Chapter 11
CHAPTER
ELEVEN
LEO
As I step outside, I’m greeted by thumping bass music, the flickering light of tiki torches, and the raucous laughter of my brother’s barely legal guests.
Fucking Daniil. You leave him alone for a week, and he’s throwing a bash to rival the hottest Coachella after-party. I push my way through the throngs of half-drunk dudes and the bikini-clad women that love them. Half the party is splashing in the pool, tanned bodies glistening in the moonlight.
“Hey, bro!” I call out, trying to catch my older brother’s attention over the music. He’s surrounded by a group of his friends, all of them holding beers, a joint passing between them. When my brother spots me, he grins, beckoning me over with a wave of his hand.
“You made it in time for the party,” he says, offering me a hit off his joint.
I shake my head, I’m not in the mood to get fucked up tonight.
I just got back from a week in New York where Papa had me working as a foot soldier, protecting cargo coming through the ports.
It was shit work, which I guess is the point.
Papa makes us train from the bottom up. We earn our stars like any other vor.
I’m tired, worn-out, and all I can think about it is seeing Alyona.
“Papa’s been gone less than six hours, and you throw a rager to kick off summer,” I say, shaking my head, but a smile plays on my lips. That’s Daniil. Party or die trying.
“Might be our last summer of freedom, I’m gonna make the most of it.
” He takes a hit from the joint and passes it to one of his friends.
As usual, my mood dips when we talk about being sworn in to the brotherhood.
It’s our destiny, our future, and we’ve never questioned it.
Daniil bought himself some time before taking the oath, having convinced Papa that a university education in business management would benefit the bratva’s operations. But he’s nearly done with his studies.
“You should blow off some steam, grab a drink,” Daniil suggests, pointing to the bar set up beside the pool.
I don’t care about partying. My eyes keep scanning the crowd for her, not that I imagine she’ll show. Alyona’s never been into our parties, but a small part of me hopes tonight is an exception. She just graduated high school, maybe she’ll feel like celebrating.
“Dude, you’re so fucking obvious.” Daniil laughs, knocking me in the chest with his elbow.
I narrow my eyes at him, but I can’t be too pissed since he’s right.
He’d caught me texting with Alyona a few weeks ago, and eventually pried the story out of me how we kissed, just the once, the day of her father’s funeral, and how we’ve been texting back and forth while she’s been at school.
Aly hasn’t mentioned the kiss again, and neither have I.
I’m not going to push it with her, even if she’s been on my mind constantly.
Aly is off-limits, but we’ve settled into a chill friendship.
We text about everything from the latest Marvel movie to what she’s having for dinner.
Sometimes we talk about deeper stuff like her Mom’s declining health, but overall, it’s pretty casual.
Still, I can’t help but wonder about this upcoming summer.
For the first time, we’ll be living together for several months.
My father, Andrei, and Yulian will be away in Russia for most of the summer—a fact I try not to dwell on too much.
That leaves just me, Aly, and Daniil residing at the Kozlov estate. Alone.
“I’m not fucking obvious,” I grumble, “I’m cool as a cucumber.” I grab the beer from his hand and down it in a few gulps.
“Yeah, whatever you say.” Daniil’s tone turns somber. “She’s been with her mama all day. Mina’s not doing well again.”
“Shit.” I shake my head. Mina has been on a downhill slide since her husband died.
First it was the pills to help her sleep, then the ones to calm her down, then the ones for pain.
We don’t talk about it, my father in particular just calls it “the sickness” and tells us there’s nothing to be done.
I know Yulian and Alyona have tried their best to get her help, but so far nothing’s worked.
It’s heartbreaking for everyone.
I’m about to return the half-empty beer to Daniil and head inside when he lets out a low, long whistle. “Well, twist my nipples and call me Alice!”
“What the hell—?” But before the words slip through my lips, I turn and see for myself. Alyona is walking towards us with a brilliant smile on her face, her long legs exposed by the slit in her slinky black dress. She’s always been stunning, but tonight? She’s straight-up fire.
“Fuck me,” I blurt, earning a chuckle from Daniil.
“Dude, I’m not gonna tell you how to live your life, but I will remind you that she turned eighteen last month. Fully legal.”
“Not helping,” I bite out. “She’s our best friend’s little sister. Off-limits.”
Daniil snuffs the joint underfoot, sighing, “Just saying she’s old enough to make her own choices. And it seems like she knows what she wants.”
Her eyes lock with mine across the crowd, her stare unwavering and undeniably fixated on me. Christ. This girl has turned me inside out. I brush my hair from my face, a low flutter in my gut suggests that after tonight, nothing is going to be the same.
“Hey,” she says, approaching us, smoothing down her way-too-short dress. “I hope it’s okay that I came. I just needed a change of scenery.”
“‘Course. It’s more than okay.” Daniil jumps in. “Stay here, I’m getting you a drink.”
Daniil heads off, leaving us alone. Our eyes meet, and I swear my lungs forget their job. I’ve always been a sucker for her baby blues, and tonight, with the hint of mascara and eyeliner she has on, I’m already lost in their depths.
“Is that a new tattoo?” Aly asks, breaking the awkward silence. She’s pointing at the new ink of a Chinese dragon I had done recently.
“Yeah, what do you think?” I ask, holding my forearm out for her to take a closer look.
Her fingers skim my bare skin, sending shivers up my arm. “It’s really cool,” she says. “Doesn’t the Chinese dragon symbolize power and strength? It’s perfect for you.” My head snaps up, thrilled by her unexpected compliment.
When I meet her eyes, there’s no trace of the once-shy teen in her stare. Her eyes flash with something I’ve never seen before. Lust. Holy shit. The perfect angel is ready to dance with the devil. That look alone should send me running, but it doesn’t.
Instead, I tell her exactly what I’m thinking. “Shit, Aly, you look …” I try not to let my eyes linger as long as they do on her lips, on the swell of her tits in that tight dress, on all that bare leg. I fail miserably. “Amazing.”
So much for not perving on her. She flicks a glance to the grass, a blush tinting her cheeks before her eyes reconnect with mine. I draw in a deep breath, letting it escape as a soft hiss, because now there is no denying it. She’s flirting with me.
Daniil joins us again, pushes a drink into each of our hands—beer for me and some girly concoction for Aly—and tells us to enjoy ourselves before sauntering up to a pair of brunettes that have been eye-fucking him all night. I know how my brother’s evening will end, I’m just not sure about my own.
I nod my chin towards the swings hanging from a branch of the great oak tree on the edge of the property. She offers me her hand, and I lead her through the crowd so we can be alone.
“And here I thought your wild parties were all about sex, drugs, and rock and roll.” She smirks, taking a seat on the swing beside mine. “Apparently, you prefer to swing.”
I laugh. “First time for everything,” I drawl, taking a slow sip of my beer before placing the can down at my feet. “Have to admit, I’ve been thinking about you these past few months.”
She twists the swing so she’s facing me. “I’ve been thinking about you, too. More than you know.” Our eyes clash, and the simmer of attraction bubbles into something far more electric.
“Oh yeah?” I give her my full attention, despite the chaotic scene in the distance which includes a borderline orgy raging in the pool. “What is it you’ve been thinking about?”
Her tongue swipes over her full bottom lip, and my cock throbs in response. With no hint of hesitation or uncertainty, she says, “I’ve been thinking about that kiss. What happened between us. And I think I’d like it to happen again, but I want more this time.”
A groan escapes my lips. Because what she’s suggesting is going to be my fucking downfall. “Yulian—”
“Yulian is not here,” she interrupts. “And it’s none of his business what we do, anyhow.”
“I think Yulian would find it very much his business what happens between us, but fuck …” I trail off. I’m not made of granite, and I’ve been on my knees for Aly since our first encounter. I haven’t so much as touched another woman, the taste of her still branded on my lips.
“I’m not asking for a happily ever after or anything. I just want you to … to teach me.” She raises her eyebrows, looking at me to fill in the blanks.
“Teach you …?” She’s not saying what I think she’s saying, is she? “I need you to say the words.”
She reddens slightly but still manages to get the words out. “I want you to be my first time. I want you to teach me. Show me what I’m missing.” Her eyes dart over to the bodies writhing in the pool, her half-lidded gaze a silent challenge. “Or maybe I can find a hot manwhore who’d be willing to—”
“Fuck no.” Protectiveness wells up inside of me. Coming to my senses, I stand up and grab ahold of the swing’s ropes above her head. “None of those assholes are good enough for you,” I say angrily. “You want to learn what feel’s good, you come to me.”
“That’s what I’m doing.” She leans back and wraps her legs around my waist, bringing my hard cock flush into her core. Her dress rises, bunching around her waist, exposing me to the intoxicating sight of her pussy covered only by a tiny scrap of lace.