WARNING:

CHAPTER CONTAINING THE USAGE OF THE MALE DINGALING.

Although I do know that Wattpad has ruined all of your innocence by now, let's keep this very clear, do not practice what you read unless you have loads of cash and can afford to take care of your baby when you're a child as well. Good luck my kind folks!

"Leave,"

I stilled, my eyes snapped wide open.

"Leave, I dare you." Romanov's cold voice chilled me through, and I stiffened in bed, my fingers gripping the bedspread.

A minute passed, and he didn't move, I grit my teeth together and got up. If he wanted me to leave, I would. I was too tired to fight for us, I was too tired to be the only one fighting.

The soles of my feet touched the rugs and I sunk my toes into it as I stood up, the calm soft tumbles of wind caressed my exposed arms.

I kept my head low as I walked towards the door, my mind raging with the stubbornness to leave and the other part of me, the part of me that wanted to keep Romanov close, urging me to bite down my ego and stay. I grit my teeth together as I kept on walking towards the door, Romanov's tall frame almost hiding the entrance behind him.

My stride quickened as I reached him, circling around him to reach the door, my hands remained fisted on my sides.

Suddenly as I walked around Romanov, his hand reached back and snatched my hand, pulling me towards him. I gasped.

"Try again," Romanov muttered, his deep tone sounding coldly gruff as he looked at me with a serious frown.

"What?" I frowned at him.

"Try again. I dare you."

I pressed my lips together into a thin line before pulling my hands away. Gritting my teeth at the helplessness of the situation. How could I want to slap and hug Romanov at the same time?

I took a step towards the door.

Immediately I groaned as my face smashed against a hard chest.

Romanov leaned forward until his lips touched the shell of my ear, "Again?"

I snapped my eyes shut as his whisper tickled my skin, and I took a deep breath in before letting it out slowly, already reaching around him to find the doorknob with my hand.

"AHH!" A loud yelp ripped out of my throat as I quickly grasped onto Romanov's shoulders, leaving my legs loose, however, as he held me under my thighs, now pressed against the still closed door. This supernatural speed of his was really not playing in my favour today.

Romanov's lips brushed against my cheeks and I felt myself stiffen.

"Again?" He whispered mockingly.

"Screw this," I blurted out, suddenly furious at being in this position, at being so neglected by him time and time again.

Romanov's eyes snapped to mine, and I looked away as it turned golden, the black fading behind the molten gold pools. His lips found my jawline and instantly my grip on his shoulder tightened.

"A naughty word. You're being quite daring tonight,"

My breath hitched in my throat in surprise when Romanov nipped at my jaw, his palm moving to hold the side of my neck. He tilted my head back with his thumb, trailing his lips slowly down my neck, pressing small kisses along the path, until he reached his mark. Moving the tip of his tongue out he licked at the warm skin and I shivered, finally giving in, and wrapping my legs around him.

"What's going on..." I breathed out as he pulled the sensitive spot between his lips, slowly running his tongue along the bite scars as if worshiping it. It wasn't a question, I didn't even know if I could talk with Romanov's hands on me, with his lips on the one spot that made me constantly crave his attention.

"Olivia?"

I stilled against the warm breath against my sweet spot, from his whisper.

"Try again."

As he whispered the two words he lifted his head and his eyes found mine. I blinked.

At my dazed expression a smirk formed on his lips and he brought his lips back to my neck.

Nipping at the soft skin he began whispering again, "You're mine, Olivia. There is no leaving. If one night I'll find my bed empty, you'll find yours full."

"Y-you make me want to jump off a cliff!" I spat out exhaustingly, I didn't know how he could want me with him and ignore me time and time again. I was his soul mate. His other half. And still?

"I'll always be there at the bottom to catch you,"

It was a promise, I knew. It was in his voice, the sincerity, the oath. I shivered as his fingers brushed against the material of my top, over my breast.

"Why have you been ignoring me?" I breathed out shakily, not noticing as I unconsciously pulled him closer, my fingers tangling into his dark strands. The strange tingles in my tummy growing stronger.

"Why have you been with that Delta all the time?" Romanov's voice turned into a growl half way through the question and he began moving towards the bed.

I gasped as he dropped me, and I bounced on the large bed, watching him now wide-eyed as he made no move himself, just stood there, the menacing glower he always wore looked different tonight. More... primitive.

"Answer me,"

I blinked. "He's been working for my father for years, he is faithful, and I couldn't just let him go li—"

A gasp ripped out of my lips as Romanov leaned down and his fingers suddenly hooked onto the bands of my knickers. "—th—that! Whom you f—find yourself affectionate towards is not y—your fault. Sometimes it just happen-ROM—"

I stopped when his eyes found mine, while he lazily pulled my knickers from my feet and dropped it beside the bed.

"Continue."

I gulped, suddenly feeling completely exposed with only his shirt left to cover me now. Strangely something in me bubbled with excitement. I'd never been this naked in front of a man before. Ever.

"H—happens. H—he understands t—that I'm yours—OH MY GOD!" I jolted up as Romanov grabbed me around my thigh and pulled me towards the edge of the bed. His lips immediately found my centre.

"Say it again!" His warm breath fanned my nether lips and I lay on the bed now shivering and shaking, my hand grasping his hands, as they stayed hooked around my thighs.

"Rome!" I breathed out.

"AH!" My grip on his hand tightened as I jolted up in bed again when Romanov nipped at my inner thigh.

"Say it again, please, Olivia."

"Or what?" I asked breathlessly, the tingles under my skin everywhere he touched now felt like jolts of electricity.

Romanov stilled, his eyes still on mine, and I watched almost breathless as he reached down, grabbed his shirt by the hem and pulled it over his head in one move. My eyes immediately snapped to his body and I lost my breath for a second, my eyes ran over the beginning of the silver scar that I was all too familiar with, my gaze snapped back to Romanov when he moved his arms and I found myself blushing beet red looking away from his now almost black eyes.

A blink was all it took, and he was top of me, running his hands down the side of my body, over his shirt, I shivered under his white material.

"Do you have any idea how much it burns just to see you with that man?" Romanov's muttered as his fingers found the buttons of the shirt I was wearing.

He popped the first button open, "Any man?"

I gulped, my palm finding Romanov's hand over my shirt. I didn't know how I was feeling, the jolts of electricity seemed so distracting. The bubbling need to have him against somewhere naughty was incredibly distracting.

Romanov's lips found my neck and I couldn't help but let out a loud moan, my fingers sinking into his hair again. I grit my teeth together as the tingles in my body made my mind made up, and I tightened me grasp on Romanov's hair as I pulled him up, moving up to catch his lips with mine. Another moan left my throat and I sunk deeper into the kiss as Romanov ran his tongue along my bottom lip, as if teasing me for entrance.

I sighed as I let him try. Waiting seemed hard for him and suddenly I gasped when Romanov pulled open my shirt, not breaking the kiss even once as he settled back on top of me after. This time his warm naked skin against mine. His tongue saw the opportunity and dipped into my mouth, everything seemed so overwhelming, and I moaned out his name in a low breathy tone, barely able to find my voice now.

Slowly Romanov broke his kiss as he moved his kisses to my jaw, and onto my neck — nipping at my sweet spot, but not stopping as he continued to trail down open-mouthed kisses down my collarbone. My back arched, surprised when his lips reached the swell of my breast.

Romanov's head lifted, and his eyes found mine, a cheeky grin in place. He moved his lips back, but this time nipped on my left boob and immediately my fingers found his hair, pulling on the strands causing him to let out a groan of his own. I felt goose bumps popping up everywhere, his deep guttural groan was suddenly my new high.

Romanov moved lower again, and I held my breath to feel the same earth shattering feeling I had deep down when his lips had touched me there before.

"Mine," A low growl left Romanov's chest as he caressed one lip while he tentatively licked and pulled the other swollen nipple between his lips.

"Rome," I sighed as I tried to keep my clear thoughts intact between the earth shattering tingles and heat that was suddenly pooling between my legs.

"Hmm?" Romanov teased as he allowed a finger to sink in me, I felt as my walls tightened around his finger and I moaned out loudly as his finger bent inside, hitting the tightened walls — my hand clutching his desperately.

Romanov's eyes found mine and he watched as I moaned with every stroke he made, panting as my chest rose and fell, his eyes zeroing on my breasts.

Suddenly he moved low and slid another finger in, but this time flicking his tongue over my clit. My hips bucked with this new sensation. In that moment I saw the stars. He growled again, fastening his pace as he used his free hand to keep me down on the bed. Everything went crazy and I found myself moving under him as his thumb began moving over my numb in circles. Romanov moved back up, his lips sucking on my neck while he continued to rub my clit, two of his fingers still in me.

"Take... it... off," I breathed, my whole body was buzzing, pulling, pushing towards the pressure building between my legs. I closed my eyes shut as another jolt of pure pleasure ran through my centre. With Romanov's heavy weight on me, his fingers doing things I had only read about, his lips on my neck torturing me — I couldn't help but want to see him too. Touch him. Feel him. All of him.

A minute later when he didn't stop, I let out a little growl before grabbing at his large dented pants. Instantly Romanov stilled, his head moved back to watch me. His fingers though ever kept moving and it hit me like a train wreck when suddenly I let out a loud scream, biting down on Romanov's shoulder to keep myself from waking everyone up. I stayed there, withering away underneath Romanov as I felt the orgasm surge through my body, pulling at every nerve ending on my body, leaving me breathless.

I felt Romanov's pace slow as I came down from my high, I couldn't stop myself from breathing out his name and pulling him close, my fingers finding his pants again.

"Olivia..." Romanov stilled again above me, his eyes widening with warning as he looked at me. My hand, however, unbuttoned his pants and began pushing it off.

Instantly Romanov's hand grasped onto mine and I stopped, my eyes snapping to his again.

"Olivia..." His voice was stronger now, deeper, more authoritative and I blinked as his hand moved mine away from his pants.

"This will change everything." He spoke out loud, his eyes steeled on mine, letting me know he was serious.

I let out a slow breath and studied his face. His dark hair, his jet-black eyes, his sharp nose, and beautiful mouth. As I watched him, just watched him, the warm feeling I felt every time Romanov was near came sailing back into my chest, crashing like the largest of waves in my heart. Bringing with it, the startling realisation. I knew where this was heading, I knew that we would have sex if I let him. Romanov was my soul mate, yes, by till now everything between us was more comforting and protective and... —but this, this was the very step to something else. Something more. Was I even ready for this something new? My heart gave a thump in my chest and I looked back at my soulmate again, his dark eyes staring into mine as if trying to see into me. I let go a ghost of a smile when the warmth in my chest bubbled. Yes. Yes, I was ready for something new. The waves in my chest were still crashing, the realization now stronger. It was time to admit it to myself.

I was in love with Romanov. I was completely in love with Romanov. And yes, I was ready for it.

I looked at Romanov and smiled, his eyes widened in surprise and I swung my arm around his neck, lowering his head to bring him in for a long kiss.

Immediately his hands wrapped around my thighs and pushed them away, spreading my legs apart. He moved back, and my eyes snapped open, his blurry fast actions took a second before he settled back between my legs. Only this time naked.

I could feel it, his punishingly tight grip on my thighs telling a tale of just how much he was holding back from ploughing me straight into the bed.

When I felt the tip of his length against my entrance my eyes snapped open and I jolted up, my eyes moving to the thick long... rod. I felt my breath hitch in my throat.

"Th—tha—" I pressed my lips together and shutting my eyes turned my head away, letting out a deep air from my lips as I did.

"—That's not normal."

Romanov chuckled, rubbing the head of his thickness against my now pulsating centre, "I'm a beast, what did you expect?"

My lips quivered as Romanov's lips found my cheek an instant later, while his hand took hold of mine. Brushing kisses along my jawline he moved my hand towards his veiny hard member. His grip on my hand loosened and he stopped his kisses, waiting.

My fingers brushed against the flesh of his dick and I gasped when it twitched. Romanov groaned.

I stayed still for a second or two, thinking about what was happening, how close Romanov's solid length was, how it was almost caressing me while Romanov stayed silent above me. A soft breath released itself from my lips before I took a leap and wrapped my hand around the hard length, wrapping my free arm around Romanov as he dropped on me, a low groan releasing from his lips. I smiled as his warm breathing against my neck quickened. My hand began moving.

Up. Down. Back. Forth. In the sensual motion, quickening my pace and then slowing it down to an agonizing rhythm. The nervousness about what I was doing peeked at me, but Romanov's groans and growls gave a positive indication and I smiled with saucy relief. Mills and Boon really did pay off after all.

A loud growl ripped out of Rome's lips suddenly and he gripped my hand, stopping me. My eyes wide, I looked at him, shocked.

"No," he growled again, panting before moving my hand away. Suddenly I felt the tip of him against my centre and I stilled, my eyes finding Romanov's.

We remained like that, eyes locked for a second or two before I felt him easing inside me, Romanov's eyes watching me, my reactions and adjusting when he saw me cringe in the slightest.

As he moved deeper and stopped at the barrier, I snapped my eyes shut and clenched my jaw together. My hand gripping at his hands.

"I'm sorry baby," Romanov whispered against my ear as I felt him pull back, a second later he slammed back in, completely settling inside me this time. A muffled scream ripped out of my lips and I sunk my fingers into the biceps of his arm. Immediately he stilled, and I opened my teary eyes just in time to see Romanov opening his, his jet-black orbs looking at me as if trying to read any sign of regret. Despite the burning pain there I gave him a wet comforting smile, and his eyes misted, instantly he leaned forward and pressed a quick kiss on my lips.

It seemed like a minute, but the burning slowly died, and I tilted my hips up towards his. A jolt of spark hit me straight in my lower abdomen and I moaned.

"Move," I breathed as I tried to move my hips again, the angle shifted, and I felt him slip further in, completely filling me, I shivered under him.

A loud growl ripped out of Romanov's chest at the sudden slip, and he immediately began a slow, antagonizing rhythm, pulling out about halfway before sliding easily back in. Then his pace increased, his thrusts increased, and I moaned as he tilted and thrust in, changing the angle slightly, my legs quickly wrapped around his strong hips.

"Rome," I moaned, holding onto him like my life depended on it, gasping, and mewing every time he hit the spot that made me see the stars. Romanov suddenly started to thrust even faster, pulling out almost all the way before sliding home.

"You're so beautiful—and completely mine." It came in growls and suddenly his breaths became ragged. I panted under him, moaning his name over and over again like a prayer. My nails digging and dragging along his back as he nuzzled his face into the crook of my neck, licking, kissing, biting.

Our rollercoaster was slowly moving upwards, the sensation of everything going blank coming over me faster and faster. The closer my body came to explosion the more I found myself moving along with Romanov, matching his movements with mine. Like the perfect sort of waltz, only one which required just the two dancers, and zero audiences. Just them. The dancers. Creating magic.

"Don't stop," I cried, feeling him bite down on me for the fifth time as he growled into my shoulder. My legs wrapped around him tighter and I desperately clutched to him, wanting to feel every inch of him.

"Olivia," Romanov growled, my hazy eyes opened and met his almost golden ones, he was losing himself to his beast and I shivered as his eyes turned completely molten gold.

He looked the complete image of strength and power, his dark locks falling against his cheeks as he moved above me. I blinked at the large vein on his neck, almost on the verge of popping.

"Olivia!"

It took over me suddenly, falling over me in a sudden shower, completely drenching me in its ecstasy.

"Oh, my G—Rome!"

I felt myself go limp as our orgasms raged through us, bolts of firecrackers going off inside me while I shivered and shuddered as my orgasm slowly rode itself off. I felt as my walls clenched around Romanov, milking him as he emptied himself in me. He set up, grabbing me, and buried himself deeper, his thrusts slowing down as he threw his head back, his eyes closed shut. When it all began to settle, Romanov let his whole weight fall on me, his heavy breathing puffing warm breaths against my sweaty hot chest.

His eyes remained golden as he tilted his head and looked up at me. I smiled as I placed a kiss on his forehead watching his eyes close contently. Romanov lay on my chest while it rose and fell. Slowly he moved, and I felt him pull out of me. I realized I missed him, him in me, filling me, completely. It felt crazy, but I felt like sobbing.

"I love you," I whispered in my mind as I moved my fingers to Romanov's hair, slowly running my fingers through his hair as I felt him just lay there. I was spent, I didn't think I could move, but I needed to clean the mess I knew we had made.

Staying like that for a while I made a move to push Romanov off so that I could clean up. My breath hitched in my throat when Romanov's face snapped at me, his eyes golden and his canines bared in warning.

"No," he snapped at me, his voice deeper, more deadly, and I felt my heart thump loudly in my chest when he settled his head back on my breast, letting out a low happy sound from his chest.

My fingers found his hair again and he groaned happily, I found a smile forming on my lips at finding Romanov so openly expressive. I placed a kiss on his hair, inhaling his spice scented male shampoo before trying again. This time, however, with a different approach.

"Rome,"

"Hmm."

"Rome?"

"Hmm?"

"I need to go clean up, please." I cooed slowly as I continued to run my fingers through his hair, softly. Lovingly.

"No."

My mouth fell open, "No?"

"What you need, is me," Romanov grumbled a matter of factly, huffing out irritably before settling his head even more comfortably on my breasts.

A smile threatened to settle on my shocked expression at that. "But I do need a shower, Romanov"

Romanov took a second before he moved his cheeks down, tiny bristles of facial hair scratching me on their way. A loud gasp slipped out of lips as his mouth clasped around my nipple. His tongue lazily flicking against the swollen bud. "Do you really, babe?"

"Oh," I gasped as he softly bit into my nipple before sucking on it slowly, as if in apology.

Romanov chuckled when he stopped and suddenly moved up, slightly leaving me feeling disappointed.

His knowing smile made me send him a dark glare before he scooped me up into his arms and began walking towards the master bathroom.

"Hmmmmm," He teased cheekily as he reached the door and pulled it open, "I suppose you can have both."

~^~

Consciousness settled in with the feeling of a solid weight settled on my tummy, a large warm hand grasping my left breast, warm puffs of breath hitting the side of my chest as I lay on my back, a fresh white quilt covering me till my hips.

My hand trailed towards the weight, and my eyes snapped open when it came in contact with hair. Immediately I ran my hand lower, moving until it rested on Romanov's big palms spread to hold my boob. I sighed as I grasped onto his arm, before slowly moving to remove his hands. I needed to change position.

A loud gritty growl covered the entire room in the next moment as Romanov's eyes snapped open and his hand on me tightened, his canines bared, at me. I watched frozen as he stared at me for a minute, his snarl on display before he settled back on me.

I sighed before tapping his hand with mine.

"Rome, I need to turn over!" I grumbled as I tapped onto his arm again, getting faster by the tap.

"No. Told you everything will change," Romanov grumbled sleepily as he moved his hand higher and snuggled closer, moving his head up and onto my breast. His shadowing facial hair made me twitch as they brushed against my skin.

"What do you mean?" I tapped on his arm again, faster more insistent again.

This time, however, Romanov rolled over to the other side of the bed, growling under his breath as he hid his face into his, before this, untouched gray pillow, "There's no winning with you."

I grinned brightly, highly amused by his moodiness. My gaze ran over his solid naked back, ripples of muscles sculpturing his back perfectly as his dark hair contrasted the fairness of fair skin. Moving closer slower, I leaned down and wrapping an arm around him placed a warm kiss on his upper back, instantly feeling Romanov freeze under me. His reaction has me smiling brighter, and I placed three more on random spots before I just rested my cheek against his back.

"Well, I thought you knew. You're not winning until you're winning me." I chirped up innocently, before placing another kiss on his back, I quickly rushed off into the bathroom, locking the door right on Romanov's face.

I took my time, taking a warm dip in the mornings always seemed like a luxury back in Germany with school and work, but at home, it was always a given, and I enjoyed that to the best I could.

Walking out of the closet into the bathroom, I dropped my towel into the dirty laundry basket and slowly padded my way slowly towards the bathroom door, my bare feet making no noise on the tiled flooring as I took the last step towards the door. The awkward uneasiness I felt between my legs calming while I stood and grasped the knob. I took a deep breath in before releasing it, and then I pulled the door open.

Walking out into the bedroom with a smile I noticed two things that seemed to have changed, that the bedsheets on the bed were crisp and new, the dark blue hue of the cover reminding me of Romanov's beast's fur; and a freshly bathed and changed Romanov now settled onto a large single seater sofa near the balcony. His long sleeved white shirt folded until his elbow, a mug of what smelt like coffee in his hand while another steaming mug sat on the coffee table in front of him. His other hand held his iPhone to his ear as he continued to talk to someone on it. Frowning he took another sip of his coffee and then brought it back down onto the armrest.

"What do you mean they want to renegotiate the contract? Spencer, that's not something I am willing to renegoti—all right settle a meeting then."

My nose scrunched at the name of that woman, but I kept my slow lazy pace, nearing the man seated on the sofa, his eyes still on the view outside, but I knew he knew I was here. He could sense it, I knew.

"Yes, that sounds fine, Spence," Romanov muttered into the iPhone, and I moved around in front of him. His face rose up and his eyes found mine, I moved my right leg into the tiny space on the sofa between him and the arm rest and then did the same with the other, slowly settling myself onto his lap so I could straddle him.

Hands on his shoulder, I smiled cheekily as my eyes found his suddenly darker ones and I moved my hips against his already hardening dick. Immediately Romanov's eyes glazed golden and I watched amused as his grip on his phone tightened.

I grinned.

Commence mission 'Tease Romanov'

His cologne smelt like heaven and so I leaned in forward until my lips pressed against the crook of Romanov's neck noting Romanov's jaw hardening as I slowly fluttered kisses down his neck.

"Y—yes that sounds good. You d—"

Romanov stopped, and my grin widened on my lips as I spread the flats of my palm under his t-shirt until they touched the solid surface of his abs and then dragged them up his chest.

"You do that." He coughed before continuing.

I was a bit guilty, he was clearly having business talk and here I was being naughty, but I wasn't done. I on the other hand had other plans.

Taking in his heavy breathing I continued as my lips pressed soft kisses along his jaw before my lips found his earlobe.

"Alright yes. I'll let you know,"

On impulse my lips wrapped around the earlobe.

A loud gasp ripped out of me when Romanov's hands found my ass, this time thrusting into me as he held me by my ass, I pulled his earlobe between my lips again, slowly nibbling on it.

Romanov's fingers thread into my hair before his grip tightened and he pulled my head back. Exposing the long length of my neck to him.

"Seductress," Romanov growled as his tongue found my sweet spot, pressing an open-mouthed kiss.

I let out a loud moan and Romanov growled again.

My fingers dug into his chest as I dragged my nails down, gasping and moaning while he kept tormenting me in the most beautiful of ways.

I didn't know where his phone was, I didn't know where the coffee was, all I knew was that his hands were on me, and he was making me barely feel my feet.

"Rome," I breathed as his hand found my breast over my tank.

Romanov didn't respond, instead he moved his hands till it gripped the neckline and then in one go ripped the black tank from the middle, exposing my breast.

I stilled. My eyes snapped to his. His eyes on mine, Romanov grinned.

"You shouldn't tease your mate, Olivia. Especially not when he's an Alpha King."

~^~
Romanov was right. Everything had changed. Keeping my hands to myself seemed a little difficult now, keeping his hands to himself seemed impossible for Romanov.

I wasn't going to ignore the fact that he had not used a condom, any of the many times we had had sex over the past two days. The fact that my sister had put me on pills ever since I had turned sixteen in hopes of seeing my lousy arse get lucky by some miracle, now seemed like a habit that I was thankful for.

It seemed strange when I always thought about it, but Romanov seemed to growl and snap at the slightest of physical communications between anyone new to him, and I. In fact, he seemed to glare at even old Pompy whenever she brushed my hair. It was slightly getting a little frustrated. Especially knowing I had Jay and River back home who didn't shy away from hugs.

We were leaving tonight, which was even more nerve wrecking, it was clear that Romanov and I were together in this for life. But I liked the idea of having a straight forward communication with him, it was strange, but even the idea of arguments with him had this coil twisting in my chest. I didn't like it. So, it was a bit uneasy not knowing how he was going to behave now that he constantly had his territorial side switched on.

"You, all right?"

I turned around towards the source of the question and smiled tiredly at the man, "Seeing as you've witnessed Romanov's recent...mood swings, it's safe to say I'm a bit nervous."

Matthew smiled as he settled down beside me. I'd always noticed the easy smile Matthew had every time he was around people, I'd always noticed the easy smile he had when he was alone. I admired him for that. Mathew sure did know how to pull through tough times, I was sure.

"You're the most precious thing he has in this world, Olivia. You're his walking, talking lifeline."

My eyes widened and snapped to Matthew's warm brown ones. Smiling at me warmly, his hand found mine and he gave me a comforting pat.

"His soul is yours. Just as yours, is his now. And I'm sure, you would feel just the same when the situation comes,"

The sound of the upper parlour door open sounded from our right and I turned just in time to see Romanov walk through it, the door closing shut behind him.

"Hey mate!" Matthew spoke up in greeting happily and I noticed he still had his hand over mine. My eyes however stayed locked on Romanov's, while his stayed-on Matthew's hand, upon mine.

Striding towards us, Romanov leaned forward and scooped me up before settling on another sofa, me on his lap

"Hi," he grumbled, looking at Matthew for the he first time since he entered the parlor.

My eyes met Matthew's and his eyes sparkled with mischief as he tried his very best not to grin. I shook my head at that.

Romanov was right. Everything did change.

But I couldn't say I didn't like it.