A tear escaped, and he brushed it away with a thumb.
“I don’t know what biocoenosis is,” I said softly.
“You’re not missing out.”
“I can’t have intellectually stimulating conversations with you.”
“I was bored out of my mind.”
Last-ditch effort to save myself.
“There are plenty of women who could make you happier, Christian.”
“You’re the only one I want.”
“Look at me, Gianna.”
I did.
“We have a saying in Russia. S volkámi zhit’, po-vólch’i vyt’. Say it.”
I butchered it. A corner of his lips lifted, but he walked me through it until it sounded somewhat intelligible.
“It means, to live with wolves, you have to howl like a wolf.”
Thunder rumbled in the distance.
A candle flickered on the coffee table.
“What are you afraid of?”
“Everything,” I whispered, trailing my finger across the starched collar of his dress shirt.
“You’re not afraid of me.” We were so close his cheek brushed my tear-streaked one when he rasped, “And, baby, I’m worse than the dark.”