“Let me give you a ride back to the estate. Instead of you having to carry him.”
When he was younger and smaller, I might’ve been able to make the hike with him in my arms, but at nearly three, there was no way. Besides, Niko was too tired to walk by himself. I reluctantly accepted Konstantin’s offer, slinking into the back seat, pressing myself up against the window.
Konstantin would look at us every now and then with a strange look on his face, but he didn’t say anything. We rode back to the estate in silence.
17
Elena Falcone
Night enclosed the estate. The house grew still and quiet as my family slept and dreamed, but I couldn’t manage to close my eyes. I twisted and turned in my bed, careful not to disturb a passed-out Nikolai. I even tried reading beneath the golden glow of the lamp but found myself reading the same sentence over and over.
My restlessness eventually got the better of me and I rolled out of bed. I would pace around the house until my exhaustion became too much. That was the only plan I had.
When I’d worn a path through the manor, I escaped through the back door and made circles around the estate. It was freezing, and clouds covered the moon, but I didn’t go back inside. Shaking from the cold was better than shaking with anxiety.
The ground eventually failed in calming me down, so climbing became the next best thing. I aimed for the largest tree in the garden, a tall maple tree that had grown awkwardly along the side of the house. I had to hike myself up into the branches using the side of the house, bracing myself on the window seal.
Climbing in the dark was never smart but my long limbs easily scaled up the side. Bark dug into my palms and the earthy smell of the leaves surrounded me. Every now and then a wind would rustle the tree, adding to the symphony of the night.
As I got higher, dim light from inside the house welcomed me. The tree had grown around a window, hiding the view of the world from the interior. I pulled myself up high enough to peer through, curious to see which room it was hiding.
A bathroom was visible through the pane. White counter tops and clear tiles. It was neat, with crisp towels and an empty countertop. Was it the spare bathroom? It didn’t look like anyone was–
Konstantin walked into the room, towel low on his hips. Water droplets clung to his skin, outlining the curve of his muscles. His tattoos stretched over his broad shoulders, the artistry weaving together to form his memories and past.
My mouth parted. “Oh, my…”
There wasn’t an inch of him that wasn’t beautiful, that hadn’t been carved to perfection. His light golden skin pairing with his blond hair made him look like something out a mythological tale, one where the golden king saves the village from the beast. Except…Konstantin was the beast before he was king. He was always the monster before the hero.
I didn’t care.
Konstantin brushed his teeth and combed his hair. Such domesticity, such casualness. I was unable to look away.
He didn’t notice me as he dropped his towel, revealing the already hard length of him. With a rough hand, he grabbed the bottom of his dick and dragged his hands up and down. His head tipped back, and his spare hand grabbed the counter for balance. I watched as he lips parted, his features contorting in pleasure.
Thoughts were becoming harder to think; air was becoming harder to breathe. Energy stirred in every part of my body.
His arms shuddered as lust rocked through him.
There was something about seeing all his strength bundled up in his impressive form, the rapture he was giving himself, that had my mind spinning. Every movement, every stroke and flinch, added to the throbbing beneath my legs and the rapid beating of my heart.
The branches groaned as my grip tightened.
When he pulled his shoulders back, the pleasure reaching its climax, I felt desire throttle through me like a strike of lightning. I heard his groan through the window as cum spilled over his hands, the sound of it almost sending me sprawling to the ground.
Konstantin’s head snapped towards me.
His brown eyes trapped me in my place, his lips curving up into a smile.
For a second, I was unable to move. I was a slave to his stare, the maiden to his beast.
Run, my instincts begged.
I can’t, I tried to tell them.
Konstantin cocked his head to the side. Spying, Elena? he mouthed.
I ducked, losing my footing and falling onto the branch below. Pain ricocheted through me as I righted myself, grasping onto the closest ledge for balance.
He saw me, he saw me.
“Oh, fuck,” I muttered into the darkness. “Oh, fuck.”
In times of great embarrassment, there is only one to do: avoid everyone at all costs.
I didn't need to avoid my family, not gentle-tempered Roksana or rough Roman. No, it was Konstantin I was hiding from. I left rooms he walked into and threw myself into random doors when I heard his voice down the hallway. I spent most of my time outside with Niko, who was more than delighted to spend hours with the horses or climbing trees.
I made a game of avoiding Konstantin–a game Danika picked up immediately.
“Why are you avoiding Konstantin?” she asked one day, peering over me as I laid in the grass and blocking the sun rays I had been soaking in. “Did something happen?”
Niko and Evva were playing a few yards from me, both waving to Danika as she sat down beside me.
“Hi Auntie Dani!” Evva said.
Niko copied his new friend. “Hi Auntie Dani!”
Auntie. The word sat with me for a second before Danika's sweet voice greeted them back. “Having fun?”
They both made noises of agreement before going back to their game of tag.
I recalled her question as she settled down next to me. "I'm not avoiding Konstantin."
Danika ripped out pieces of grass, spreading them over me. Her eyes glinted as I scowled. "Really? It feels like you're avoiding Konstantin."
"It's all in your imagination."
"Elena, you left with a pancake in your hand when Konstantin walked into breakfast. Not to mention you ducked behind a bush when he was in the gardens yesterday–yes, we all saw that."
I narrowed my eyes. "When did you get so observant?"
"Always have been."
"Tell me about Tatiana and I'll tell you why I'm avoiding Konstantin."
Danika's eyes popped open. "Quite the trade," she laughed.
I didn't even know why I had asked. I felt Tatiana's presence haunting the estate and found myself unable to stop worrying about the threat she incited. But it occurred to me, Danika knew Tatiana, not Titus. No one knew Titus, and that was the problem.
"I'll try my best," she agreed. "Tell me why you're avoiding Konstantin."
I rested my head on my arm. "I caught him masturbating."
Danika blinked once, twice.
"Oh," she finally said, face still slack with shock. "That is a good reason to avoid him." A laugh erupted from her. "I would die. Did he catch you?"
"He did."
Danika laughed to smother her second-hand embarrassment. "Oh God...Roman thought he had proposed and you said no. But this...this is worse."
I rolled my eyes. "You two have too much time on your hands." I lifted myself onto my arm. "I told you why I'm avoiding Konstantin. Tell me about Tatiana."