"Nikita wanted to see you." He told her as they were walking towards his car. "Want to come over and see him before it gets too late?"

"I guess I can stop by for a while." She was more nervous about getting into the car she had kissed him in.

"Belt." He told her as she sat in the front seat.

She put the seatbelt on and reached for her neck nervously playing with the necklace. She wondered how long this car was going to be? And that almost-kiss moment at the party yesterday. How was she supposed to suppress that?

Aleksei was aware she was nervous. He had a knack for reading people and while she was doing her best to look calm, he could tell the very thought of being in this car with him alone was making her think of the kiss. He has suffered every day like this since then. But as much as he wanted her to feel relaxed around him, he wanted her head to be filled with thoughts of him.

"Are you thinking about the kiss?" He asked.

Tai almost choked on her spit. "No, I'm not."

"That was a fast answer. I think you were." He decided to tyrannize her.

"We didn't kiss last night," She said strongly.

"Ah, so you were thinking about last night. Interesting." He opened the window letting the warm breeze in as he drove.

"Focus on the road, please." She crossed her arms and legs and looked out the window.

"You can't avoid the topic forever or run away like you did last night." He turned on the radio, the music playing on low in the background.

"I'll avoid what I like when I like for as long as I like. I'm a professional avoider at this point. Avoiding problems, awkward situations, people I don't like and unnecessary drama is my strong point."

He paused for a moment, running his finger over his mouth. "Am I one of those people you don't like?"

"No." She kept looking out the window. "Just the topics you keep bringing up."

Aleksei looked at the side mirror of the car and smiled. She was doing her best to keep calm and sound rational.

"I think the reason you avoid those topics is that you know exactly what they lead to." He glanced at her before turning left. "But wouldn't it be better if we at least talked about it?"

Tai was happy to see the end of the car ride so near. She ignored his last sentence.

He parked his car and Tai rushed out at the speed of light. He followed after her, and they walked to the villa together.

Tai kept playing with the necklace around her neck. She should think about Aleksei now and make a decision. Did she want to indulge in something with him or would she have to strongly avoid him from now on? Because at this pace he was going to overwhelm her.

The moment they walked inside Lev and Nikita headed out.

"Huh?" Aleksei looked at them confused. "Where are you going?"

"I'll be right back." Nikita told Tai following Lev.

"I sent them out to get the food I ordered. " Zakhar explained.

"I'll be right back. I need to change this shirt."Aleksei ran off upstairs leaving Tai and Zakhar alone.

Tai took a deep breath. For some reason staying alone with Zakhar was nerve-wracking because she never knew what sort of topic to talk to him about.

"Arya is coming as well." He headed towards the counter. "Want some coffee?"

"I'm fine." Tai raised her hands.

"Tea?"

"Just cold water please." She followed him to the counter and sat down over the bar chair.

Zakhar poured the water into the glass and slid it over the counter to her side.

"Thank you." She took a sip, her fingers playing with her new necklace.

"Is that new?" Zakhar asked, looking at her necklace and earrings.

"Ah yes." She touched it again. "Present."

Zakhar smirked.

"What?" Tai asked, smiling.

"Nothing." He shook his head amused.

"Oh come on tell me. It's unfair since I already saw you making a face."

Zakhar leaned over the counter. He pointed at the earrings. "Those are not earnings, they are shackles and the necklace is not an accessory, it's a collar."

Tai laughed but was quick to calm down after she saw his face.

"They're from Aleksei right?"

"Mmm yes.." She took another sip of water. "But it's not what you think. We're not like that."

Zakhar gave her a look. "That's marked territory. What are you going to reply when another guy asks you about them? Who are they from? What will you say? A guy who I've recently met bought these for me."

Oh shit, Tai thought. He was right. He was totally right.

Zakhar smiled at her embarrassment. "There's no judgment in what I'm saying, you understand right. Look." He pointed at his neck. "I'm wearing a collar too."

Tai looked at the choker around his neck. He was always wearing the choker and at first, she thought it was an accessory, but considering he always wore it with everything it must be a gift from Arya. It was funny because it looked like a cat collar without the bell.

"Is that from Arya?" Tai asked.

"Bought it for me, the first week of dating. Not that I needed a collar to remind me not to date others." He replied.

"Fast." Tai chuckled.

"That's what domineering people do. They demand, they take without question and you just do their bidding." He smiled. "But they love the best."

Tai's next words got stuck in her throat as the door opened and Arya walked in.

"Hello kitten. Oh Tai, are you staying for lunch?" She rushed over to hug Tai and then she grinned at Zakhar opening up her arms.

He walked over and scooped her up, giving her a tight hug. He was looking forward to it all day long.

She ruffled his hair as he started kissing her neck, walking backward until they both fell over the couch.

"Should I come back later?" Tai sipped from her water unsure if they knew she was still there or they just didn't care.

Arya raised her arm. "Please hold for one moment."

She held him until he recharged and was ready to let her go. She then got off the couch and Zakhar wrapped his arms around her waist following her as she made her way to the counter again.

In the meantime, Aleksei came back down.

"What did you order for food?" He asked Zakhar.

"Italian food. Eggplant parmigiana, lasagna..."

"Good. Good." Aleksei took the bottle from the counter and drank straight from it then glanced at Tai and winked at her.

She turned her head towards Arya. "How did you like the party?"

"I had tons of fun." She smiled. "Though I was more entertained by my partner." She brushed her fingers over Zakhar's hand. "But it's good to change environments."

"Do you not like the music?" Tai asked.

"It was just not my vibe. But don't tell your friend."

"I won't."

"You seemed to like the music." Arya pointed at her and Aleksei. "You two danced together right?"

The door slammed open and Lev and Nikita walked in carrying the food. Tai was never more glad for Nikita and his timing. At least she could avoid that conversation until she had it all figured out herself.

***

The following week was all homework and last exams for the graduating students, so both Nikita and Tai had put their romantic life on hold.

Lev was still stuck in detention so after the exams, he was held up there. Zakhar was camping at Arya's place to help her study all week long and Aleksei was motivated more than ever to get those last-minute assignments done on time so he could have more free time later on with Tai. The year was ending, they were graduating and he might not see her again. The time he had on his hands was vital.

However, as busy as all the students were, the bad weather had caught up with them and rain was pouring down the windows of their villas, not giving them opportunities to have some fun outside after the grading week was over. The benches outside were wet, the gardens were muddy so everyone was stuck at home for the time being.

Nikita was getting used to life with the sinners. It was noisy most of the time, and sure they made a mess of all the rooms every day, with only Zakhar to motivate them to clean up. The housekeeping lady only came once a week and they were too spoiled to do their dishes. But despite the difference in atmosphere from his last villa, Nikita felt more comfortable than ever. He wasn't hiding his true self and they accepted him for it.

Going downstairs to get something to drink before going back to his room, he found Lev and Aleksei playing games as usual. Their Friday was spent gaming.

"Not again." Aleksei tossed the game console on the couch in annoyance after losing.

"Sucks to be you." Lev smiled, preparing to beat him in another game. His chosen player always survived longer, but fair enough he was a much more dedicated gamer than Aleksei in his free time. Finally, they turned around and noticed him, staring.

"Wanna play?" Aleksei offered, raising the console.

"No." Nikita raised his hands and headed towards the fridge.

"Come on, it's fun." Aleksei got off the couch and walked over.

"No thank you." Nikita took a can of cola from the fridge and then tried to pass by Aleksei.

"Have you played before?" Lev asked.

"Um yeah, sometimes," Nikita said. He never really had any interest in games except that one time when he went to his cousin's house and was forced to play it. It was his only experience.

"You can have my console. I have already died so many times." Aleksei sighed and walked over to the fridge getting a can for himself as well.

"Come on." Lev tapped the couch next to him. "I'll show you. It's easy."

Nikita moved his feet towards the couch. He still didn't want to play and lose, but he just didn't have the heart to reject that invitation from Lev.

Aleksei tapped his pockets. "I can't find my phone. I'm going upstairs for a bit."

"Crying about it alone in your room is not going to help you win." Lev teased.

"Fuck you too." Aleksei laughed going up the stairs.

Lev took the console and handed it to Nikita who was tensed up on the couch unsure what to do.

"It's easy." Lev leaned in close to his face pointing at the buttons. "This is for jumping, with this you can move.."

Nikita was listening to him in the back of his head, but he was more focused on Lev's eyes. They were the most beautiful cool brown color. His lashes were long and dark. He was way bigger than him in body size and two heads taller. He always had a faint smell of cigarettes and mint on him.

"Just try it." Lev finished with his explanation and took his console. "I'm pressing play."

"Right.." Nikita said in a daze and then turned towards the screen in panic. "Okk.okay."

They started playing and Nikita was pressing the buttons like crazy trying to survive in the game. He'd occasionally glance at what Lev was doing and try to keep up.

Eventually, that wasn't enough and he died. "Ahh," Nikita complained. "I just died."

Lev laughed. "You did well for a beginner."

"I really hate losing." Nikita slammed the console on the couch covering it with a pillow.

Lev burst into laughter. "You're more of a sore loser than Aleksei."

Nikita crossed his arms and sunk onto the couch.

"You'll get better at it." Lev placed his console aside. "I've played for years so don't look at me as a beginner's example."

Nikita snorted. He couldn't even show Lev a cool side of him.

"Ah.." Lev winced in pain.

A lock of his hair had tangled on one of his piercings.

"Not again. Shit." He struggled to untangle it.

"Wait a bit." Nikita leaned forward and gently tried to untangle the hair with the piercing.

"Thanks." Lev untied his bun and then redid it into a ponytail, clearing the hair away from the ears.

"How long have you had piercings?" Nikita asked.

"I did the first one in my first year, as soon as I entered high school." He answered.

"I've always wanted a piercing."

"Go get one then." Lev encouraged him.

"I don't think they suit my personality." Nikita touched his chin. "I can barely grow a beard."

"That's some bullshit." Lev took off one of his smaller piercings. "Come here, I'll poke a hole right now."

As he reached for his ear Nikita instinctively covered his ears.

"Come on." Lev was having way too much fun teasing him.

Nikita shook his head covering both of his ears. Lev grabbed him under the elbow trying to get him to let go and eventually he managed to do it. Instinctively Nikita grabbed his shoulders trying to push him away and closed his eyes.

"I'm just messing with you." Lev laughed. "I can't pierce your ears with this."

Nikita opened one of his eyes and then reluctantly opened the other one. His heart started palpitating and his nerves had started working. He was holding Lev by his tight biceps and was staring at his face like it was a moment straight out of his fantasy.

Before you decide to kill me, a reminder that you love me and if you kill me I can't upload the next chapter

*runs off*