Dear All,

As I anticipated in my message, today I am posting a part of the new chapter that came out VERY long and that I decided to split for obvious reasons in two different chapters. I wanted to update earlier, but Wattpad did not work. I hope you will all receive the notification, given the issues and glitches experienced during these days.

Sorry for the tremendous delay but I had been simply very busy and some personal things also added in. Please, do not think that I lost my interest and love in writing my stories: ABSOLUTELY NOT TRUE! I love writing and I love writing these stories :-)

Now, this chapter concerns many things and in particular most of  their date, as part of it will be in CH.25 posted either tomorrow or Tuesday. (Be ready for another LONG and emotion-filled chapter ^^)

I would like to thank each of you for your messages, for your incredible love and support and for the magic you give me: THANK YOU! I hope you will enjoy this chapter and I will look forward to reading your comments, so let me  know!

I would like to dedicate this chapter to everyone and in particular to 1qa2wszx as a big THANK YOU for your comments and votes, for always sharing your emtions about the chapters and also because, I think you'll like to learn more about Marlon.
I picked a picture of Anatoly (--> very very handsome Alexander Ludwig) to give an idea how elegant he looks, even though we need to use our imagination in terms of shirt, earrings and such..Tolya looks quite different of course :-) As song, one that fits the chapter and also somehow, the romantic idea Tolya has of their love.

And now, enjoy it!

"There are darknesses in life and there are lights, and you are one of the lights, the light of all lights", by Bram Stoker in 'Dracula'

OLEG POV:

My instinct and attention were caught by a name while I went through the files in my laptop, after having excluded others for obvious reasons, given nothing was found about them and they had no motives to threaten Anatoly. Somehow this name seemed very clean and in the impossibility of being connected to Anatoly's school incidents, but I could see the person was the parent of a student attending Anatoly's school. I wondered if he knew him, even though they were two years apart in terms of age, and I wondered whether something happened in the past between them. I will have to ask him directly after our date, for I did not wish to ruin the atmosphere and burden him even more.

Could it be related that the parent was part of the teaching body? No, that was not the reason. There was something deeper and something different, because the actions taken against Anatoly proved a rather disturbed mind in the sense that they wanted him heavily harmed or worse.

However, what my friend working at that private clinic told me about the content of the drink I brought him last night for a test left me slightly perplexed and that because the substance used was different than the one utilized the first time. I was expecting the same drug or another similar kind, but not a medicine. Obviously no finger prints, aside Anatoly's, were found on the bottle and it did not surprise me.

He told me that a very strong drug against depression had been found in the water and in a dose that could have caused serious and very harming poisoning on whoever drank it. I closed my eyes a moment and shook my head, thanking God for having made Anatoly spit it out before swallowing it down. I had searched the places of some persons and nothing led them to these facts and for a moment, this morning, I felt as if I were going into endless circles. It was not easy to move around and I had to do it with extreme caution and care, for I could not afford to make mistakes or point out the wrong person.

Time was ticking away every single day and I was well aware of it, yet I had to impose calm on myself and on my personal emotions.

I checked the time and decided to drive to Marlon, as he was working today for another case; after having lost his fiancé years ago to an incurable form of cancer, he buried himself entirely into work. I understood the feeling of loss, for it was what I felt when my grandmother died. I also decided to spend longer time in the Army, feeling the responsibility of having to provide for my family even more.

I needed to borrow a motorbike he used sometimes to follow people and that was going to be useful for me. I glanced at that name and the address where the person lived and wondered if my instinct was correct, because nothing really seemed to incriminate that person. I had found nothing out of ordinary, or at least that had not been already seen in other cases. Yet, the fact that the partner left after that accident that happened two years ago and the long period of leave taken after that episode...yes, something was there and I had to discover it today if possible.

Not the mention that the son attended Anatoly's school and once was taken to the hospital due to an accident happened in school with some bullies that "accidentally" hit him during gym practice. I was relieved in seeing that Anatoly was not involved in that, because I could only imagine how he would have felt about it later. I had tried to break into the house yesterday, but it was not empty; at least I had to chance to ascertain that they had no outdoor security system.

I casually rode the motorbike around the area where the person lived and marked all the surrounding buildings and houses in my mind, planning the best way to break inside the house. I parked the motorbike relatively far away from the place and walked back, studying the surrounding and patiently waiting to find the right moment. Nobody was at home and that had been clear, for the people living in there had left for the weekend, as I had the chance to overhear the neighbour replying to a man wanting to sell something that rang the doorbell while I passed by unnoticed. A rather observant and prying neighbour, I had to admit, and that meant that she had to also leave the house. I found a spot where to hide and I waited.

The perfect chance presented after almost an hour and I knew it had to be used at its best, for the time given to me was going to be short without doubts. I wore gloves and balaclava for obvious reasons and then moved to the house. The best and most unguarded, away from indiscreet eyes angle was the right side of building, where a window from the basement gave the opportunity to easily slip inside. They had no system of alarm and it rendered everything simpler and quicker. When I broke in, I carefully checked the place and after having made sure no indoor CCTV or security system were installed, I moved around.

Once I was sure of the culprit, I had to find a way to uncover and expose their intentions, even though it was not going to be easy this time. I could ask that police officer that would never deny a favour to myself or to Mr. Denisov, but it had to be done cleverly and without raising suspicion that the Denisov and Anatoly were involved. It was a delicate matter and given the circumstances, I would have preferred to handle it alone, for trusting another person in this was not a chance I was going to take or risk.

I had to be patient and watch out for Anatoly, for nothing was gained or achieved when actions were rushed and done out of desperation. Nothing more was going to happen to Anatoly and of this, I had no doubts.

I searched in the house and found a pictures' album with photos of the members of the family, some of them cut to let out somebody from the picture. Apparently the daughter had been chased out of the family for reasons I could not find, but she had been excluded from the family and disowned, causing a major rip in the family nucleon. She died eventually and that must have had a strong toll on the parents and also on the brother, given I found a picture of the deceased sister in his bedroom, left on the nightstand in a frame that had an angel carved in it. I still have not found the reasons or circumstances of her death, for I had been investigating on other cases first and unfortunately time was running short. Marlon was on it and soon I would have the information in my hands.

I moved to the master bedroom that was rather small but that might contain some clues. I searched everywhere, making sure to place everything back as it was and then I found a letter that was never sent, folded many times and hidden inside a jewellery box badly concealed in the very bottom of a drawer in the bathroom. I carefully pulled everything out and left it in the order it was stored inside and then I read the letter. It was a letter written for the daughter but never sent. It contained many different emotions and it clearly belonged to a person that had highly suffered, but also with unmistakable problems of stability. The letter was chaotic and evidently written in a state of great agitation, but as I kept reading it, it led me to understand in which circumstances the daughter died and then I closed my eyes.

This could not be possible and if it really were, it was going to impact Anatoly not little. I had no right to leave him out, for he had to know all the details, because he was not a child and he would have been disappointed at me if I left him in the darkness...yet...what was written in it was even the truth? Could it be trusted? I read it once more and doubts formed in my mind, not for believing it faked, but because the person that wrote it had gone through a major mental and emotional shock.

This letter could be used and the more I thought about it while I stare at it and re-read it, the more it formed the missing ring of the chain. Yes, it was a leap in the semi-darkness, but there was something in those pages and in the way it addressed the dead daughter that made me think of the messages left on Anatoly's locker and desk, along with the ones left on his friend and classmate. There was anger in it, anger for the way she died and for the way she had been killed, anger for the missed chance for her redemption, sadness and much more. I had to inform Marlon of this as soon as I was back to my place and see whether his research matched.

My eyes glanced at it another time and suddenly I felt sure of having found what I needed and, without many doubts, I had discovered the motives for having perpetrated the attacks against Anatoly.

I clenched a gloved fist and took a deep breath: this person was going to pay.

I took a picture of the letter for better studying it later and then placed it back folded as before in the box, readjusting everything back as it was found. After that I opened the cabinet of the bathroom and found some pills, completely innocent as they were meant to help you sleep, but then I found some drops that came with a medical prescription and I immediately read the main component. I squeezed my gloved hand over the flacon as it was not the same that had been used to drug Anatoly's water, but what was I really expecting? And however, the substance used was of rather common use, as my friend explained.

I investigated around the house more, but time was running short and I had to be mindful of not attracting any undesired attention; the neighbour might return home at any time and I had to quicken my research and actions. But nothing more was found in the place that could be used to lure the person out or make the person take a wrong step, which meant I had to find the way to reveal their intentions and make sure I had the right one.

However...this was the right person and cold anger for a moment invaded my system and twisted in my blood.

I tightened my gloved hand and heaved out a long sigh, for if I was right and I knew it was right, even so I was placed in a situation where I could not act and deal as I had strongly desired. I shook my head and cleared my mind, reprimanding myself for this weakness and focus on my own feelings: it did not matter whether I could deal directly with that responsible with my bare hands, because only Anatoly's safety mattered and came first. It did not matter whether I could punish them as I had wished. No. It did not matter. Only Anatoly's wellbeing and safety mattered and the thought immediately restored the necessary calm in my mind and heart, my personal emotions subsiding and cooling to a levelled status.

Before my intrusion could be discovered, I slipped out of the house and left without being seen or even remotely noticed. I took a different route to walk back to where the motorbike was parked and drove another longer way to reach Marlon's place. We discussed the contents of the letter and assured me he would immediately inform me once he had some news; I thanked him and promised him an extra for his help. He said it was not needed, but I believed it was only fair and earned; I knew he would never dare to expose me and the Denisov, for he was aware he could have lost his life in doing so. Marlon was a capable and very honest person, very good traits in a man whose help was useful.

"This is not what you expected, right man?" He asked me as he stared at the picture I took of the letter.

"No, indeed it was not," I replied with hard voice, staring at the wall in front of me and thinking more of what I had discovered in that house.

"It will not be easy, but if you need my help in this or the right person to inform inside the police, you tell me."

"No, it is too personal and delicate and there are people I cannot involve and fail."

"I understand it." He paused and read further. "If what's written here is true, this is pure revenge and I don't like it." I said nothing to do, avoiding to stating the obvious and avoiding fuelling my own personal emotions.

I had one important task to perform now and it was to discover how to expose that person, how to drive that vermin out in order to commit a wrong step. It was not going to be easy as Marlon remarked, but there was nothing else to do. I had to be calm, focused and patient in the way to not rush this wrongly. But one thing was sure: this sick vermin was not going to put their hands or harm Anatoly another time, for I had no more doubts about the identity and motives.

This person was going to pay, in a way or another.

I had another call to make, as the police officer might have extra information about this case, although I was not entirely sure he could get his hands on it. Nevertheless, it was an option to exploit if possible, because I doubted that what was written on that letter was entirely accurate.

ANATOLY POV:

I still couldn't believe I had accepted to watch two Star Wars movies with my brother and his chipmunk, and even worse, I still couldn't believe I had actually liked them. Alright, I didn't stay up like they did watching the whole first trilogy, because I couldn't wait to go to bed, but it couldn't be denied that I was curious to watch the following films. Oh joy! I didn't turn out to be a cheesy nerd like my brother, right? I groaned and rolled in my bed, seeing that it was already pretty late, but with Oleg we agreed to meet right before the play, as he had things to do during the day.

I sighed and sat in bed, thinking about what he had to do. Then a frustrated growl echoed in my bedroom as my temper woke up with me, thinking about the entire situation and at the fact he obviously didn't want my help in this shit.

He had refused it saying that first of all he was used to work alone and second of all, he didn't want to involve me in anything, nor he did he want to risk even the smallest chance to involve my family in what he was doing. I knew it didn't mean he didn't trust me or crap like that, I knew it damn well. But...argh, it still pissed me off because I wanted to get over with this. However, arguing with that bastard in this situation was useless and just a damn waste of time, because his idea was set and not even a grenade could possibly make him change his stubborn mind. I understood him, though, even if it wasn't easy to simply sit around and wait for him to clear the mess pending on me.

I wanted to help him and I wanted to be useful and don't know, I wanted to be the one for once supporting him.

But who was I trying to kid? Right now I was the one in deep shit with everything and it was a miracle my obstinacy decided to give in so I could completely rely on him. Well, the fact was that relying on Oleg was easy because of the ways he was and because, it also produced a warm and reassuring feeling that wrap around my body like a gentle blanket. Yeah...being with Oleg was very easy and damn great and I smiled thinking about him, sensing my temper cooling down. That bastard had quite the effect on me and the more I thought about it, the more I moronically liked it. I laughed at my pathetic cheesiness and decided keep it very secret and well, deeply buried in my mind. I mean, I was making fun of my brother and here I was, daydreaming about my man. Right...how sappy was that?

I kicked the duvet away and got up, going to the my bathroom to wash my face, mouth and decided that I was starving, when a thought hit my head: we had theatre tonight and he clearly told me that definitely I couldn't get there in jeans and such, and well, that I knew it by myself. So I opened the closet and snorted realising that I couldn't remember last time I wore some fancy clothes. We all had our sets of jackets, suits, pants and shirts and whatsoever, given mum was adamant on this, but the issue here was that with that shitty lifestyle I had for a few years those had never been worn and as I searched through what I had, I realised it had become too tight and small on me.

Oh just fucking wonderful.

And now what?

I reached the kitchen and nobody was in there, which didn't surprise me considering the time, so I looked for my parents in the house and they were in the family living room sitting on one of the couches comfortably talking: my father was sipping a cup of coffee or tea, wearing something more casual than usual, which consisted of trousers, shirt and sweater, looking at my mother with an adoring smile and she as always had a radiant expression on her face and was resting her legs on dad's lap. For a moment I felt like I was intruding and I debated whether to leave them alone, but they obviously heard me and immediately greeted me. Mum got up and went to hug me tightly, while dad simply smiled and asked me whether I was hungry.

"Yeah, I actually am, and well..." I passed a hand in my flattened hair and for a moment averted my eyes away because what I was about to ask was rather embarrassing for me, but I had no other choice. I cleared my throat and I didn't miss the way my father eyed me with a questioning, although somehow guessing look. Great, just freaking great. Ah, whatever. "Mum, I kind of need a favour, because you know tonight I go to theatre with Oleg, right?" She nodded, clearly pleased and happy about that. "Well, I realised that I have no proper clothes, as the dark jacket I have doesn't fit anymore." I halted and hoped she would get the meaning of my question without having to say it all. It was rather awkward, all considered.

"I understand Tolya," she promptly said and I almost breathed out relieved there in front of them. "We can go after lunch and look for something that would properly fit you for these occasions." She smiled and I nodded, munching out a "spasiba" and eyeing my dad that simply stood there with a content but not too obvious expression.

"Which play are you going to watch tonight?" He simply asked.

"He was cryptic about that, of course," I rolled my eyes and snorted. "I just know it's a play from Pushkin, but I'm not complaining, given I have read pretty much all of them."

And then I abruptly halted and looked at them. I had just admitted how much I loved to read and no damn doubt I sounded like some nerd. Wonderful. But they only smiled and mum winked at me, leaving me literally gaping like a moronic dumbass.

"Tolya sweetie, your father and I know that you love reading," she said and continued, "a few nights ago you mentioned that you would like to study literature, correct?" I nodded only, in some sort of shocked state. Who didn't know about my passion for reading? I bet not many people, but they all have been kind enough to let me believe it was a secret. What a blockhead I was! "I think it is wonderful and so does your father, right Zhenya?"

"Yes I do believe it is a good choice."

"You don't mind I don't want to take a degree that might help you in your business?"

"Dima is already studying for that, once his hockey career will be completed he will follow my steps and of course, you are welcome to join if you wish. However, I am sure you know I also rely on Oleg in the future and have him join me as partner." Those words stunned me for a moment, but then I found them only normal and as it should be. Yeah, dad was right in that because Oleg sure knew a lot of it and he was extremely capable in that, aside very efficient and dedicated.

"Does he know it already?" I asked slightly curious, but he shook his head.

"I have not spoken to him about this yet, but I will when the right time comes. I can already foresee his reply, but we all know that he is the right person," dad explained calmly, wrapping an arm around my mum's shoulders and she also nodded in complete agreement.

"Yeah, I guess you are right with that and well, we all know he's damn efficient and good at his job."

"That he is," dad confirmed and then mum asked me what I wanted for breakfast, so we all walked to the kitchen and I finally stuffed my mouth with mum's amazing cooking. Damn, was I starving!

After breakfast, Dima showed up in the kitchen in the company of Jasper, and we all went for lunch outside, in one of our parents' favourite restaurant. My twin drove his chipmunk back home and I went with mum for the dreadful shopping; I was overly glad Dima cleared the air, or I would never hear the end of his jokes. She took me in an exclusive and very posh boutique where they made me sweat only by the way they all looked so perfectly and almost not humanly dressed and all. Yet, the shop assistant that helped us was very friendly and obviously knew my mother very well, given the way she greeted her; it was not as terrible as I had expected and she was actually skilled and quick in pulling out suits that perfectly fit me in terms of size and colour, given we had no time to tailor it on me.

Mum insisted I tried other suits than the one I needed for tonight and we had them tailored on me, as she said one was not enough. I decided to not argue, as she was paying for all the deal and I had no energy to contradict her with that; she eyed a pair cufflinks and a tie that my dad would have surely liked and bought them for him as present. I secretly smiled at her as I observed her expression and once more confirmed to myself that I was very freaking lucky to have them as parents.

Once I was packed and ready, I took my father's BMW X6 that had become mine actually, given he had received the new SUV yesterday, the newest Range Rover in sleek black that actually looked damn comfortable and spacious. I was slightly nervous and my eyes quickly darted at the rear view mirror to check whether I looked like a complete moron or not; the shop assistant advised me to go for a total dark suit and at first it looked like a stupid idea to me, but she was patient and persuaded me to try it on.

Well, it looked freaking good and I had no problems in admitting it, as it made me appear like some sort of badass and I was surely going to match Oleg in the right way at least once. The jacket and the trousers were of a charcoal very dark gray, while the shirt was of a deeper yet warm-looking black, and I even made the effort to wear a tie that was left rather easy and loose. Impossible to stand something too tight around my neck.

The tattoo peeked out from the shirt's collar, but I decided to not care about it, because it was going to be gone and erased very soon as the processed already started; while it bothered and weighted down on me just a month or so ago, now it meant nothing. It was in my past, as Oleg often repeated, and I finally came to accept the fact that it couldn't be changed. I had to deal with my past shit and not run from it. I wasn't that asshole any longer and all it mattered to me was what I had slowly become and what I had slowly achieved. There was much more to work at and I still had to understand what that lunatic wanted from me, which sure wasn't an easy thought, but the old me was gone. Tattoo on my neck or not: that pathetic, sick Anatoly was gone, and soon the ink would follow.

I let out a loud and long breath and spotted the street where Oleg lived, so I turned left and then parked right in front of his house. He suggested picking me with his car, but that looked too damn girly and somehow too freakish; I was gay, yes, but I didn't need to feel like some gay version of Cinderella and he had already organized pretty much everything for tonight. I arrived earlier than planned right to pay him back from yesterday, as I was raging horny the entire damn day, and I couldn't wait to get him the way I was craving since the other day. I slammed the door closed and heaved the bag on my shoulder, as my eyes stared at his house.

Man, was I really nervous about tonight? How lame was that?

I marched to the entrance and I managed to ring the doorbell, but he opened the door right a second after it and I swallowed down as my eyes devoured him. Fucking hell...Oleg looked damn hot and for a moment my brain pretty much disconnected while I ranked him up and down, studying every single particular of him.

He wore a black suit made of a one-button jacket with a lapel made of a slightly different material that recalled the one of the vest, and the trousers fit him in a perfect way, also black, and I could already imagine like the horny brat I was they wrapped around his damn hot ass in a freaking sinful way. The shirt was a very light gray and somehow it matched the darker pearl-gray of tie that he obviously wore properly as he was used to it. His tattoos slightly slipped out of his shirt's collar and it gave me the final blow; as he reached for my face with his hand, I noticed he had a watch made of shining steel and I noticed it was a Rolex, a present from my dad without doubts, and he also used cufflinks of the same material.

God, did he want to blow my sanity and mind completely away? I had already seen him formally dressed, but never in this way and he looked...damn, he looked right to shred sanity.

My eyes darted back to his face, noticing how his stubble was shorter than usual and as always, very neat and perfectly styled, like his hair. His dark eyes stared back at me with a mixture of softness and arousing confidence, the same one he had the first time we made love, when he heard how fucking amazingly he had destroyed me. Yeah, he could be quite the arrogant bastard, but in a good and very selfless way.

"Hello Anatoly, you arrived earlier than expected," the damn, freaking hot bastard said with a one-sided smirk that made clear he had read into me without any issues. Did I care about that?

"You looked damn hot, Oleg," I blurted out, erasing any doubt about minding or not his reading into my moronic mind. "I don't even give a damn if that will make you an arrogant bastard, because dear Lord, you do look damn hot and handsome tonight, more than usual."

"You also look extremely handsome, Anatoly," he replied with calm and deep voice, his callous hand resting on the side of my face and his eyes burying into mine and pulling my breath away. I think my mind was a step away before shattering in thousand fragments, just like my control. "You look very handsome indeed and the suit really compliments you."

He left me no time to reply, for he closed his demanding and rough lips on mine and I growled in his mouth as his tongue sank deeper, while his other hand stopped right on my ass. We kissed for long and we kissed hard at first, clearly both affected from our looks, but then it slowed down and it softened and his touch became gentle and very caring. We pulled back at the same time and the smile he gave me made me feel that this man represented my entire world.

Oleg let me step inside his house completely and I closed the door, since I realised we pretty much made out right in front of the entrance with the door freaking open. Oh well, whatever, not that I cared about it. He eyed my tie and arched a brow in a mute question, for then smirking. Bastard.

"You decided to wear a tie, Anatoly. I am impressed by your effort," he obviously mocked and I snorted, but instead of retorting back with some smart-ass comment, I pulled my phone out and took a picture of him as he smiled in a genuine way. God...Oleg was so damn handsome and mind-blowing that I needed to search for new adjectives to describe him, if I didn't want to appear like an idiotic kid that knew no words. He was surprised by my sudden action, but then only chuckled. "You look good with that."

"Spasiba," I only answered and then I kicked my lame self away, because I had stared at him like some pathetic brat for already long enough. "I got here earlier to pay you back and you damn bet I will drive you completely out of mind," I challenged him and he said nothing at first, only studied my face with a half smile.

"Is that so?" There, that compelling and maddening, freaking exciting smirk was back on his lips and it only triggered my desire more and more.

"You can bet, Oleg," I replied in kind while I undid my tie and let it drop on the floor, going then to undo his. "I guess this will have to wait for another moment, when we'll have more time," I said, meaning his tie and he only stared me as if wanting to take me right there, but there was no way I would let him.

"This," he commented, taking the tie in his hand, "we will use when I will have to keep a certain brat under some control." The way his lips curved up kick-started my blood and my heart that began to race as if possessed.

I needed to have this man or else I might go out of mind.

"The hell with control, Oleg. We do as I say now." At those words he claimed my lips for such an intense kiss that my dick hardened almost to a painful way; he pulled back after a few seconds leaving me breathing hard, wanting him even more, feeling fire burning and aching in my veins and in my crotch.

Fuck, I had to have him before I lost my sanity.

"I do love when you are like this, Anatoly. This is exactly how I want you now."

And it was me attacking him with a fierce and rather wild kiss, while I opened the button of his jacket and thrust it down his shoulders without many compliments, for then being the one pushing him against the door and roughly getting rid of his shirt and vest and other freaking annoying clothes that stood in the way. I hastily removed mine and he stopped my hands as I went for the belt.

"I will do this," he said with a look in his eyes that crazily kick-started my excitement, maddening the need to have him, and so I felt his fingers slowly undoing my belt and opening my pants. I growled out loud as his hand closed around my damn hard dick and let it slide up and then painfully slowly down and again.

"Are you doing this on purpose, bastard?" I asked sounding more like a groaning, untamed animal.

"What do you think, punk?" Oh God...the power he had on me was insane and dangerously arousing. I felt his hand move away, only to push me back of a step, right to go on his knees and engulf my pulsing and throbbing erection in his mouth.

"Oh fuck..." I snarled as my fingers gripped his hair and tugged it harshly at the same time his lips and tongue pulled back, toying with the tip of my hardness and once more taking me entirely in his warm and damning mouth. Oh fuck...he was amazing and I was shivering for the impossible pleasure he was giving me, feeling my blood pumping crazy in my veins, my breathing deepening and getting more erratic, my mind slowly shattering. I shut my eyes closed and my head dropped back as blinding, fiery pleasure invaded my entire body and I knew I had to stop that, so I told him. "Stop Oleg, you're turning me insane in this way."

He didn't reply, simply let out a quiet, conceited laugh that made me understand that had been his intent. He got up and faced me with eyes that spoke more than many words. Our mouths sealed in a fierce and burning kiss, my hands darting at his belt to get the damn trousers away; our tongues didn't normally tangle and kiss, but fought for dominance and deepened in each other's throat, wanting to make the other one more insane and more out of control. Oleg was an incredible kisser and fuck, he was driving my desire to crazed levels. I pulled back and earned a very not pleased growled, which only boosted my confidence and excitement in seeing how I was turning him more and more aroused.

"Your bedroom," I pretty much ordered in a quick groan and he only smirked and nodded.

Somehow we reached his bedroom between getting rid of every piece of clothing and touching, kissing each other...I pushed him flat on the covers of the bed and he shot me such a bastard-like and challenging look that I immediately heaved myself on top of him, our bodies finally stark naked and touching each other. His muscles contracted and arched as my hands hungrily ran over them, feeling my erection pulsing harder against his, feeling his hands in my hair, his warm breath on my skin.

"Now give me the very wild and aggressive Anatoly I love," he said with deep and husky voice on my ear, letting his hand travelling down on my ass. "That is what you promised me, punk."

I pulled back and for a moment we only stared at each other, hearing our heavy breathing, seeing our erections impossibly hard and throbbing in blind want and need to have each other, to be physically and sexually close, our skins sleek with sweat, our chests raising and lowering in deep, excited breaths, our eyes crazed by our desire. I leaned down and barely touched his lips with mine when I replied him.

"I will fucking drive you so out of mind you have no idea," I promised him and he smirked in a way that told me how much that turned him on.

I pulled back once more and while I smiled in kind, I grabbed his arm and made him turn around so to let me admire his damn perfectly round and hard-rock ass and muscular, broad back. Oh fuck...just the view of it could have been enough to make me reach an orgasm. He growled out loud in undiluted pleasure as my lips moved on his back, not so slowly moving lower and lower, reaching that round and muscular damn arousing ass that first I tasted with my fingers, grabbing it and enjoying it in my hands, and then I had to let my tongue drive him out of mind. I stole a glance up to him and saw how he was gripping the sheet in an almost a tearing-apart grip.

That fuelled me even more.

"Anatoly..." he snarled out and I knew he loved that, just like me, but my control was a mere step away from breaking completely. I played for a short while as I wasn't going to last like this very long and then he spoke once more as I went to reach for condoms in the drawer of the nightstand, and those words, fuck me, literally slashed the entire control away. "Anatoly, I want to feel you completely and I do want you really out of any control." I dropped on my palms braced at the sides of his head, lowering myself so that my mouth almost caressed his ear. I understood what he meant and the idea made me violently shiver in pleasure.

"Are you sure?" I managed to ask with a voice that was completely altered by excitement and impossible to describe desire that consumed every thought in my mind, feeling my blood boiling in my veins and my hard-rock dick massaging his ass demanding to take it as we both craved for. "Are you sure, Oleg?" I asked once more with rougher voice.

He turned his head to stare at me and the look in his eyes replied before his words. One of his hands went on my hair and pulled it, bringing my face a breath away from his.

"I want you entirely wild, impulsive and aggressive like the usual reckless brat you are," he basically ordered me and my temper rose at those words, like my yearning.

So I pulled back and only got a bit of lube, as I knew taking Oleg without condom was going to drive me out of mind and sanity. I coated my erection with it and massaged it while two fingers worked inside Oleg and I have no idea whom of us was growling and breathing louder. I think we both were so excited that we might have lit up as crazily burning fire.

"Anatoly," I heard the not very subtle authoritative tone in his voice and it spiked my temper and desire, so I thrust inside of him and for a moment I really thought my mind shattered and my heart stopped beating.

Oh fuck.

This was insane on so many physical, sexual and emotional levels.

It felt to lose every ounce of sanity and it felt incredible...he felt so hot around me and so much welcoming me deeper in him, that I clawed his ass with my hands and stopped both of us for a few seconds. I had to or else I was so going to burst as fuck...I had expected it to be incredible and fucking mind-blowing, but not this much...it felt...oh God, we were completely connected and he arched his back up, rolling his shoulders slightly down, along with his neck and head that dropped to the front. His breathing was very heavy and very deep...it enhanced my desire, just like the throaty growl he let out as I slightly shifted inside of him.

"Anatoly...this feels incredible...move," he sort of groaned in his usual commanding tone and my blood pulsed faster.

"Not a good idea," I somehow muttered out, as I kept my eyes closed and myself deeply buried inside of his amazingly hot and tight ass.

Oh fuck...Ohhhh fuuuuuccckkkk.

"I said move, brat. This is completely driving me insane and I will not last longer than you."

My eyes shot open and my hands went to reach for his, tangling our fingers together as I thrust inside of him and let my chest lower and almost touch his powerful back, feeling his muscles and him shift every time I drove myself inside, deeper and deeper, more intense, wilder...as feeling him without anything was beyond freaking words. I pressed his hands linked with mine on the cool sheets and let my lips and tongue stroke the nape of his neck. Oleg allowed me deeper and shivered as I thrust powerfully in him, lingering there a moment longer to better savour and enjoy the maddening sensation of him bare around me.

I let go of one hand to reach his impossibly hard and thick hardness, which I began to slowly stroke, increasing the pace as I increased the thrusting. After a short while, he joined me with his hand and that feeling was a great undoing for me, not to mention we were entirely bare and exposed to each other.

My cock twitched and hardened more at the feeling of the complete and very intimate touch, and I bit him hard on a shoulder to slightly subside a wave of overwhelming pleasure that was about to hit me. He reacted at that by squeezing my hand harder, by quickening the pace we stroked his incredible erection and groaning in what I knew was pure and unchecked excitement.

We were both driving each other out of our freaking minds.

I wanted to enjoy this a moment longer, but it wasn't possible to resist it and the way Oleg moved around me and the way he spoke to me in feral and desire-filled voice led me to move more intensely and stronger, taking him wilder...burying myself harder and deeper, hearing his growls and his snarled words telling me to keep moving, moving our hands on his hardness more fiercely.

I think I lost contact with my mind and reality the moment I thrust in Oleg another very intense and damn deep way, feeling my entire body shivering strongly at the act of it, feeling him trembling in blind pleasure and then my mind indeed shattered as a fucking wild orgasm hit me at the same time it crushed in Oleg, and so both came at the same time, in such an intense frenzy of emotions, of feelings, undiluted and devastating desire, physical and sensual excitement, for we had felt each other completely close, no limits. It was such a shattering, strong orgasm that I collapsed on his back, breathing so heavily that for a moment I wasn't sure whether I was still conscious.

It took me a few seconds to regain some energy and the ability to speak in a remotely normal way.

"Oh fuck me Oleg...you were...oh God, not sure how to say it, you felt damn amazing," I panted out still on top of him, feeling his back moving in the same deep and uneven breaths.

"You felt amazing, Anatoly," he replied with voice that still held traces of the powerful climax we had just experienced, sounding almost dark and still pleasure-filled. "This is what I desired since yesterday."

I carefully pulled out of him and dropped at his side, sharing a silent and very satisfied moment with him, as we only let our eyes and lips smile at each other. We kept like this for a while and then I spoke.

"Damn, I think I really went out of control...are you OK?" I knew he was, but I had to ask anyway, because I had gone without any sort of limits or restraint before, as feeling him bare around me had been devastating.

"I am perfectly well and very good," he answered with calmer voice and he pulled my face closer, resting his forehead on mine, the tip of our noses touching. "I loved it and indeed you are a very dangerously wild and incredible lover in bed." God, the way his words made me feel...I said nothing, only smirked.

"I also want to feel you in the same way, Oleg," I said piercing his eyes with mine, challenging him to say otherwise and contradict me, but he surprised me with a dark smile.

"And you will, Anatoly. Indeed, you will." I swallowed down at the tone of his voice and almost trembled at the idea of it. He began to caress my hair to sooth me down and calm me, but also to calm himself, because I knew that light now dancing in his dark wells...I knew it too well. He was desiring and needing to have me in the same way and I understood him completely. "We have no time unfortunately to settle this matter right now, but we have an entire night for ourselves, thus I will be patient for now."

Oh God...was he trying to get me all turned on and freaking horny for the entire night? Well, the bastard was pretty much succeeding in it without much effort. His hand then slowly descended from my hair and caressed my naked back, and a soft, endearing smile appeared on his lips.

"I believe we should take a quick shower, what do you say?"

"Yeah, definitely, or we might not move from this bed." He chuckled and nodded.

"Indeed and I believe you do not wish to miss theatre, correct?"

"No, I sure don't want to miss it," I replied with a similar smile.

We showered quickly together and then, as I got dressed, I realised it was a miracle we hadn't wrecked any of our clothes and I guess I could kiss my good star for that, for it would have been embarrassing to explain it to my mum. Oleg helped me in fixing my tie, for I had no clue how to; my father did it for me before and to be fair, I couldn't remember last time I wore such an elegant suit. The weird, freakish thing was that I didn't mind as I thought I would, it was actually rather good wearing it and I had to admit that yeah, I did look like a badass in it.

"Is that watch a present from my dad?" I asked curious to know whether my guess was right.

"Yes, Mr. Denisov very generously gifted it to me two years ago for my birthday."

His birthday, right. It was going to be soon and while he said that celebrating it wasn't his thing and that he actually almost never did it in the past years, I wasn't planning to let it go this time. Nothing fancy, nothing big and nothing corny. I only wanted to spend that day with him and make him feel like it was a day worth celebrating with me; I kept the thought for myself and then checked the time on his Rolex.

"We are not late, right?"

"No, do not worry. But we should move now." He walked to the closet and pulled out a long and quite elegant dark coat, surprising me he owned such piece of garment, but why did it surprise me? Tonight I had the real chance to appreciate how elegant Oleg was and I have no idea why I never realised that before; he was handsome more than mere, lame words could describe, but also very elegant, something that strangely enough went well with his imposing and impressive physicality. "Anatoly," he called me, pulling my head back from my thoughts. "Do you have a coat with you? It is cold today and it might snow later."

"I left it in the car," I replied quickly, as I remembered forgetting it there for how nervous I had been and for crying out loud, nervous for what? I had no longer idea.

"Brat," he said as he stepped right in front of me. "A very aggressive, exciting and wild brat." A certain light flickered in his very dark eyes and it threw a spark to my now slightly sedated desire.

"Are you complaining about it?" I retorted back with dripping cockiness, knowing my stare reflecting the same gleam.

"No, I do not complain." He leaned his face closer and his mouth stopped a breath away from my ear, purposely caressing it with his warm breath. "I did love it and indeed you drove me out of mind, brat." I gulped down loudly as his words stroked and provoked my desire that would never really calm down or entirely sedate around him. He understood that because he smiled in his usual way and pulled back after a quiet, self-satisfied chuckle. "Do you want to drive?" He then asked taking me by complete surprise.

"Your car?" I replied in disbelief and feeling a different kind of excitement stirring in me at the idea, just like a small kid on a Christmas morning in front of many wrapped boxes.

"Dah," he only replied and I couldn't contain my wide grin not even if I punched my idiotic face. Oleg owned a freaking Dodge Viper SRT in the typical dark blue completed with two long white stripes and that babe could kick your ass pretty badly. "You want that or not, Anatoly?"

"You don't need to ask me, bastard." He dropped the keys in my hand and motioned me to follow him, but I stopped him. "Wait, you really can't tell me which play are we going to see?"

"You will discover it by yourself in short time I believe and we will see if it is among one of your favourites or not. I personally like it, but you read all of them, correct? I sure did not."

I decided to say nothing to that and simply be patient and wait to see it for myself; we walked out of the house, the freezing breeze completely striking me in the face and I have no clue how I didn't notice earlier how cold the evening was. I grabbed the coat from my car that I parked in his garage and then felt my hands sweaty at the idea of driving that blue babe. I started the engine and the roar coming from it almost made me climax; Oleg threw quite the amused look at me and I rolled my eyes, for then shifting to the first gear and letting this babe free. Damn...she was amazing.

"You better not break any speed limit, brat," Oleg warned me in his typical severe and hard tone of voice, but I smirked back at me.

"Not sure I can promise that," I said as I gripped the steering wheel with both hands.

"Reckless punk," he murmured quietly, but he didn't sound actually upset or annoyed, as in fact there was a glint in his eyes as we quickly looked at each other that seemed to not mind it. We both loved speed and of that, we had no freaking doubts.

We reached the theatre earlier than expected and I had to control myself while driving, because this sweetheart here could really inebriate and lure you to speed quite a lot. There was a monitored and theatre's guests-only-reserved parking area where I parked the car and the old, nervous sort of excitement came back to me as we both walked toward the building. Oleg looked absolutely breath taking and sanity-blowing and I didn't care whether I sounded corny, for that's how I could only describe him.

Then I realised what made me edgy in that rather pathetic childish and shy way: it was a real and sort of official date between us, something I sure never thought possible, and the thought hit me strongly.

I was on a date with Oleg.

It somehow was still rather and mentally surreal, all considered, but here we were, both dressed like two classy badass and about to begin our first date...oh joy, had I become some cheesy and corny sap for thinking this? Damn if I knew it, but I freaking hoped not. Oh well, whatever, the fuck with that.

I was on a date with a man like Oleg, with my partner. I swallowed down and cracked my neck as I tried to calm my pathetic state of bratty nervousness. He slightly turned his head at me and studied my face, smiling after that for having guessed my state of mind and I cursed very loud and very harshly in my head. He rested his hand on my back as we reached the entrance, letting me step inside first; we left our coats at the guard robe and then he showed our tickets to a lady that led us to our seats. We were seated in the centre, only a very few rows from the first one, a perfect location for enjoying the play at its full.

"Are the seats satisfactory for you, Anatoly?" He asked as we sat down, attracting the attention of a few persons sitting not far from us and glancing curiously at us. It didn't surprise me how a lady ran her stare on Oleg in evident appreciation because let's be honest here: he was fucking hot tonight. I mean, he always was, but tonight he was more than usual.

"Yeah, the seats are perfect, spasiba," I replied and then gave him a bratty smirk. "There was a lady that definitely would have liked to swap you with her husband or whatever the man is." He shook his head with a smile on his lips and then leaned closer to me.

"I am afraid you missed the attention and evident attraction you stirred a moment ago as we stepped in here." I arched both of my brows and creased my forehead in surprise, because for sure I did attract attention due to my haircut and earrings, but not for what he meant. "Anatoly, you look extremely handsome tonight and this suit enhances your physical qualities and appearance. I feel very fortunate to be here in your company."

How did he often manage to leave me at loss of words? He felt fortunate for being in my company? I should have been the one saying that and not him.

"Right back at you," I replied in my very mature and obviously shy way, but then lights slowly faded away and silence fell all over the theatre.

I heaved out a quiet and long breath, feeling in a way that I didn't know how to describe, but it was incredible being there with him and being able to savour such moments and experiences beside Oleg, a man that was my partner and that I loved more than anything else. He placed a firm hand on my knee and I had to repress a very childish smile. As soon as the actors entered the scene and the stage was revealed, I understood at first it was going to be "Mozart and Salieri", one of my favourites indeed, as I also loved the movie "Amadeus" from Miloš Forman.

"Pleasantly surprised?" He asked me in a very quiet and soft murmur, probably feeling my not very contained enthusiasm.

"Yeah, I really liked this one."

"I am very glad to hear this," he said and we then both concentrated on the play, even though I always felt the presence of Oleg beside me and every now and then, we exchanged fast glances, and he looked relaxed and definitely enjoying this. I loved to see him like this and it gave me the chance to see more and different aspects of this incredible man.

Yeah, we were on a date, Oleg and I. And we were together enjoying a play I had always liked and acted in our mother language. He really knew me well.

OLEG POV:

The play was very good and Anatoly enjoyed it without doubts, as he confirmed me when he drove to the restaurant where I had booked a table for us. I was honestly feeling very fortunate and blessed for being able to share and live these occasions with him, cherish every little particular and moment of them. Sitting beside him while watching the play, as if we had no worries or pending matters to be solved, felt in a way that I had never experienced before. We were together and it felt as if everything was in complete and serene peace; yet, my feelings and love for him increased, as these moments gave us the chance to understand and know more of each other.

The table reserved for us was in a quiet corner of the restaurant, where the chattering of other customers could not be really heard. I had asked for it, as I wished a moment of privacy considered the special occasion. Anatoly had obviously driven the car like the reckless punk he was and I said nothing to it, knowing we both sensed the same burning adrenaline coursing in our veins whenever we sped up on a car or even more while riding a motorbike.

I let my eyes indulge longer on his figure, greatly appreciating the way he looked and the way his face unconsciously smiled and appeared relaxed, enjoying the time together. The suit was a very dark, almost black charcoal shade, while the shirt was completely black; it surprised me to see him with a tie, even though it was worn very loose and it was discarded in the car right after the play. The contrast of the elegance of the suit and of his general appearance and attitude tonight nicely clashed, yet blended with his hair style and earrings. I also removed the tie and left it neatly folded in the car, wanting to look less formal during dinner, and given the way Anatoly eyed me intensely, I guessed he liked that.

I noticed he had only partially covered the ink on his neck that was slowly being erased, given he had the first session yesterday, and I liked the fact he felt more sure of himself and not anymore crushed by his past. Although we all worried whether the new found balance could be easily shaken or broken, we were all mistaken in the past two months. Anatoly was stronger than we all thought and he was showing it to us day after day. And I loved him for this innate strength of his, I loved him for the will he had to stand up for himself and face whatever came. I loved him dearly and very deeply...more than I would ever be able to express with mere words.

"This place is awesome, Oleg. I was never here and damn, the smell in the air is making me realise I'm freaking starving. It smells so good! Aren't you starving?" I smiled at his barely contained eagerness and it pleased me to hear he liked the restaurant. They cooked very well in here and I always liked Georgian food, sometimes cooked by my grandmother as her father was partially from that country.

"Yes, I am also hungry and I am very glad you like the place."

"We should definitely come back another time," he said as he removed the jacket and looked around. "Man, I have to tell you this and you'll laugh your ass off. Guess what that moronic twin of mine proposed? A double date with him and his chipmunk. He must have been out of mind when he said that." I instinctively chuckled at that, because indeed the idea seemed rather unusual and bizarre. "You don't want to go, right?" He pierced me with his beautiful eyes and his expression was highly amusing, so I did not mask my quiet laughter. "What are you laughing about?"

"Anatoly, I believe your brother's partner first of all would not feel very at ease to go on a double date, as Dmitri called it." He considered that and he nodded. "I do not think it is something that might happen any time soon, but you should take it in a good way: it is your brother's way of saying he is happy for you."

"Yeah, I guessed that, but you have no idea about his idiocy and I mean it. Last night I watched two Star Wars movies with them and honestly, they are such a couple of nerds you wouldn't believe it. They were commenting every freaking thing, so much that at one point I barked at them to shut up, as I couldn't follow the damn movie. Can you believe it?"

I only smiled as I pictured the scene in my mind. The most unbelievable fact was that Dmitri had successfully convinced Anatoly in watching those films and he clearly found them quite interesting, or why bothering to tell them to be quiet? I loved to see him like that and to appreciate how their relationship as brothers had improved and actually deepened.

"You had good time last night with your friends, correct?"

"Yeah, I did." He paused as the menu and an appetizer offered by the house were placed on our table, after having enquired whether everything met our satisfaction or if we needed anything. I replied we were pleased with the table and that we would drink water and perhaps try the lemonades produced by them. I was not going to touch any kind of alcohol and Anatoly also did not wish for it. When the waiter left, Anatoly resumed talking. "I had great time to be honest and even Travis called, it was cool as the guy is crazy as fuck, believe me. And well...you wouldn't mind my friends."

"I have no doubts about that." Of course Anatoly would have liked to make me meet his friends in different circumstances than we already did, but last night was meant for him only and I think he understood that. "We will meet them sometime, whenever you wish for it," I told him however, wanting to reassure him that I had nothing against the idea. He smiled but tried to hide it and I cherished seeing him in such good mood.

We went through the menu and ordered different dishes, given his curiosity in trying diverse meals and our rather urging appetite. We began with starters made of a few types of khachapuri, their typical cheese bread that came in many, very delicious versions, accompanied by nakuzi, another type of spiced bread, a good selection of sauces and nadugi, an appetizer made of fresh cheese that Anatoly particularly liked. We followed with eggplant-walnut rolls and soup called shorba, which I enjoyed very much. We ordered different meals that we then shared and for a few seconds I could not believe at what I was feeling with Anatoly right then.

Being with him brought not only peace and love in my life, but something new, like a new way of experiencing and seeing things, or even new moments I had the privilege and fortune to share with him.

"Oh God, have you tried this?" He said while still chewing his food and pushing the plate containing the eggplant-walnut rolls toward me.

"I still have to try it," I replied and I forked a piece of it, having then to admit that indeed it was very delicious.

After the first dishes, I ordered khinkali for both, sort of dumplings filled with meat and other ingredients, and then shashlik, knowing Anatoly would very much like them.

"My grandmother used to prepare khinkali," I told him as we savoured the skewered meat, appreciating its rich taste. "Her father was partially Georgian."

"Really? And you would be able to prepare them?" He asked in honest and eager curiosity, his eyes shining and staring directly at mine.

"I do not know, as I never did before, but I can always try," I said as I smiled at seeing his expression reacting to my reply.

"Oh damn I'd love that, Oleg. Mum is awesome in making pelmeni, but you know that I think." Indeed, Mrs. Denisov was extremely skilled in cooking and her pelmeni, Russian dumplings, were always very good; I nodded my reply and we continued with the dinner, trying different types of food and talking about many things.

Having asked Anatoly to go to theatre and then dinner, having asked him out on a date, as he said, had indeed been a very good idea; a moment in our life that I would always treasure dearly and that I did not plan to leave as unique event.

As we reached the end of our dinner, I reached my limit and I could not order the dessert, but Anatoly, not very surprisingly, asked for it. He often said that his brother was a bottomless pit in terms of food, but he was not very far from it himself. He was also very curious as person and that meant he honestly enjoyed trying different dishes.

When we left the restaurant, the snow had silently and slowly covered the streets, the roofs of the houses and soon the entire city, as it kept falling down; I drove us home and when we reached my place, we decided to wear something more comfortable and then leave for a walk under the snow. I had always liked it and so did Anatoly. We kept in complete silence for a while and then he began to speak, mostly talking about past-related episodes that I was not familiar with as I had not yet begun to work for Mr. Denisov.

"It's too bad it cannot snow without clouds, or else we could go gaze at stars and it would be priceless," he said as he titled his head back, staring at the sky and letting the flakes of snow fall gently on his face. "Oleg?"He suddenly asked halting his steps.

"Yes?"

"Thank you for tonight, I mean it." Anatoly genuinely and openly smiled at me and then, he stepped in front of me, slightly touching my cold lips with his. "Do you think that an immature brat and an impassive bastard can do that again?" Of course he would not ask for it in a normal and more direct way, but it was already quite a lot for him.

"Yes Anatoly, whenever we want and whenever you wish for it."

"My turn next time to surprise you then," he said, adding a rather cocky nuance to his voice and to the way his lips curved. The fact he also wanted to organise an evening or occasion similar to tonight firstly surprised me, but then I could see it was exactly as things were with Anatoly and between us: giving to each other in equal measure.

"Very well," I only replied and with that, we continued walking for another while under the quietness of those white flakes soundlessly falling on our heads, our hands linked as we enjoyed that candid, silent view. My head slightly turned to steal a quick glance at Anatoly and my body stirred as I recalled how it felt to have him inside of me without anything between us, feeling him completely bare and entirely without restraints. My desire waked and began to slowly smoulder in my veins, deeply yearning to feel the same as he did, needing to feel entirely close and bared with Anatoly. I tightened the grip on his hand as the thought wrapped around my mind and heart, and he did the same, our fingers firmly laced together.

Indeed we had an entire night for ourselves and I could not repeat often enough how fortunate and blessed I had been in my life for having met Anatoly.

Author's chit-chat:

What are your thoughts, feelings, emotions and reactions about this chapter? Did you like their date?

I think it suited them and their special relationship and of course, it has to continue in chapter 25: what do you think will happen?

Did you enjoy how they physically connected? I think we can see they also are physical like Alexi and Travis, but in a very different way, as they also are very gentle and soft with each other.

What about Oleg finally finding the identity of the person responsible for Anatoly's accidents? Who might this person be? Why you think he cannot directly deal with the person as he wished? Well...just wait for CH.26 and you will see...

As I said, let me know with your wonderful and fantastic comments that I absolutely love! Also thank you for your messages and votes :-) Stay tuned, because either tomorrow or Tuesday I will post CH.25.

For now, have all a lovely Sunday evening or afternoon or Monday morning.

Lots of Love, Magic, Hugs, and Meow,
-TheWitchAndTheCat-