39

I take a scalding shower, rubbing his dried cum from between my thighs and holding in the tears barging into my eyes. You’re not going to cry because of that man, Rai. Not again. I close my eyes, letting the stream cover me whole as I think about Dedushka, Dad, and Mom, the people I lost and can never have again. Even Reina feels too far sometimes. Actually, it’s most of the time. I seem to be an expert at that—losing people I consider family. Sergei will leave, too. Then, it’ll just be me and Ana. All alone. Well, I am married, but does it even matter if Kyle remains a closed vault? Does it matter when, at every turn, I can’t shake off the feeling that he’ll leave? Sighing, I step out of the shower and wrap myself in a towel. I don’t find Kyle in the room. He’s inside the closet, standing in front of his small section, wearing only boxers. My feet falter at the entrance, contemplating whether or not I should go in there. “I don’t bite,” he says without meeting my gaze. “I do.” I appro