttering shut, and the swell of my chest when I realize he's going to kiss me feels like I’m being sucked into his gravity. But I can't push him away.

In fact, I don’t want to.

No man has ever treated me like this or taken an interest in me. And this man suddenly seems to be obsessed or something.

Still, when his face is mere millimeters from mine, I feel my eyes shutting too, bracing for the contact which threatens to shoot lightning bolts to my core.

But it never comes.

Timur's phone, lying on the table next to his plate, rings and it startles us apart. He lets me go and I step back, tugging the hem of my blouse into place as he scoops up the phone and scowls. "I, uh... I have to take this," he says robotically, then he walks out, holding the phone to his ear.

I don’t hear a word he says. My mind is too busy with the billion thoughts racing through it to do anything but lean on the back of the chair and catch my breath.

He almost kissed me.

Which means I'm right. He was more than just apologetic. Timur likes me. And I think I like him too, but I've lied to him, and he kidnapped me. How would that ever work?

Oh, my God, what have I gotten myself into?

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