Dear All,

Here comes the next EDITED and EXTENDED chapter of "Fire and Ice", but please be aware that some small typos or such might still be there, thank you for your understanding.

As my old readers will notice, I have added more into Aleksandr's character, giving him more background and feelings, also getting to know Travis better in a way. Here we will have a very interesting moment between the two of them and I am sure you will very much enjoy it.

Also, I have added more interaction with Sasha's family, so that we can get to know more about his family and brother, avoiding to have them in mere background only, just as Hayden, which I think many of you will enjoy.

I won't add anything else about CH.11, I will just leave it to you.

A song from Lenny Kravitz and a picture of the New York Rangers ^^ and now, enjoy the edited chapter and let me know what you think of it with your lovely comments and messages, thank you!

Enjoy it!

"Intimacy is not purely physical. It's the act of connecting with someone so deeply, you feel like you can see into their soul," by unknown author.

ALEKSANDR POV:

I drove to my place and noticed Travis had taken another leather jacket with him, as I had the impression he had quite the amount of clothes, often seeing him wearing something different, because yeah, in the past weeks I might have behaved like a gigantic and glacial jerk, but I never stopped observing or paying attention to him, always keeping my eyes on him in a way or another. This was all very new and, from time to time, I stole quick glances at his direction, seeing he was comfortably sitting beside me and messing with his phone, making quite the faces twice, the bag on his lap and my hockey jacket over that. I smiled to myself as I realized he was a very expressive and open person when it came to emotions and thoughts, as I could see earlier in my room.

Shit, that was right. For a moment I almost forgot the fact he was gay and very straightforward about it, in a completely different way than River, and he obviously enjoyed a bit of flirting, exactly like my best friend. Travis hadn't shied away before, actually playing around and inviting me to keep undressing in front of him, even if there was something in his eyes that I couldn't point out. Was he just playing around, or did he also feel the same mess in his mind I felt? Because he sure was messing my mind very fucking much.

I suddenly heard him chuckling and I looked at him, our eyes meeting, and he smiled openly, to which I couldn't resist not even if I wanted, my lips tilting up in response. He was gorgeous whenever he smiled in that way and I had to tell myself to get the attention where it belonged, back to the road in front of us.

"What happened?" I asked him, as we had been quite silent since we left his place, but it was very calm and relaxing, a very pleasant feeling I had never experienced before with anyone else, because the same happened with my friends yet it was very dissimilar.

"Cutie is being adorably mad at me for not having written him earlier, but hell, it sort of went out of my mind with all that happened," he explained, now smiling at the phone and quickly typing on that. Cutie? Was that how he called that small kid always hanging around him and always being very annoyingly stuck to him like glue? Annoyingly? Seriously? I imperceptivity shook my head at that, because this was getting out of hands more and more. Why did I find that annoying? Because I sure did.

"Cutie?" I asked with a tone of voice harder than intended and I saw from the corner of my eyes how he turned his head toward me.

"Yeah, Jasper, you met him the other day, do you remember?" Oh I remembered that very well and I spent the entire afternoon wondering whether that kid was his boyfriend or something like that, getting myself in even worse mood.

"I remember," I just replied shortly, and he cocked his head to the side, again playing with his piercing. God, he had to stop doing that and he had to continue at the same time, because it was fucking hot but also messing me up too much.

"You do really are quite the ice-made hockey beast everyone says in school," he said with quite an amused tone and somehow, the word beast coming from his mouth and pronounced from his tongue, which was sexily pierced and would probably be able to do many crazy, mind-blowing things, assumed a completely different aspect and meaning in my head, liking it very much.

Shit.

This was mental on so many levels and the way his eyes were indulging on me, his entire body having scooted closer without him even realizing it, his entire presence feeling like leaking fire against my skin, the way his voice had just spoken, calm and very alluring, how he had called me...it all got straight to my crotch and I tightened the grip around the steering wheel.

"Alexi?" He called for me, as I was not replying, the note in his voice now slightly different, somehow worried he had pushed it too far with me and I just couldn't resist it.

"What do you mean?" I replied in a more relaxed way, letting my eyes catch his for a brief moment, wanting to get an answer out and placate part of the frustration what we had discussed just rose in me.

"You sort of mind meeting new people," he tempted to say, and I could feel he was trying not to irritate me, still not knowing me, which all considered was perfectly normal.

"Yeah, I'm not very good with that, but I didn't mind getting to know you," I sincerely answered, to which he creased his forehead and gave me quite the naughty smile.

"For real? Because you didn't look in your best social mood the past weeks and in fact, I'm surprised we are talking this civilly and normally, but hell, don't get me wrong, I totally like it and I'm super glad we're...I mean..." He could talk fast, very fast, and also, he could fire out his thoughts very directly, something I really appreciated about him.

"I know, I'm sorry for that," I simply said, given I couldn't just tell him what was really going on inside of me and the chaos he had generated in both my mind and body, triggering thoughts and physical reactions I never believed possible. "I guess you can say I am the ice-made beast everyone calls me, and my friends can confirm it, because they joke about it quite a lot. I just mind being bothered, that's all."

"That I perfectly understand, and I also don't mind spending time alone," he surprisingly commented, and I chuckled, attracting his attention once more. "What is it?"

"I saw you once walking to the library for lunch break," I confessed.

"Really?" He sounded very surprised and it was quite expected.

"Yeah, I was just passing by and I noticed that, so I thought maybe you preferred being on your own sometimes." Well, let's put it in that terms and not directly admit I had in fact followed him.

"Well, as you noticed already this morning and such, I have an unlucky tendency to attract gigantic pains in the ass, and not in the way I'd like it or hope for, I mean, you got what I mean, right?" I very well got what he wanted to say and again, his words fired my imagination and his ass was the pain protagonist of that. Goddammit. "I'm sorry Alexi, I really tend to have a tongue with a cheeky mind of its own, but well, I wanted to say that given that very lucky trait of mine, I decided to spend time alone sometimes."

"You didn't mind meeting that kid, though," I pointed out spontaneously, for then wanting to beat myself for being so petty.

"Jasper you mean?" I nodded and he chuckled at that, the sound nicely teasing my ears and senses. "He's super sweet and nice, and after that Monday, when Collins threw me against you, he searched for me to thank me and one day he managed to find me, something I very much appreciated. Jas is very quiet and I'm happy we became friends." So, they were friends only apparently, which seemed to make complete sense to me.

"You guys are friends?" I however asked and he shifted on the seat, seeing his knee getting closer to the gearshift, and so, closer to me, feeling his eyes studying me in his very physical and open way.

"Yeah, I dare say he's my very first best friend and I'll never stop repeating how happy I am about it...he's really a sweet guy, so considerate and sincere, and you shouldn't scare him so much with your glares," he added the last words with quite the amused tone of voice and I just snorted out, making him laugh. "Alexi the ice-made hockey beast for real, hmm?" Oh shit, how much I liked him calling me in such way. Yet, I hadn't missed what he just said about the kid being his first best friend. He must have had quite the bad experiences and I could relate to that all too well, understanding his need to stay on his own rather than being involved with unnecessary and useless people.

"Hmm, then I probably am," I replied in kind, feeling my mouth changing in a teasing smirk and again, we very quickly glanced at each other in complete silence, his eyes even darker in the deem vehicle. "I'd be happy to be your friend, too," I then felt like saying, meaning it in a way, and not in another, for there was something in Travis that made me question whether we could be just simple friends.

As of today, I understood I liked being around him, not finding him annoying but very much the contrary, enjoying talking with him or staying in complete silence, finding him extremely interesting and damn hot. I mean, finding a guy damn hot wasn't exactly the first thing I ever expected, but why denying it? It was all messed up, but yeah, I think something else in me wasn't messed up at all, having very clear ideas when it came to him.

"I'd like that," he replied with his voice sounding as if he were some very sensual purring feline. "Thank you." I shook my head at that, for I honestly meant what I said and there was no need to thank me. I behaved like a douchebag in the past days and still this morning, and it was about time to cut with that shitty behavior and be a man.

"Have lunch with us tomorrow, also your friend," I proposed, having finally understood the kid was really just a friend, but I could still tease him a bit, given how fired-up and unpredictable his reactions were. "Or perhaps you'd prefer a more private time with him?" I teased and he took my taunting as expected.

"Hell, cutie is definitely my friend only because I think you already got the idea from my rather shameless tongue what I like and Jas is definitely not a guy that seems to be in rough and wild stuff, aside the fact I see him almost as a younger brother," he explained with quite the tone of voice and I felt one side of my mouth tilting up and he must have seen it. "You're just making fun of me!" He playfully slapped my arm and I chuckled at that.

"Maybe," I conceded, and he snorted out, not being really annoyed. "I can tell you two are friends and that's good, friends are something very precious," I said, thinking about mine but also about Anatoly, and at everything that had happened with him, between us all.

"I'm starting to understand that now," he replied resting the side of his head against the headrest, his eyes directly staring at me. I wondered what he was thinking about as he kept silent just looking at me, but then he surprised me with another very direct question. "Alexi, this morning did you come to the bathroom on purpose or was it just by chance?" I hadn't expected him to ask this, but then, why not? It made sense with him being the way he was.

I reflected over his question for a moment, deciding whether to tell him the truth or not, but what was the point in lying? I had followed him because Collins went there and I instinctively knew I had to do something about that, to protect Travis.

"I saw Collins getting there a short while after and I knew something would happen," I explained, and he was the one staying silent for a few seconds.

"Thank you, Alexi," he then said very softly, his voice a sensual murmur that tingled my ears and stirred my senses, because I quickly turned to look at him and our eyes locked in the darkness of the car. We had just arrived at my house when he replied, so I switched the engine off as we kept staring at each other in complete quietness. I shook my head slightly and he smiled, the side of his face still resting against the headrest of the seat, his eyes trailed on mine, white hair cascading on his forehead. I almost went to touch it, but I refrained that impulse, however, I took his bag from his hands and my hockey jacket, and he went to say something obviously.

"Don't be stubborn with me, Travis, I don't advise you that," I remarked the last few words with a rather dark and low tone of voice, which had nothing of threatening or annoyed, most likely wickedly playful and affected by his intoxicating proximity, by the way he kept assessing me, as if he was touching me almost. "And Travis?"

"What?" The sound of his voice, the touch of provoking caress it held, once more woke that sort of wild and restless beast inside of me, my eyes now deeply staring into his. He had inched closer and so did I.

"There is no need to thank me and Collins deserved to be beaten to a bloody pulp for what he wanted to do to you and what he had said to you," I spoke with apparently levelled voice, but the anger for reminiscing those moments was right there barely under the surface of my thick ice and he felt it, he perceived it, because he smiled at me in a way that my mess somehow increased, yet seemed clearer at the same time.

"Still, thank you," he repeated and shook his head, thinking about something I couldn't tell. "I also wanted to punch the shit out of him for what he called me and for the way he spoke to you. Hell, I guess we both have quite a biting temper sometimes, right?" He slightly bit his lower lip with a very mischievous light in his eyes and then played with his piercing. God, I had to leave the car before doing something rather impulsive and stupid such as slamming him against his own seat and kiss the fuck out of him.

"I guess we both have quite a temper," I agreed, and we finally opened the respective doors, the cold evening air somehow calming down my thoughts and very triggered senses, both boiling with simmering rage but also completely irrational attraction. The space inside the Dodge was getting too small and rendering me too aware of many things, feeling the need to touch him. I breathed in deeply and let out a soundless sigh. "But be careful with him, because he's a true piece of shit and you have no idea everything he did since his first year in school," I still felt the need to warn him as we walked to the main door and he chuckled.

"He can kiss my very sexy ass, for all I care," he replied amused and winking at me, making quite the move with his hips as to show his indeed very hot and bitable ass, but I stopped walking, getting his full attention.

"Travis, I mean it. He's a completely piece of garbage, so stay far from him and avoid provoking him."

"Well, bite me then," he reacted as I expected, his eyes locked on mine with quite the challenging and cracking light in them. "Aside the fact I can take care of myself, unless of course they're so fucking coward-like to come at me in three or four," as he spoke my anger raised up to no end thinking about what indeed happened in school, "I won't let the like of him push me around or scare me. I'll definitely kick his ass, because I don't really go to look for trouble, but if provoked, I won't just sit down quietly and take it. No way in fucking hell." Shit, he really had a firecracker-like temper and truly he wasn't someone easy to scare. I liked that, a lot.

"I know you can take care of yourself, you made that point very clear and I don't doubt it, I saw it this morning," I spoke to him directly, having taken a step closer to him and still holding his belongings, our eyes pretty much challenging each other, but if he thought I would be an easy case, he was very much mistaken. He was stubborn, wasn't he? But so was I. And there was something in him that triggered my reactions. "But avoid getting your lovely temper out too much, especially if I'm not around."

"I would never want to involve other people in my mess," he promptly replied, and I really respected his attitude and integrity, yet this wasn't the matter at hand.

"I know and I respect this of you very much," I said, and he smiled, much less fired up this time, relaxing his stance. "The bottom line, Travis, is that we're friends and you can involve me if you need it, because I'd be there, I mean it." I never expected to say something like that, and it almost surprised myself for an instant, but I just spoke what I truly felt and thought. Yeah, we were sort of friends, that I still needed to figure out, but I surely knew I would have his back if needed, because I already realized how protective I felt of him. He went to reply, and I stopped him. "Don't say thank you, it's not necessary."

"What should I say then? What would you like me to say?" He really was good at that and I wondered if he even realized it or not.

"Join us for lunch tomorrow," I said as a matter of fact tone and he nodded, smiling such a beautiful and breath-taking smile that I could only reply to that. "Good, now, let's go and be ready for Vanya, because he can be quite the annoying prick sometimes."

"Vanya?"

"My brother Ivan, it's the way we shorten or change names in Russian. Mine becomes Sasha, as you already know, Dmitri for instance is Dima, dad's name would be mostly Volodya and so on," I explained, and he just nodded, following me inside the house, leaving the shoes at the entrance. Just as I imagined, my brother must have heard my car or spotted us outside talking, because he was there waiting for us and smiling in quite the irritatingly smug way, obviously being interested in someone as extravagant and different as Travis.

"So, back already? It's still early for dinner apparently and my baby cannot join us tonight," he explained, looking quite disappointed but I mentally exhaled in relief because if also Nichole would have joined us for dinner I couldn't imagine what a pain in the ass it would turn. "Travis, did you get everything you need for tonight?"

Travis only nodded with a smile and I noticed how Ivan went to say something, which probably was a joke regarding the arrangement for the night, for I still haven't told Travis the little renovation plan our father and Julie had going on. I shook my head and threw a meaningful glare at my brother, who immediately got it and just scrolled his shoulders.

"Do you mind if I give a call to my mom? She is expecting it and, if possible, I'd like to be alone mostly because I don't want to worry her while she's on her business trip," he asked me, and I indicated him to follow me upstairs.

"Leave the things in my room for now and call her from there, I'll be waiting in the main living room, which is right on the left of the stairs," I explained as I walked up, going to leave my leather jacket in the room. Then I walked to the bathroom and came back with a cream I used when I got particularly nasty bruises either on my face or around my body after a game, and I handed him. "Take this for your face, you can apply a bit of it later and once you're done with the call, I'll give you some ice."

"Don't worry, I think it'll be gone in no time," he replied and I noticed he tilted his head back to look at me and I smiled, because we stood quite close and somehow, in that moment standing so close to such a trouble-magnet didn't bother me as I had thought before. No, in fact, since this afternoon, when he collapsed in my arms out of mental and physical weariness, something changed in me and at least one thing became clear and no longer bothering me. However, I still had other things to sort out, but one step at a time. I think today proved to be quite a strange day for me and, all in all, I liked it.

"They shouldn't have touched you," I only said, and my voice having dropped down in its usual glacial tone and he noticed that, because he tempted to smile as if to smoother my mood. "I'll let you call you mother and see you downstairs, OK?" He nodded at that and I went to leave the room.

"Thank you." I just inclined my head, closing the door behind me and going for the living room, trying to figure out what to do before dinner. Hockey game on TV? Yeah, that sounded a good idea and the perfect way to relax myself, as recalling what they had done to him, the fact they dared to lay their hands on him...I had to take a deep breath and let it out slowly, as if trying to let out the sudden anger burning in my veins, leaping at my skin and making me shiver, for I realized once I reached the living that my hands were shaking in rage. I had to cool it down.

I switched the TV on some sport channel and since hockey wasn't on, I opted for basketball, knowing it would have made Dee very happy if he knew. Then, I looked at my phone considering whether to call River or not, but I let it go, as we would talk more tomorrow in school. My thoughts then concentrated on Travis and somehow, knowing he was in my bedroom, safe and well, helped considerably in dropping my anger down almost to none. Why was it like that? It already happened today, and it felt like being around River, even if the entire feeling was very much different. I shook my head and let all that go for now, for then smirking at the thought of Travis's reaction once he would hear about tonight. I would tell him about the impossibility to use any of our guest bedroom later on, no need to freak him out yet.

Sleeping with him during the night...that was definitely going to be quite an interesting experience, even more if I considered it was something that pretty much never happened before, as even if my friends stayed over, the arrangement had always been quite different.

After a while, I went to get some ice from the kitchen and prepared it for him, and when I was back in the living room, he was waiting there, watching the game and, as soon as he heard me stepping in there, he looked at me and smiled.

"Your ice," I just said, and he tilted the head eyeing me in a rather mischievous way, playing with his piercing, which was something I wasn't sure he did on purpose or not, given how fucking hot that was.

"My ice?" He asked and I didn't exactly get what he meant with the tone of his voice, so I just stepped to him and did something I would have never thought of doing. I carefully pressed it on his face and his eyes quickly widened a moment, surprised by me, just as much as I was by my own actions.

"Yes Travis, your ice," I confirmed, as I was beginning to slightly understand his teasing and flirting, which I liked and felt the need to follow.

"Thank you," he only replied, smiling in that very gorgeous and dazzling way of his.

Shit, sleeping with him was really going to be very interesting and, possibly, messing me up even more. Ah, whatever.

TRAVIS POV:

I called my mother and I was very happy to hear everything was going well, the client having planned to treat them for a very posh and elegant dinner, having left two drivers at their disposal and giving them every possible comfort. I was really impressed, but it was what she deserved, because I knew this was a huge case and it meant a lot to her. I dropped the bag in Alexi's room and then left his bedroom, eyeing the other doors I could see on the hall, wondering which one was going to be mine. His house was very big, clearly expressing the wealth of his family, but I noticed already how neither him nor his friends gave me the impression of acting spoilt, as other students did in school, having the need to show off the money their parents had. I guess Aleksandr's family was similar to my mom in that respect.

I walked down the stairs, yielding to see him already. Hell, being around Alexi was beyond crazy and a very sweet torture. He was absolutely mind-blowing on so many levels that both my mind and heart were beginning to short-circuit. Aside the obvious fact he was terribly sexy and hot, that twice in the car I had to restrain myself before doing something completely out of mind as such running my nose on his neck and bite his ear or attack his soft, very kissable lips, making him feel how amazingly I could use my piercing and turn him on, he was an incredibly nice and loyal person, and what he had said earlier, in front of the door, had almost knocked the breath out of me.

There was such wild fierceness when he spoke about Collins and he really meant what he said, which was beating him up badly, and I wondered if he had quite the issues with anger or so, but the truth was that I couldn't care less. He wasn't a violent person and that was plainly obvious. He was so attentive and careful with me, obviously enjoying teasing my rather cracking temper that would easily fire up and he was another sexy stubborn ass. A beast he was, very much so, but a fucking hot beast I would love to have destroying me in bed in every possible imaginable position. Oh hell...I was getting hard again...seriously? What would people think of me if they could hear all my crazy thoughts? Oh what-fucking-ever, because you know what? Bite me. Alexi was so wildly hot and gentleman-like that I had to really restrain myself before doing something very, very stupid.

He had just accepted me as friend and, from the little I could gather on him and from what I had just discovered about him, it was quite a big deal, something he considered very important. And so did I. I felt freaking lucky and I sure wasn't going to waste the given chance. If then, in the meanwhile, I could flirt around with him and enjoying his mouth-watering God-like view, well, what would be bad in that? Nothing. I would probably just suffer of many boners and attacks of crazy lust, but I could survive it.

Before dinner we spent some time in their main living room, a very nice area of the house where it was obvious they liked to spend time together watching something on the TV, or relaxing on the very comfortable and big sofas they had at the light and nice warmth of the fireplace, or whatever. I liked that room and it was clear they had a loving and close family. I liked them all at first, his father being kind and welcoming, even if rather strict-looking and the kind of man inspiring you a clear no-no bullshit and non-sense.

His wife, Alexi's and Ivan's stepmother – which made me wonder what happened with their mother, for it seemed they never even mentioned her, giving me the feeling something bad had happened – was beautiful with her shoulder-length black hair and smiling green eyes, quite short, especially if compared to all of them being very tall and gigantic, and with gentle and very spontaneous manners, having inquired what I would like to eat for dinner. Ivan was funny and during dinner he often made jokes and tried to tease his brother, who most of the time simply ignored him or grunted out something in Russian.

Dinner had been quite the experience and what Julie and Mr. Lebedev prepared was very good and surprisingly healthy, but I wouldn't have complained nor refused it anyway, because I wasn't a rude ass and their kindness was almost overwhelming. Hell, I didn't know how to thank them, and they told me not to, so I tried to help after dinner, but they very nicely kicked out of the kitchen. So, Alexi told me to follow him in the leaving room, saying there was something he wanted to watch. I obviously went with him, the chance to spend time together alone impossible to resist.

While I was sitting on the couch, right beside Alexi, who was obviously watching a hockey game, I felt like being in a stupid content pink bubble. He casually sat there very relaxed and sometimes brushed his arm against mine when he moved according to how the game was going. My eyes stole many glances and I hoped he didn't notice them too much, or else he would find freaking weird and stalker-like, but I really couldn't avoid it or help it. Plus, the hot and very considerate beast had sat right beside me, leaving not much space between each other and I had to keep my hands busy somehow, before letting them do something I would kick myself for.

At home, with his family, he was different, completely different than in school, almost another Aleksandr. Well, he still remained sort of cold and distant, especially if compared to his brother who sure had nothing of cold inside of him, but he was definitely more relaxed, warmer, even kinder. His father was a nice and thoughtful person, once you'd get over his bear-like look. I understood from where Aleksandr and Ivan took their built and height.

Mr. Lebedev, or Vladimir as he repeated to me more than once over dinner, was taller than them, with massive shoulders, had a firm and bone-crashing handshake, dark short hair, the same nose as Alexi, hard and serious expression and intense deep blue eyes, which though weren't looking the same icy-blue and transparent as Alexi's. He gave off intimidating vibes at first having me telling myself to not say anything out of place, but then, observing him interacting with his wife and sons, I realized he is very gentle and actually quite funny. And, very much importantly, he was very open minded.

During dinner it came out I was gay; hell, it just slipped out when Julie, their stepmother, asked me if I had a girlfriend, because she was sure that with my looks I could definitely have a very beautiful and intelligent one, obviously pleasing my cocky and vain side, which perked up in interest and almost waved its tail satisfied as it were some cat. As much pleased as I could be, I however told her that I had no girlfriend and that I wasn't interested in that, but she obviously asked me why, saying I sounded exactly like Sasha. So, not wanting to lie or find out some lame excuse, since I never lied about my homosexuality, I bit my lower lip a bit nervous not sure how they would react, and said I was gay.

What came after that pretty much shocked me and left me blinking a couple of times in stupid daze.

Julie didn't mind that one freaking bit, and continued talking as if nothing, asking straight away if then I had a boyfriend, to which I replied no, and she shook her head, asking again because she really couldn't believe it. I was beginning to think Julie and mom would like each other, having some common traits. In all of this, Mr. Lebedev listened as if nothing, and Ivan just took the chance to ask more questions and crack a joke here or there. At one point, Julie mentioned River to Alexi, suggesting we could make a good match, and he gave her a quite dirty glare saying to forget it, which I didn't understand at all. His brother laughed out at that and made jokes on how it would turn out to have me paired with River, Alexi rolling his eyes and clearly about to lose his patience, until their father pretty much told him to quiet down and not to embarrass me.

Hell, as if anything would even embarrass me; however, I was glad he took my side and ended it, because Alexi was clearly starting to look pissed for whatever reason he had and I feared a very painful kick in the shin would have followed for Ivan. So, I guess his dad saved his ass. But then, Alexi out of the blue mentioned that I dance, and his brother looked at me with gaping mouth, for then clapping his hands together once and just cheering out: "What? Oh my God, Nichole is going to love you so much!"

I just looked at him with wide eyes, blinking twice and then creasing my forehead, not understanding the meaning of that. Was I some kind of cute teddy bear in his eyes? I could say straightaway I hated teddy bears and that I wasn't cute at all, for I was fucking hot and sexy, there. Anyone having a problem with that? Nope? I thought so.

Alexi patiently explained to me that Nichole was his fiancée and had she been adopted when she was three by her two fathers, making her a fierce and strong supporter of the LGBT community, not to mention she was a raising and already very famous ballerina at the American Ballet Theatre of New York, and according to him, she was extremely talented, saying I would have liked to meet her. Only then I understood what he meant to say when we were at my house. Thus, I thought about it for few seconds, as I remembered admiring with all my heart and crazy self a wonderful ballerina called Nichole Emma Lewis, and I wondered if it was a coincidence, or maybe having just similar names. But it turned out it was her and I almost choked in water at hearing that. Hell, were they for real??

Ok, I said nothing could embarrass me, right? Well, let's make it clearer and more correct. Nothing but my tongue whenever getting out of control.

As Ivan confirmed me it was her, showing me pictures of them together, I just practically jumped up of my chair and almost yelled "Hell, I can't believe it, I adore her, she is fucking wonderful, absolutely perfect and so talented that I admire her with all my heart! I watched all of her performances!" Then, as I realized the extent of my reaction and what I had just blabbed out, I shut my mouth and bit my tongue, for then murmuring a very embarrassed sorry while bowing my head. Hell, I cursed like a sailor and I knew it and mom didn't give a flying fuck about that, but she also taught me good manners and I always cared about them, obviously if people deserved them, and Alexi' family certainly did.

"I am extremely sorry, I got carried away," I remembered saying, trying to justify myself and my rather out of place outburst. Mr. Lebedev and Julie just chuckled softly and said it was OK, they were used to some cursing with Ivan in particular and also a bit with Alexi, to which I smiled back, our eyes quickly meeting, and I sincerely thanked them.

It was amazing how Julie, not their real and biological mother, truly loved them as her own sons. I didn't ask Aleksandr about that not wanting to intrude in something so delicate, because hell, he just warmed up to me quite surprisingly, and I didn't want to behave like an insensitive prick or mind business that weren't mine. He had explained me himself Julie had married his father only a few years ago, but he didn't say or add anything about his real mother or why she wasn't there, and I guessed from his tone he wasn't open to questions. Thus, something unpleasant must have really happened. Another detail caught my attention in their house; there were many pictures of them, and none portrayed a woman that wasn't Julie or other members of the family. I doubted she had died and probably, she just did something very bad, like my father.

I shrugged at that thought, realizing there were lots of things I didn't know about him, about his life, family and everything else related to him, and I wanted to know them all, I badly wanted to know him deeply, the real Aleksandr, and become closer to him, someone he would completely trust. Yeah, I wanted that, him sincerely trusting me, because I felt I could do the same with him. What he told me earlier outside the house came back to my mind and I lost myself thinking about that, the tone of his voice, the way his eyes had pierced mine and looked intensely, how we had drawn to each other. I halted a moment.

We did that, right? Yeah, like in his car, or in his bedroom...what was that? Did he maybe feel something while around me? I quickly peeked at him and I shook my head. Stop dreaming, Travis, he was very straight. Yeah, very straight, yet he had flirted back, because I sure hadn't dreamed that.

Seeing me shaking my head, my personal obsession arched his black perfect eyebrows as to express curiosity and his eyes studied me in that intense way that often stole my breath, making me feel my knees trembling for the strong emotions running inside of me. Thank God, I was sitting on the couch, but well, very close to him.

"Are you OK, Travis?" He asked, with a hint of concern and I smiled, him giving me another of that freaking sexy and dick-hardening one-side smile.

"Yes, I am OK. I was just thinking about something," I sort of replied, not really wanting to go into details. It wasn't necessary and I had no idea what he would say to that.

He studied me for another few seconds and then nodded, turning his attention back to the game and stretching his legs longer in front of him, his arms up and I heard some cracking in the motion. He then cracked his neck and placed a hand on the back to massage it, making an annoyed expression and grunting out something under his breath I didn't understand.

"Do you have pain in your neck?" I asked, seeing how he was now massaging it with both hands, and he snorted out his reply.

"Yeah, sort of," he said with quite the annoyed voice. "I have tension right here and sometimes it really freaking annoys me, not to mention I need to get painkiller at times." He pointed at both the trapezius and at his neck and I said nothing at first, so we went back watching the game.

However, a thought had sprung in my mind and I considered it for a moment, whether to voice it out or not, for I still didn't understand the term of our relations very well. Were we schoolmates? Friends? What? Sure, he said he would like to be friends and that I could count on him, but we had just met, and I was afraid to make a wrong step. Would he let me get physically close to him? I knew I would definitely love to be able to touch him, but I saw he wasn't much into that in general. Being around him as we did today, having dinner with him and his family, talking to him normally and seeing a different side of him made me realize I could maybe take it to be only his friend.

Hell yeah, that was true, I could make it, I could try to be only his friend, if that was the only way for me to be close to him, to know about him, enjoying his company. I really liked this different yet still the same Alexi and I liked him even more than what I had thought before. It was beyond the mere physical crush and I had to acknowledge it, finding the way to properly handle it before ruining everything.

OK, all considered being merely friends would take a hell of an effort, especially having to ignore the raging desire I had for him and how beastly hot he was, the very rough and wild sex he inspired me, the burning lust coursing in my veins for him, firing me and my physical attraction...the fantasies I entertained in my very dirty and creative mind. That would take some damn self-control, but...I could try it. Yeah, I had to try it. So, I pushed my dirty thoughts very deep down and decided to ask him.

"If you don't mind it, I could give you a massage, because I know how to do it, and you can trust me in that." I had to learn it, so to sometimes massage my own legs, feet and arms, because at times I really needed it. At my question, he suddenly turned to look where I sat, his attention fully concentrated on me, the game continuing on TV.

"Hmm? That sounds very inviting, and are you really good at that? Can I really trust you?" He asked with a not very veiled intention of teasing me, concentrating his icy-blue eyes on me, sort of smirking in his damn hot and mouthwatering way. Well, that helped a lot in my new intent, thank you very much, Alexi, for not making it harder than it already was. Oh whatever, I pushed that comment away in my mind and replied in kind. Two could play the same game.

"Well of course I'm good at that, Alexi," I answered, giving him my best smug and provoking smile, showing him my hands and slightly moving my fingers. I noticed how his eyes darted on them and then he nodded at me, an expression I couldn't interpret on his fucking handsome face.

"Ok then, I am in your hands," he said and hell, did he really have to say that? I wished he were in my hands because the things I would do to him and...stop it, Travis, you bad horny dog! I smiled at him and swallowed down as he pulled off his shirt, again facing his perfect and mind-blowing body. Great, big help fucking indeed. It'd be a miracle if I didn't get hard. Hell, the being-friends part was going to be as easy as walking on thin ice.

"Where should I sit?" He asked, directly staring at me and I mentally kicked myself in the ass, trying not to stare at his abs and chest too obviously.

"Hmm," I considered telling myself to cool down. "Just sit on the floor with your back on me, if that is OK with you." Yeah, that was going to be fine and probably less tempting.

Sure, in my very delusional dreams!

He sat in front of me and I was behind him, my legs on his sides, his broad and muscular back in full display for my heart content. Fuck, he was so sculptured and massive. I took a deep silent breath and placed my hands on his shoulders, feeling his skin being warm and smooth and it was great. Yeah great as heaven and hell at the same time, for that was pure living hell. I tasted the muscles with my fingers, and he was right; he had them way too tense, feeling a couple of knots. I began to gently rub the area between his shoulders and below the neck, first with my thumbs, then moving more to the center and massaging with more energy, for then shifting my hands on his neck.

Meaningless to say how all of this felt amazing, how out of mind felt to touch of his flesh with my fingers, feeling its warmth and strength, seeing a couple of times he had goose bumps, maybe caused by my rubbing. I massaged his neck more intensely and then descended on the trapezius, concentrating more on it. He shuddered under my hands and I heard him letting out a soft groan of appreciation.

"You are really good at this," he murmured with husky voice, clearly enjoying it and letting his head slightly drop to the side, unconsciously leaning more into my touch. I gulped at the sound of his voice and I was the one shivering, barely able to cover it.

"Thank you," I managed to reply somehow, mesmerized by how he evidently liked this, by the feeling of his naked skin in my hands, his scent and cologne drugging my senses and lulling me in very dangerous and quite horny paths. I silently exhaled out the burning and raging lust, especially as my knees were now pressed against his arms and he obviously didn't mind it, in fact resting a hand on my foot, completely relaxed and at ease.

I kept moving my thumbs first and then my other fingers on his skin, rubbing and massing. One particular point was really tense, and I guessed he didn't spare himself while playing, having heard of his being the best captain the school hockey team ever had. Yeah, he must have being awesome.

"You must play like crazy," I commented as I kept massaging him, as he had hummed out another time in pleasure. I closed my eyes a moment, fighting against the need to taste his skin not only with my hands. "I mean, hockey, you must play quite hardly and aggressively, not really sparing yourself," I spoke more, mostly to distract myself, but he didn't really help in the matter, as he let out quite the freaking hot chuckle.

"Yeah, well I have to, I am the feared captain," he joked completely at ease and slightly bending his head forward following my silent instructions. He felt so solid and strong...he truly was made of rock-like muscles, so firm and powerful.

"Do you play like them?" I asked, having to veer my thoughts elsewhere, meaning the players on the TV. Hell, they clashed against each other like they had to take down a mountain, beating each other with the sticks and often ending into a fistfight. There was a way only to describe it and that was exciting. Yeah, very exciting and I could only try not to imagine how even more exciting he would be while playing.

"Worse," he answered as he chuckled and then, he surprised me by suddenly turning his head to the side, peering at me. "Would you like to see me play sometime? I can promise you we're the best."

Oh God, an epiphany just hit me very strongly. I was right there, in Aleksandr' living room, having a normal and nice conversation with him, enjoying his very tempting and hot proximity, giving him a shoulders massage and spontaneously smiling at each other, teasing each other, because today I realized Alexi very much enjoyed doing that with me. Hell, that wasn't what I expected when I first bumped into him that Monday of few weeks ago, when I helped cutie and got Collins on my bad side. And, to be completely honest, I wasn't what I freaking expected this morning, when he barked at me very angered and pissed I was a magnet for troubles and I truly believed he was deadly and irrevocable mad at me.

I thought about that and smiled at how the situation easily and crazily turned in just a few hours.

"Yeah, I bet it would be very exciting, right?" Here we go, more flirting, because apparently, I couldn't help it with him. And the same went for him.

"You're right, Travis, we are the best and quite rough at playing, just as you seem to like it," he teased as he winked at me and in reply I stuck out my pierced tongue, seizing him with quite the suggestive expression. He gave me a look that knocked the breath out of me and cracked out that sexy smirk, leaning more into me and resting against the sofa, my knees completely pressed against his shoulders. How did he not mind that? Well, I had no fucking idea and I couldn't care less, as it was very good for me.

"Who plays with you? River I know and Hayden, and what about Derek?" I had a feeling he didn't take part to that, always calling them hockey-beasts.

"No, Derek doesn't like hockey and actually he plays basketball, but he wouldn't miss any of our games, it's a friends thing, just as we don't miss his games," he explained, making it obvious and very clear that his friends meant a whole world to him, making me see how lucky I was to be given a chance. "You met River, I remember very well," he said with slight annoyance and I creased my forehead at that, but he shook his head and I let it go. "Hayden you already met, and you have classes with them and then I think you remember Dima, Dmitri I mean, right?" I nodded at that, recalling the big blonde guy who struck me with his loud laughing and very friendly attitudes. "They all play in the team and then other people I am not sure you know or have met."

"Hmm, I see," I said, losing myself in the thought of him skating on the cold surface of the ice and clashing against opponents, crashing them with his strength and skills. I looked at him and then thought about his friends. Hell, was it is also a requirement to look quite hot to play hockey? Lucky me, I managed to keep that comment for myself.

"Does your friend also dance?" He suddenly asked, studying my face.

"You mean Jasper?" Not that I had many other friends at school, smartass, but well, the rather stupid question came out naturally and he chuckled at that, as if reading my mind. Fantastic...caught in my moment of not very fabulous and flattering dumbness.

"Yes, him," he calmly said, still resting against the couch having his head closer to me, my hands still on his shoulders. I realized I hadn't stopped touching him since we began talking and he seemed not to mind it. Sure as fuck I didn't mind it.

"No, Jas isn't into ballet like me, but he loves to skateboard, and I promised to go see him sometimes, because I saw some videos and he's really cool. We didn't have much time yet, because, hell, we met recently, since..." I stopped talking, because I knew recalling that moment wasn't going to be a clever idea.

"Since?" He however asked, having interpreted my hesitation correctly and yeah, his face hardened up at the memory and something crossed his eyes. Fuck...he was scary in a way but terribly sexy and hot in another and I never felt unease around him.

"Well, since that day, you probably remember when." He only nodded and kept gazing at me, and it really wasn't easy to keep my cool having him half naked in my hands. "Now turn around, because I haven't finished yet with your neck," I ordered, purposefully playing with my piercing and he concentrated on that, for then slightly smiling and shaking his head.

"Yiest," he said with a different and harder tone of voice, possibly speaking Russian.

"What?" I asked as I resumed massaging him very intently, the smell of his skin mixed with the cologne lulling my senses and desire.

"That was sort of 'Yes, sir' in Russian," he explained, still letting another very cock-blowing sound as I rubbed a rather tense part with more energy. "You're really good at this, Travis," he said with low voice and I had to swallow down.

"How would you say this in Russian?" I asked him completely enthralled by the thought of his voice speaking that language and he replied, saying something I had no idea what meant, aside guessing it was what I asked him for. "I didn't understand anything, but it sounds...nice," I managed to utter and he just softly chuckled, giving me full access to his neck and shoulders.

Needless to say, when Alexi spoke his other language, which I believed it was what he usually spoke at home with his father and brother when Julie wasn't around, his voice sounded threatening and crazily sexy, a touch of roughness right there and making me fantasize over him even more. My hands greedily moved on his shoulders and rubbed them as he needed, my thumbs then going back on the neck, seeing he particularly enjoyed that. His brother joined us in the room and sat on the couch besides ours, giving us a curious and amused look, for then turning his attention on the TV and lying long on the sofa, his hands crossed behind his head. I guess he wasn't very much used to see his younger brother in such situation, because from time to time he stole quick glances at us, and once, he quietly laughed, attracting Alexi's attention.

"Shto, Vanya?" He asked him in Russian and Ivan just shook his head.

After a while I kept massaging him, I felt the muscles being much more relaxed and less tense, seeing he moved his neck with more ease.

"Feeling better now?" I inquired as my hands stopped at the base of his neck, knowing I had to stop touching him but very much reluctant in doing so. He cupped his neck with one hand, softly stroking and touching my fingers in the motion, not recoiling from the contact but actually keeping it there; he felt the neck, moving it left and right, back and forward, and then he turned his head to the side to look at me.

"Much better, believe me," he replied with his typical smile and I just stared at him, completely lost in his beautiful eyes and in how handsome his face was, in particular when being relaxed and at ease. "Thank you, Travis."

"Anytime you need it," I only said, not really trusting to add more. And Alexi had no idea how much I meant it...anytime for real.

We exchanged a quick smile and he went to stand up, putting on his shirt and sitting again right beside me, leaving little space between us. It was all so surreal and all so perfect at the same time. Crazy and calm, exciting and relaxing, heaven and hell. Did I even make sense? I had no freaking idea and I honestly couldn't care less.

We watched more TV, the game reaching its conclusion and I yawned without realizing, even though it wasn't really late, being barely eleven in the evening. But it was true that it had been a damn long and strange day. Exhausting under many respects.

"Are you tired? Do you want to go to sleep?" Alexi asked observing my face. Aside my mother, I never met a person as attentive and thoughtful as he was.

"I guess I am, but I'd like to take a shower, if it's not a problem." I should have taken one at my place, but back then I didn't want to make him wait too long.

"No problem at all, come with me," he answered, getting up, and then we both turned to Ivan, as we heard him sniggering very much amused. Why was that?

"Travis, I guess my brother hasn't told you yet, but you'll have to sleep with him tonight, because the bedrooms we have for guests are going under renovations and they definitely cannot be used given they don't have the bed in there, Julie and dad wanting to make them better, so yeah, good luck with that," Ivan said, now looking at us both with a smug and very amused grin.

I looked at him puzzled and blinked twice, almost not really believing at what I had just heard. Was he freaking joking or kidding around with me? What the hell was that supposed to mean? Sleeping with Aleksandr, sharing the same bed? Are you kidding me? I mean, fucking hell yeah in an awesome way, but that was going to be pure torture for me. Oh my, all the odds were against me. Damn great. Fantastically damn great.

"He moves around a lot and snores," he kept on joking and Alexi snorted at that, indicating me to follow him to the door.

"Bullshit, bro," he grunted out. "If I remember correctly, you snore, and I only move around a bit, being always used to sleep alone in a big bed." He then looked at me. "Come Travis and don't pay him any attention."

"Great, sure, but I also move around a bit," I mumbled, given I also was used to always sleep alone in a big bed. Awesome.

Ivan just began to laugh his ass off, holding his belly and shaking with amusement at my expenses. I rolled my eyes, because what was so funny about that? I was being put through a hell of a situation. Alexi motioned to follow him upstairs and I did, trying not to think about that too much.

"Sorry about this, but I guess you don't want to share the room with him, given he snores, and none of us would ever let you sleep on the couch, so forget the idea before even thinking of saying it." I widened my eyes and stuck my tongue out. How did he guess? "I was right, hmm?"

"Yeah, but only because I'm afraid to disturb you and abuse of your hospitality."

"Forget that bullshit, you won't disturb me," he promptly replied and then we reached his bedroom, in which I stepped inside with a complete mess in both my mind and heart. Was I really going to share the same bed with him? I looked at that and silently exhaled seeing it was rather big, so if I was lucky enough I wouldn't end up doing something very stupid, such as cuddling against him, because there were high probabilities I could do that, seeing how amazingly it felt being close to him.

He handed me a towel and I took a pair of pajama shorts, then eyeing a t-shirt and deciding to go for that, only for that time. Normally I slept with my boxers only, but hell, I wasn't going to do that tonight, giving I was sharing a bed with Alexi. Would I even be able to sleep? Hell, if I knew! He then went to his desk and turned on the laptop, sitting down and browsing the Internet.

"You don't mind if I stay here, right?" He asked with an amused and teasing tone, keeping his face on the screen.

"No, I am not some shy kid," I said in the purpose to mock him from this afternoon, and I heard him chuckling. I removed my jeans but decided to keep on my t-shirt. Sure, I was fine with him there and I wasn't timid, but that wasn't the problem. Pretty much naked with him right there at my reach? Nope, that wasn't a good idea. So, I grabbed a new pair of boxers, my shorts and went to his bathroom.

Hell, I needed a stellar, year-long shower, but I wasn't at my own place, so I took it normal and not too long, really not wanting to abuse of their kind hospitality. I used his shampoo and his shower gel, which I both liked very much, imagining him there with me, which was a very idiotic idea considered the hard-on it gave me. I turned the water very cold and cursed under my breath. An even more idiotic idea. When I was done with the shower, I brushed my teeth, changed into my bed clothes and rubbed my hair with another towel, seeing it was basically dry. I went back and Alexi was laying on the bed, only wearing a loose pair of shorts, his muscular and broad chest and his mouth-watering perfectly shaped abs in full fucking display, zapping channels on the TV. I took a deep breath and went to sit on the bed beside him. He stopped on a sport channel: ice hockey. Of course, I almost chuckled at that, but managed to only smile. He really liked that...no, scratch that.

He loved ice-hockey, just as I loved dancing.

Hell, the entire bedroom screamed of sport and ice-hockey in particular. It was nice to see he had a pretty big and well-organized bedroom, with a huge bed, TV, desk and a comfortable chair, an armchair also looking comfy beside the bed, on which I would definitely enjoy riding him and...let's drop it. I noticed there weren't any nightstands, but instead he had a long shelf inside the wall behind the bed, above the headboard, and there stood a lamp, books, other objects, and a few pictures. On the other side of the room, there were other shelves with more books and mostly trophies, posters of his favorite players on the walls, more pictures of him, with his hockey team, his friends, his family. An old hockey stick and mask hung on the wall in front of the desk. He also had a complete set of weights to lift and a do bench press, and much more. Hell, now I understood why he had such impressive and stone like muscles.

"Hockey again?" I asked, making a face obviously faking annoyance, as I definitely didn't mind that.

"Nah, I'm going to switch it off soon, but you can watch something else if you want." I shook my head and then, he surprised me once more by casually turning around and taking a strand of my hair between his fingers.

I froze there on the spot and my breath stuck in my throat.

"Your hair is still slightly wet from the shower," he commented and yes, it was still wasn't perfectly dry because I didn't find a hairdryer and I didn't want to bother him. His fingers kept playing with the strand of hair and his eyes closed for an instant, making me go almost crazy. Hell, Travis, don't freaking jump him!

"Is this a problem for you? Should I maybe dry it up completely so that your pillow..." He halted me smiling, letting go of my hair.

"No, there is no problem for me or for the pillow, and it's almost dry. I was mostly asking for you," he replied and then stood up, going to the bathroom, exposing his glorious and mind-blowing body as we walked just wearing a comfortable pair of shorts.

I observed him walking there and then close the door behind. I tried to relax as much as I could on his bed, his scent completely wrapping around me, smelling it even on me for I had used his showering products.

Hell, this was going to be quite the wonderful and yet fucking challenging night.

ALEKSANDR POV:

Travis walked out of the bathroom and the smell of my shower gel and shampoo on me immediately hit me. I swallowed down as to calm what was pacing inside of me, demanding more and growling confused and frustrated, just as I was. He lay down on one side of the bed, wearing a t-shirt and shorts, which surprised me and somehow disappointed me, imagining he would be someone to sleep with his boxers only. Then, I silently groaned out at my own thoughts. Seriously, what the heck was that? He eyed me and his stare remained on me, without bothering to cover it and I didn't feel any annoyance nor uneasiness. We exchanged a few words asking him if he wanted to watch something in particular, but he said no.

He was there beside me, keeping a certain distance and yet observing me, the smell of my shower gel on him, on his hair and I turned around, giving in into my physical and very irrational need to touch him. I had to touch his hair once more and it really was silky and soft, still faintly damp from the shower. I heard him taking a sharp breath, and I should have stopped touching him probably, but I couldn't. What intrigued me more than I expected was the scent of my shampoo and shower gel on him and the fact they smelled different on him, but different in a very tempting way, combining with his own scent.

I closed my eyes for an instant and thought that something was really off with me. Here I was with someone I had just met, going to share my bed, being sort of friendly to him, screw that, being very friendly and open with him, and even wanting to touch him. Something was fucking off. But as much as it annoyed me, I couldn't ignore the fact that around Travis I felt relaxed and at ease, I didn't need or want to shove him away, and in fact, very much the contrary. I had taken a decision in the afternoon and I haven't regretted it for not even an instant. No, the resolution behind that only strengthened and became deeper. I had to be around him.

And obviously there wasn't a problem with the fact he was a guy or gay. I couldn't care less in a way, even though, yeah, maybe it was a bit strange given I never had been interested in one, but I had never permitted anyone to get that close to me. My best friends didn't count, just as my family didn't count, for they were special. Would he also prove to be someone special? We looked at each other for a short silent moment and I let go of his hair. I had no idea, but I already knew I was going to find it out sooner or later.

I went to the bathroom to brush my teeth and such, and I eyed the shower, seeing drops of water still on the glass, imagining him there naked. Shit. That hadn't been the smartest thought to entertain and I had to calm myself down a bit before going back to my room. The fact was that as I looked at the shower, I was yes seeing him there naked, imagining how fucking sexily his body would be shaped, but he wasn't there alone, and the idea almost scared me. I seriously had to understand all of this.

Once I cooled down, I walked back to my room and he was there, checking something on his phone and I climbed back on my bed, taking my phone as I had received a message from Hayden and one from Derek on our group chat we had on Facebook, both of them arguing over something very stupid. My eyes trailed on Travis and yeah, he definitely had to join us for lunch tomorrow. He must have felt my look, because he moved his on me and rested the phone on the side. Hmm, Travis wearing a t-shirt for sleeping really wasn't something I expected, and did I want to be a jerk and tease him? Yeah, I knew I wanted that, since I realized it was funny to tease him, with his firecracker reactions. Not to mention the most obvious and rather lame reason: I wanted to see his body and see for myself whether he really was as hot as I imagined.

"Are you afraid of being cold?" I casually asked, as I moved on my side to better stare at him, feeling my lips tilting up in a very taunting expression.

"What do you mean?" He asked back also sliding to his side, hair cascading on his forehead and on one eye. There was a strange and very irrational feeling of familiarity with him, as if all of this felt natural and nice, as if we hadn't just recently met.

I gestured at his t-shirt and I smirked at him, curious of how he would react to my provocation. Shit. I was being a bit of a jerk, I knew it, I knew it, but I honestly couldn't help it. I was aware it would probably make him uneasy, but I wanted to see more of him, and somehow, given how he behaved with me and what he had said throughout the entire afternoon and evening, thinking about his hands on me and how fucking great they felt massaging his shoulders and neck...I doubted it would make him feel uneasy.

Shit...true, his hands on me while he massaged my aching muscles. He had been incredible with that and a few times I had closed my eyes imagining them elsewhere. Goddammit, I was losing it. Yeah, I was, and I wasn't sure if I cared.

"Do you always sleep like that? Because my room is warm enough, believe me," I teased more and shit, my irrational side was waking up at maddening speed, so I had better to keep an eye on it. "You can see it with me," I pointed out, for there was no chance I could sleep with a t-shirt and I hoped he wouldn't mind that, although I believed he would not.

"Err, not always obviously, and in fact I prefer sleeping quite freely, but hell...this isn't my bedroom and I don't want to be...you know," he said without completing the sentence and I arched my brow in a question, causing him to eye me with an annoyed look.

"No, I don't know, what do you mean? But what? Are you now trying to tell me you are shy? I swear I wouldn't believe that even if I got proof of it in front of my own eyes," I joked, and it was true. Travis was everything but shy and, as much as it annoyed me to admit it, I liked it. And it mostly annoyed me because the more I thought about it the more I liked him, his behavior, attitudes, small things or quirkiness, which I was sure he had many. Why him? Alright, he was hot and sexy, and somehow, I was trying to make peace over that, but there was more there.

"Ha, ha, ha," he mocked an annoyed laughter, making me smirk even more seeing he rolled his eyes and swore under his breath. "Very funny, Sasha." He said my Russian short name without realizing it and it sounded nice on him. "Yeah, I am not shy, and I am rather cocky at times, so what? Have you got a problem with that? Well, bite me." Oh, I definitely would do that, if he let me and I froze there on the spot, realizing what I had just thought. Fuck...I had to get a grip on myself.

But I was right. Yeah, he had a crackling temper, he was actually an unpredictable and hot firecracker. I simply smirked at him and lay back crossing my hands under my head, trying to keep my thoughts at bait. I heard him sigh and then move, his t-shirt coming off. I moved my eyes on him and I was completely taken aback, my breath stuck in my throat as my eyes devoured him. I already felt he had a fit and perfectly slender muscled body but seeing it that close was a completely different matter. As I figured out already, he wasn't bulky, but he had the muscular and elegant features of a dancer. Everything was perfectly shaped, not too prominent or big, but equally strong and firm, equally sensual and very alluring. Like his arms, his stomach with chiseled, gorgeous six pack, his defined chest that...shit.

His chest.

Shit.

He had a piercing on his right nipple and that turned me on in an instant. I swear, it looked so fucking sexy and inviting on him, on his perfect smooth muscled chest, letting the round nipple stand out even more, his skin looking as made of silky marble, yeah, it did look crazily hot, so much that it totally caused me to growl inside my mind and thank God it stayed just in my mind. Damn. I didn't expect it and that hit me pretty hard and badly. I knew I was fucking staring at him, but I couldn't care less. My eyes refused to trail away, just until I felt his on me.

We exchanged a long look, both in complete silence, simply gazing into each other's eyes. I was about to move my arm and touch him, but I had enough control to put my irrational and definitely turned on side on a leash.

Travis had a crazy and mind-blowing effect on me and, given my own nature and personal issues, it was hard to admit it, annoying me slightly because I never had anyone turning my world so much inside out and it sort of scared me. I still was confused in my mind, the mess quite loud and growling along with growing physical attraction. But it was really physical attraction? Wasn't this maybe just simple curiosity? What the hell was that?

I could take and admit attraction, yeah that I could, because Travis was fucking gorgeous and tempting and had a very strong attitude, but I knew there was something else there. Or so I believed. And not understanding what that was, made me even more restless and annoyed. I felt like going in circles on and on. What else made me control my new irrational side was that I had to understand why him of all people. I had sex before and it was nothing to die for, nothing as amazing as others bragged about, nothing that blew my mind or had me feel extreme pleasure. Not even very satisfied. Nothing like that. I also never permitted a person to get too close to me and pushed them away as soon as they proclaimed their phony feelings.

But there was something off with Travis and, physically I felt in a way I never did; if I thought at the way he had touched me before in the living room, feeling his knees on my arms, his hands on me, his voice close to my ear as we spoke...God, that was enough to get my crotch on fire, so did I get a clear idea now? Sort of. Travis was a flirt like River, blunt and without boundaries, very extravagant and straightforward, you could see it clearly in every little thing, but I also noticed he never really stepped the line with me. And that also upset me, for I wouldn't have minded it. Oh shit, I had to give myself a break.

"Nice one," I said smiling on one side of my mouth, hearing my own voice husky and rough. "It suits you," I admitted without much caring about it. It was the truth and there was no need to beat around the bush.

"Do you really think so?" He asked rolling on his side and resting his dark eyes on me, once more feeling them as if physically touching me.

"I do, it does suit you a lot," I repeated, and he gave me an ambiguous smile that reflected his cockiness and his awareness of being dangerously sexy, but that let something else hidden. He licked and then teased his lower lip with his teeth, as if he was thinking about something.

"Thanks, Alexi," he only said, his eyes still on me.

"Was it painful?"

"I won't lie to you, it was, and I had to take care of it very carefully for the next days and even dancing with it requires a lot of attention, but I like it." He then thought about something and quickly ranked my body. "Do you have any?" I shook my head. "I think tattoos would look good on you," he spontaneously said, and I chuckled, for yeah, I had considered getting one in a couple of years.

"Do you think so?"

"Oh definitely, believe me," he replied making an expression that somehow reminded me of a feline having quite the fun with his prey. How would Travis be if he would step over the line? Somehow, I found myself eager to discover that, but I let it go for now.

"Thanks then, I'll consider it," I said, and he grinned again, so breathtaking that I had to force my eyes away from his face. But then, I remembered to ask him something else. "Travis?" He looked back at me, cocking his head. "How do you feel now? Better?"

My question took him by surprise, and the way his lips tilted up and his eyes shone held a completely different expression and feeling. I had the impression he could be explosive in his extravagant ways, but also a very kind and possibly sweet person, who needed to voice his emotions and who also needed someone there for him. He was strong, no doubts about that, but I had a feeling he still cherished dearly when a person expressed sincere concern or care. And I surely cared about him, truly and honestly.

"I am, Alexi, I really feel good now, thanks." There was a hidden shade in the way he pronounced now, and I remembered what he told me while at his place. I was glad he felt as such with me, possibly, also because of me.

"Good, so should we go to sleep?" He nodded and I switched the TV off and went under the cover, Travis following me. I switched the light off and wished him good night.

"Night, Alexi," he replied, and I smiled in the darkness of the room, feeling his presence right beside me and liking to hear his voice right before falling asleep.

I woke up before the alarm, as usual as my body and mind were already used to it, and I felt refreshed and well rested, like I had one of the best sleeps ever. Something was strange, though. I was still groggy and half asleep, but I could feel something close to me. Then my brain connected entirely, and I realized what that was. No, it wasn't something, but someone close to me. Actually, not just someone, not a random person.

It was Travis.

Obviously, I knew he was beside me, because I didn't forget about it, but I definitely didn't expect this. My eyes adjusted to the feeble light in the room and took in all the details, my body registering them even faster. We both were in the middle of my bed, me laying partially on my back, one arm under my head, another on Travis's arm. He was resting his face on my chest with his hair tickling my neck, one of my legs sort of entwined with his, his left arm resting around my waist. He was breathing softly and very quietly, just like he did yesterday in the afternoon. We were skin on skin, feeling his very warm and smooth, his piercing pressing on my chest.

Alright, this was something indeed and, as I had imagined last night, sleeping with him had proved to be a very interesting experience.

My stare moved on his sleepy white head and I could feel him very relaxed and completely at ease on me, still sleeping quite deeply, his arm somehow tightening the grip around me, his head snuggling closer to my neck. I realized immediately it didn't bother or annoy me in the least, absolutely not feeling wrong or anything strange that I desired to push away, no. It felt...yeah, it actually felt nice. And very much new. I never spent the whole night with any of my ex-girlfriends, never let them stay here, never wanted to share such closeness. And now, here I was in my bed with Travis, and more importantly, I liked it. The problem he was a guy didn't even concern me; my biggest concern had been the fact he was a stranger at first and quite a troublesome one, but all of this was slowly fading away, since I had vowed myself to get closer to him and behave as a true man would do.

He was still fast asleep, so I let my fingers very gently and carefully brush his arm, his smooth and firm skin. I deeply inhaled his scent and then closed my eyes, enjoying this whole new emotion running inside my body and mind, enjoying this peaceful and relaxing quiet, enjoying the sensation of my skin against his, of our bodies somehow connected and touching. I just lay there without moving as I didn't wish to wake him up, wanting to indulge in this a bit more, at least until I could. I wondered what River would think of this, but I wasn't sure whether I was ready or not to speak about it.

After a while the alarm I set up on my phone went off and I switched it down immediately. Travis moved and slightly stretched on me, his skin and muscles pressing harder on me, and not just that...it should have weirded me out, but it didn't. On the contrary, I had to close my eyes a moment and tell myself to cool it down, because feeling him stretching on me in such sensual way had completely woken me up. He was still not completely awake and definitely not aware of where he was. Then he murmured something pretty much incoherent and opened his eyes, readjusting and remembering he was in my room, sharing the bed with me and being stretched on me. And so, I felt him tense and freeze. He loudly gulped, trying to pull away, his eyes darting up to look at me, and for once, I knew he didn't know what to say, his black jewels now completely wide and very much awake.

"Morning," I said only, trying to look as much relaxed and casual as possible, not wanting to make him even more nervous and definitely not wishing to show what having felt him on me triggered in my body.

"Err...morning, Alexi," he replied with slightly low and alarmed voice, his eyes locked with mine. He kept still for a couple of seconds, almost not breathing, and then he moved away from me, and somehow, I felt missing the warm touch.

"I am so sorry, I move around when I sleep because I'm used to be alone in a big bed, and hell, you must have felt really good and warm and so...oh fuck, what I am saying? I'm sorry, Sasha." I let him untangle himself from me, but I didn't really help in the process and once he was done, I rolled on my side to look at him, smirking at his expression.

I had a guess: he said my Russian short name only in particular occasions, especially if he was nervous. Travis wasn't someone who believed in covering his emotions much, which was quite a contrast with a person like me and yet, I enjoyed it, because he wasn't phony and it was just his way of being spontaneous, open, free with himself and about himself.

"No worries. It's ok, really," I told him with also quite low voice, and he tempted a smile which I reciprocated, us still under the covers. "I slept well, believe me, and my brother told you I move, too. So, no big deal, you didn't wake me up," I added, playing it cool and keeping my usual poker-face.

"Yeah, great to know I didn't disturb you or so," he commented with a soft laugh, brushing his hair to the side. "So still friends? Hell, are we even friends? Or what?" That made me smile.

Were we friends? In a way, yes, especially after yesterday, after what happened with him, between us and what I told him; because I meant it. If he'd need my help, I'd give it to him without any hesitation, and for sure I was going to keep both of my eyes on that piece of shit called Collins. So yeah, friends. The easiest way to put it for now.

"Sure Travis, we're friends," I confirmed and we both smiled at that.

Author's chit-chat:

What are your reactions, thoughts, ideas, feelings and impressions about what happened in here? We are making small progress, hmm? It's not that easy for our Alexi and also for Travis, so it cannot be rushed or ruined.

Yes, I am aware my stories have a lot of introspective parts in which the characters explain us their emotions, thoughts, views and such. I know it might be boring for some, but it's how my writing style is and how I like to give you my stories and characters, letting you deepen into their own mind and world, not just by the dialogues, actions and such.

How do you like Ivan? And our Alexi? Who imagined he could be so tender and caring?

I really hope you enjoyed this EDITED and improved chapter and I will be looking forward to reading your comments and messages, thank you very much for your wonderful support and love!

P.S. if you find small mistakes or such, please be aware the entire story will be once more checked and polished once it will be completely edited and such. So yeah, fellow authors know how long it takes to have an almost flawless version, it's a demanding job, believe me. Thanks for understanding and being patience.

Lots of Love, Magic, Hugs & Meows,
-TheWitchAndTheCat-