Charlotte's eyes widened as she looked at Leonid, her heartbeat pounding wildly as if it were about to break free from her chest.
Leonid offered a faint, barely noticeable smile and raised his free hand to gently caress Charlotte's cheek with his fingertips. His thumb slid softly to brush her lower lip, sending a subtle shiver through her body.
He slowly lowered his head, his silver strands delicately brushing against her forehead, as if the space between them was dissolving.
He took a deep breath and whispered in a low voice, carrying a playful tone laced with hidden desire.
"So, do you still want me to stay? On the same bed... darling?"
"Huh…?"
Charlotte barely whispered, her brows furrowing in distress. Her full lips trembled slightly, and a deep rooted fear flickered within her at the thought of being touched again.
She narrowed her eyes as silent tears crept down, giving her dark eyes a glassy shimmer under the faint light seeping from the living room.
Even though the man before her was Leonid, the blend of fear and underlying threat refused to leave her. She was grateful for his presence, feeling safe beside him, yet what had happened at the grocery store hours ago still haunted her.
Like shackles tightening around her in the dark.
Her fingers clutched Leonid's hand tighter, as if seeking stability in the whirlpool of her emotions. Slowly, she raised her free hand and gently placed it on his cheek a soft yet meaningful touch, as if trying to break the chains that bound and hurt her.
Leonid's brow furrowed, his eyes deeply studying Charlotte's distressed and fragile state. He seemed to be silently attempting to read her mind, to unravel her hidden fears.
"Charlotte..."
He whispered again, but this time his tone was serious, cutting through the space between them.
"Your eyes… they're trying to say so much again—"
"Leonid!"
Charlotte suddenly interrupted, her voice trembling but carrying an unexpected boldness. She bit down on her teeth to hold back her tears, but her words couldn't be silenced.
"You're not going to hurt me, right?"
Leonid faltered for a moment, then spoke in a calm yet cautious tone.
"What do you mean by that?"
"Just... answer me, please."
Leonid fell silent, his eyes narrowing as he observed Charlotte's tear streaked face. Slowly, he moved his hand to wipe away her tears.
"You wouldn't hurt me, even if you touched me... You don't intend to break me or harm me and enjoy it, do you?!"
Her voice was a mixture of pleading and fear, as if she were standing at the edge of a cliff, waiting for him to reach out and save her.
"Answer me..."
Charlotte begged once more, her tearful voice and searching eyes desperately seeking the truth.
"I would never hurt you, Charlotte."
Leonid's words came out warm, so different from his usually cold tone. His words felt like a promise carved into the air between them.
His hand withdrew from her cheek but didn't move away. Instead, he gently clasped her trembling hand resting on his face, lifting it slowly and keeping it pressed to his cheek.
"No matter what happens between us later, you need to know one thing."
He stared deeply into her eyes, as if trying to convey everything inside him without words.
"I would rather hurt myself than see you suffer or be the cause of your pain."
Leonid paused for a second, as if carefully choosing his words, then added in a softer voice.
"When I confessed to you, I wasn't trying to exploit your feelings or put you through something painful. I just wanted you to know how I feel. Every word I said was sincere, and I never intend to be the reason for your pain."
Leonid didn't realize that his actions had planted subtle doubts in Charlotte's heart, making her think he might be manipulating or deceiving her.
"I'm sorry."
He whispered quietly and slowly leaned down to press a light kiss on Charlotte's forehead. His kiss was cautious, delicate, as if he feared she might shatter beneath his lips if he pressed any harder.
Charlotte froze under Leonid's tender actions and warm words. In that moment, she could forget the searing pain tightening around her throat and the fear clinging to her heart.
"Don't apologize… please."
She whispered softly, yet her voice was filled with emotion. She released Leonid's hand that she had been desperately clinging to and raised her own to his face, gently cupping his cheeks, as if begging for forgiveness for doubting him.
"Leonid, please... don't apologize. You're not the one at fault here, I am. All the blame falls on me."
Her voice trembled on the last word, and her tears spilled over, silently rolling down her cheeks. She wasn't crying for herself but for him for the pain she saw creeping into Leonid's eyes without him saying a word.
She swallowed hard before whispering.
"It was a terrible incident... I got hurt because of it, and I thought you would hurt me too."
"What are you talking about? What happened to you today, Charlotte?"
Leonid rested his free hand on the edge of the bed, while his other hand gently patted her trembling hand.
"Talk to me… I want to understand."
He was eager to know what had happened to her. At first, he thought he was the reason for her state, but her last words planted seeds of doubt in his heart.
Charlotte bit her lower lip hard until it reddened, trying to suppress her overwhelming urge to speak. She feared how Leonid might look at her if he knew what had happened.
"I…"
The word slipped from her quivering lips, and she hesitated before softly adding, her voice barely audible.
"I can't..."
"Can't what?"
Leonid asked in a low but deeply concerned voice. He leaned in slightly, his eyes searching her face for answers.
"Don't you trust me, or were you threatened?"
Charlotte's breath trembled, and her eyes avoided his gaze as if afraid he might see what she was hiding.
"No. No… I'm sorry. Please, don't pressure me."
She spoke in a faint voice, as if all her energy had been drained in trying to explain herself. Her hands slowly slipped from his cheeks, and she turned to lie on her right side, covering her face with the hand nearest to the pillow to avoid his gaze.
Leonid watched her in silence, his eyes reflecting deep disappointment. He exhaled slowly, then leaned toward her, lying down behind her. He wrapped his arm around her waist in a silent embrace after covering their bodies with the blanket.
"This isn't over. We'll continue this conversation tomorrow."
He whispered softly, his warm breath brushing against her scattered chestnut strands. He felt her subtle grip on his arm, hugging it close to her chest as if seeking safety in his presence.
"Please, forget what happened."
Her faint breath touched his fingertips as she slowly drifted to sleep.
"I won't forget."
"Hmph."
She knew well, whether right or wrong, there was one undeniable truth.
She was weaker and more cowardly than she ever thought.
And Leonid was a man with a protective aura that gently surrounded her.
What happened to her?
This was all that was on Leonid's mind under the evening sky. Charlotte had already fallen asleep and was turning like an earthworm until she lay on her stomach, her left cheek pressed against Leonid's right arm, while his left arm still gently wrapped around her slender waist.
All he wanted to know was whether she had been in some suspicious incident without his knowledge. Had she met the serial killer? Or had she accidentally bumped into him? Maybe he should take the day off tomorrow and stay with Charlotte.
"Oh God..."
Leonid sighed and looked at Charlotte. The faint line seeping from her lips covered his arm, making him feel a spot of warmth there.
But after thinking about it, seeing Charlotte's saliva smoothly slide along his arm was something Leonid had never thought of experiencing before.
"Very sweet."
He whispered gently and pulled her closer to him.
Even under the warmth of the night, where she found herself in his arms, the nightmares continued to haunt Charlotte. The moment she was strangled by a strange man named Mr. D replayed endlessly.
The image of his sadistic smile and the feeling of her trembling legs were a reality she could not overcome.
At times, she would groan, occasionally touching her neck in rare moments to make sure it was just a nightmare, nothing more.
The last time the nightmare woke her, it made her check her neck once again. Charlotte awoke, lifted her head, and took a quick glance at Leonid, deeply asleep, despite his tight shirt and the buttons straining against his muscles.
Her chestnut lashes fluttered, her eyes heavy with sleep, then she moved closer until her forehead touched his chest, and she fell asleep again.