Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 82579 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 413(@200wpm)___ 330(@250wpm)___ 275(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82579 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 413(@200wpm)___ 330(@250wpm)___ 275(@300wpm)
I should’ve stayed and listened to what she had to say.
But I just couldn’t.
Which is why I’m up early and working at Fed’s before my usual time.
Anything to avoid dealing with my wife.
“You’re in a shit mood today,” Alex notes as we pack up a wholesale order. “You’ve been in a shit mood for a while, but today it’s particularly ripe.”
“Thank you.”
“What’s going on? Problems at home?”
“I’m not discussing my marriage with you.”
He laughs like I’m kidding around. “Who else are you going to talk about it with?”
“Nobody. It’s better to swallow it all down and pretend like the problems don’t exist.”
“Healthy.”
“I’m a role model.”
He knows not to push and lets it drop. I stew all day, but I do my best to keep my mask in place, especially when Dasha and Katerina call me up to handle a few higher-end clients.
Everyone goes home before I do. Alex seems like he wants to hang around and make sure I’m okay, but he’s got a pregnant wife waiting for him and I’m not about to keep my sister’s husband chained to a fucking desk all night. There’s always something to do around the shop, and since we’re waiting for shit to go down with Frank, I can keep myself busy getting ready for the inevitable.
But I have to go home eventually. I’m thinking about her on the drive and on the walk and the second I unlock the door. I’m thinking about her rage and beauty when we fight and how good she feels under me.
The second the door opens, something white hurtles at my face.
I barely have time to react. I flinch sideways, barely dodging the fencing mask as it hits the wall behind me and bounces to the floor.
“Put it on,” Carmie says. She’s in full kit, jacket and all, her mask under one arm and her foil in her hand. Her hair’s up and she looks fucking glorious.
“I’m not in the mood.”
“I don’t give a shit. Put it on. We have to talk.”
Then she’s gone. I watch her go, caught between awe and frustration. That girl is a goddess, especially when she lets loose.
We’re similar. More similar than she realizes. I have a monster inside of me, and I constantly work to keep it hidden. She has a monster in her too, except she needs to work to let it out. But when she does?
My god, I’ve never seen a more perfect woman before.
I grab the mask, lock the door, and go after her. Fuck it, I’m not in the mood to have a confrontation, but she’s clearly been waiting for this all night. I shove the mask on as I head down the steps and find my jacket waiting for me. Carmie’s waiting at the other end of the room, sword pointed at the floor, standing loosely and ready.
I shrug on the gear. It’s like putting on shields. Just like I hide out in the real world behind my smile and my charm, I can hide here behind this mask. I’m protected when there’s distance between me and her. I don’t have to think about how it’s me doing these things. Instead, it’s the masked man, the fencer, the beast. Not Lev Federov.
“Rules this time,” she says once I’m nearly ready. “Three touches. Winner gets to speak. Loser has to stand there and shut the fuck up. Do you agree?”
“This won’t change anything.”
“Do you agree? Or are you a coward too?”
I grin viciously. I’m fucking half-hard right now. I love it when she’s aggressive and pushy. “I’m not interested in what you have to say.”
“Too bad. When I kick your ass, you’ll keep your stupid mouth shut and listen anyway. Do you agree or do I have to stab you until you do?”
I raise my sword and drop into my pathetic stance. Everything I know about fencing I learned by watching YouTube videos and sparring with her.
“I agree. And I’m going to batter you into submission.”
“Go ahead and try.”
She comes at me like a demon. I barely have time to react; when she lunges, I parry her blow and go for a quick touch on her arm. But it’s like she was anticipating that and drops her shoulder so my point misses high. Then she’s dancing backwards and I can practically feel her enormous smirk through that blank mask.
“You’re loving this,” I say, and I realize I’m loving it too.
This is the most fun I’ve had in a very long time.
“There’s nothing I enjoy more than wiping that smug smirk off your stupid face,” she says and attacks again.
I do my best to fend her off, but she’s too quick. I curse as her point hits me in the thigh and she screams with victory as she returns to her side of the basement piste.
“We both know you’re the better fencer,” I say, swishing my blade in the air, dancing between my feet. “It doesn’t change anything.”