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hands. “I will order up some clothes for you after
you eat and get some sleep.” He tugged her towards the feast. He wanted her to
curl up into one of the oversized chairs, tuck a blanket around her tiny,
delicate feet and feed her.
            He
cut off the thought before it traveled further. “I've ordered a little bit of
everything and another pot of hot chocolate.”
            Sophie's fingers curled into his, clinging in
a manner he didn't typically care for, but instead of shuttling her into a
chair, Pietr closed his hands around her, waiting. The way her teeth nibbled at
her lower lip, the balancing of her weight on the balls of her feet, suggested
a desire to flee.
            He
didn't want to startle her.
            Tears
shimmered in her eyes and the warm cocoa of her gaze hit him in the gut.
            “Sophie, shh, it is all right. You are safe
here.”
            “I
barely know you and now I'm here and you're being so nice.” The words spilled
out, rough and thick with unspoken emotion.
            “Is
that so bad?” Pietr tried a smile, ducking his head to hold her gaze when she
dropped it.
            “No, but…why?”
            “Do I
have to have a reason? You are exhausted. You've had a terrible day and an
equally terrible night. A shower, some food and a little
sleep, Oui? You promised in
the car you would do all these things. When you are rested, I will take you to
your apartment, I promise.”
            “No,
but…”
            “No
buts.” Pietr swooped in on the hesitation. “Let us make no decisions right now.
I will even leave you to some privacy if that is what you wish.” It wasn't what
he wished at all, but he didn't want her to flee out of fear of him. Jacques
wasn't here yet and he'd yet to call Viktor. He didn't want her out of his
sight until he arranged some kind of security for her.
            “No,
I don't want to chase you from your room and I'm sorry.” Her feet went flat
against the floor, the threat of flight averted. “I'm being terribly rude and
you've been nothing but nice, except for the breaking into my apartment
earlier.”
            Her
tired expression grew guarded and she drew her hand away. Pietr winced, trying
to ignore the sense of loss at her withdrawal.
            “Perhaps you would consider forgiving my
trespass.”
            “Will
you tell me what you wanted? Why you were there?”
            “ Absolument . But
first, you must eat. If you eat your meal, I will answer at least one question
for you.” He was pleased that his jocular tone teased a reluctant smile from
her.
            “It
smells really good.”
            “Then
eat.” Pietr gave her an imperious nod.
            “Will
you join me?”
            “But
of course, but I was raised that I could not eat until the lady has had her
fill. So you shall have to take pity on me and eat.”
            Sophie laughed.
            The
musical sound increased Pietr's confidence and he gestured to the table with a
teasing bow. To his delight, Sophie laughed again, the shadows chasing away
from her gaze. Despite the harsh reality of the last several hours and the air
of defeat she'd worn out of the bedroom, the laughter sparked her backbone,
straightening her shoulders and lifting her chin.
            She
was stunning.
            “All
right, but you must match me bite for bite.”
            Her
acquiescence was worth any agreement. Pietr guided her over to a chair and laid
a throw blanket over her feet. He snapped out a linen napkin and made a show of
laying it over her lap.
            “You're very good at this.”
            “ Merci , what would the lady care for?”
            “Hmm, the hot cocoa, the toast and some eggs.”
            Pietr
considered the spread. “Eggs, toast and a slice of bacon and
perhaps some fruit?”
            “Is
that the required amount to get the question