Release (Off Balance 3)

I grimaced, and yawned. I was tired and just wanted my bed. Putting my hand out, I said, "None. I just want my keys."

"Borsch it is."

Kova walked out of the room and I followed close on his heels as he walked into the kitchen and pulled various containers out of the refrigerator.

"I'm going to look for my keys."

"Good luck. You will not find them," he responded, his voice so pleasant that it pissed me off.

"I'm not a violent person, but I'm ready to knock you out." He ignored me and turned the stove on. "I don't want booshie, or whatever it is. I'm not hungry, and you can't make me eat. You said you can't make me do anything, and yet here you are doing this."

Kova froze. He rested his hands on the marble countertop with his back to me. "I will never make you do anything you do not want, Adrianna."

I threw my hands up, not that he could see. "Oh, really? Then what do you call this?"

He didn't answer me. Aside from feeling absolute emotional devastation, him being angry with me and not telling me why was the second worst experience, and I needed to escape it before I exploded. I felt the heat rising inside me, my heart thawing from icy cool to a fierce burn in a matter of seconds. I squeezed my eyes tight until I saw a glowing light, and shook my head, not understanding what the hell was going on when I decided I'd pull a fast one on him.

Calmly, I said, "Fine." Then I turned around and skimmed over the countertops, looking for his keys. If I couldn't take my car, I'd take his.

A few moments later, something jingled behind me. "I am one step ahead of you. Nice try, though."

That was it. My breathing labored, I panted with fury. Before I could detonate, Kova strode over and stopped right in front of me. I reached behind me and gripped the countertop so hard my knuckles hurt. If he came any closer, I would kick him in the balls.

"When did you have time to steal my keys? Was this planned all along?"

He swallowed, his throat bobbing. "The people who need the most help are the ones who never look like it. I will not make you stay, but you need me right now and you know it. You are far from immature, so do not start acting like it. Go lie down while I cook. If you want to leave after you eat, you can. At least I will know you are stable enough to drive by then. I saw how you came off the table, how your eyes looked, the headache you are hiding from me right now." I ground my teeth. "Whether you like it or not, I see you."

Tears burned my eyes. God, I hated that he was always right. Kova expelled a heavy breath. He lifted a hand and tried to brush back a few strands of hair near my temple but I swatted it away. I was angry and upset at the world.

Pushing away from the counter, my shoulder bumped into his arm but I kept walking. He caught up to me and yanked on my arm, forcing me to turn around.

"What?" I snapped, glaring at him. Kova stared down at me, quiet, penetrating the barrier I’d put up once more and long enough for me to question what he was thinking about. "How do you deal with your temper? How do you remain indifferent like you do? Are you incapable of emotion? Because I'm beginning to think you are."

He shrugged like the answer was obvious. "I drink vodka like all good Russians do."

"Well, I don’t like vodka so I guess I'll just go stew in a mental hospital while I stare at a wall contemplating your demise."

I caught the faintest hint of a smirk, but only because I knew him. "There is the fire I love so much."

I lowered my eyelids and almost growled at him. Yanking my arm away, I marched out of the kitchen toward the guest room we were just in and slammed the door once I was inside, not caring that it was his house or that it shook the frame. My dad would’ve had my ass if I'd done that in his house.

I climbed up on the bed and sat cross-legged, staring at the wall, annoyed when he came in moments later holding out a half-full glass of red wine. I hesitated for a moment before taking it.

I glared up at him and took two huge sips before I said, "First you fuck me like the savage you are, then you feed me Plan B, now you're giving me alcohol. If I didn't know any better, I'd say you're trying to corrupt me."

He angled his head to the side, not buying it. "Do not be so dramatic. I was drinking vodka before you were a thought in your father's head. You will live, and hopefully, fucking relax a little."

Right before Kova left the room, he got in the last word.

"If I recall correctly, you asked me to fuck you today, and I said no."

He smiled and shut the door.

I almost crushed the glass in my hand.

Later that night after I'd fallen asleep on a full, warm belly of wine, I woke up in the bed and saw that I was covered by a blanket. I sat up and glanced around, tired and feeling alone. It was three in the morning and the room felt too quiet.

I climbed out of the spare bed, the oversize shirt exposing my bare shoulder as I walked out of the room into his dark house. Assuming Kova was in his bedroom, I went there and found him.