Infini (Aerial Ethereal #2)(129)

What.

“He called me a slut…said he doesn’t date girls like me. Then, other worse words.” Her glassy eyes narrow at the floor. “And he ran out, and all I could hear is that one line: girls like me. For the…the longest time I wasn’t sure what kind of girl I was, and then I do one thing that I’ve wanted to do, and he decides who I am like that.” She snaps her fingers. “And I mean, don’t most guys like blow jobs? What’s wrong with me? Does he think I’m that ugly and unappealing that he’d rather run away?” Her voice hushes, and I have to strain my ears to hear. “I don’t know. It just all hurts.”

Silence leeches the bathroom, and I’m not sure who’s ready to break it. I love my sister, and the only thought in my mind is that someone—some guy—hurt her.

She cringes the longer the room stays quiet. “Someone. Say something.”

“That guy is a real tool,” Timo says. “You’re beautiful, and any guy would love to have head from you.”

I almost laugh at the look on Nikolai’s face.

“This is not what we’re going to take away from this situation,” Nikolai says sternly. “No.”

“No?” Timo gapes at Nik. “So you’re siding with the douchebag who rejected our little sister? How is that helpful? Where’s the loyalty, brother?”

Nikolai looks quickly to Kat. “I’m on your side,” he assures her, “but you don’t need to be giving guys blow jobs.” He’s always been unabashed when mentioning sex to our sister. Like it’s his duty to inform her—but also keep her safe.

We both haven’t been ready for Katya to get older.

“I want to,” she refutes. “You all do it. Why am I different? Because I’m the girl? It’s just sex. I don’t look at my virginity like a delicate flower any more than you all looked at yours like a petunia or daffodil.”

I realize now that if I can view sex as just physical, no emotions required, she may be the same way. Timo was before John. We grew up around the same dudes. She wasn’t ear-muffed because she was a girl either, but she is being treated differently because she’s one.

“Kat has a point,” I say.

She expels a relieved breath.

But Nikolai is stone.

Katya frowns at him. “I know you see me like…a little girl, but your job is done, Nik.”

His eyes cloud, jaw tightens and he rubs his lips before saying in Russian, “My job is never done.”

She asks in a shaky voice, “Do you think…I’m a slut?” She’s only looking for affirmation from Nikolai. His approval means more to us than we sometimes let on.

“No,” Nik says.

“Even if I gave him a blow job?” she questions.

“Even if you slept with him,” he says in a reassuring tone. “You’re no more a slut than all of us in this room.”

I’m smiling, the air less strained, and Timo grins back at Kat.

She takes a big breath.

“If you want to explore things, you need to buy new condoms and be safe.”

“I do, and I know,” she says with a nod.

“And you’re still young in a city with—”

“Nik,” she says, holding his gaze. “I know. I plan to talk to Thora.” Nikolai is about to raise another point, but Katya beats him to it. “I know she has few experiences, but I have Timo and Luk, too. You don’t need to worry about me all the time.”

Timo laughs. “He’s physically incapable of such complex things.”

We all break into a smile at the sound of Timo’s laughter, and then Sergei asks, “Where does Teddy work again?”

“Imperial?” Katya says, confused. “Why are you…oh my God, don’t talk to him.”

Sergei sighs out frustration but looks to Nikolai.

Nikolai turns slightly, and they’re whispering.

My eyes drift between them. I’m glad that Nikolai Kotova has an older brother to confide in now. I never thought he’d be able to look to his right and find Sergei there.

“What if Luka and I just talk to Teddy?” Timo asks Kat, and he mutters, “Maybe throw a cocktail in his face.” He swings his head to me. “You want in?”

“Oh yeah.”

“No,” Katya says and spread her hands out. “N.O.” She slides off the counter. “I do need you to do something though.”

We all listen.

“Can you try to hold off on telling our cousins what happened? I know as soon as we exit, they’re all going to ask, and I’d rather condense this whole thing into two sentences. And I’d rather tell them. Because I want to see their reactions and glare at them if they’re rude.”

“Damn, sister.” Timo smiles bright.

“What?” Katya grows emotional at all of us smiling with Timo.

I’m the only one who says what we’re thinking, feeling, and I nod to Katya, “We love you.”





Act Forty-Seven Baylee Wright



My core flames with each sit-up. One.

Two.

Three.

Four.

I lift my body to meet Luka’s intensely charismatic gray eyes. His pink lips curve, his hands securing my ankles, protective and tender. I feel so safe.