His Wicked Heart

Chapter Twenty- Eight

rubatosis
(n.) the unsettling awareness of your own heartbeat

●▬▬▬▬๑๑▬▬▬▬●

PRESENT

GENEVIEVE

I didn't expect Aleksandr to be at my doorstep when I turned the knob to see who had decided to visit me at this unusual hour of the night.

Looking up at him, I gaped, and he returned the look with a sheepish grin. "Privet," he said. Beneath the pair of emerald green eyes laid tiredness, leaving me in no doubt that he had come straight from work.

"I-" I searched for the right words, "I didn't expect you to be here... now." He leaned against the doorframe, smirking slightly. "Do you mind, dorogaya?"

I stared up at the man without blinking, unaffected by his question as I took in his appearance; from his tousled raven hair to the cigar in his hand. As devastating as always, turning me unable to look away. As always.

"Genevieve," But then his voice broke my thoughts, pulling me back from my daze to meet his bewitching eyes once more. "Won't you invite me in, baby?" He asked, playfulness dancing in his tone.

I decided to tease a little too. "Should I?" I asked, pretending to consider my decision. "They say not to let a man enter your house at night."

"Davay detka," he urged, "I don't bite... unless you want me to." I only shook my head at the words before stepping aside, making room for him to come inside.

"What a persuasive man you are." I said after he entered, closing the door behind before following his suit. He only chuckled in response. "Trust me, you don't want to know how much persuasive I can get, baby." He winked at me afterward.

He seated himself comfortably on the couch, his large frame seeming to engulf the space. "So," he began, his coveting eyes roaming over me before locking onto mine again. "Tell me, how have you been?"

"I already told you three days ago that I'm perfectly fine," Rolling my eyes after making my statement, I continued, "You just don't listen."

"You're right. I shouldn't have given you the vacation," His sudden agreement surprised me, and I gaped at him, reading his expression to see if he was mocking me. There was no playfulness in his face, though. But his next words embarrassed me beyond belief. "My days don't go well without you at the workplace."

Both of us fell momentarily silent, letting our silence speak for itself. Gaze still locked, everything else faded away.

Yearning in his eyes. Conflict in my heart.

"Genevieve," Then, Aleksandr spoke first, breaking the silence. "I've missed you, dorogaya." He whispered softly, such vulnerability and unyielding emotions in his tone that made it hard for me to meet his gaze.

"I'll make you something." I said before quickly heading to the kitchen, intentionally avoiding both him and his intense gaze.

His eyes just told a lot.

●▬▬▬▬๑๑▬▬▬▬●

"Thank you," Aleksandr said as he took the mug of hot chocolate from my hand, smiling when I returned the gesture. I took a seat across from him.

The earlier intensity had faded, replaced by a peaceful comfort. We spent a moment in silence, just enjoying each other's presence while sipping our drinks; his eyes occasionally meeting mine.

Then, I decided to break the silence. "How was work?" At my question, he shrugged his shoulders, then responded, "Same as always, nothing special." He then asked, "How was your day?"