13. Mikhail
Mikhail
Trees surround us everywhere, mostly pines. I can’t see past them, no roads or houses in sight. Just bark and dirt and silence stretching out. I was going stir-crazy at the cabin, so I suggested we hike to the lake nearby.
The ground crunches under my shoes, loud over the little stones and dry pine needles. Daniil’s footsteps follow with the same rhythm but lighter steps.
A few minutes later, his breathing turns ragged with that little wheeze he gets when he pushes too hard. Stopping, I turn around. He’s doubled over with his hands on his knees, sweating like crazy. His black hair sticks to his forehead in messy curls and his eyes are squinting.
“I’m going to die,” he pants. “Why did you make us do this?”
I snort. “Come on, drama queen. Get on my back. We’re close.”
He glares at me. “I can’t breathe. You’re carrying me the whole way back too. Otherwise, I’m throwing up. This is awful. Why do people enjoy this?”
Crouching down, I motion with my hand. “Hop on.”
He climbs onto my back without arguing, wrapping his arms around my neck and his legs around my waist. His head drops onto my shoulder, and he lets out this little breath. Makes me feel a bit like a dick for dragging him out here, but also not really.
We come out near a beach with families everywhere.
Kids running around half-covered in sand, there’s a parking lot further up with some beat-up cars.
The lake’s massive, trees circling the whole thing.
Jet skis ripping across the surface, a couple boats floating further out.
Off to the side is a small ice cream stand with a bright red umbrella, menu board, and a line of people waiting.
I let him down off my back and glance over at him, smiling. “Worth it. Let’s swim, then eat ice cream.”
He makes a face. “I didn’t bring my wallet.”
I hold up my phone. “That’s why you add your card to your phone so you can just tap.”
He looks offended and shakes his head like I just suggested something horrific.
I’m not going to argue with him about it. I don’t know why he refuses to set up mobile payments when tech is literally his entire job, but whatever. Pick your battles. This is not the hill I’m dying on today.
When we hit the sand, I kick off my shoes. It’s hot underfoot, soft but gritty.
There’s a group of girls on towels nearby, probably our age, wearing bikinis and sunglasses with their hair piled up. We walk past them, and one leans over to another girl while looking my way, her voice loud enough for me to catch. “Look at him.”
Glancing back at Daniil, I see his expression is tight, frown set in place. We stop at the edge of the water where the sand darkens.
“We can keep our things here,” I say, dropping my shoes. “Keep an eye on it from the water.”
He goes quiet, biting his lip while his eyes scan the beach. His fingers twitch at his side like he’s fighting himself internally.
Shit. This might’ve been a mistake because he’s never comfortable stripping down in public.
I reach out and press my hand to his shoulder. “We can go back. It’s okay.”
He shakes his head quickly. “Nah. It’s fine.”
Then he pulls his shirt off, and my throat tightens. He looks so damn good, even with the scars scattered across his skin that make my stomach twist to look at. We make our way into the water together, and the cold hits hard against my feet and calves, stealing my breath.
“That feels good,” I murmur.
Water splashes around us as we move deeper. The lake’s full of people swimming, others are standing around yelling. We go until it hits my chest and then my neck. It’s cold but not in a bad way; it cuts through the heat.
When I glance over at him, he’s mostly expressionless and just standing there with his eyes on the horizon.
Reaching for his hand under the water, I grab it and squeeze. “You okay?”
“The water’s cold as hell,” he says, shivering. “Come warm me up.”
I pull him closer, and he looks around nervously.
I know this is new territory for both of us, and we shouldn’t risk anything in public, but I want to kiss him so badly I can barely think straight.
My hand touches his, and his fingers trail upward along my thigh slowly.
His hazel eyes lock onto mine, and he keeps tugging his lip between his teeth like he’s trying to wreck me on purpose. My cock swells instantly.
Why did I suggest going outside? I want to devour him right here.
His hand starts rubbing up and down over my hard cock under the water, bolder than I expected, and I nearly lose my mind.
He likes it risky.
The thought alone makes my cock throb harder against his palm. He’s touching me where anyone could see if they looked close enough. Pulling him closer, I almost lean down to kiss him before I catch myself.
His hand keeps moving and strokes me through my shorts like he’s testing how far he can push this.
“I’m never going to be able to leave the water if you keep doing that,” I groan.
He grins and leans closer, his hand still working over me under the water. “That’s kind of the point.”
“Danya, there are people everywhere.”
“I know.” His eyes gleam with something dangerous and playful. “Makes it more fun, doesn’t it?” He bites his lip and glances around like he’s checking if anyone’s watching, then his hand moves again, and I have to bite back another groan. “But you like it.”
Why is it always the quiet ones who end up being the bold ones? I didn’t expect this from him at all.
“We should get out,” I say, but I don’t move, and neither does he.
“Should we?” His thumb drags over my crown through the fabric of my shorts, and I almost lose it.
My eyes roll back, and I catch his wrist, trying to stop him before I come in my fucking shorts. “Ty menya ubivaesh.” You’re killing me.
He laughs quietly and finally pulls his hand away, leaving me aching and frustrated. “Come on then. Let’s go get ice cream.”
“I can’t leave yet,” I say, sighing.
He’s already wading toward the shore, looking back at me with that teasing grin still on his face. He’s evil.
I stare after him, half ready to drag him back into the water and finish what he started. But he just keeps walking, leaving me standing there hard as hell. I adjust myself and try to think of something to get my cock to go down.
When I’m almost at the shore, I spot the girls from earlier heading down toward the water. The blonde one steps directly into my path, smiling while her eyes trail down my neck, across my stomach, then back up to meet mine. “It’s so freaking hot today,” she says.
Sighing, I try to step around her, but her hand catches my forearm and every muscle in my body goes rigid. I want to rip her hand off me.
I’m so tired of this.
It’s been happening since I was a teenager and I’ve hated every second of it.
I don’t want the attention and I never have.
I just want to exist without someone constantly grabbing at me, touching me without asking, but they never stop.
It doesn’t matter how many times I pull away or make it clear I’m not interested, they keep trying.
In school it got so bad that some days I didn’t even want to show up. Sounds pathetic, right? A guy not wanting girls all over him. Most people would think I’m insane for complaining about it, but I don’t care what it sounds like because it’s the truth.
The only person I’ve ever wanted touching me is Daniil. If he grabbed my arm like this, if he told me I was attractive or looked at me the way these girls do, I wouldn’t mind at all. I’d be happy about it
Sometimes I wish murdering annoying people was socially acceptable, because then at least I could do something about it instead of standing here trying not to lose my mind.
“I’m Kaylee,” she says, tilting her head with her eyes locked on mine, and then gestures back to the other two girls watching. “That’s Sofia and Jenna.”
Jenna makes a beeline straight for Daniil, and I hate it immediately. She needs to back off right fucking now.
She gives him this little wave, steps into his space too close, sticks her hand out like they’re at some awkward school dance. He stares at it for a beat too long before finally shaking it, clearly uncomfortable.
“No speek Engleesh,” I say in the thickest Russian accent I can manage.
She grins wider. “Oh wow, that accent is so hot. Are you guys tourists? Where are you from?”
“Russia.”
She bites her lip and her eyes drop, dragging down my body slower this time. Behind her, Jenna won’t stop chattering at Daniil, leaning in too close. He’s nodding, but I can see how tense his shoulders are, how he keeps trying to create distance.
Kaylee leans in closer to me. “My friend thinks the other guy’s really cute.”
Hell no. Her friend can redirect that thought literally anywhere else on this beach. He’s off limits.
“He no speek Engleesh,” I say, keeping the thick accent going.
“Ooh, can you say something sexy in Russian for me?”
I watch Jenna try to touch Daniil’s arm again and him stepping back from her reaching hand. I bite the inside of my cheek hard and look back at Kaylee.
“Yesli tvoya podruga ne otstanet ot nego, ya slomayu yey sheyu.” If your friend doesn’t back off, I will break her neck.
He starts laughing under his breath at what I said, then he looks at me with this huge smile spreading across his face, showing those perfect white teeth. I love that smile so much. He’s so beautiful.
“That was so hot,” Kaylee breathes out. “You guys wanna get ice cream with us or something? I could really use something cold.” She points at the ice cream stand down the beach.
“We’re not interested.” I drop the accent completely. “Go be desperate somewhere else.”
Her eyes practically bulge out of her head, definitely didn’t see that response coming.
Slinging my arm around Daniil’s shoulder, I walk us both out of the water. She’s talking behind us, probably crying to her friends, but I’m already done with this conversation.
My hands come up to cup his face. “Can I kiss you?”
His eyes go wide, darting around the beach in panic. “Are you sure you want to? People can see us.”
“So?”