Chapter 24
TWENTY-FOUR
LUCAS
I wake up to silence. The kind that wraps around you like a fog.
The room is dim, golden light pouring in from the tall windows and spilling over the floor like liquid.
I blink slowly, taking in the empty bed beside me.
My fingers twitch where they rest on the sheets—still warm, like he’d only just left.
It takes me a moment to remember.
The kiss. His mouth on my neck. His hands. The way he held me afterward, like I was something precious.
I remember taking my hearing aid off last night after Alex had made me lie down beside him sleepily, my head on his chest. That’s why everything feels so distant and muffled right now.
I sit up slowly, the sheets falling from my shoulders.
I’m wearing a polo shirt—his. Long, soft, and smelling faintly like him.
My cheeks flushed just at the memory of how he tugged it gently over my head, then carried me as if I weighed nothing, settled me onto the bed, pulled me into his chest, and stroked my hair in slow silence until I fell asleep against his heartbeat.
I glance at the nightstand. My hearing aids are there, resting beside a small, folded piece of paper. I pick it up, unfolding it slowly.
I stepped out to take care of something. Call me when you wake up.
It’s his handwriting. Neat but rushed.
I reach for my phone and slide the hearing aids in. The world starts to fill in again. There are missed calls and messages from Tyler, and I curse myself. Making sure to remind myself that I will call him as soon as I’m off the phone with Alex.
Alex picks up after one ring.
“Hey,” his voice is rough, low. Making me remember the filthy words he said to me while taking us both in his hands
“…You left,” I say quietly, because I honestly don’t know what to say to him.
“I didn’t want to wake you,” he replies, “and I didn’t leave, just went to take care of something. I’ll be back in about an hour.”
There’s a small silence. Then I mumble,
“I am… hungry.”
“I know you are, krasivy,” he replies, voice dropping an octave.
That word again. Krasivy. He’s said it before, but I still don’t know what it means. It curls around my chest like something warm and heavy.
“The staff will knock on the door in about ten minutes. They’ll bring breakfast to you.”
“Okay,” I whisper, “Are you coming back?”
Jesus, Lucas, he already said he’ll be back, I want to scold myself.
“I will. Soon,” he says. “There’s a toothbrush in the bathroom. Clothes in the wardrobe, too. Take your time.”
“Alright.”
“I have to go now,” he says gently. “I’ll be back soon.”
“…Okay.”
The call ends.
I sit there for a moment, holding the phone in my lap. Then I get up on unsteady legs, tugging the oversized polo down as far as it’ll go. I head to the bathroom.
There’s a toothbrush in a glass cup by the sink.
Still sealed. I unwrap it, brush, and splash water on my face.
Then I shower—fast, because even though I’m alone, I feel a little shy.
I dress in my silk shirt and pants from yesterday.
Skip the jacket. In the wardrobe, there’s a pair of black slides.
I blink in surprise, and when I try them on, they fit perfectly.
I inhale deeply. Then call Tyler.
The call connects, and his face fills my phone. The first thing he does is scowl.
“You little shit. You’re lucky Alexander called me last night and said you weren’t coming home.” His fake anger doesn’t land; I can already see the relief beneath it.
My lips tug into a smile I can’t stop. His narrowed eyes catch on my expression, and then he freezes. His voice softens into mock accusation.
“Oh my God… you’re blushing. Lucas. What the hell? Did you guys fuck?” He leans closer, squinting at the screen. “Is that… is that a hickey on your neck?”
My eyes widen so fast I nearly choke on air. Heat spreads across my face, traitorous and impossible to hide. I wave my hands quickly.
“Jesus, of course not.”I sign with shaky hands.
But the smile tugging at my mouth ruins my denial. Almost unconsciously, my fingers brush against the side of my neck, like I’m checking.
“Mm-hmm. Sure.” Tyler says with a vicious grin. “I know that look. Something happened. You’ll crack eventually, you always do.”
I roll my eyes hard, but the flush won’t leave my skin. I raise my hand to sign a retort, but a sharp knock rattles the door, making me jump.
“I’ll tell you later,” I sign hurriedly, already moving toward the sound. “I’ll be home soon.”
The knock comes again, and I walk across the room, then open the door. A lady dressed in something like a housekeeper’s uniform is standing outside, a smile plastered on her face.
“Good morning,” she says with a deep Thai accent, her voice gentle. “Mrs. Davika has invited you downstairs for breakfast.”
I blink at her, momentarily frozen.
Davika, I met her last night. She had been kind and given me a warm smile, but that didn’t stop the nervousness from pooling in my stomach about sitting down across from Alex’s mother without Alex there.
“Seems like you’re already dressed,” the woman says kindly, “I can lead you to the dining room.”
I glance down at myself, inhale, then nod at her, giving her a nervous smile.
I remind myself to breathe as I trail behind her in the hallway and down the stairs.
As we approach the huge dining area, the sound becomes clearer—cutlery, soft chatter, and someone laughing. Then I hear a voice.
“Look who we have here.”
Maksim’s voice is unmistakably teasing, loud, and a little too amused. Igor, Maksim, Ivana… and Alex’s mother are already seated at the long table set for breakfast.
Davika, Elegant even at this hour, is dressed in a pale cream blouse and silk trousers, her hair neatly swept up.
Four pairs of eyes land on me.
I almost take a step back.
But then Davika lights up, her voice warm and delighted.
“Oh, my pretty boy Lucas,” she says, and the way she says it makes my stomach flutter. “Come on, I’m glad you agreed to join me.”
I blink at her.
Then slowly, I walk toward the table, every step feeling like I’m walking into something sacred. The staff are already inside, placing dishes. The smell of fresh bread and something sweet fills the air.
Davika gestures to the seat right beside her, and I obey, signing a good morning to her even though I know she might not understand, then settling down quietly.
Ivana leans forward with a gentle smile.
“How was your night?” She asks kindly.
I manage a soft smile back, nodding once. But before I can reach for my phone to type in a reply and ask how hers was, Maksim grins.
“With the hickey on his neck, I’d say his night was splendid.”
shit. I forgot the hickey.
Heat rises to my face so fast I feel dizzy. I instinctively raise a hand to cover my neck, but it’s too late. Igor chuckles loudly. But Davika frowns, then gives Maksim a death glare sharp enough to silence a room.
“Make him feel embarrassed again, and I’ll skin you alive,” she says, her voice deathly cold. Then she mutters something in Thai—sharp, quick. I don’t know what it means, but Maksim’s eyes widen slightly.
“Jeez, Mother, chill,” he mutters, lifting both hands in surrender.
Ivana giggles. And Davika gives me an apologetic smile.
The breakfast smells and tastes like heaven. And I eat in silence while the rest joke and talk around. It’s not awkward or anything, and I don’t feel left out because they seem to ask me simple questions that require a nod or a head shake, which I am grateful for.
I try to sit properly, keep my legs from bouncing nervously under the table, but it’s hard. This doesn’t feel real. I’m in Alex’s family home. At the breakfast table. With his family —not all of them, since his father and elder brother aren’t here —but still.
Ivana occasionally glances my way with a smile, and Davika—God, this woman keeps piling things onto my plate with the softest hums.
“Sasha tells me you eat a lot,” she mutters quietly with a smile, pressing a soft pancake onto my already-full plate. “And trust me, I find that adorable. I love going on restaurant hopping, and will be happy taking you with me all the time.”
I look at her with surprise on my face.
“Look who finally shows up,” Maksim says suddenly, loud enough that everyone looks up.
I follow their gaze, and there he is.
Alex.
He walks in like he owns the air. In that calm but powerful way of his. Dressed in black, with sleeves pushed up and hair slightly messy. My breath catches when his eyes find mine.
He doesn’t respond to Maksim’s jab. Doesn’t even look at him.
Instead, he walks straight to me. And then, his hand brushes the back of my neck, warm and firm.
His thumb presses gently into my skin in a slow, absent circle, and I swear I stop breathing.
His scent hits me—deep, clean, him. I try to focus on the food, but all I can think of is that kiss last night, that heat, his mouth on mine, and now this simple touch that makes my whole body hum.
“Good morning, mother,” he says, giving Davika a small smile
“Morning, darling,” Davika replies smoothly, her eyes soft when she looks at him.
They speak in Russian for a while, the words smooth and melodic, with the occasional nod or amused glance from Igor and Ivana.
Davika speaks the language like she’s known it her entire life, even though she’s not Russian.
Then Maksim pipes in. His tone’s too slick to be innocent.
Alex’s jaw ticks. He replies in a sharper Russian that sounds like a snap.
Ivana leans closer to me with a grin.
“He asked Maksim why he’s acting like a spoiled bitch.”
I suppress my grin, almost choking on a strawberry.
Maksim barks something back in Thai.
Alex ignores him.
He looks down at me again, his hand still resting lightly on my neck.
“Are you done eating?”
I give him a nod
“Good,” he murmurs. His hand shifts to my arm and urges me up gently. “There’s something I want to show you.”