“And how long has Kolya been active?”
“Since I was five?”
“Please don’t tell me you had sex at five.”
“No. I had my first gorgeous boner then. Didn’t go well with my mom and everyone in the house when I ran around naked showing it to everyone and pretending it was a gun.”
I chuckle. “Why can I imagine that?”
“You also think it was hilarious, right? I was seriously proud. Only Dad backed up my shenanigans.”
“He seems cool.”
“Coolest dad ever. Before I hit puberty, he sat me down and said, ‘You’re about to go on that adventure you’ve waited for since you were five. Now is the time you can actually use your dick as a gun. Do your thing, son. Just use protection and don’t make me a grandpa.’”
“How…did he take your sexuality? If you came out to them.” I pause. “If you don’t mind me asking?”
“I don’t mind any of your questions, baby. Seriously, stop being annoyingly British. To answer you, I didn’t have to come out. Mom and Dad walked in on me fucking a guy and kissing a girl at fifteen. They were shocked, but not in a judgmental way. Mom already felt I liked guys since I’d wink at them like I did girls. She just wasn’t sure. Dad…well, he was like, ‘Of course you would like the variety. It wouldn’t be you otherwise.’ Then he hugged me and whispered, ‘You better use protection and not make me a grandfather when I’m this young, motherfucker. I mean it.’ He’s effortlessly hilarious, my dad. Oh, he’s also British.”
“Really?”
“Well, he has a complicated family history and he definitely has Russian blood, but he was raised in the UK and speaks in your accent.”
“What’s his name?”
“Kyle Hunter.”
“Hmm. I think I might’ve heard of him in Grandpa’s circle. Wait. Your last name is Sokolov, not Hunter.”
“It’s after Mom. Since Dad had a few last names and Mom’s last name belongs to Russian Bratva royalty, they decided to give it to their children. Nikolai Sokolov is actually my late great-grandfather’s name. I’m his gorgeous incarnation.”
I smile and shake my head. “I’m glad your family is acceptant despite, well, being in the mafia.”
“Mom and Dad are. My aunt and uncle—Kill and Gareth’s parents—too. Everyone else…meh, they’re still backward. I wouldn’t take a guy to meet my grandpa or uncles, for instance. That’d just turn ugly and no one needs that.”
“Does that mean you took a guy to meet your parents?”
“Does it count when they walk in on me? Because that was the only meetings that happened.”
“Jesus. You have more sex than Zeus.”
“Who’s that? A porn star?”
“Please tell me you’re kidding.”
He squints. “Pretty sure I’ve heard about him before. Is he an actor?”
“He’s a Greek god.”
“And he was a porn star?”
“No. He just…let’s say he shagged a lot. Like you.”
“Don’t be jealous, baby.”
“I am not.”
“Well, I am.”
“Of who?”
“Fucking Clara and everyone who saw you naked.”
“You need help.” I suppress a smile. “You’re the one who’s had more sex than me.”
“Yeah, but I’ve never had a relationship and I don’t feel fucking murderous about them like I do with you.”
My lips part and I clear my throat. “My relationships were a fa?ade. I never…cared about them.”
“And you care about me?”
“Shut up.” I wiggle free of his hold. “I’m going to sleep.”
“Wait for me!”
A huge body slams into mine, crashing me into the bed. I groan as I try to push him off me, but it’s impossible.
Partly because I don’t want his weight gone.
Nikolai lays his head on my chest, wraps his arm around my middle, and throws his leg over mine.
“You’re not going anywhere anymore.” He kisses my Adam’s apple. “Night, baby.”
A lump constricts my breathing and I can’t swallow past it as I stare sideways to find his face buried in my neck, his hair falling on the pillow.
His breathing soon evens out and I smile to myself.
Didn’t he say he doesn’t sleep in a bed?
I stroke his arm and kiss the top of his head. “Night, Niko.”