3. CHAPTER 3
3
IVAN
It’s been an eventful couple of weeks since I’ve been home. I’ve not had a second go by where something hasn’t been kicking off within the Kozlov residence. Mainly it’s been drama with Jules, one of the guards and his step-nephew and new recruit Kai. Kai’s past caught up with him when he went back home after some miscommunication with Jules or some shit like that. Not sure of the details and to be honest, I don’t really care. While Kai is gorgeous, he doesn’t have the appetite for this dark life and needs protection more than the others. It's sweet in some ways, I guess, but not for me. Luckily for him, Jules loves looking after him, so good luck to them. I can’t imagine Kai being a part of a gang, but the fuckers stabbed him, which resulted in a hell of a lot of fun for me when it came down to retribution for our family. Because that's what we are. A fucked up, unmoral, completely batshit crazy family. I got to test out my new tattoo gun on one of the guys, that I’d upgraded myself. Its become a little hobby of mine, creating new torture methods. It keeps me interested and more entertained if I find new ways to make people bleed and scream, and fuck did I do that when I gave the ratty little fucker a circumcision with my bladed tattoo gun. Just thinking about it makes me salivate, eager to do something else. Anyway, Kai is back home with us now and the house feels more settled. Standing here in Dima and Lev’s kitchen with the guys feels surreal, like I was never away. That the past ten years didn’t even happen.
“Hey Ivan, can I ask for a favor?” Kai asks. I didn’t even notice him approaching.
“What is it?”
“I know you have a tattoo gun, Jules mentioned it.”
That brings a smile to my face, remembering the fun I had.
“Ahh did he tell you what I did to your friends with it?” I ask as Kai’s face takes on a pale color, answering my question that he did.
“Yeah, but that’s not why I’m asking. You can do tattoos for real, right?”
“Yep. Why, you want a piece?”
“I do and I want it to be a surprise, can you do it later?”
Well now I’m intrigued.
“That should be okay, meet me at the club office tonight and I’ll do it.”
“Thanks, Ivan.” I nod in response just as the buzzer to the front door sounds. Dima had mentioned that the architect who is planning to build us all individual properties on the land would be visiting, and that my job will be to oversee the work. It’s certainly different work than what I’m used to, but I’m down. I follow Dima, Lev and Kai out into the front hall and halt at the sight of the most perfect fucking guy I’ve ever laid eyes on. He is tall and broad, dressed in an impeccable suit. His hair is thick and brown and styled to perfection. He belongs on a fucking runway as a model, or even better on his knees at my feet.
“Holy shit, is this the architect?” I say, not sure to whom I’m speaking. Sirens blare in my ears, alerting me to this hottie and his presence in how it’s affecting my body. Without being aware at first, I lick my lips as I peruse that long body of his, imagining every detail that is teasingly hidden under that suit that I want to tear off with a knife.
“Put your dick away, Ivan. I don’t want the drama,” Dima says, not deterred by his words.
“Sorry, can’t help you there. He's fucking hot. I can't wait for him to be working under me,” I say, eyes still locked on the guy in question.
“I bet he’s straight,” Lev says, and the guy moves toward us.
“That’s even hotter. I love a good challenge,” I say with a determination that anything straight can be manipulated to bend at will.
As the guy reaches the doorstep, he introduces himself.
“Hi. I’m here to see Dima Kozlov? I’m Tyler Blackford, Senior Architect from Lexington.”
“I’m Dima, and it’s nice to meet you,” Dima says, shaking Tyler’s hand. Tyler. Ty. Hmm, I love that name. I like it a lot.
“Tyler. That's a great name,” I say without thinking, but my body is on autopilot. I walk over to him, my height towering over him as I take his hand to shake it. I’m the tallest of the guys at six-foot-four, I’d say Tyler is around six foot. I grip his hand in mine, all strong and smooth palms. No signs of someone who works with their hands. His touch radiates a heat that slowly creeps up my arm, igniting a flame of pure lust and desire. Need. Feral fucking need. Damn.
“I’m Ivan. I can’t wait to be working with you,” I say as I smirk to myself. I watch his blue eyes widen in confusion as I hold onto him for what I assume must be longer than socially acceptable. I don’t do ‘socially acceptable’ in anything. A tentative smile lights up his face, more awkward than genuine.
“Come on, Tyler. Let's go to my office so we can start,” Dima says, breaking the moment. I let his hand go and watch the hot as fuck guy follow Dima, and as hoped, he looks back, catching me admiring the plump little ass hidden under that suit.
“You’ve freaked him out,” Kai says to me, like that’s a bad thing.
“Oh, I plan to do a lot worse,” I say, giving Kai a wink as I follow Tyler and Dima to the office. Dima didn’t invite me, but I’m overseeing this project, so I think I should be involved. I also want to see how uncomfortable I can make our new little friend. I want to see him squirm. Today is looking up.