Damned: Chapter 8) Breathless

I walked out of the room completely perplexed.

Did he just ask me out?

Unaware of where I was walking, I accidentally stumbled on the rug and bumped into someone. Icy grey eyes menaced towards me and I could almost feel the antagonism penetrating from the man in front of me.

“I’m sorry, I hadn’t meant to bump into you like that.” I sincerely apologized.

The man glared at me and I noticed how his frown tightened with detest. He was the same man who had clutched Vitaly by the shirt. Mikhail, I believe his name was. His hand suddenly grasped my chin, tilting it threateningly towards his.

“If ever you get in my way again, I will not hesitate to rip your organs out and sell them in the black market.” He seethed.

My eyes widened at his remark. His tone was different from Vitaly’s. Something about this man was blood-curdling and his gaze was murderously serious.

“Mikhail,” another voice interrupted and a figure stepped between us, causing him to release his grip on me. “Let’s not get the lady involved like that. After all, she’s a guest here.”  

“She needs to learn her place,” was all Mikhail said before leaving.

Letting out a soft sigh, the man turned around to reveal himself.

There stood the youngest of the men. The same one who was arguing with the old man in the room that day, the one who gave off the cute ‘boy next door’ look with his light brown hair and honey brown eyes.

“Mikhail’s a bit stern, that’s all.” He smiled towards me.

“So is Blondie.” I scoffed.

“Who? Oh! You mean Sevastian. No, I’d rather define him as hot-tempered. Mikhail’s not that impulsive.”

The boy in front of me seemed to look around my age, perhaps slightly older, and his clothing seemed a bit more relaxed compared to the attire of the others in this house. Yep, definitely boy next door- who kills innocent people and is in the Mafia. What a nice combo. Better than that chicken and chips special I bought last week Friday.

“What’s your name again? I forgot what Vit had told us your first name was last night.” He asked bringing me back to attention.

“Katherine. Donovan.”

“Oh, I know the Donovan part.” He chuckled, “Anthony’s sister.”

“You know my brother?” My interest hiked.

I noticed how his smile fell a bit and turned to a subtle frown, “I know him. But to be honest, the junkie and I aren’t on good terms right now.”

“Junkie?”

“Forget it, you won’t understand.” He pushed my question away decently.

“I can try.”

“Persistent, aren’t you?”

“You have no idea Mr.?”

“Nikolai,” he smiled, “Just call me Nikolai.”

“Well, I must admit,” I sighed walking past him and looking around, “This is a gorgeous house.”

“Let me show you around then.”

“No, I… it’s fine.” I politely declined his offer feeling a bit nervous.

I mean, what if he trips like the others and kills me in one of the rooms?

No buddy, I’m not taking that chance.

“Look, it’s not like I’m going to murder you. I’m not Vit,” He laughed.

“I don’t know, the quiet ones always seem to scare me more. Can’t trust them, you know.” I teased.

“Point taken.”

To be honest, Nikolai wasn’t that bad. He seemed pretty normal when showing me around. If he wasn’t in the Mafia, then I think I’d love being best friends with this guy. Not that I’m judging or picky or anything. It’s just that, well, I’m trying to abstain from the killer associates these days.

“Do you play croquet, Katherine?” Nikolai suddenly asked when we exited the huge library.

“A little,” I admit.

“Good. Natalia’s always a bore to play with.”

“You don’t say,” I smirked.

He guided me out to their huge endless backyard.

Like damn- it was gorgeous.

No words.

I noticed Natalia from afar relaxing under an umbrella with her sunglasses and a magazine.

“Ready?” Nikolai asked setting the croquet ball in place.

“Yeah sure.” I smiled holding the stick in place.

Only fifteen minutes later and I was fully engrossed and completely schooling little Nik in his own game. Honestly, my enthusiasm was sky-high at the moment.

“The game’s not over so don’t get too excited.” He laughed.

Turning around, I noted Vitaly taking a seat at the table, folding his arms curiously, and looking at us. Natalia, even though being near him, ignored his existence.

“Is that how those two always are?” I asked Nikolai, confident that they won’t hear us, “I mean, siblings can’t be that oblivious to each other’s existence, right?”

“Well they’re half so maybe that’s why,” Nikolai replied taking his turn.

“Oh, I didn’t know that. Vitaly said you all were family. So I guess, you’re related as well?”

Nikolai gave a soft laugh and allowed my turn, “I don’t think he meant it like that. Family’s just a common term used by the Mafia. We don’t all have to be blood-related to be in a certain ‘family’.”

“Ooh. Well, that’s interesting to note. I feel so educated now.”

Making a double shot, I squealed contented. After his shot, I set myself back in place to take my turn when suddenly a velvet voice laced through my ears.

“You’re stance is perfectly horrible, Katrina.”

Turning around, I noted Vitaly dangerously close to me.

“No one asked you.” I rolled my eyes, annoyed that he came over to make fun of me.

“No one needed to. I observed and intend to correct.”

“Are you done? You’re making me nervous.” I sighed, making an attempt to hit the ball when suddenly I felt him clasp my hand over the stick.

“You’re slouching. It’s unattractive really.” He stated when I felt his other hand slipping down the small of my back, lower than I was comfortable with. I felt somewhat uneasy.

“Okay,” I shrugged away in a panic, “You need to stop.”

“At?” he played coy yet I could see the invisible smirk on his lips.

“I’m so done with you.” I frowned and gave the stick to Nikolai who seemed to be unaware of what happened, “Don’t spare his balls.”

Walking away, I let out a sigh and sat sulking at the same place where Vitaly sat. And the worst part was that I hadn’t scolded him the way I would scold any other man who would do that to me. How dare he touch me and make me unable to scold him!

The soft sound of Natalia chuckling brought me back to attention,

“Well, that was fun to watch.”

“What?” I asked. Did she see what just happened?

“All that ass grabbing.” She smirked.

“Damn, I need those sunglasses girl.”

“I’m surprised that he even bothered.”

“Oh, he really shouldn’t have.” I scowled.

Natalia took the glasses off and gave me a quick glance, “He was unsettled.”

“That makes no sense.”

“Seeing you with Nik.” She smiled wickedly.

“Wow, you sure know your big brother well.” I mentally applauded her.

“He’s only a year older, so don’t make it a habit saying that. And no, I don’t know him that well. But when it comes to women, I can read him like the back of my hand. It’s really not that hard to tell that he ‘fancies’ you, Donovan.”

“Well then. His way of telling me that was not very impressive.”

“Look at him now.” She laughed, staring at him taking his turn in the game, “He’s mad.”

“Why would you say that? He seems fine to me.” I arched an eyebrow.

“Look at the way he’s holding the stick and how clenched his face seems to be.”

“Tighter than usual.” I admit, “Or, he could just be really focused on the game?”

“He hates croquet. Doesn’t give a shit.”

“Ooh.”

“He’s mad that you walked away from him.” She laughed again.

Honestly, this was the most I was ever hearing her laugh.

“Well, what did he expect? That I stayed there and get felt up? Um, no thank you.”

“You’re different from the rest of women, Donovan. You have no idea how shameless some are. And Vitaly doesn’t handle rejection very well. He’s not accustomed to it. And you, you’re too innocent and naïve for the things he likes.”

“Things like?”

“Why don’t you ask him.” She replied annoyed.

“I’d rather not.”

“Smart girl.”

“You said he ‘fancies’ me. Why would you even say that? To be honest, I don’t picture myself as being his type.”

“You assumed he had a type?” she raised both eyebrows in question at me.

“I guess.” I shrugged.

She got up and ran a hand through her long dark hair while tossing the magazine where she was once sitting.

“Are you coming inside or do you want to sit here and sulk uselessly watching these idiots?”

“Depends, would I sulk productively inside?” I smiled.

Heading back inside, I went back into the room where I snugged myself at the corner of the bed, turned the AC to the coldest degree, and built a wall of pillows and blanket around and across me. Grabbing his laptop at the side, I decided to watch some movies. Well, it was better than doing nothing right?

Laughing at the scene, the door to the room suddenly turned open and he entered. I tried to ignore him but it was something I was beginning to find difficult to do. Still attempting, I looked back at the screen and giggle at what was going on.

“Would you shut up?” he frowned as he took a suit out of the closet.

“Would you stop breathing?” I retorted.

With a sharp sigh, he turned towards me and shot me an icy glare.

Okay, he’s mad. I get it.

“And what the hell are you doing?” he continued in annoyance, “Didn’t I tell you to be ready by eight?”

Looking at the clock and back at him, I arched an eyebrow, “Are you serious? It’s barely even six yet.”

With that to note, I hadn’t even realized that I was locked up in the room for the entire day just watching movies.

“You take longer than any woman I know to get ready.” He answered.

“You’re such a rude man, Mr. Rostov,” I stated standing up on the bed and folding my arms.

“Get off.” he scowled.

“Does it bother you?”

“Get. Off.” his voice almost growled.

I smiled wickedly, “Oh my, did I hit a nerve?”

“Donovan.” He warned.

“Yes, sweetheart.” I teased and began slightly jumping on the bed, “How fun. You should definitely try it!”

“I’m so fucking tired of this shit.” He stated through clenched teeth and folded arms at the end of the bed.

Stopping, I mirrored his expression and frowned, “You didn’t seem tired of me when you had your hand on my ass.”

Okay, now that seemed to piss him off even more.

“Just get off the bed and get ready, Donovan.” His voice still held that icy warning, “I’m leaving in an hour, it takes a while to get to the hotel.”

“No.”

“No?” he arched an eyebrow.

“I’m not going anywhere with you, Rostov.”

He gave a soft low chuckle, “It wasn’t a choice, Angel. Don’t be stupid.”

“Or what? What would you do to me if I didn’t listen?” I frowned.

Taking a step towards me, he suddenly pulled me by my foot down on the bed and leaned over me with a wicked smirk, “Do you really want to know?”

“I’m curious.” I breathed under him, strangely not so afraid anymore.

He studied me for a second and whispered hotly into my ear, “What a naughty little girl.”

His whisper sent tingles throughout my body and I knew I had goosebumps.

“Now get ready before you tempt me to blow your brains out.” He smiled pulling slightly away from me.

“Oh, you won’t do that.” I grinned.

“And why’s that?”

“Because you don’t want that kind of blood to stain your sheets,” I said innocently, “Trust me, I bleed like the Niagara Falls, you don’t want that kind of trouble.”

He arched an eyebrow at me. I was confused whether he was disturbed or completely turned on. My vote would be the first though.

Pushing myself away from him, I headed to the bathroom and showered. Wrapping myself with the plush white towel a sudden dreadful thought washed over me.

What the hell was I going to wear?

Shit, I didn’t even walk with any kind of formal dress to wear. Frowning, I exited the bathroom and I heard a knock on the room door. Vitaly entered and ran a hand through his damp hair. Loosening his tie a little, he then fixed the cuffs of his dark grey suit. I noticed how long and messy his hair was and for some odd reason, I wanted to run my hand through it. I guess he got dressed in another room.

“If you’re going to be changing here then I suggest you lock the door.” He stated in that smooth velvet voice of his.

“Vitaly… I…” I began unsure of how to tell him about my problem.

Turning around, he leaned at the edge of the closet and chuckled, gluing his eyes on my attire and damp earthy coloured hair that stapled against my wet neck.

“You?” he pushed me teasingly with his tone.

“I…” I swallowed, tucking a strand of my hair behind my ear, “I don’t have anything to wear.”

“And your problem is?” he plastered his smirk.

Biting my lip, I looked away from him.

With a soft chuckle, he walked towards me and placed a hand on my hip. Tilting my chin towards him, he grazed his thumb over my soft pink lips, “You’re not getting away from me that easy.”

I blinked confused and secretly aroused at the way he was touching me.

His voice was soft and caressing as he spoke, which was odd because I rarely ever heard him speak like that, “There’s a bag at the side of the bed with a dress in it. Wear it. I’ll be waiting for you downstairs.”

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