The Beast

Chapter 14

Chapter Fourteen
Sometimes Pain Feels Good

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HANNAH

IPad on lap, I gleefully swiped through each room I designed with minimal help from Lev. The theme throughout the entire apartment consisted of dark reds and blues, charcoal greys, deep browns and blacks. The only thing left to do was bring the whole thing to life.

I was in the midst of grinning to myself when the door was thrown open. With a single peek upward, I grimaced and shut off the IPad, already knowing what's coming.

Ever since the "shower situation" two days ago, Lev's been colder than usual. Maybe it's because I pushed his buttons a little too hard, or because he's mad with himself for caving to my demands. Either way, he's been stomping around like a child who didn't get a toy they wanted.

However, unlike all the other times, he didn't move to the shower right away. His amber eyes shot to mine, and my heart jumped erratically when he stopped in front of me.

Face hard as stone, Lev cocked his head and clenched his jaw. "You enjoy testing me, don't you, kukolka?"

"What do you mean?" I squeaked, only to cringe before sitting straighter. "I haven't done anything."

With a bored expression, he eyed the table next to me. I followed his gaze, only to curse when I saw what I left there, out in the open for him to see.

"I can explain—"

"You can explain how you lied to me?" His voice lowered into a purr, but his eyes blazed with ferocity. "Please do."

"I didn't lie! You got the rest of it."

He gestured to the two empty energy drinks. "Would you like to try another defence, kukolka? This one doesn't seem to be working for you."

"Don't make me say it," I whispered, my face twisting painfully.

If I thought he was angry before, that was nothing compared to how he appeared now. Teeth almost bared. Shoulders rigid and chest heaving. His fingers twitched a few moments before he let out a breath.

He gritted, "Roza," and I flinched, unsurprised by how quick he reached the conclusion.

Rosalina stopped by the room earlier this morning, exclaiming how she just arrived home. Even though she smiled and handed me a new case of my favourite energy drink, I saw something dark haunting her gaze. But I felt nervous to inquire the reasons for her change in mood.

"I want them all," he said, voice cold and callous while slightly narrowing his eyes on the cans.

The words flew out from me. "Why, are you suddenly a fan? Wanna give it a try?"

His eyes fell to my lips, and I realized I'd been smiling despite being on the receiving end of his glower.

I pressed my back against the chair and reached for my hair, not knowing what came over me. I didn't tease—especially not to Lev. I've known him for over a month, and he's usually been hard to rattle until recently. At first, I thought his change in attitude happened because of me. But no matter my attitude, he still acted on edge, so I figured it had to do with his family.

He took one of the cans and crushed it with one hand, his gaze never wavering off me. "I don't understand why you like this poison."

"You didn't have a problem with it before," I mumbled under my breath, not intending for him to hear it. He did.