14Alexei woke up first.
Dmitri was lying beside him, on his side, his cheek resting against the back of his hand. Dark hair spilling across his temple and over his eyes contrasted with the color of the pillow. Alexei lifted the blanket off him, as though in his current state of dreaming his body had become more fragile. Underneath, the sculpted form of his chest spread out, his muscles were defined just enough on his frame. His hips were edged with lines that led the eyes downward.
Alexei stared for a long time. Then he rolled over and sat on the edge of the bed, pulling his pants on. He looked over to the table where Adeline had been sitting and saw that she’d left her cigarette case.
He snatched it up and made for the door. He shivered, stepping out into the hallway. He was limping a
