“I don’t want you to buy me gifts, Andrii.” Azelie took another step back.

The room was tiny. The entire studio apartment could fit into the closet in the master bedroom of his house—and his house wasn’t nearly as large as some of the other homes Torpedo Ink members had purchased. All he’d cared about was privacy and room for his piano and other musical instruments.

“If you keep backing up, you’re going to hit the wall. Then I’m going to come to you, and you’ll be scared all over again. What’s the point?”

“You don’t have to come to me.”

Her voice was a little whisper, a thread of sound. Her eyes had gone wide and her face pale. She really needed to stop stroking her throat with trembling fingers or he was going to pick her up and carry her to the bed he’d been all too aware of. Or just take her right there against the wall. He didn’t want to do either of those things.

Azelie deserved a courtship, getting to know him, becoming comfortable with his demands and way of life. She needed to believe that he would take care of her, do whatever it took to make her happy. To do that, to build the trust needed in their relationship, especially when she’d experienced trauma and betrayal at the hands of someone she loved, he had to take his time with her, not just jump into a demanding sexual relationship.

It was clear to him that she was very wary. He wasn’t about to lose her through stupidity by going too fast. Pushing her too hard. He wanted a lasting relationship. He didn’t know how any woman could have a relationship with him, but he was going to do his best to try to make it work.

“I would have to come to you. Haven’t you figured out yet that I can’t resist you?”

“I don’t think you’re seeing the real me, Andrii. I worry about that.”

“You’re rather adorable when you’re stalling. Come over here and we’ll talk about this, but I want to show you the things I chose for you. And no more protests. I enjoy choosing dresses and shoes for you. I know where I’m planning on taking you, and it was fun to envision what you would wear.”

Andrii poured sincerity into his voice. He was telling her the truth. He had enjoyed shopping for her. Planning dates. Thanks to Code and three weeks of shadowing her, he was aware of her schedule. The only person who could throw a monkey wrench into his plans was Alan Billows scheduling unexpected meetings at the times Andrii had chosen to take her out.

“Come on, Solnyshkuh. Come here to me.”

He kept his gaze steady on hers and saw that first moment of capitulation—that sweet surrender to his command, even though she was still wary. Still scared. She thought she wasn’t brave, but it took tremendous courage to choose building a relationship after what she’d suffered.

She’d been knocked down hard and yet she was taking a chance with him. She was leery and trying to talk them both out of it, but even with her reluctance and probably every warning bell she had shrieking at her, she came to him. She chose him. She was getting to his heart, and they hadn’t even started. The idea was terrifying yet exhilarating.

Azelie crossed the short distance and stood in front of him, her large blue eyes fixed on his as if at any moment he might bite her. He had a dark desire to do just that. Put his mark on her any way he could, brand his mark into her bones so she would know she belonged to him and never want to leave. He was shocked at the strength of his want—no, need.

Andrii wasn’t a man to trust feelings, especially ones so intense, yet the longer he spent in her company, or watching her—even the surveillance films of her—the more it felt right and necessary to be with her. He knew it was crucial to gain her complete trust, and it had nothing to do with his assignment. She was his one chance at redemption—at happiness. He knew better than to trust her, but despite his knowledge of women, his mind was already made up.

“Don’t look so leery, baby,” he advised softly. “Come see if you like the clothing I chose for you. If you don’t, I want you to tell me I got it wrong.”

He lifted a pair of blue jeans out of the box. One pair appeared vintage, a faded blue. He knew they would fit her body like a glove and should be very comfortable because he’d made certain they weren’t going to be skintight on her. They would show off her shape without making her uncomfortable. That was important to him. He put the denim aside.

“There are two pairs. One is black.” He placed that pair of jeans on top of the other one and pulled out a soft blouse. The material stopped just short of being transparent. If she wore a black bra, which he’d included, beneath the light crimson, it would be sexy as hell. There was a black sweater to pair with either of the jeans, which went beautifully with the crimson blouse. There was also an equally soft off-the-shoulder sweater in a dark ash blue. It would also go with either pair of jeans. He could tell by her expression that she’d expected sexy cocktail dresses. That would be coming, but not yet.

“What do you think?”

She touched a sweater. “Beautiful.” She breathed the word in a whisper. “Andrii, you have amazing taste. I love them. Thank you so much.”

“We aren’t quite done. I’m returning your silver dress and shoes, along with the jewelry. You may need those for another evening out. The jeans are for a couple of dates I have planned. I’ll tell you when I’m surprising you, and you can choose what you’d like to wear. I might suggest one or the other, but that doesn’t mean you have to wear what I suggest.”

“Again, thank you, Andrii. I’m sorry I hurt you when I tried to give back the clothing. I’m uncomfortable with you giving me presents. I’m not with you to get anything.”

“Which is why I choose to give you things. It makes me happy. Not only that, Zelie, but it was obvious to me that you had no idea I had money. It feels good to have a woman who wants to be with me for me. Not for what I can give to her.”

He pulled out a royal-blue skirt that fell to the ankles in a series of long ruffles. The matching-colored top was a camisole that came to a V at the waist, hugged her breasts, but again was more sensual than showy. It was a classy outfit. He’d paired it with a soft pair of leather boots in a darker blue. A wave of ruffled leather crept up the back of each boot.

Andrii watched her face as he shook the skirt and camisole out to show her. Her eyes went wide and soft. Her lips parted, her expression showing absolute delight at the clothes. He was grateful he’d taken the time to search for the exact color and style he wanted for her. It had taken an extra day to get them to her, and Lana had helped him find the right boutiques to shop in, but that look was well worth his time.

When he pulled out the boots, she shook her head, covered her face and burst into tears. It wasn’t exactly the reaction he was going for, but he’d take it. Setting the boots aside, he lifted her into his lap and pressed her face into his chest.

“What is it, Solnyshkuh? Talk to me. Let me make this right.” He kept his voice low and soothing as he brushed kisses into the thick mass of wild hair.

She struggled to pull herself together. He liked the way her fists gripped his tee. He rubbed her back and massaged the nape of her neck, waiting patiently for her to stop crying. It didn’t take long. Her lashes were wet and spiky surrounding her liquid-filled eyes, changing the color to a deeper blue.

“No one has ever done anything like this for me, Andrii. It’s too much. Too overwhelming. I don’t know why you’re being so kind to me.”

“Baby,” he objected.

“No, you don’t understand. I don’t know what to do to thank you. Or to even things between us. I don’t have a clue how to give you this amazing feeling you’ve given me.”

He bent his head and rubbed the bristles of his short beard along her wet cheek. “I told you, Zelie, giving you gifts and watching your face to see if you like what I chose for you makes me happy. I’d know if I got it wrong. A large part of our relationship will be about trust, communication and my ability to read you.”

Her long lashes fluttered and then he was looking directly into her eyes. “Why would it be necessary for you to read me?”

“I told you, babe, we’re going to have a unique, intense relationship, and I’ll need to know instantly when you’re not happy with anything I ask of you.”

Her eyes moved over his face, studying him carefully. She had a way of looking at him with a little bit of hero worship. There was no doubt that she was attracted to him. She didn’t bother to try to hide it, although he knew it embarrassed her that she was so open with him. That was a good part of her personality that he loved.

“What kinds of things are you going to ask of me?”

“We’re going to shelve that for a little while, just until you get to know me more. I’ve told you enough to intrigue you, but at the same time, you’re freaking out just a little. I don’t want you to get to the point where you’re ready to run again.”

Her chin went up and color crept up her neck into her face. Those blue eyes glittered like twin jewels. “I didn’t run, Andrii. You did.”

He couldn’t help the grin that welled up out of nowhere. “There you go, calling me out on my shit. You’re right. I acted like a child.”

“I’m not trying to bring it up, Andrii. You apologized, and as far as I’m concerned, the incident is behind us, but it’s important to me that when we discuss any issue, we get the facts correct. You implied I ran from you when it was the other way around,” she reiterated. “I don’t know what I did wrong other than try to give you back the clothes and jewelry.”

“You scared the holy hell out of me, baby,” he admitted. He was going to have to avoid many questions she would eventually ask, so he was determined that he would give her truth whenever possible, even if it made him look bad. “I have just as many trust issues as you do, and when you appeared to be so perfect for me, I struck out at you to drive you away. The moment I was in my ride and tearing down the freeway, I knew what a mistake I’d made.”

The soft look on her face told him he had done the right thing in confessing. She really had forgiven him and put his entire idiotic reaction behind her. That only reinforced his belief that he’d found a woman he had a chance of being compatible with.

Using the pad of his thumb, he gently wiped at the wet trails on her face. “You have amazing skin, Solnyshkuh. It’s even softer than it looks.”

Her long lashes fluttered again. “You’re going to have to stop giving me compliments. I don’t know what to do when you say nice things about me.”

Words mattered to her. She was a woman who dealt in words. The world might think she was all about numbers if they knew she did bookkeeping, but Azelie heard music in words. She wrote stories that played in her head. She saw the world differently because of her affinity for words. He loved that about her.

“Babe, you’ll have to get used to me telling you the truth about yourself.” He rubbed his jaw along the top of her head. Strands of her hair caught in his beard, binding them together. It was ridiculous how much he liked that. He was supposed to mesmerize her, keep her focused and centered on being with him, yet he was fast falling under her spell. It made no sense to him, and panic flooded his system for a brief moment before he could get it under control.

“You bought me three outfits.” Her voice was soft, creating intimacy between them.

“I’ve planned three outings for us.” He stroked caresses down the back of her head, deliberately tangling his fingers in the thick strands. Her wild hair was sexy to him, especially because she had such an innocent aura clinging to her. “I tried to find things I think you would enjoy. When is your next free day? It can be anytime during work hours, up until nine. The place I want to take you to closes at nine.”

“I have my classes tomorrow. And I have to call Billows back and make an appointment with him.”